As the community focuses on the future of downtown Columbia, Columbia Association President Maggie Brown sat down with The Examiner to discuss the challenges of running a homeowners? association unlike any other in the country. The quasi-governmental organization collects a property assessment from homeowners and manages the town?s pools, neighborhood centers and thousands of acres of open space.
Q What are some of the hardest parts of your job and what keeps you going every day?
A It?s the people I work with. I don?t call them my staff. I call them my team. We provide services for the residents of Columbia and those who work in Columbia.
As far as the hard things we have experienced … one of them is in Annapolis right now. They have dropped this particular bill that has to do with [raising the sales tax for health clubs]. We have been advocating for that tax not to occur. We really don?t want anything deterring an individual looking at his or herself health-wise.
Q Residents pay amembership fee to join the CA?s health clubs and pools. So what does the property assessment pay for?
A We have to take care of the lake, the pathways. … There are tot lots throughout Columbia, picnic areas and Symphony Woods. If you have ever noticed there are flowers at all the entryways. A large sum of that money goes to the division of Open Space.
Q The board of directors will be selecting a new CEO in the spring of 2009. How does this time line affect you?
A I am focused on what we are currently about. … If there is a role for me somewhere down the line … we will make that determination at that time.
Q What do you want people in and out of Columbia to know about the Columbia Association?
A We are one of the most unique organizations in the country because of the services and facilities and all of the types of things we provide. To ensure we have a Columbia that is open, integrated, caring and successful is the reason why [Columbia founder] Jim Rouse thought having an assessment would help fund the Columbia Association. That makes us unique.
