President’s Corner
I am pleased to tell you
that the Stratford Manor Association’s board of directors has decided to hire a
larger property management firm to help us better meet the growing challenges
of managing our community . Our executive committee, comprised of the SMA
board’s officers, began its search a couple of months ago, after the board
concluded that Stratford Manor and AAMG, a small firm that has managed our
property since mid-2017, were not an ideal match.
As we focus on modernizing
our management practices, we find that we need more resources than our current
agency can provide. So we notified AAMG on May 30 that we will terminate our
relationship at the end of July. We are now negotiating with a well-known firm
to assume management of Stratford Manor effective August 1. When we have signed
a contract, we will let you know.
Meanwhile, it is business
as usual as far as the day-to-day management of Stratford Manor is
concerned. AAMG will continue to provide
the same services as before, including
paying our bills, collecting assessment payments, processing our
financial reports, and handling your concerns.
Robin Stortz, president of
AAMG, has assured us that her people will give us their full cooperation during
this transition period, including passing all of our records to the new
management company at the appropriate time.
Until we hire a new agency
and get through this transition period, we are putting on hold the major
construction projects we had hoped to initiate this year. But we ask that you
continue to notify AAMG and our board with any questions or concerns about our
community.
With your patience and support, these next couple of months
should be smooth sailing.
SMA’s Rules & Regulations get
an update
A comprehensive review of
the SMA’s Rules and Regulations has resulted in several changes aimed at
bringing the governing document up to date.
The board’s Rules and Regulations Committee, comprised of board members
Kevin Leigh, Katie Johnston and Chair person Tonita Hoe, has spent several
weeks reviewing our rules—some of them dating back to the early days of our
community’s founding— and getting input from others. Last year’s owners’ survey
results were also considered.
Many of the changes merely
reflect modern terminology or recognize that certain rules are no longer
enforced. For example, we have now codified our practice of allowing homeowners
who receive violation letters to receive additional time for repairs if they
notify the management company or the board early and have a reasonable explanation
for seeking an extension.
We have expanded the
section on trash and garbage to add a rule on bulk trash, specifying that it
can be put out on the curb as early as the weekend before the scheduled pickup
date. This is to accommodate working residents
who need the weekend to handle such chores. Also, front porches can no longer
be used for storage.
The pets and domestic
animals policy has been modified to tighten the rule against tethering a pet
outdoors, and to impose a ban on feeding stray animals (except birds) . We know
many of you feel passionate about feeding stray cats, but we can’t afford to
risk exposing our residents to rabies and other diseases that so often are
carried by wild animals.
At the same time, we are
lifting the ban on residents using the common areas, as long as they don’t
disturb the neighbors. In addition, bike and scooter riders are allowed in the
community-- but must stay off the sidewalks.
Plus, you will have more
latitude in putting up holiday lights and decorations. Under the revised rules,
owners will be able to decorate the exterior windows of homes for recognized
holidays, not just Christmas. And you can use your choice of colored lights.
Just keep in mind that the board reserves the right to order the removal of
decorations it considers inappropriate.
The newly amended rules and regulations are effective July
1. A complete copy will be mailed to you soon.
- John Gullett, President
Mid-year
assessment payments due
Don’t forget: your
mid-year 2019 SMA assessment payment is due July 1. Invoices were mailed in
early June to all Stratford Manor owners by AAMG, who will be processing
payments as usual through Mutual of Omaha.
You will have the usual
30-day grace period before facing a late fee, but you will want to make your
payment well before the end of July. That’s because the SMA’s decision to
terminate its contract with AAMG effective Aug. 1 (see President’s Corner)
means our bank accounts will be changing. AAMG’s last day for handling these
payments is July 26.
Just follow the
instructions on the invoice and mail your payment by mid-July. If you prefer,
you can pay online by going to www.mutual paypropertypay.com.
Either way, your payment will be processed by Mutual of
Omaha and credited to your account as long as it gets to the bank by July 26,
after which the SMA’s accounts with Mutual of Omaha will be closed.
3 board seats opening in
the Fall
SMA board members Ann
Turner, Tonita Hoe, and Kevin Leigh have told the board they will not seek
reelection when their terms expire in October. As a result, Nominating
Committee Chair Linda Wahlert is launching a search for three qualified
candidates to fill those seats.
Nominations may be made
from the floor at next October’s annual owners meeting, but the nominating
committee is starting its search now to ensure that enough nominees are found
to fill all three seats. “This can be a challenging process,” said Ms. Wahlert.
“A lot of people would like to have an active role in ensuring Stratford
Manor’s future, but some are concerned about the commitment it might take.”
She said board membership
involves only six board meetings a year, the annual owners meeting, and
whatever committee work the individual has an interest in. “And it’s fun to
work with such a great group of individuals that we have on our board.”
If you think you might want to volunteer, or just get a few
questions answered, contact Ms. Walhert at
570-1296 or lindawahlert@hotmail.com
Fence repairs,
tree trimming slated
With Stratford Manor’s
common areas looking good these days, the Landscaping Committee’s attention is
currently focused on some major fence repairs and extensive tree trimming.
Nancy Allen, who heads up
the landscaping effort, asked the board of directors on June 6 for funds to
have Rosenbaum Fencing Co. do repairs on several problem areas on our perimeter
fences. She said a large section of fencing between Sloane Place and Deep Creek
Road is in danger of collapsing due to rotting posts.
Rosenbaum will add new posts next to the old
and anchor them in concrete, plus repair broken pickets and other parts of our
fencing throughout the community. The
project will be completed as quickly as possible this summer.
“This is also the time of
year for us to take care of overgrown and dead tree limbs,” said Ms. Allen,
“and we have hired Squirrely Jack Tree & Lawn Care once again to take of
this for us. At the same time, they will ‘uplift’ lower limbs on certain trees
on the islands to let in more sun and enhance their beauty.” She said this work will also be done in the
coming weeks.
Meanwhile our lawn service, Year-Round Landscaping,
continues to cut our grassy sections weekly, and spray for weeds whenever
weather permits. “And thanks to several volunteers, the beautiful annuals
planted at three different areas survived the extreme hot we endured in May, “
said Ms. Allen. Homeowners who regularly
watered the flowers during that hot spell included Ann Turner, Sarah Krause,
Linda White, Lorraine Winall, and Ms. Allen.
A meandering
property line? Go figure!
The recent land survey
done to locate Stratford Manor’s property line behind the unfenced portion of
Sloan Place produced a bit of a surprise:
the line winds and turns like a river.
SMA board president John
Gullett said the survey shows a significant portion of the wooded area
separating Stratford Manor and the Pinecroft Apartments is on SMA
property. “It starts out on Wellesley
Drive about 45 feet farther east than we thought,” he said. “Then it curves in
closer to the rear of several units before veering off into the woods toward
the end.”
He said the largest
section belonging to Stratford Manor is bordered by the existing fence on the
northern end of the woods. “It’s really a lovely natural setting, and the board
decided to preserve it instead of opening it up to landscaping. “
Landscaping Committee
Chair Nancy Allen said knowing where the property line is located will have
only a minor effect on the lawn service work.
“We may cut some tall grass and weeds around the edges of the large
wooded area, or clear leaves from the hedges along what we thought was the
property line,” she said. “But most of the work will be minor.”
Mr. Gullett lamented that
some people have dumped grass clippings and other trash along the edge of the
wooded areas, “which really detracts from the beauty of it all.” He urged
residents in that area to keep an eye out for anyone tossing debris, and to
report them to our property management company.
He said there are no plans to erect a fence.
Inspections prompt
numerous fixes
Stratford Manor’s spring
architectural inspections spotted over 60 violations, considerably more than a
year ago. On the plus side, a little over a month later some 72 percent of them
were either corrected or slated for correction.
Satori Gregorakis, SMA’s architectural
compliance chair, conducted both the initial round of inspections and the
follow-up trips on June 10-11, and said he was pleased with the high degree of
compliance.
“It was obvious to me that
our residents took these notices seriously,” he said, “and with very little
complaining.” He said that many issues this time around involved the back of
the units, especially with debris and dirty surface mold on sheds.
“As our townhomes get older, this inspection process
becomes even more important to the owners, as well as to the community,” he
said. “Good maintenance really makes a difference in the overall beauty of our
beloved Stratford Manor.” He added that
he continues to be impressed with how well most gardens and flower beds are
maintained.
No solution yet
for lights on remaining signs
Lighting our entrance sign
at the end of Wellesley Drive last year was easy, since we were able to tap
into a nearby Stratford Manor light pole. But the SMA has struggled to find an
economical way to light the two remaining entrance signs on Wellesley and
Kenilworth Drive.
A major problem is the
power source. Dominion Energy would
charge several thousand dollars to allow us to hook up to their network, and
solar energy offered by two different electrical contractors wouldn’t be cheap,
either.
The next step: board
members voted on June 6 to look into replacing the signs—which are showing
their age—with new signage that incorporates lighting. Stay tuned.
Block party a big success;
more coming
The SMA-sponsored block
party held on May 18 in the back section of Wellesley Drive was, in some respects,
a test of our residents’ interest in being part of our community. “We received
very few RSVPs early on,” said Katie Johnston, who organized the event in her
role as social and welcome committee chair. “Then, in the last day or two
before the party, a flood of people called or emailed that they were coming.”
In the end, 35-40
residents showed up for food, games, and good company on a beautiful spring
afternoon. Attendees mingled with neighbors while enjoying homeowner Neal
Shawen’s grilled hamburgers and hot dogs. “Neil was terrific,” said Ms.
Johnston. “He stepped in and volunteered to handle the cooking at the last
minute, and it worked out great.”
SMA president John Gullett
commended Ms. Johnston at the board’s June 6 board meeting, stating that “the
event reflected well on the board’s efforts to build more community spirit
among residents.”
Planning will begin soon
on a fall event—possibly a chili cook-off-- as well as a holiday gathering in
December. If you would like to volunteer to help, please contact Ms. Johnson at
kjohnston813@gmail.com, or phone at 703-477-2243.
Trash
Pickup Schedule
June 18—Trash only
June 25—Trash, recycling & bulk
July 2—Trash only
July 9—Trash, recycling & bulk
July 16—Trash only
July 23—Trash, recycling & bulk
July 30—Trash only
August 6—Trash, recycling & bulk
August 13—Trash only
August 20—Trash, recycling & bulk
August 27—Trash only
September 4—Weds. pickup due to holiday. Trash, recycling & bulk
September 10—Trash only
September 17—Trash, recycling & bulk
September 24—Trash only
Trash receptacles should
be curbside for collection no earlier than 3pm on Monday and removed by 6pm
Wednesday.
