President’s Corner
When your Stratford
Manor Association board came together on Feb. 12 for its first meeting of the
new year, there was a noticeable sense of both relief and optimism among our
nine directors:
--“Relief” because we have, for the most part,
put a tumultuous year behind us. There are still some end-of-the-year loose
ends, but Abbitt Management has guided us through an orderly process for
closing out the old year.
--”Optimism” because 1) we
entered 2020 with a very healthy balance sheet; 2) we now have a very strong
new board fully seated (the last new addition was Bob Lucas, who came aboard in
December); 3) we added two new committees (See news item on Page 3); and 4) we
formally adopted some very meaningful 2020 board goals to guide us.
We are now focused on the challenges of the
new year, and we believe we have all the resources we need to make it our best
year ever. Our ambitious goals reflect that optimism. For instance, we will
shortly engage a consulting engineer who will help us develop a master plan for
infrastructure work (road repairs and paving, sidewalk and curb repairs, etc)
and finally launch Phase 1 of what we anticipate will be a multi-year project.
Engaging a consultant for
this planning makes perfect sense this year, since we are required by law to
have an independent and comprehensive inspection and review of our
infrastructure needs in 2020. This new study, which will give us the estimated
cost of repair or replacement of major common-area components over the next
five years, is aimed at making certain that the association is setting aside
enough “replacement” funds to finance these costs.
The last such study,
completed in early 2016, calls for us to deposit a total of $15,089 into our
replacement reserve funds this year. Our modest increase in owner assessments
for 2020 is allowing us to set aside more--a total of $19,838.
The board’s other 2020
goals include conducting a comprehensive review of our governing documents,
development of a policy on short-term rentals (e.g., Airbnbs), continuation of
efforts to build a heightened sense of community among residents, and
beautification of common areas as our budget permits.
In short, we are off and
running in the new year—focused on continuing our efforts, individually and as
a board, to maintain and perhaps even improve the quality of life in Stratford
Manor for all of our residents.
With your cooperation and
support, we CAN make a difference!
--John Gullett, President
Save the date: free
block party May 16
Reminded of last year’s
highly successful neighborhood block party, the SMA board approved Social and
Welcome Committee Chairperson Katie Johnston’s request to stage a comparable
outdoor event this spring. This year’s
party will be held on Saturday, May 16—typically great weather for an outdoor
event!
“We haven’t worked out the
details,” said Ms. Johnston, “but we hope to exceed last year’s attendance,
since word got around about the benefits of enjoying good food and conversation
with neighbors at a SMA-sponsored block party.”
Last spring’s event was
held in mid-May in the large common area behind several Wellesley units. It
attracted 35-40 residents who enjoyed grilled hamburgers, hot dogs and
sides—and games. “It was a great opportunity for residents to meet more of
their neighbors,” said Ms. Johnston. “The feedback was all positive.”
Details of the May 16 party will be announced well before
the event. All Stratford Manor residents and owners and their families are
invited, at no cost to attendees.
Landscapers gearing up for
busy spring
It probably doesn’t look
like it to most residents, but spring is fast approaching, and Year Round
Landscaping (YRL) is already at work tackling items on its spring checklist.
As usual for this time of
year, YRL is spending the rest of February and into March trimming crepe
myrtles and various grasses, fertilizing the common-area grass, spraying for
weeds and putting down mulch.
Landscaping Committee chairperson Nancy Allen said she and
YRL are hoping that we dodged serious winter weather again this year. “But we
remain prepared to deal with whatever comes our way,” she added.
Rain storm fells
tree, overloads drainage
Strong rain storms moving
over Stratford Manor in mid-February brought down at least one large tree in
the natural area behind Sloane Place and created a small lake in the common
area between Sloane and Wellesley Drive.
Luckily, no damage was reported.
Landscaping Committee
Chairperson Nancy Allen said one tall tree fell neatly between two other trees
without hitting anything. A second tall tree had slammed into an adjoining tree
and hung up on its branches. This “leaning
tree” created a hazardous situation that prompted the board to consider it an
emergency.
“We contacted Squirrely
Jack (Tree and Lawn Care) and they came out immediately to investigate,” said
Ms. Allen. “They agreed that it needed to come down right away, and scheduled
its removal as soon as they completed work on an emergency already under way at
another location.”
It should be removed in a
few days, said Ms. Allen. “Until then, we urge everyone to stay away from that
area until it no longer poses a threat.” If it does fall, it will not hit any
structures.
At the same time, a major
drain behind 91 Wellesley Drive backed up enough to fill the entire common
area— in part due to rocks covering the drain opening. “A resident reported
seeing neighborhood kids one day moving around the large rocks surrounding the
opening,” said Ms. Allen. “This was a
potentially serious problem that, thankfully, we are correcting right away.”
She said YRL, who is doing the work on that drain, has been
asked to inspect the other drains in our community to see if they have any
obstructions, and to set up a schedule for future drain inspections.
Solar light passes
test; Phase 2 OK’d
Responding to residents’
complaints about the darkness of the entrance to Sloane Place at Wellesley
Drive, the SMA board late last year installed on a test basis a solar flood
light aimed at the entrance sign. The good news: the light actually works most
days, despite a warning by our contractor that it might not. The bad news: it needs strengthening to make
it bright enough for everyone to see it.
“Later this year we hope
to revisit our plans to replace the entire signage with signs that have
built-in lighting,” said SMA President John Gullett. “For now, we are
attempting to provide temporary lighting that’s affordable—and that means
solar.”
At its February 12
meeting, the board approved the purchase of additional solar lights to boost
the lighting at Sloane and add lighting to the only remaining unlit sign, on
Kenilworth Drive near Deep Creek Road.
To hold down costs, board members will purchase and install
the lights themselves. Mr. Gullett said we should see the new lights in the
next few weeks.
Homeowners’ patio
leaves add to cleanup costs
The SMA board had to deal
with an unpleasant surprise in the aftermath of this winter’s final leaf pick
up by its lawn service: large piles of leaves that magically appeared after the
crew had gone.
“Year Round Landscaping
(YRL) informed us in January that the
piles were not their responsibility and that we would have to pay an additional
cost to have them picked up,” said SMA president John Gullett. “We realized—too
late—that some homeowners apparently thought it would be okay to rake their
patio and flower bed leaves into the common areas.
“Unfortunately, we
couldn’t be certain which units the leaves came from, so we had to fork over
nearly $1,200 of association funds to clean it all up.”
Mr. Gullett speculated
that some residents may not realize that they are responsible for picking up
and disposing of leaves on their property, either in their trash cans or in
clear bags for regular curbside pickup. “Our contract with YRL does not cover
removal of leaves on homeowners’ properties,” he explained.
He said the costly
incident prompted the board to commit to doing a better job next fall in
reminding residents to pick up their own leaves.
“With everyone’s cooperation,” he said, “we can continue to
maintain a well-kept look in our community without incurring unnecessary
expenses.”
Board appoints
committee leaders
The SMA board filled two
committee chair vacancies at its Feb. 12 meeting, giving the association a full
slate of committee leaders for 2020.
Donna Groller, who was
elected to the board last November, has been appointed chairperson of the newly
named Governing Documents Committee (formerly called Rules and Regulations).
Bob Lucas, who joined the
board in December, heads up the newly created Infrastructure Replacement/Repair
Committee. This new committee will oversee the development and implementation
of a master plan for infrastructure work (roads, storm drains, fences, curbs,
etc.). Mr. Lucas’s group will also coordinate the 2020 updating of the association’s
reserves study (See President’s Corner on Page 1).
“Ms. Groller’s experience as a human resources executive
will prove invaluable as she and her committee tackle a comprehensive review of
the association’s articles of incorporation, bylaws and other governing
documents this year, “ said President John Gullett. “And Mr. Lucas’s skills as
an Air Force officer and Defense Department consultant will ensure that we get
maximum benefit from our infrastructure studies.”
Reappointments to
committee chairs for 2020 include: Linda Wahlert, Nominating Committee; Satori
Gregorakis, Architectural Committee; Nancy Allen, Landscaping Committee; and
Katie Johnston, Social & Welcome Committee.
Annual Owners’
Meeting date set
The annual meeting of the
Stratford Manor Association’s owners will be held on Wednesday, Nov. 18, at
Christ United Methodist Church on Deep Creek Road.
The SMA board settled on
the date after reviewing last year’s meeting results. SMA President John
Gullett said the shift to a November timeframe from the traditional October
dates was necessary in 2019 because of the change in property managers. “But we
felt like the later date gave us additional valuable time to more accurately
report on the year’s accomplishments and shortfalls.”
He said meeting materials will be sent out with the usual
proxy mailing in early November.
Trash Pickup Schedule
February 25—Trash only
March 3—Recycling, bulk pickup & trash
March 10— Trash only
March 17— Recycling, bulk pickup & trash
March 24— Trash only
March 31— Recycling, bulk pickup & trash
April 7— Trash only
April 14— Recycling, bulk pickup & trash
April 21— Trash only
April 28—Recycling, bulk pickup & trash
May 5— Trash only
May 12— Recycling, bulk pickup & trash
May 19— Trash only
May 27—Weds pickup due to holiday. Recycling, bulk
pickup & trash
If your container was
missed during collection, call 757-933-2311.
Trash and recycling
receptacles should be curbside no earlier than the evening before scheduled
collection day and removed from the street by the morning after collections.
Bulk trash, which is
collected on the same schedule as recycling, may be put out the weekend before
scheduled collection.
