Engineering firm hired to guide work on roads, other infrastructure needs
SMA Board members voted at their Dec. 9 meeting to hire TAM Consultants, a Virginia engineering company, to help develop a master plan for addressing Stratford Manor’s infrastructure needs.
“The Reserve Study we received last month gave us a general sense of what needs to be done with our roads, curbs, etc. and roughly when,” said President John Gullett. “Now the real work begins, and we need some professional help to guide us through the intricacies of the planning and actual work.”
The Reserve Study, which is commissioned every five years, was conducted by DLM Architects over this past summer. It concluded that the overall condition of our community’s roads and parking spaces is “variably poor” and has a remaining life of only three years.
The study’s authors also estimated that the community’s perimeter fencing has a remaining life of three years, but rated curbs, gutters and sidewalks in “variably good” ( i.e., some good, some not so good) condition. Analysis of our lighting, community signage and storm water system was also part of the study, with no significant problems found.
More importantly, said Mr. Gullett, “the study’s estimates of the cost of repairs overall suggests that we may have adequate reserves to address the issues—assuming we plan and execute smartly.”
The SMA’s Infrastructure Repair/Replace Committee, headed by Bob Lucas, will interface with TAM and oversee the projects. “It’s important to understand that we will be developing a multi-year plan,” said Mr. Lucas, “and that there will undoubtedly be surprises. That’s why we wanted the engineers to give us a hand."
TAM’s first step will be to draft a layout plan for the Committee to follow, and to develop bid documents and specifications for the work planned. The Committee hopes to have work under way by next Spring.
The SMA board of directors voted at their Dec. 9 meeting to ask Stratford Manor homeowners to consider a proposal to restrict the number of homes in the community that can be rental properties.
“We recognize that this issue is controversial,” said President John Gullett, “ but we felt it was time to put the idea out there and let the owners decide if they want to limit this activity.” He added that a large majority of respondents in the Association’s recent owner survey said they were in favor of restrictions, prompting the board to take this latest action.
The Association’s bylaws do not limit the number of homes that can be rented, and the number of rental units has increased in recent years. In 2017, there were 27; today there are 30, or 23 percent. Proponents of a cap contend that having a large number of rentals can make it difficult for buyers to get financing, and that rental units typically suffer more wear and tear than owner-occupied homes.
The Governing Documents Committee, chaired by Donna Groller, will work with the SMA’s attorney to develop a proposed bylaws change that will spell out a specific rental cap and any “grandfathering” (exemption) provisions. “We don’t have an exact timetable.” Said Ms. Groller, “but we do know we want to get the proposed change in the hands of owners in 2021.”<
Leaves, leaves everywhere…What to do?
Year Round Landscaping (YRL) is busy this month
gathering up the enormous quantities of leaves that fell in the common areas.
If you are tempted to add your own leaves to those piles, don’t do it!
Leaves that have landed in your yard or patio are yours and yours alone to deal with. “YRL’s contract does not include picking up individual owners’ leaves,” said Nancy Allen, Landscaping Committee Chair. “They are considered your property, just like any other trash you may have. So you need to bag them and put them in your trash can or on the curb.”
She said that when the landscaper spots owners’ leaves in the common areas, “they won’t pick them up unless the Association agrees to pay extra.” In addition, the landscaper will report the violators to Abbitt.
The landscaper has already reported that its leaf machine stopped working recently when it tried to pick up leaves that were wet because they had been piled up on someone’s patio. “We are asking for every owner to take responsibility for picking up and disposing of their own leaves,” added Ms. Allen.
President’s Corner
We are now in the busy holiday season, as anyone who has driven in town lately can confirm. But it’s also a time to pause and count our blessings for surviving another year. Politics were at a fever pitch all year, and there were winners and losers on Nov. 5. But our wonderful democracy is steering us to another peaceful transition of power in Washington. That’s truly a blessing.
The coronavirus caused all of us to hunker down and try to stay safe as the nightmare dragged on. And now the vaccines that will end this dark period are being approved and distributed to those who need it the most, as we speak. It may take a few months for all of us to get our shots, but it’s still a blessing.
And Stratford Manor is intact, lovely as ever and filled with caring neighbors who go out of their way to help all of us when we need it. As noted elsewhere in this issue, your board is busy preparing for 2021, including seating a new board member, electing officers, setting meeting dates, and planning a comprehensive response to the newest Reserve Study. It’s truly a blessing that we have so many caring owners who unselfishly volunteer their time and energy to this effort.
Having said all that, we may not be moving fast enough for some of you. And that is fair criticism. But we take our responsibilities seriously, and we believe that we are moving forward in a responsible way—one that will best serve our community’s long-term interests.
On behalf of the entire board,
have a wonderful Christmas and a happy New Year!
--John Gullett, President
News Briefs
Board seats filled—The Annual Homeowners Meeting was historic for its first-ever virtual meeting via Zoom, but its main purpose was traditional: the election of three directors to the SMA board for new three-year terms. Current board members John Gullett and Satori Gregorakis were reelected, and Lisa Hall, a first-time board member, was elected to the third seat.
Ms. Hall has lived in Stratford Manor for several years, but this was her first attempt at getting involved with the Association’s leadership. “I have great respect for the owners who served on the board over the years, “ said Ms. Hall. “Because of them, we have a wonderful community. Now, it’s my turn to help."
The board also established its 2021 bi-monthly meeting schedule, beginning Feb. 10.
What to do with those holiday pumpkins!—Stratford Manor owner Barb Lucas wants to spread the word: “Don’t throw out your pumpkins and decorative squash after the holidays,” she pleaded. “The SPCA/Petting Zoo on J. Clyde Morris Blvd. will accept them as food for their animals!” Great idea!
Trash Pickup Schedule
Dec.
15— Trash only
Dec.
22—Recycling, bulk pickup & trash
Dec.
29— Trash only
Jan.
5*— Recycling, bulk pickup & trash
Jan.
12— Trash only
Jan.
19*—Recycling, bulk pickup & trash
Jan.
26—Trash only
Feb.
2—Recycling, bulk pickup & trash
Feb.
9—Trash only
Feb.
16*—Recycling, bulk pickup & trash
Feb.23*—Trash
only
If your container or bulk waste was missed during collection, call 757-933-2311 within two days.
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.
