October-November
2023 Edition
WORK BEGINS ON RESTRIPING AND RENUMBERING PARKING LOT SPACES:
If you see painters adding fresh, new stripes and numbers to parking lots in another section of Stratford Manor, be patient. They will get to your parking lot soon.
B&R Lot Clearing began work in mid-October on the complete relocating of numbers on parking spaces in the large repaved lot on Kenilworth. “Instead of reworking the paint on the curbs,” said Bob Lucas, chairman of the Infrastructure Committee, “the Board decided to paint space numbers on the asphalt near the rear of the spaces. This way, emergency vehicles and visitors will be able to quickly locate the right space, even if a vehicle is parked there.”
B&R will be working on neighborhood sections that may encompass only two or three buildings at a time. Residents will be given two days’ notice to prepare for work in their lot. “This will allow residents to more easily find alternative parking when work is going on in their lot,” said Mr. Lucas. “B&R is very service oriented, and has set up a schedule that should minimize inconveniences to our residents.”
The contractor has already patched a dozen or more potholes in the roadways as part of the contract. “This will help extend the life of our paved areas,” Mr. Lucas explained.
Barney Carr, owner of the contracting firm doing the work, said the process of doing neighborhoods one at a time will take longer, “but we are not racing the clock. Cold temperatures will not affect our work. Our only weather concern is moisture.”
The patching and painting
project will cost the Association a little over $11,000. “Not cheap,” said Mr.
Lucas, “but we think it’s something that all of our residents will appreciate.”◾
MEET THE BOARD CANDIDATES:
By Madoline Wallace, Chairperson, Nominating Committee
We have three (3) positions opening up on the SMA Board in November, and three (3) candidates have filed the necessary paperwork to run for election by owners at the Annual Owners' Meeting on November 15th.
The candidates are:
Betty Blackburn, resident owner of 178 Wellesley for 4 years. Betty is up for reelection, having served on the Board for the past 3 years. She currently chairs the Hospitality/Welcome Committee. Betty wants to return to the Board to ensure we have a well-run community. She firmly believes in the Stratford Manor community and wants to help it survive.
Stephen DiPersio, resident owner of 144 Kenilworth for 8 years. Stephen wants to join the Board to help the community and keep things in order. He works in IT and gets along quite well with people. He is a problem solver who knows the importance of looking at all sides of an issue and being respectful of the opinions of others.
Rick Leib, owner of 139 Wellesley for 6 months. Although Rick has owned his unit for a short period of time, he is no stranger to Stratford Manor. His father was the previous owner of 139 Wellesley for 13 years. Rick and his wife, Lori, plan to spend their retirement years occupying the unit. He wants to join the Board to help keep up the standards that have been achieved. He comes to the Board with a background in residential construction.
All three were recognized as
candidates for Board seats by the current Board at its Oct. 11 meeting.
However, additional nominations may be made from the floor at the upcoming
Annual Meeting.◾
Board Schedules an Organizational Meeting After Owners' Meeting:
The election of up to three new board members at the Annual Owners Meeting on Nov. 15 will be followed this year by an organizational meeting of the new board for 2024.
The purpose of the additional meeting will be to elect new officers, so that there will be no gap in the Association’s leadership between the Owners’ Meeting and the Board’s regular Dec. 13 meeting.
This change was prompted by the President John Gullett’s retirement. Mr. Gullett, who has been serving as the HOA’s president since 2017, is not running for reelection. “Normally this hasn’t been an issue,” said Mr. Gullett. “But my authority will end when the Owners’ Meeting is over,” he said. “ Then Abbitt will need to begin immediately working with my successor, and with the Association’s banks to update bank signature cards for the new officers. “ Since the meeting’s sole purpose is to elect officers for the new year, it is expected to be brief.◾
Trash pickup schedule:
Oct. 17— Trash only; Oct. 24-- Recycling, bulk
pickup & trash;
Oct. 31—Trash
only ; Nov. 7--Recycling, bulk pickup & trash;
Nov. 14—Trash only; Nov. 21—Recycling, bulk
pickup & trash; Nov. 28--Trash only. Dec. 5—recycling, bulk pickup &
trash; Dec. 12—Trash only; Dec. 19—recycling, bulk pickup & trash.◾
More tips for repelling those pesky rodents:
Some Stratford Manor owners are reporting progress in fighting off rodents that invaded their home or patio this past summer, but the HOA continues to receive reports of problems in some neighborhoods throughout the community. As a public service, here are some tips—some mentioned in previous issues—that can be helpful in these efforts:
--Make sure your exterior does not have gaps where insects or wildlife can enter your home. Even the smallest crack or hole can serve as an access point.
-Hire a reliable pest control company to provide regular service. They can serve as your first line of defense through the use of bait boxes, traps, and pesticide chemicals. These technicians are experts at helping you effectively battle the unwanted rodents and insects.—including making sure that you have sealed off all gaps in the exterior.
--Make sure all trash and recycling bins are tightly covered. A trash bin overflowing with garbage is an open invitation to rodents and other wildlife that a buffet just opened—as is a dirty barbecue grill.
--Avoid putting out anything that rodents or insects might find tasty. Unfortunately for bird and cat lovers, this means not leaving out bird seed or food for squirrels, cats or raccoons. Even cooking oil poured on the ground behind your unit will be seized on as a feast. And don’t overlook those piles of dog poop. Rodents and other critters love them.
--Consider using pine tags, or needles, in your garden instead of mulch. Roaches and other outside pests love making nests in traditional mulch. Some experts believe that pine straw will give you all the benefits without the bugs. Regardless of the type of mulch you use, be sure you don’t compact it or put it up against the exterior of your home. Create a barrier of pea gravel or some other material.
Above
all else, remember that homeowners are responsible for making their homes
rodent-proof. And the most effective key to success is
getting your neighbors to join in and take all the steps you are taking. Unless
every home in your building participates,
you are likely to be in for a long battle.◾
Street lights in Wellesley section out for days; Was it lightning?
Owners in the neighborhood just past the entrance sign at the end of Wellesley heard a loud clap of thunder during a recent storm, and noticed that both the signage spotlight and four street lamps went dark. They reported the outage to Abbitt Management, and electricians from Atlantic Wire came out to Stratford Manor expecting the worst.
The search for the source of the problem took three days, but it was finally located: a short in the wire leading to one of the lamps. “We were all relieved to learn that the light fixtures were not damaged by lightning,” said SMA President John Gullett. “And I must applaud the patience of anxious homeowners. And while here, the electricians also converted two of the old sodium lights to LED.”◾
Board approves 2024 Budget
The SMA Board has approved the Association’s operating budget for 2024, including a dues increase.
“Raging inflation has had a major impact on our expenses,” said Bob Lucas, SMA Treasurer. This prompted the Board to order a special reserve study by an outside architectural firm, to update their three-year-old projections on the cost of replacing our roads and other infrastructure elements in future years.
“Our consultants came back with a recommendation to increase our annual contribution to the replacement reserves by thousands of dollars,” said Mr. Lucas. “Our current level of income from dues is simply not enough to absorb this increase.”
He noted that the Association’s replacement reserves are well-funded--$283,000 at the end of September. “But the newly projected costs for future infrastructure work means we have to set aside more funds-- for work that will help increase the property values of our owners’ homes.”
The dues increase—only
the second in five years—amounts to $82 more annually, or $41 more per each
semi-annual payment. This is the equivalent of $6.83 more per month.◾
Can’t we all be a little more neighborly?
Admit it—There’s something about your neighbor you don’t like. Maybe he leaves his trash bin out for days. Or she has a messy porch that’s an eyesore in an otherwise beautiful neighborhood. And those leaves he blows out from his patio onto the common area out back!
Those who volunteer to serve on the SMA’s
Board are in a position to help shape reasonable
policies, but every resident of Stratford Manor can have a positive influence
on the quality of life we all enjoy.
Here are a few examples to think about:
Know the schedules for trucks that pick up trash, bulk waste and recycling. We’ve all seen those blue bins out on the curb on a trash-only week. That’s not too bad, but when someone puts out bags of vegetation or old furniture when the bulk waste truck isn’t coming for another week, we all have to stare at for days . Also check the City’s website for what’s bulk waste—or your pile may just sit there!
Put numbers on your bins. If your neighbor knows you’re sick, she may put your bin away for you—but only if she knows which one is yours.
Do not blow your patio’s leaves out into the common area. They are your responsibility, and must be bagged (clear bags only for pickup), or dumped into your trash bin.
For security, now that days are shorter, turn on your porch lights
(and any rear lights) nightly.◾
SMA Board:
John Gullett (2023) President
Donna Groller (2025) Vice President
Bob Lucas (2024) Treasurer
Frances Hodges (2025) Secretary
Nancy Allen (2024)
Betty Blackburn (2023)
Lisa Hall (2023)
Doug Marmon (2025)
Madoline Wallace (2024)
Association Website:
stratfordmanornn.blogspot.com
Contact the Board via email:
stratfordnn@gmail.com or through Abbitt
Property Management:
Abbitt Management
Ms. Tricia Wells, Manager
Email: associations@abbitt.com
Telephone: 757-874-4900
Board Meeting Dates: Annual Meeting is November 15th * to be held at Christ United Methodist Church beginning at 7:00 p.m.
Regular Board Meeting is December 13th which will be held at the office of Abbitt Management Company starting at 5:30 p.m.
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