April/May 2021

Sloane beautification work wins Raves--and help-- from residents

The decision to launch a major beautification project on the Sloane Place median earlier this year turned out to be a good one, based on positive feedback from residents throughout Stratford Manor. The work, featuring  two visually connected groups of trees and strategically located decorative grasses, was completed by Year-Round Landscaping in March.

But a lack of rainfall for several days after the planting threatened to scuttle the work—until several residents answered the call by Landscaping Committee Chairwoman Nancy Allen to bring out the water hoses and provide some emergency relief.  

“Not having an irrigation system, we designed the work around drought-resident grass,” said Ms. Allen, “but the lack of rainfall put a lot of this new vegetation on life support.”

Several residents pitched in, borrowing hoses and giving permission to use their water to give the median a thorough watering. Leading the effort was owner Neal Shawen, who borrowed hoses from a church and spent two days watering sections of the area that divides the winding two-lane road on Sloane.

Ms. Allen said the volunteers who helped in the effort literally saved the new landscaping. “They truly are our heroes.”  Mr. Shawen rejects the hero label. “I was just trying to help out,” he said. “So far, so good,” he added. “It helps the appearance of our neighborhood a lot.”

Sloane owner Rosalie Grogan said “the new green islands of grass and plants truly enhance the neighborhood. A wonderful improvement—great job!”

Former  board member Linda Wahlert said the improvements add freshness and curb appeal to our community. “Thank you. Well done!”

Annual home inspections due in May; it’s time to pull out your ‘to-do’ list!

Abbitt Management’s annual spring inspections will be conducted in Stratford Manor sometime in May. The inspector, accompanied by a member of the SMA’s Architectural Control Committee, will be looking for peeling paint, broken railings, loose shingles and a host of other exterior issues with your townhouse.

Last year marked the first time that Abbitt conducted these inspections, and they were very comprehensive. A total of 126 units were cited for infractions-- mostly routine maintenance issues.

“We received pushback from some owners last year,” said Architectural Control Committee Chair Satori Gregorakis, “but most  just got busy fixing problems like loose gutters or broken screens. It was encouraging to see such a positive attitude on their part. Most owners understand that we are all in this together, and that one home in disrepair can adversely affect the beauty and value of all our homes in Stratford Manor.”

Mr. Gregorakis said there was some confusion last year over the interpretation of the forms sent to homeowners, largely because they had numerous hard-to-read handwritten notes on them. “The Committee took that complaint seriously and improved the form so that there is less reason for the inspector to write notes on it.” He added that last year’s inspections included taking photos and making other notes needed to set up an electronic file on each townhouse. “Now that Abbitt has this detailed historical information, the inspections should go faster and be more accurate.”

He explained that the Board overruled some inspector citations last year due to the lack of historical data and the inspector’s newness to the community. “But we will be expecting the same level of compliance this year.” He could not give an exact date for the inspections, and urged owners to begin preparing for them as soon as possible. Among other things, owners can check the list of annual inspection items on the Architectural Compliance Page on this site. 

President’s Corner

Progress continues on the SMA board’s major projects. The Governing Documents Committee received the  board’s approval at its April 14 meeting of plans to introduce an amended key legal document for owner approval. This effort should be launched sometime this spring. At the same time, the Infrastructure Maintenance Committee is finalizing its Request for Proposals documents and hopes to seek contractor bids for repaving and other work within the next week or two. Details on both of these projects will be forthcoming.

What a wonderful time of the year! Right on time, spring is giving us beautiful azaleas, dogwoods, roses and green grass, lifting the spirits of all of us in Stratford Manor—especially the dog walkers who had to brave the cold all winter. Thanks to Year Round Landscaping and the watchful eye of Nancy Allen, our common areas are looking great. Adding to that great feeling is the beauty of the median on Sloane Place—spruced up earlier this year and saved from drought conditions by caring residents.

With warm weather arriving, so does the desire to invite family and friends over for a get-together. Many medical experts say it’s too soon to relax the rules we have been living with for the past year or more. But if you do, be considerate of your neighbors. First, make sure you direct your guests to on-street parking and not let them block our roads and parking spots by parking on our curbs. Second, make sure any parties have a reasonable ending time and that your music isn’t loud enough to rattle your neighbors’ windows.

If a neighbor’s loud party keeps you awake late at night, call the Newport News Police Dept.’s non-emergency number, which is 247-2500. Explain the situation and ask them to send out some officers to try to break up the party. According to a police spokeswoman I spoke with, the police will come out as soon as possible. If they are tied up in a true emergency, you may have to wait awhile. But they will eventually respond. Making loud noises that prompt neighbor complaints is a violation of the City’s noise ordinance, if it occurs between the hours of 10 p.m. and 8 a.m . If a car is blocking your parking space, you can report it to our towing service, Mid-Atlantic Towing, at 406-9400, and they should respond with a tow truck.

As for those noisy contractors who start their saws and concrete mixing machines early in the morning, you are out of luck. Surprisingly, there is no City ordinance regulating the start time.  

                                                                          --John Gullett, President

Painting this spring? New guide is a must!

If you’re planning  to paint your shutters, trim boards or some other exterior part of your home this spring, be sure to read the Association’s newly developed “painting manual”.  This guide, created by the Architectural Control Committee, contains valuable information on such things as when you need to seek approval, what colors you  can choose from, and where you can get a good deal on your paint.

“The committee devoted numerous hours to researching the history of the Association’s rules about paint colors,” said President John Gullett, “and took an inventory of the colors now on homes in Stratford Manor. They have done a great job in consolidating all relevant information into one concise document and modifying a few rules to make it easier for everyone.”

Among other things, the Committee identified 22 Colonial Williamsburg colors now in use in Stratford Manor and established simple rules for using them.

Mr. Gullett said a printed version of the guide will be available soon, and an online version has been added to the Association’s website here.

Trash Pickup Schedule 

April 27--Recycling, bulk pickup & trash

May 4— Trash only

May 11—recycling, bulk pickup & trash

May 18— Trash only

May 25— Recycling, bulk pickup & trash

June 2— Trash only (Wednesday pickup due to holiday).

June 8— Recycling, bulk pickup & trash

June 15-- Trash only

 June 22—recycling, bulk pickup & trash

June 29—Trash only

 If your container was missed during collection, call 757-933-2311 within 24 hours. 

Trash and recycling receptacles should be curbside no earlier than the evening before scheduled collection day and removed from the street by the morning of the day after collections.

Bulk trash, which is collected on the same schedule as recycling, may be put out the weekend before scheduled collection. 

February/March 2021

President's Corner 

The Stratford Manor Association’s Board of Directors didn’t hold its first meeting of 2021 until Feb. 10, but we weren’t starting the new year from scratch.

● The Governing Documents Committee was already working with the Association’s outside attorney on modernizing a key legal document that dates back to the 1980’s and no longer meets our needs.

● The Infrastructure Maintenance Committee was guiding our newly retained engineering firm as it began work on a master plan to repair or replace major elements of our infrastructure, including roads, curb, etc.

● The Landscaping Committee spent the month of January working closely with our lawn service to ensure that Fall’s leaves got picked up and, at the same time, helped develop a proposal to beautify Sloane Place’s median.

● The Architectural Control Committee has already taken on the task of researching and redrafting our guidelines for exterior painting of the homes in our community, and it’s a challenging job.

● We also spent time over the holidays and during the frigid winter weather of the past few weeks developing our 2021 goals, culminating in Board approval of a final list at our February meeting. These provide us with an extra-sharp focus on what we want to accomplish this year.

Many of these activities are covered in this issue of your SMA Newsletter. What you won’t see are the many hours of hard work already spent in this new year by the volunteering owners who are Board members and Committee members. We are extremely fortunate to have these dedicated volunteers—your neighbors-- working on behalf of you.

Next time you see one of them, perhaps you should say, “Thank you.” Because of them, our lovely community is as strong and vibrant as ever. 

                                                          — John Gullett, President

Sloane Place median to get facelift

The SMA Board has approved a Landscaping Committee proposal to give the highly visible median on Sloane Place a new look: decorative landscaping designed to enhance the appeal of the two-lane stretch of road in that neighborhood.

Committee Chair Nancy Allen presented the proposal—a concept she and her committee developed in concert with Year Round Landscaping-- to directors at their regular February meeting. “We invested considerable funds a couple of years ago in improving the look of the street frontage strip on Kenilworth Drive, “said Ms. Allen. “Now we want to bring new life to the Sloane neighborhood.”

The landscaping project, which will get under way in the next week or two, will feature two visually connected groups of trees and decorative grasses at strategic locations in the island. The trees will be connected by top soil and mulch.

“This was a challenging project,” said Ms. Allen. “Without an irrigation system, we have been unable to grow grass there so we had to select elements that are drought-resistant.”

Ms. Allen said the cost was affordable and, given the potential for immediate positive impact, the board voted to move ahead with the work.

Fence repairs behind Sloane just became more challenging

The SMA’s latest reserve study estimated that our perimeter fencing was good for another three years, but that may turn out to be too optimistic. Sagging pieces of the fence behind Sloane Place were repaired last fall, but newly weakened sections were discovered late in the year and required additional repairs.

“This was probably the original Stratford Manor fence in that neighborhood,” said Landscaping Committee Chair Nancy Allen, “which means it’s probably over 35 years old. We may have to consider replacing it sooner than expected.” She said the Infrastructure Maintenance Committee will be looking at various options regarding the material to be used in any new fencing erected there, including wood and vinyl.

“It’s important to keep in mind that other sections of our perimeter fencing are in better shape,” said Ms. Allen, “but if possible we would like to settle on a new standard for fencing throughout our entire community before replacing the section on Sloan.”<

Got a beef with a neighbor? Leaving a note rarely works

An angry homeowner sent Abbitt Management a note she found on her door recently—a note that told her to clean up her yard. Unlike the “friendly reminder” letters Abbitt occasionally sends out, this note was unsigned. It’s no surprise that the homeowner resented the message; most of us would. The correct way, and usually more effective, is to send your complaint to Abbitt Management (at associations@abbitt.com), who will put it in the system for reviewing such messages. Plus, you remain anonymous to the other person.

Stratford Manor News Briefs

Landscaping activity— Most homeowners who still had leaves piled on their patios heeded a January request from the Board to pick up the leaves and put them in a bag or in the trash. “We had an issue last year with patio leaves being swept out into the common areas,” said Landscaping Chair Nancy Allen. “The lawn service refused to pick them up last year without our paying extra,” said Ms. Allen. “So we went on the offensive this time and sent a friendly reminder to all owners who still had leaves on their patio. “It must have worked,” she said, “because we haven’t seen a repeat of last year’s violations.”

Meanwhile, Year Round Landscaping is nearly finished with cleaning up the common areas and has started work on trimming the crepe myrtles and pulling weeds. Still to come: applying pre-emergent, and starting mulching.

Legal review of documents under way— Governing documents Chair Donna Groller gave Directors a status report at their Feb. 10 meeting on a major effort to update the Association’s governing documents, beginning with our “Declaration of Covenants, Conditions and Restrictions of Stratford Manor.” This is a fancy name for a core document that must be modernized to conform to current state law and court decisions.

“It’s highly legalistic in nature,” explained Ms. Groller, so we are focusing on coming up with layman’s terms to explain the changes when we take it to the owners.” She said the revisions are necessary to give the SMA clear authority in today’s environment, “but we don’t envision any changes to our current rules.”

Ms. Groller said owners will be asked to vote on the newly redrafted Declarations in the coming weeks, following the roll-out of a communications strategy to explain the revised document and answer any questions.

Engineer launches work on infrastructure project— TAM, the engineering company hired by the SMA board to help develop a master plan for repairing or replacing major elements of our infrastructure, has begun work on a site plan of the community that will serve as a valuable resource as the multi-year project moves forward.

The engineers have been slowed recently due to Covid-19 restrictions, but they have already created a photo album of our road conditions, curbs, and sidewalks.

“They are in the process of developing a layout plan for the Committee to follow,” noted Infrastructure Repair/Replace Committee Chair Bob Lucas. “After this, they will be developing bid documents and specifications for the work we want done.”

 Trash Pickup Schedule 

Feb. 17— Wed. pickup due to holiday--Recycling, bulk pickup & trash

Feb. 23— Trash only

March 2—Recycling, bulk pickup & trash

March 9— Trash only

March 16— Recycling, bulk pickup & trash

March 23— Trash only

March 30— Recycling, bulk pickup & trash

April 6— Trash only

April 13—Recycling, bulk pickup & trash

April 20—Trash only

April 27—Recycling, bulk pickup & trash

 

If your container was missed during collection, call 757-933-2311 within 24 hours. 

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.

December 2020/January 2021

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.

 Owners to decide future of rental policy 

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."               

Officer, Committee Chairs elected—The SMA board elected its 2021 leadership at its Dec. 9 meeting, including one new officer and a new Committee Chairperson. Donna Groller, who has been on the board since 2019, was named Vice President, succeeding retiring board member Linda Wahlert. Linda White, who also came on the board a year ago, was elected Nominating Committee Chair.  The other officer and Committee Chair assignments from 2020 were renewed for another year.

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

 *Tentative dates. City had not released 2021 holiday schedule by press time. 

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.

October/November 2020

 President’s Corner

As you may know, your board has been stymied these past several months by coronavirus concerns that have kept us from conducting regular board meetings.  Thanks to Abbitt Management’s determination to help its HOA clients find a solution, we were finally able to hold a board meeting on Oct. 14—by way of Zoom, a video conferencing service.

This virtual meeting allowed us to vigorously debate and take action on a number of timely issues, several of which are reported on elsewhere in this issue. I am pleased to note that several owners also signed on to participate in our virtual meeting—a first!

Consistent with that new normal, board members decided to go virtual with the upcoming Annual Owners’ meeting on Nov. 18, instead of meeting in person at the church on Deep Creek Road.  Because owners can be nominated for our board from the “floor” at the meeting, we will hold a second meeting on Dec. 1, to complete elections for the three seats needing to be filled. This virtual approach is being taken out of an abundance of caution.

You will be receiving details of these meetings in early November. For now, if you are not familiar with Zoom, I urge you to get with a family member or a neighbor who can help you learn how to log into our annual meeting. We want your participation!!

The board meeting also allowed us to approve a new contract for our landscaping service, okay repairs to the perimeter fence, and discuss a much-needed upgrade to our insurance policy.

Last but not least, we discussed and adopted our annual budget for 2021 without having to impose an increase in the level of owner assessments! That’s good news for all of us!

--John Gullett, President

 New Landscaping Contract Okayed

The SMA Landscaping Committee has forged a new contract with Year-Round Landscaping that more clearly defines what the Association expects from Year Round, while giving the lawn service its first pay raise in four years. The Board approved the new two-year agreement at its Oct. 14 meeting.

Nancy Allen, Chair of the committee, said the increased fee was long overdue, but she and her other committee members wanted to spell out certain service items that have been issues in the past. “For example,” said Ms. Allen, “we gained a commitment from Year Round to frequently trim shrubs and ornamental trees in the common areas, rather than let an area get so overgrown that it requires a special, extra-cost effort.”

The new contract also spells out the procedure for approving a special cleanup after a summer storm or winter snow. The new procedure allows the president to request immediate work on storm debris or snow without getting full board approval. “This ensures that we don’t get put at the back of the line of requests for special help because we took too long to ask,” said Ms. Allen.

Other members of her committee include Linda White, Donna Groller, and Fran Hodges.

Fence repairs needed on Deep Creek side

Sagging sections of Stratford Manor’s perimeter fence facing the homes on Deep Creek Road behind Sloane Place will be repaired by Rosenbaum Fencing, but it’s probably not the last work to be done on that fence in the coming months. Nancy Allen, who coordinates fence work for us, said Rosenbaum can shore up the leaning sections, but warned of possible future problems with other sections near that location.

“We know that some of our fencing is in its last stages of life,” said Ms. Allen, “and we will be addressing this issue soon.” The latest repairs will cost $660.

Lucas is Elected Association’s New Treasurer

John (Bob) Lucas, chairman of the board’s Infrastructure Replacement/Repair Committee, has agreed to take on the additional duties of Association treasurer.  “We are delighted to have Bob overseeing our financial activities,” said President John Gullett. “This appointment speaks to the depth of our current management team.”

Mr. Lucas was elected to fill the treasurer’s position that was vacated recently by Satori Gregorakis.  Mr. Gregorakis will continue as a board member and Architectural Control Committee chairman.

Stratford Manor News Briefs

Board nominee files for seat—Lisa Hall, who lives at 133 Wellesley Dr. in Stratford Manor, has tossed her hat into the ring for the SMA board. A total of three board seats are opening up in November, including the one currently held by Linda Wahlert.

Current board members John Gullett and Satori Gregorakis are running for reelection, and Ms. Hall is seeking the third position.  “Having lived here for 15 years,” said Ms. Hall, “I feel I could be a contributor to Stratford Manor’s community board.”

Under Association rules, additional nominations may be made from the “floor” at the upcoming two-part virtual annual owners meeting on Nov. 18 and Dec. 1, which will be held via Zoom. 

*** 

More trees found to be storm-damaged—At the SMA board’s request, Squirrely Jack has inspected the trees throughout Stratford Manor for damage from the tropical storm that hit us in August. The findings: some $5,000 worth of work is needed to remove a dead tree and several damaged limbs, to thin out a group of trees at the Wellesley Drive entrance to Sloane Place, and to remove a large oak tree behind 154 Wellesley.

Kenneth Keeton, owner of the tree service company, said thinning the cluster of trees at Wellesley and Sloane will help them survive future high winds. “The large oak tree is coming down”, said Nancy Allen, Landscaping Committee chairperson, “because it has numerous dead limbs every year, and has become too expensive to maintain.” 

Squirrely Jack continues to deal with a backlog of customer demands due to storm damage but is expected to get this work done this fall.

***

Reserve study draft received—A first draft of the long-awaited reserve study for Stratford Manor was received shortly after the board’s Oct. 14 meeting, and is now being reviewed by board members. This study, which is done every five years, determines the remaining lifespan of our roads, fences and other infrastructure items. It also estimates the costs of certain items, and calculates whether our Association is setting aside adequate funds for those future costs.

President John Gullett said the board hopes to finalize the report soon so it can be shared with owners at the upcoming annual meeting.

 “Meanwhile,” he said, “our Infrastructure Replacement/Repair Committee, headed by Bob Lucas, is looking for a few good men or women to join his committee to help develop and oversee a long-range plan to make all necessary improvements over the next few years. He is especially interested in volunteers who have experience in engineering work.”  Mr. Lucas can be reached at lucasb@att.net.

Trash Pickup Schedule 

Oct. 27— Recycling, bulk pickup & trash 
Nov. 3— Trash only 
Nov. 10—Recycling, bulk pickup & trash 
Nov. 17— Trash only 
Nov. 24— Recycling, bulk pickup & trash 
Dec. 1— Trash only
Dec. 8— Recycling, bulk pickup & trash 
Dec. 15—Trash only 
Dec. 22—Recycling, bulk pickup & trash 
Dec. 29—Trash only 

If your container was overlooked 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.

August/September 2020

President’s Corner

After learning that the coronavirus was spiking this summer in our area, the  board decided to cancel its August 12 meeting. This is the third-straight board meeting we had to skip. We have discussed with Abbitt the alternatives: virtual or remote meetings, or an in-person meeting that would allow for social distancing. We must try one or the other soon.

Meanwhile, we were able to complete our second owner survey, with over 50 owner responses received. Among other things, we learned that 63% of those who responded feel that hiring Abbitt Management one year ago was an improvement; 85% said they made most of the repairs Abbitt’s inspector cited last spring;  and 36 out of 43 respondents are in favor of a cap on rentals.

These surveys are tremendously helpful to your board, for they give us guidance on what owners consider priorities for our HOA. More later.

What are Top 10 things All new residents should know?

What are some of the things you wish everyone in Stratford Manor would remember to do? We posed that question to SMA board members recently, and came up with the list below. See if you agree.

 Some of us notice that newer residents often commit violations of rules that most of us take for granted. Some are trivial, but others can be downright annoying to the rest of us.

Rather than count on new buyers finding all the do’s and don’ts in the binder they receive before closing, we developed this cheat sheet that focuses on what we see as the common offenses, large and small.  It will be added to the Welcome Basket for newcomers, but we thought all of us could benefit from these reminders. Here they are:

1.       Do not put out your bulk trash prior to the weekend before pickup. Nothing we can think of causes more complaints than a large pile of trash on or near the curb in the wrong week. Neighbors yell “eyesore”, and want somebody to do something about it. It’s easy to get the collection weeks mixed up, but a solution is handy: clip out the trash schedule in each newsletter and tape it to your refrigerator door. It will tell you when the next bulk waste pickup is scheduled (the truck comes every two weeks; the same day as the recycling truck).

2.       Don’t leave your trash or recycling bins out for days at a time. So you follow the schedule and set out your bins on time. But then, you let them linger at the curb for days. Do us all a favor and retrieve your bins by the next morning. It’s a rule. And when you put out your bins, remember to leave 3-4 feet between them. If the truck can’t grab your bin, it won’t get emptied.

3.       If you decide to change your exterior paint colors, get approval before doing it. Most owners appreciate uniformity in the exterior look of homes in our community. Before picking up that paint brush to change the color of your door, windows, porch or trim, submit an architectural review application, downloadable at stratfordmanornn.blogspot.com.  If for no other reason, it will protect you in the case of an error.

4.       Do not allow your visitors to park on the curb. We all recognize the need for contractors doing work in  our community to sometimes park on the curb nearest their customer. Also understandable is the brief stay of a case worker checking on a patient. Otherwise, parking on a Stratford Manor curb is prohibited. That’s because it can be a hazard to others. Curb parking could also result in the offender’s vehicle being towed, so if your visitor needs to find a parking space, direct them to a nearby public street.

5.      Do not use your front porch as a storage area. It may seem inconsequential to you, but if we all stored coolers, tools, and bikes on our front porches, Stratford Manor could pass for a junk yard!

6.      Do not speed anywhere in Stratford Manor. Our speed limit throughout the community is 15 mph. Any faster, you run the risk of hitting seniors walking or children playing. Please slow down! It only takes a couple of minutes more to get where you are going.

7.       If you see a crime being committed, call the police at 911. Sending an email to Abbitt or calling a SMA board member the next morning will be too late. The SMA does not have a police force or security, nor do we have the power to arrest. If you witness something illegal, call 911. That’s what it’s for!  Just keep in mind that violating an SMA rule is not the same as a crime. The police do not enforce SMA rules.

8.       If you have a complaint about a neighbor, contact Abbitt. Sending an emailed complaint to Associations@abbitt.com is the preferred method for registering a complaint about a neighbor or situation. This will ensure that the message gets seen by Abbitt and the appropriate board members.  And please don’t send in hearsay evidence of a violation.  If you are complaining, we assume you witnessed it yourself.

9.       Question about a board decision or activity? Send a note to our Gmail address. If you are unclear about a rule, or want the board to consider an idea of yours, write to the SMA email address, stratfordnn@gmail.com.

10  Last but not least, follow proper dog etiquette.  If you are a dog owner, remember that your pet must be leashed while outside, no matter how cute and friendly you think he is. Also, you are required to pick up any dog waste your pet creates, on your property or in the common areas. That includes your patio, which may be fenced in but becomes a source of offensive odors for your neighbors if dog waste is allowed to sit.  

If you have a pet peeve about your neighbors that you think should be on this list, drop a note to the SMA Newsletter at our email address,stratfordnn@gmail.com. Who knows? We may get enough nominees to do a “Top 10—Part 2” in a future issue.

Stratford Manor News Briefs

Board nominees sought—Nominating Committee Chair Linda Wahlert is looking for at least one good man—or woman—to run for a seat on the SMA board in November. A total of three seats—those currently held by John Gullett, Satori Gregorakis and Ms. Wahlert herself—will be up for grabs at the annual meeting.

But Messrs. Gullett and Gregorakis have informed Ms. Wahlert that they intend to run for reelection, leaving hers as the only seat currently without a candidate. Nominations may be made from the floor for any of the three seats at next November’s meeting, but the nominating process starts now so that the board is assured of enough candidates to fill all vacancies.

If you think you might want to volunteer, contact Ms. Walhert at 570-1296 or at lindawahlert@hotmail.com.

 Latest Reserve Study under way—Virginia law requires home owner associations to conduct a reserve study every five years, largely to ensure that the HOA is setting aside enough reserve funds every year to cover the cost of future repairs and replacement projects. In Stratford Manor’s case,  our current reserve study will serve another important purpose: to help the board decide the order and timing of several infrastructure projects over the next several years.

 President John Gullett said the field inspector for DLM Architects, the firm conducting the new study update, visited the community on August 17. “The physical analysis he conducted is one of two parts of the study,” said Gullett. “The other is a financial analysis that provides information necessary to help us determine if we have sufficient reserves.”  He said the study should be completed by September. 

Storm damages 2 homes

 

When Tropical Storm Isaias hit Hampton Roads on August 4, Stratford Manor residents braced for the worst-- but with two exceptions we dodged a bullet. 

 

Two homes on Wellesley Drive   suffered damaged roofs as large tree branches slammed into their units at about 4 a.m. Thankfully, there were no injuries.

 

The homeowners called their insurance companies to repair their roofs, and the SMA arranged for its landscaping firm and tree service company to clean up the common area and trim the damaged trees.

 

Elsewhere in Stratford Manor, most homes saw the lights flicker but stay on during the storm, and the heavy rain drained away quickly.

 

What was left was tons of storm debris throughout the community—debris that Year Round Landscaping (YRL) began cleaning up the same day as the storm.

 

Nancy Allen, who supervises YRL, said the workers hauled away some five 16-foot trailer loads of debris through August 18. “And that was mostly from the front of the homes,” she said. 

 

At press time, the landscaper was concentrating on cleaning up the smaller branches and other debris, which may take another two trailer loads. “It was a huge amount of storm debris,” said Ms. Allen, “but they will get it done.” 

Owner Spotlight: Barb and Bob Lucas

They are a familiar sight in Stratford Manor: An older couple walking the length of  Wellesley Drive twice a day. But look a little closer and you will see something unusual—they are picking up litter along the road and sidewalks, all the way up to the bus stop on Warwick Boulevard!

“It’s just something we started when we moved in here three years ago,” said Barb Lucas. “We walk for exercise, but the trash thrown on the ground tarnished the beauty of the walk, so we decided to do something about it.” She and her husband, Bob Lucas, carry plastic bags with them to contain all the “treasures” they pick up.  Their finds have included underwear,  a new shirt with tags, and even spent ammunition.    

Barb and Bob, who live at 156 Wellesley Dr., came to the Peninsula in 1984 when Bob was in the Air Force. She operated the Briar Patch tea room in Poquoson years ago, sold it and bought the Boxwood Inn in Lee Hall. She sold that restaurant when they moved into Stratford Manor in 2017.

Bob, who recently retired from consulting work with the Dept. of Defense, joined the SMA board at last November’s owners meeting. He heads up the board’s Infrastructure Replacement/Repair Committee.

“We love it here,” said Bob. “It’s a nice quiet and safe neighborhood, and we have made lots of friends.” And the new shirt they found? She washed it and donated it to Goodwill.

Do you know someone who might make an interesting “Spotlight on Owners” subject? Send your suggestion to stratfordnn@gmail.com. They must be an owner who lives in Stratford Manor. 

Trash Pickup Schedule

Aug. 18—recycling, bulk pickup & trash

Aug. 25—Trash only

Sept. 1—recycling, bulk pickup & trash

Sept. 9—Wed. Pickup due to holiday—Trash only

Sept. 15----Recycling, bulk pickup & trash

Sept. 22---Trash only

Sept. 29---Recycling, bulk pickup & trash

Oct. 6---Trash only

  Oct. 13—recycling, bulk pickup & trash

Oct. 20—Trash only

Oct. 27--Recycling, bulk pickup & trash 

   If your container was missed, call

 757-933-2311 within 24 hours.

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.