President’s Corner
In the previous issue of this Newsletter, I boasted
that your board is off and running in the new year, full of optimism, hope and
aspirations befitting the prevailing spirit of Stratford Manor. That was in mid-February, before the world
changed in the most dramatic way imaginable.
Today we are hunkered down in our homes, with our
children and grandchildren out of school and others in our families either
working from home or not working at all. In an instant, our world has turned
upside down and many of us are too frightened to even go to the grocery store.
I hope all of you are heeding the advice of the
experts on how to minimize your chances of becoming infected by the
coronavirus. I won’t go into the
controversial issues of whether healthy people should wear masks, or whether
our government should have anticipated the severity of the crisis. Chances are
you have had your fill of all the talking heads on TV pontificating about who
should have done what and when it will all end.
Instead, I prefer to focus on the positives. In particular,
I want to make note of the kindness and compassion so many of our neighbors are
showing in this difficult time, and reassure you that your SMA board is continuing
to perform its duties—albeit at a reduced level.
First, I direct you to the various news articles in this
issue of our community newsletter that chronicle activities that are continuing
despite the terrible circumstances.
Further, our landscaping service is keeping up with its regular duties
like mowing, edging, fertilizing and general cleanup—so much so that we are
welcoming spring in our “Sunday best”. Next on their list is mulching and
planting annuals, a reminder to all of us that life goes on.
But the most gratifying development has to do with the
heightened community spirit we can all sense. Instead of saying, “Have a
nice day”, neighbors are saying, “Do you need anything?”, or “How can I help
you?”—and they mean it.
Many of our residents are volunteering their services to
fill the urgent need for proper medical supplies, such as those in a local
church group making face masks for Riverside Hospital health workers. Others
are volunteering at the Food Bank or other agencies dealing with record demand
for their services. I learned just today about a group of neighbors getting
together to help one of their own get his front yard cleared of weeds and ready
for spring. He didn’t ask for the help; they just did it.
Others are putting stuffed bears or rainbow cutouts in
their windows. And many are taking the
time to talk on Face Time or Zoom-- or by phone-- with relatives we haven’t
thought of for awhile, recognizing the importance of family in a time of crisis.
We will get through this, and we will be stronger than ever
before.
— John Gullett, President
Neighborhood block party cancelled
Stratford Manor’s second annual spring block party,
scheduled for May 16, has been cancelled due to the social distancing
requirements of Virginia’s war against the coronavirus.
“We are extremely disappointed that we have to cancel this
fun event,” said Katie Johnston, chairperson of the Social and Welcoming
Committee. “But the governor’s restrictions on mingling are in effect until
June 10, and we don’t want to take any chances on spreading the virus.”
Ms. Johnston said
her committee will be looking at the possibility of an outdoor event in the
fall, but it’s too soon to make those plans. Meanwhile, she added, “I want to
thank all of our residents for their patience. We will be back!”
Board selects firm for reserve study
The SMA board of directors has retained DLM
Architects, the firm that conducted our HOA’s most-recent reserve study, to
conduct a reserve study update in 2020.
As noted in an earlier issue of this newsletter, the
board is required by Virginia law to have an independent and comprehensive
inspection and review of our infrastructure needs every five years. “Since the
last study was in 2015,” said SMA President John Gullett, “we need to make sure
it’s done again sometime this year. And since we know we have to develop a
master plan for addressing our infrastructure needs, we thought it made sense
to get the reserve study done first.”
Bob Lucas, chairman of the newly created
Infrastructure Replacement/Repair Committee, said DLM, a well-respected
architectural firm based in Virginia Beach, was chosen because of its
reputation and because of its familiarity with Stratford Manor. He said the new study is aimed at making
certain that the association is setting aside enough funds to finance the cost
of repair or replacement of such things as roads, fences, sidewalks and curbs.
“But it will also go a long way toward giving us the data we need to develop our
master plan for tackling the improvements we have already identified.”
Barring any
delay due to the coronavirus crisis, the study should be completed sometime
this summer.
Speed-limit
signs posted
As part of the SMA board’s ongoing effort to slow
down speeders, three “15 mph” speed-limit signs have been erected at the main
entrances to Stratford Manor, along with two “children at play” signs. The
permanent signs are intended to make sure that visitors and residents alike
know the speed limit. Until now, the only speed-limit posting was in small
letters on the entrance signs.
“At the same time,” said SMA Treasurer Satori
Gregorakis, “we recognize that children are now utilizing our common areas and parking
lots more after the board liberalized the rules on bikes and scooters, so we
put up the ‘children at play’ signs where we thought it appropriate.”
Meanwhile,
the board continues to seek the City’s help in addressing parking and speeding
issues on the public portion of Wellesley Drive. “There has been a problem
lately with big trucks blocking motorists’ views near our entrance on
Wellesley,” SMA President John Gullett noted, “and we are asking the police for
help.”
Committee
forges ahead in open-air meeting
The SMA’s Governing Documents Compliance Committee
(formerly called Rules and Regulations Committee) -- facing the mammoth task of
reviewing all of the association’s governing documents over the next several
months--refuses to let the coronavirus stand in its way. Donna Groller and her committee organized an
outdoor meeting on Sunday, April 5 in one of the community’s common areas,
where committee members could easily observe the required social distancing.
The committee, which also includes homeowners Nancy Allen,
Linda White, Fran Hodges and Katie Johnson, is charged with reviewing the
association’s bylaws, declaration, and other documents that guide the board in
governing the community. “Most of these documents date back to the 1980s,” said
Ms. Groller, “and our new attorney recommended that we make certain that their
provisions are consistent and up to date.”
Ms. Groller said the committee’s work is not expected to
result in any major policy changes. “However, we will be submitting our work to
members for their approval at the annual owners meeting in November.”
The committee’s
goal is to complete its review by this summer and then present its findings to
the board. This should allow any
necessary redrafting and submission to SMA members prior to the annual meeting.
Spring inspections
coming-- time to spruce up!
Thinking about fixing that broken screen on the back
window? Is your shed looking a little shabby? With spring busting out all over,
now is the time to tackle those issues that detract from a great-looking
townhouse.
Not convinced? Then ponder this: Abbitt Management, our
property management firm, and the Stratford Manor Homeowners Association will
be conducting their annual architectural inspection later in April. They will be looking at the exterior of each
residence, making note of things that violate SMA’s governing documents.
In addition to looking for architectural violations, the
inspectors will be checking the condition of your roof, shutters, windows, patio,
and shed, and whether you are keeping up your garden and flower beds. Residents
found to have maintenance issues will receive a notice from Abbitt Management,
reminding them of the community’s standards.
“We recognize that these are very stressful times,” said
Satori Gregorakis, SMA’s architectural compliance officer, “but the good news
is that residents can all take care of most things that need to be fixed
without violating the government’s stay-at-home order. Plus, it gets you out of
the house!”
Tricia Wells, Abbitt’s community manager, asked that
residents who see the inspectors not interrupt their work by asking questions.
“This is Abbitt’s first inspection of Stratford Manor,” said Ms. Wells, “so we
will be getting photos of each townhouse and taking the time to get familiar
with all the units. Having to stop and converse with homeowners will greatly
lengthen the process—which will increase the cost to your HOA.”
A detailed list of
items subject to inspection can be found under “Architectural Compliance” on
the SMA blog site, stratfordmanornn.blogspot.com.
Trash talk: those
unsightly piles no one likes
Some Stratford Manor residents started their spring
cleaning early last month, much to the dismay of their neighbors. That’s
because piles of old bookcases, soiled carpet and other debris suddenly
appeared on the curb and sat for a week or more—contrary to the community’s
rules on disposing of bulk waste.
As each SMA newsletter issue advises, bulk
waste—essentially trash that won’t fit into a trash bin-- is picked up once
every two weeks (the same day recycling bins are emptied). This trash typically includes furniture,
carpet, mattresses, yard waste, and debris from remodeling or repair work.
Prior to last summer, SMA’s rules required residents to
wait until the day before the scheduled pickup day to put their bulk waste at
the curb. To make it easier for those of us who needed to use a weekend to do
yard work, the SMA board changed the rule in 2019 to allow putting out bulk
waste the weekend before a scheduled pickup day (usually Tuesday).
Lately, some residents seem to have forgotten the HOA rules
on this. “We have had a spike in situations recently where old smelly carpeting
and broken furniture show up on the curb a day or two after the city’s bulk
waste truck rolled through,” said SMA President John Gullett. “That means the
rest of us have to put up with it for nearly two weeks.”
“If a neighbor knows who
did it,” Mr. Gullett said, “we talk with the offender and ask them to take it
to the dump or move it behind their unit until the proper time. More often than not, they express surprise
that there is a rule—or even a schedule! Unfortunately, many times we don’t
know who put it out.”
Mr. Gullett remarked that one unsightly pile of trash on
Wellesley Drive was so offensive that the neighbors took up a collection and
paid a local handyman to carry it off to the dump.
Nancy Allen, the SMA’s Landscaping Committee chair, said
the trash also interferes with the lawn service’s work, and kills the grass if
left there too long. “Bulk trash should
be placed in the gutter next to the curb,” she said, “but some places are so
narrow that you have to put it on the common area. That’s when it becomes a
problem for the grass.”
Mr. Gullett reminds offenders that each issue of the
Newsletter contains a schedule of pickup times so residents can plan when to
put their bulk waste out for pickup. “If you just clip out the schedule and put
it on your refrigerator, you will never have to wonder when the next pickup is
coming,” he said.
He also noted that
the city’s Denbigh Drop-Off Facility is now back in operation and will take
your waste without charge. For details
of what the City will pick up, please go to the bulk waste program section of
the Newport News City website.
Trash Pickup Schedule
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
June 2—Trash only
June 9—Recycling, bulk
pickup & trash
June 16—Trash only
June 23—Recycling, bulk
pickup & trash
June 30—Trash only
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.
