HOA & COA News

Volunteers needed for homes corporation boards of directors

Each year, the Village homes corporations seek candidates for election to their boards of directors. Interested residents are invited to submit applications for candidacy to the Nominating Committee of their local homes corporation.

Directors of homes corporations are responsible for setting assessments and managing the maintenance of all open spaces, streets, paths and lights that belong to the individual homes corporation.

Basic qualifications for board membership are time and interest, but whatever other knowledge, training, skills or experience one has will almost certainly be used in some capacity.

1. According to the documents, a candidate is not required to be a resident of Montgomery Village, except in Whetstone Homes Corporation and North Village Homes Corporation, where the candidate is required to be a resident homeowner. However, resident candidates must be in good standing with the Montgomery Village Foundation and their respective homes corporation with regard to covenants and policies and must be current in all assessment payments. In several cases, the Nominating Committee is given the authority to determine which of the nominees will be on the final slate of candidates.

2. To apply for candidacy, a prepared statement of the applicant’s qualifications and interests must be delivered to any member of the Nominating Committee or to the Montgomery Village Foundation office, 10120 Apple Ridge Road, no later than 5 p.m. on the closing dates stated in the box.

3. A candidate may be solicited or may volunteer. A resident nominating another resident must secure his/her written consent.

4. The number of candidates is unlimited.

5. All nominees will be requested to submit a single page (typewritten, double spaced) statement, which will be reproduced in the December, January or February issue of the Village News and will be sent to all voters along with the ballots (standard form will be supplied to board nominees).

6. Also, per a new Montgomery County Law, effective January 1, 2016, if elected, candidates must participate in a Montgomery County Commission on Common Ownership Communities (CCOC)-approved board member training class, to be scheduled and completed within 90 days of the start of their term of service.

Ballots will be mailed to the electorate either in December, January or February, depending on the specific corporation’s election calendar.

In addition to electing directors, each homes corporation also elects a representative and an alternate representative to the MVF for one-year terms. Suggested names for the position will appear on the ballots.

Each board of directors consists of nine directors who serve three-year terms. The terms are staggered, creating three vacancies every year.

Note: While the word count for candidates’ statements varies among homes corporations (check with your community manager), the word count for candidates’ statements for the Montgomery Village News must not exceed 200 words per candidate. To view Village News guidelines, visit www.montgomeryvillage.com, select Press Room, select Village News, then Village News Editorial and Submissions Policy (see #4 under Homes Corporations/Condominium Associations).

EASTGATE
Nominating Deadline: Friday, Dec. 21
Nominating Committee: Whole board

EAST VILLAGE
Nominations Close: Monday, Jan. 7, 2019
Nominating Committee: Jack Helenek, Terry O’Grady, Jayant Shukla

MARYLAND PLACE
Nominations Close: Friday, Jan. 4, 2019
Nominating Committee: Christopher LaRose, Art Thomas, Laurence Thomson

NORTH VILLAGE
Nominations Close: Friday, Nov. 2
Nominating Committee: Barathwaj Bala, Tom Wills

PATTON RIDGE
Nominating Deadline: Tuesday, Nov. 27
Nominating Committee: Brian Post, Allison Ewing, Ralph Bally

SOUTH VILLAGE
Nominations Close: Wednesday, Nov. 28
Nominating Committee: Mark Firley, Amani Jude, Suzanne Wheeler

STEDWICK
Nominations Close: Friday, Jan, 4, 2019
Nominating Committee: Whole board

WHETSTONE
Nominations Close: Thursday, Jan. 10, 2019
Nominating Committee: James Martin, Bryan Price

Paving completed in Estates neighborhood

by the East Village Board of Directors

A nearly $200,000 paving project was completed in the Estates neighborhoods of East Village in August. This was the first phase of a multi-year repaving project. The rest of neighborhood will be completed next year. Additional neighborhoods in East Village will be finished in the future.

East Village has the lowest assessments of all the homes corporations in Montgomery Village—approximately $600. Some homes corporations have assessments that reach upwards of $1,000 per year, per household.

Parking in Garages

It is well known that parking is tight in East Village. East Village was designed to allow for two vehicles per household. What makes a tight situation more difficult is when residents use their garages for storage and park their cars in visitor parking spaces. Below is an example of what a garage should look like with two cars neatly parked inside. If more residents were able to follow through with this example, more parking spaces would be available to visitors.

Cars in garage leave room for visitor parking

Towing Strictly Enforced

The East Village Board of Directors has signed a contract with a new towing company. Community property is routinely monitored and commercial vehicles and trucks parked there are stickered. Once stickered, the owner has 72 hours to move the vehicle or it will be towed.

Residents should never park in fire lanes. If an emergency were to occur and a fire truck or ambulance is blocked from reaching a fire or other emergency, the results of a vehicle illegally parked could prove fatal. Vehicles observed in fire lanes are subject to immediate towing.

East Village Echo: for residents of The Downs, The Reach, The Estates, Essex Place II, Candle Ridge, Gablefield, Glenbrooke, Meadowgate, Ashford, Holly Pointe and Wethersfield.

Welcome back to school, students!

by the Maryland Place Board of Directors

Wow, it's school time again! With that being said, we hope that everyone had a great summer. Please be on the lookout for children in the mornings and afternoon hours.

We are sure by now you have noticed the speed humps and speed bumps along Thomas Farm and Transhire roads. We have received mostly positive feedback from residents. Some have said they have been suggesting speed bumps for 38 years. We have seen a dramatic reduction of speeding on these roads. On the downside, we have seen a dramatic increase of speeding in areas that do not have speed bumps. The board is monitoring this and will install speed bumps in other areas if needed.

The board is still looking into improvements to the Maryland Place sign and lighting throughout the community. When more information is available, we will pass it on to you.

Trash and recycling continue to be huge problems in Maryland Place. Residents are seen placing bags of trash, recycling, furniture, appliances, etc. on community property every day! Trash should never be placed on community property. We have rats and other rodents that are feeding on this trash and are here because we are providing them with a buffet of food. Not only is this unsightly and unsanitary, it’s also against Montgomery County law and the Maryland Place by-laws. All trash and recycling is to be stored on your property in a sealed, vermin-proof container. Trash is to be placed (in said vermin-proof container) at the rear of your property on Sunday and Wednesday nights, after dark, for collection on Monday and Thursday mornings. Recycling is to be placed in the front of your property on Wednesday night after dark for collection on Thursday morning. At no time should trash or recycling ever be placed on community property.

Remember, the Stedwick Pool is open for another few weeks, so get out and enjoy it. We hope to see you at our next board meeting in September.
Have a great start to the school year!

Maryland Place Messages: for residents of Maryland Place.

Recycling

by the Middle Village Board of Directors

Recycling is collected in Middle Village on Wednesdays.
What goes in a recycling bin?

• Aluminum foil products
• Cans: aluminum, steel, bi-metal
• Glass bottles and jars
• Plastic bottles, containers, tubs and lids
• Paper items: break down boxes and bundle your paper items separately

Is your recycling bin overflowing? You can order new recycling bins (limit of five bins per calendar year) free of charge from Montgomery County and they will be delivered to your home by county recycling staff (not the recycling collection crew).

To order a new bin(s), visit www2.montgomerycountymd.gov/depwebstore/items.aspx?subcatalog_id=11. For more information or questions, call the Montgomery County Department of Environmental Protection using the 311 system.

Remember to place household trash or recycling out after 6 p.m. the evening before pickup or on the morning of pickup. Any other time is a violation of the community trash policy and is subject to fines.

Note: If it does not fit into the blue recycling container, it is not recycling. If it does not fit into the 35-gallon trash can previously provided, it is not normal household trash. If it is yard waste, it must be in a paper bag or bundled and placed out with recycling.

Did you know…
All vehicles parked in unreserved parking spaces, whether covered or uncovered, must be moved at least every 30 days. If the vehicle is not relocated, a violation sticker/tag will be attached to the vehicle and the vehicle will be subject to towing—at the vehicle owner’s expense—48 to 72 hours after the sticker is attached.

School is in session
The school year is back in full swing, which means children will be walking to and from school and activities. Drive slowly through our community and keep an eye out for children crossing streets, playing in the parking lots and running from between or behind cars. Safety is everyone’s responsibility.

Storm Drains
There are numerous storm drains located along the curbs throughout the community. Please do not dispose of any items in the storm drains other than water! Placing an item such as a water bottle in the drain may seem harmless, but it can be the start of a very costly problem, which can translate into increased assessment fees. Remember, no bottles, paint cans or hazardous materials such as paint, oils, gasoline, etc. are ever to be placed in the storm drains. Help keep our community water system flowing efficiently and protect your property from flood damage.

Assessments
We live in a community that requires every homeowner to pay assessment fees. Assessments are used to pay contractors for landscaping, snow removal, trash collection, collection of illegally dumped trash, lighting, repairs on community property, etc. If you are a homeowner, you were provided with this information during closing.

Reminder: Assessments are due to be paid monthly. Your payment must be received by ComSource on or before the 15th of the month to avoid late charges. Your regular payments allow us to continue providing services to our community.

Homeowners who are delinquent with their assessment payments must pay their past due balance in full or make arrangements to pay them. The first step to making payment arrangements is to contact Delphine Matthews at 301-924-7355 or dmatthews@comsource.com.

Important Contact Phone Numbers
Security on Demand: 877-241-1265
Big Tow: 301-424-4869
Potomac Disposal: 301-294-9700
Montgomery County Police Non-emergency:301-279-8000     
Emergency: 911
ComSource: 301-924-7355

Contacting ComSource
ComSource is our management company. If you have a comment or complaint, please include your name, address, phone number, location of issue/problem and specific details in your correspondence or when you are leaving a phone message for the property manager. Contact ComSource at 301-924-7355 or e-mail dmatthews@comsource.com or sumali@comsource.com.

Board Meeting Schedule
Association meetings now occur every other month. The last meeting for 2018 is scheduled for Tuesday, Oct. 23 at 7 p.m. in the Thomas Choice Clubhouse, 19401 Brassie Place. One of the parking permit distribution dates will be December 4 instead of a December meeting. All meetings are held at 7 p.m. in clubhouse unless otherwise stated.

Middle Village Voice: for residents of Thomas Choice West and Clubside.

Trucks in North Village

by the North Village Board of Directors

We are indeed seeing a number of trucks parked overnight in North Village. We hope this article will clarify the rules as stated in our community’s covenants. These rules have not changed.

In May, every household received a copy of our Parking Policy by regular mail. The policy has been edited slightly over the years, but the underlying truck policy is specified in our North Village Covenants, Conditions and Restrictions, established by and for the community in 1979. The covenant states “No private trucks, trailers, campers or recreational vehicles, whether or not licensed as a Class A motor vehicle, and no unlicensed motor vehicles of any type shall be permitted to remain on the community property or on the property of a private Dwelling Unit within North Village.” The policy document you received in the mail spells out definitions in more detail. Pickup trucks, with or without caps, and panel vans, with or without signage, are clearly “restricted vehicles” prohibited from parking overnight on community or private property. All homeowners must agree to abide by these covenants when purchasing their homes.

We all know that this is an important issue in the community. And we are very aware that “times have changed.” Many individuals and families have good personal reasons and others have important business reasons for having these vehicles. And the vehicles themselves have evolved and changed from their utility and function and appearance also over time. Historically, the issue was mainly pickup trucks parking in townhouse areas. More recently, we see many in single-family home driveways. Some can be moved into garages. Others are apparently so large or tall they will not fit even in an empty garage.

It is the board’s responsibility to enforce the covenants established on behalf of the community at large. We receive many requests for waivers to the policy that supports the underlying covenant. We cannot provide waivers, and we cannot approve one truck and not another. Granting waivers or selective enforcement would be unfair and discriminatory. Furthermore, many residents are opposed to trucks, and they have the covenants on their side. We are receiving numerous complaints from neighbors—near and more distant—of residents with trucks.

We make every effort to obtain compliance without resorting to legal action. When that fails, violations of the Parking Policy have to be, and will be, pursued through the court system if necessary. To the violators reading this, please find a way to comply with the policy.

Yes, the covenants can be changed. However, the process is extremely difficult. It can only be accomplished by a 60% vote of all homeowner-members of the community. With 888 homes, that requires 533 affirmative votes, by signed ballot in a formal election. Typically, our annual elections gather votes from less than 10 percent of homeowners.

Staying Aware and Being a Good Neighbor

Fall is here. Days are shorter. Turn on your outside lights earlier.

Lock your car doors, and keep your garage inner doors locked. Keep garage doors closed when you leave your home and otherwise when you can.

“If you see something, say something.” In other words, if you see suspicious activity anywhere in Montgomery Village please call the police at 301-279-8000 or our security service, American Protective Service (APS) at 240-631-8383. Of course, if it is an emergency, dial 911.

Clean your house gutters before they start overflowing and keep street gutters free of leaves. They block our drains. We have been dealing with a number of expensive drain clogs after our heavy rains.

Pick up after your dog! We provide both bags and receptacles for dog waste plus other trash cans. Don’t leave it to your neighbors to clean up after your dog.

Next Meeting

The next North Village board is scheduled for 7 p.m. on Thursday, Oct. 18 in the North Creek Board Room, 20125 Arrowhead Road. If you wish to address the board during the meeting, you must be present at 7 p.m. and sign up for residents time. If you have any questions or want to report any problems, call Community Manager April Steward at 240-243-2327 or e-mail asteward@mvf.org.

North Village View: for residents of Essex Place, Highland Hall, McRory, Perry Place, Picton, Pleasant Ridge and Salem’s Grant.

Late summer update

by the Northgate Board of Directors

The McKendree courtyard project has been completed by Montgomery County, a project that has taken several years. The work has improved the appearance of the community.

Paving of the entrance to The Points will take place shortly, along with paving of Maple Leaf Court. The drainage issue at The Points entrance was addressed.
Busy Service was awarded a $7,115 contract to correct drainage issues between Maple Leaf Court and Maple Leaf Drive. The company also was awarded a contract to clean out storm drains in the McKendrees.

Shall’s Construction was awarded the contract to paint additional light poles at a cost of $3,600.

A number of trees were lost due to the storms and excessive rain. This has stressed the Northgate budget. Other problematic trees need to be removed, and bids are being solicited. Please do not request removal of trees you simply do not like. The budget is being severely tested by necessary tree work and storm damage. Please do report trees you believe are dead, dying or dangerous.

Trash dumping continues to be a problem. We urge residents to report dumping. You will remain anonymous. There are multiple ways to dispose of trash for free. Please share this information with neighbors who may not be aware:

Northgate provides ample resources to handle trash, including twice-weekly trash pickups and bulk pickups once-per-week as needed. The county provides once-per-week recycling. With few exceptions, that should cover every resident’s trash removal needs. Those exceptions can almost always be handled by taking the items to the Shady Grove Transfer Station, a short distance from Montgomery Village (MVA>Midcounty Highway>Shady Grove Road>Left on 355>almost immediate Left into Transfer Station).

The Points and Overlea have trash pickup on Mondays and Thursdays. Bulk pickups are Thursday. All the other neighborhoods: Apple Ridge, Dorsey’s Regard, the McKendrees, Shadow Oak and Williams Range have trash pickup on Tuesdays and Fridays. Bulk pickups are on Fridays. Do not put your trash out earlier than the evening before pickup!

Per Montgomery County Code, residents are responsible for providing containers with tight fitting lids for storage of solid waste in single-family houses and townhouses. All solid waste storage containers must be rigid plastic or metal, vermin-proof and equipped with tight fitting lids. The Division of Housing Code Enforcement enforces trash and debris on a property.

Northgate News: for residents of Apple Ridge, Dorsey's Regard, McKendree I & II, Overlea, The Points, Shadow Oak and Williams Range.

Patton Ridge board vacancies

by the Patton Ridge Board of Directors

The board says farewell to Steven Whitehead, who is stepping down after a term, and we thank him for his community service. The Patton Ridge board now has two vacancies. Interested residents should e-mail Community Manager Andrea Mandato at amandato@mvf.org stating their desire to serve the Patton Ridge community. To be considered for appointment to the board, you must include a written statement of qualifications, interests and reasons for wanting to serve. All candidates must be in good standing with the Montgomery Village Foundation (MVF) and the Patton Ridge Homes Corporation. In addition, resident candidates must not be in violation of by-laws and covenants and must also be current in their payments of dues and assessments to both MVF and the Patton Ridge Homes Corporation.

The board will consider all candidates who meet the above criteria. New appointees shall be selected from among the interested residents based on several factors including, but not limited to, the following:

• Extent of previous participation in community activities (both within and outside Montgomery Village);
• Consideration for an equitable geographic representation on the board (i.e. varied representation within the Homes Corporation); and
• Professional or other qualifications related to the fields of fiscal management and property maintenance.

If appointed to the board, appointees agree to complete the Montgomery County required electronic board training immediately.

Next Board Meeting

There is no board meeting in August. The next Patton Ridge Homes Corporation Board meeting is scheduled for 7 p.m. on Tuesday, Sept. 25 in the North Creek Board Room, 20125 Arrowhead Road. Residents time is from 7 to 7:30 p.m.; please limit your remarks to no more than three minutes.

Patton Ridge Report: for residents of Arrowhead, Fairway Islands, Fairidge, Greentee I & II, Highfield and Partridge Place I & II.

South Village board updates

by the South Village Board of Directors

At the June 2018 meeting, the board approved changes to the community policies. Please refer to the meeting minutes available on the website for changes. The community handbook also has the updated policies.

Safety and Security
Speed bumps are installed throughout South Village, along with signs reminding drivers that children are playing. Remember to slow down and watch for pedestrians and bicyclists as well.

Warmer weather can create special safety issues. Check on elderly neighbors and pets and remember to check cars for pets and children.
Air conditioners are also often running longer. Have your air conditioner checked by a professional for line damage, including freezing, compressors and freon levels. Setting thermostats at a constant temperature saves energy and may potentially save money on energy bills.

Water play is fun, but make sure it’s safe. Follow lifeguard instructions at pools. Wear life vests and jackets in boats and canoes.
Helmets protect when bicycling and skateboarding. Remember to watch for cars when riding.

Fire lanes are not parking areas. Cars parked in fire lanes will be towed immediately.

Parking policies are enforced by community management through a contracted vendor. Questions and issues related to parking should be sent to the community management office.

Security is everyone’s responsibility. Locked vehicles, doors and windows at home help prevent theft.
Report suspicious activities to Montgomery County Police. Call the non-emergency number, 301-279-8000.

Budget Work Begins
The audit committee will meet in July to begin planning the 2019 budget. SVHC has operated in a positive cash flow relative to operations and reserve expenses. Increased costs for services, as well as new maintenance and reserve projects, will be important factors for the committee.

One of the major projects for the community is tree maintenance and replacement. During the wind storms in the early spring, several trees were either uprooted or damaged. Many of the trees had to be removed and some still have work that needs to be done. Community tree work will continue along with other landscaping projects.

Trash removal is another area where costs have increased. The amount of trash picked up in the community, as well as increased pricing from the contractor, are major considerations for the budget.

After committee recommendations, the board will publish the budget recommendation for review and comment. We look forward to your comments.

SVHC Community Event
The recreation committee is planning the 2018 SVHC Community Day event! There will be food, music, games and more! Stay tuned—the date will be announced soon.

South Village Cleanup Day
Despite the rain, we had a very successful day cleaning the creek on Saturday, June 23 near Royal Bonnet Circle at the Hamptons. We collected 200 pounds of trash and some recyclable items. Many thanks to our sponsor, Ana Arriaza, from the Montgomery County Department of Environmental Protection, and the three volunteers who came and made it possible.

South Village Scenes: for residents of Center Stage, Dockside, Grover's Forge, Hamptons, Millrace, Nathan's Hill and Walker's Choice.

Has autumn arrived?

by Keith Silliman

The schools are back in session, and the crossing guards are directing traffic in the morning and afternoon. Our air conditioners are mostly turned off, and the swimming pools are closed. The Stedwick community is green and attractive following a rainy summer. The business of the Stedwick Homes Corporation continues as usual.

Concrete curb and gutter repair work associated with the repaving of the Club Hill community has been completed. However, the repaving of the entire Club Hill community has been delayed multiple times by the heavy rains. We expect the repaving work to be completed in the near future.

Your Stedwick Homes Corporation Board of Directors recently approved a 2019 operating budget for publication that included a very modest increase of 0.4 %. They also approved new greenspace maintenance and community management contracts with minor increases in costs for the coming years.

A solar powered light was recently installed at the Forest Brooke North tot lot.

Montgomery County has approved the installation of a landscape conservation area near the entrance to Burlingame Way on the stream valley side. Implementation of landscape conservation areas and rain gardens reduces the rate of storm water runoff and erosion in our community, and helps to reduce the amount of silt and pollutants flowing into the Potomac River and the Chesapeake Bay. Montgomery County reduces the water quality fees charged to Stedwick because of the reduction in runoff and erosion.

The Stedwick maintenance committee has developed a list of potential sites for the planting of additional trees. We will be asking Montgomery County’s Tree Montgomery program to plant trees on those sites.

We will soon be walking our paths with an asphalt contractor to identify areas of concern and those in need of repair.

Our repaving activity in Club Hill, the implementation of landscape conservation areas and the continued program of tree planting, indicate your board of directors’ commitment to renewing and enhancing our community and its appearance. Please do your part to help with your private property.

Thanks to Montgomery County Police for their efforts to remove commercial trucks parking along Watkins Mill Road.

The next maintenance inspection is scheduled for Tuesday, Oct. 9. If you know of any items, situations or conditions that need the maintenance committee’s attention, please let us know prior to that date.

The next meeting of the Stedwick Homes Corporation Board of Directors is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. on Wednesday, Oct. 17 at Stedwick Community Center, 10401 Stedwick Road. The first item on the agenda is residents time, which provides an opportunity for you to ask questions or express your concerns and opinions. In the meantime, if you have an issue, contact Stedwick Homes Corporation Community Manager Andrea Mandato at 240-243-2326, e-mail stedwickhc@gmail.com or communicate via regular mail with the Stedwick Homes Corporation at 10120 Apple Ridge Road.

Stedwick Signals: for residents of Club Hill, Clusters of Stedwick I, II, III, Forest Brooke, Frenchton Place, Ridges of Stedwick and The Heights.

Proposed assessment ceiling increase

by the Whetstone Board of Directors

After six years without an increase, the board of directors has concluded that a ceiling increase is necessary for the long-term health of the community. If approved by the members, this ceiling increase will help to restore cuts to annual tree and shrub pruning; fund maintenance activities along the lake shore path; and restore cuts to the maintenance of the common green spaces. The proposed increase is $151 per year ($37.75 per quarter) from $914 per year to $1,065 per year.

An increase in the assessment ceiling is essential to continue proper maintenance of the community and preservation of aging community assets.

Maintenance

The greenspace surrounding the tunnel access is the responsibility of the Whetstone Homes Corporation. Based on an inspection of the Forsythia growing around the tunnel, the overgrowth will be pruned. The maintenance committee has identified trees in the community in need of removal. An RFP has been sent to three tree service companies for cost estimates.

Residents have expressed concern about the parking of vehicles on Diary and Gunpowder roads, which hinder the passage of emergency vehicles. Also of concern are the large trucks and the resulting damage. After discussing the parking challenges on Diary and Gunpowder roads, the board approved two areas to be designated “No Parking” at the points of greatest congestion.

Residential Cell Towers

The Montgomery County Council is considering Zoning Text Amendment ZTA-1811, which would affect residential areas. This amendment would authorize the placement of cell towers for telecommunication purposes in local communities (i.e., placement of an antenna on a street light). ZTA-18-11 does not govern rights-of-way in Montgomery Village that are privately held by the homes corporations. The homes corporation will continue to have control over placement of towers through existing easements. Telecommunications providers who want to use the private street rights-of way in Whetstone will have to obtain the approval of the Whetstone Homes Corporation, which owns the right-of-way.

School Days

Residents are reminded that school is back in session and to observe posted traffic signs and school bus signals as they stop to pick up students in the morning and to drop them off in the afternoon.

In an effort to communicate more effectively with our residents, the WHC board would like to update our board e-mail list. This allows you to receive meeting notices, agendas, emergency information, etc. This is not a neighborhood discussion forum. If you are not on the current list or have changed your provider, just send an e-mail to vermillion.whc@gmail.com.

Whetstone Watch: for residents of The Courts, Goshenside, Lakeside and the Ridges of Whetstone.