HOA & COA News

Making improvements in East Village

by the East Village Board of Directors

At its regularly scheduled board meeting on November 15, East Village board members considered items to maintain and improve East Village.

Board members heard from the maintenance committee and management. During its November community inspection, the maintenance committee reviewed resident concerns and general maintenance issues throughout the community. Issues were also addressed based on Community Management’s weekly inspections of East Village on matters for trash, maintenance and vehicle issues.

Through the latest inspections, the maintenance committee approved the removal of dead trees in Essex Place, Meadowgate, Glenbrooke, Wethersfield and Holly Point. In The Downs, curbs were repaired, and a berm approved to prevent trucks and cars from driving over an island.

On Marketree Place, overgrown trees were removed and a berm design was approved to improve the landscaping. The photo below shows the design concept.

Paving of St. Regis Court was successfully completed. However, fire lane and reserved space painting was delayed until 2021 due to rain and colder weather. Residents are asked to practice being “good neighbors” when parking in designated spaces.

CSAAC applied and was approved for solar panel installation on their property. The final certified plans have not been filed with the county and management will keep the board and community updated.

The East Village board is aware that many residents are working from home and parking is at a premium. However, vehicles must still be parked legally and state tags current. Illegally parked cars in fire lanes will be ticketed and towed.

Board President Kevin Linck asks all residents to remain safe during the Thanksgiving Holiday by following all CDC guidelines. Washing hands, wearing masks and maintaining safe distances are concrete steps all of us can take to keep our families safe.

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.

Eastgate Homes Corporation Candidate Statements

by the Eastgate Board of Directors

The following statements have been submitted for candidates for the Eastgate Homes Corporation Board of Directors.

Jeffrey Amtmann
I would like to remain on the East Gate Homes Corp. Board of Directors for another three-year term. I have been a board member since 2000, and enjoy volunteering to improve the quality of our neighborhood.

I moved to East Gate in April 1999, and like the quality of life in Montgomery Village. There is always room for improvement, so I want to continue to serve my community and neighborhood faithfully. I derive satisfaction from being involved in maintaining our neighborhood by participating in our board meetings to represent Hickory Grove and Wood Edge homes. I have learned a lot about what it takes to keep our HOA functioning properly during my 20 years of service.

I am a proud graduate of NC State class of 1987, with a degree in horticulture and landscape architecture. This has allowed me to help our board develop programs for tree maintenance, entrance sign improvements, seasonal flower rotations, and offering recommendation to our board about best value. My knowledge is valuable for quality control since our landscape maintenance and other construction tasks are performed by contractors not affiliated with MVF.

I have spent my entire professional career as a project manager for a Gaithersburg based site work contractor. Therefore, I am knowledgeable about asphalt paving, concrete sidewalks, and general maintenance. Currently, I have 7 years’ service employment at Montgomery County Department of Environmental Protection as a construction representative. I am now also knowledgeable about storm water management, algae control, streams, and associated watershed concerns.

I also have a personal interest in keeping our neighborhood beautiful and visually attractive. I am aware of concerns about crime, dog waste, and litter issues. I would like to be granted the opportunity to serve on our board for another term so I may assist in properly managing dues by careful spending, and wise management of existing infrastructure. I look forward to volunteering on our board for my 7th term. Thank you for your vote and continued support.

Kayla Jones
My name is Kayla Jones and I would like to tell you a little bit about myself. I have been a resident of Montgomery Village since 2004 and have worked as a Financial Program Analyst for over 13 years and currently work for the Federal Government. I served on the Eastgate Board for the past year and feel that my knowledge and experience has served to benefit the Eastgate Community. I moved into Eastgate in 2012 and part of my selection for this community was the beauty, quietness and how well family oriented the neighborhood seem to be. Since becoming a member of Eastgate Board it has allowed me to have a better understanding of all the minor day-to-day involvement in being able to keep our community great while addressing valid issues and concerns which made us want to be a resident. I would like the opportunity to serve again in the upcoming term and help make our community a great place to live. Thank you.

Eric Olson
I would like to remain on the Eastgate Homes Corporation Board of Directors for an additional term. I joined the board in 2013, have been a resident for 13 years, and have been an active neighborhood watch block captain for 5 years. I am a software analyst with attention to detail and wish to continue serving.

Board membership has allowed me to directly participate in addressing concerns regarding security, maintenance, litter, general complaints, and beautification of Eastgate. Before joining, I found myself periodically sending a variety of reports to EGHC on such matters as security, maintenance, and litter issues. It was at that point the board encouraged me to become more directly involved, given my active participation.

Fall is fast approaching!

by the Maryland Place Board of Directors

The board receives constant complaints from residents about trash. Residents are seen placing plastic bags of trash, recycling bins, paper leaf bags, furniture, appliances, etc. on community property daily! Not only is this unsightly and unsanitary, it’s also against Montgomery County law and the Maryland Place By-laws.

All trash and recycling should be stored on your own property in a sealed rat/vermin-proof container at all times. Trash or recycling should never be placed on community property, period! As a result of all the plastic bags of trash left on community property, we now have a major rat problem. We are providing them with a buffet of food in easy-to-chew-through plastic bags. The board has contracted Orkin to place rat bait stations throughout the neighborhood. These stations are child and pet proof. This service is not cheap, and the board will monitor it to see if it is helping with the rat problem.

As a reminder, all trash is to be placed out for collection on Sunday and Wednesday nights after dark at the rear of your property. Trash is picked up 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.

Maryland Place Messages: for residents of Maryland Place.

Middle Village resident reminders

by the Middle Village Homes Corporation Board of Directors

Parking Tags
Parking tag distribution is suspended due to COVID-19 restrictions. Residents are reminded to keep their 2020 parking tags for use in 2021. New parking tag distribution for 2021 will not be held.

All residents must keep current tags, and properly display them during the course of the year 2021 until further notice. Vehicles with no displayed tags will be subject to tow at the owner's expense. If you fail to keep, or misplace your 2020 parking tags, please be aware that there will be a $600 replacement fee for each tag.

Towing Enforcement
Towing enforcement is in effect for vehicles parked in open spaces overnight—11 p.m. to 5 a.m. —without a valid 2020 Parking Permit displayed. Reserve parking is in effect 24/7, so vehicles parked in reserved spaces without a valid and corresponding permit properly displayed will be subject to immediate towing.

2021 Meeting Dates
The 2021 Middle Village Homes Corporation meetings will be held at 7 p.m. on the fourth Tuesday of February, April, June, August and October. The April 27 meeting will include the Annual Meeting, and the October 26 meeting will include a budget hearing. 

While the pandemic restrictions with in-person gatherings remain uncertain for 2021, notices will be sent out with information on either in-person meetings or virtual meetings with log-on information provided.

Bulk Trash Dumping
It is illegal to dump trash and bulk items on common property; this behavior is strictly prohibited. Middle Village no longer provides dumpster services; every homeowner is responsible to properly dispose of their bulk trash items at the Montgomery County Trash and Recycle Center at the Shady Grove Transfer Station, 16101 Frederick Road, Derwood. Persons observed putting out bulk trash in the common areas of the property will be subject to immediate fine and further action. 

Trash/Recycle Collection
Residents are reminded to properly dispose of their household trash in a marked receptacle with a closed lid to prevent spillage and trash blowing around the community. Residents putting out receptacles before or after the regular trash collection days on Tuesdays and Fridays, will be subject to fines and possible further penalties.

Please remember cardboard for recycling must be broken down and placed in your recycling bin. Recycling collection takes place on Wednesdays.

The Middle Village Board of Directors and management wish all our residents a very happy holiday season and a wonderful New Year.

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

NVHC 2021 Candidate Statements

Dick Rabil

Career: Dick is president of Slice®Works, a marketing and digital design firm. As the marketing landscape has changed, Slice®Works has transitioned to interactive, web, social media and other emerging technologies. He has honed his skills of creative direction for large branding campaigns, websites, publications and integrated marketing for a variety of organizations. The director of the Virginia Tech EMBA said that Dick and his team “has contributed to the success of the program, with their creativity, design and knowledge of network marketing and branding.”

Dick has been recognized by the Smithsonian Board of Regents for Special Service to the Smithsonian National Postal Museum. He was awarded a lifetime membership of the American Marketing Association for special work for the DC chapter. He has degrees from UNC-Chapel Hill in Fine Art and from Virginia Commonwealth University in Communication and Design.

Dick was responsible for designing the MV 50 Year Anniversary logo in 2016. He also has won first and second place photography awards at the yearly MV art show.

Personal: Dick and his wife, Kathi, have lived in Montgomery Village for 40 years, 24 of which are in the North Village. They raised their 5 children here, and now they have 5 grandchildren added to the clan. 

Lisa Rishell

A 16-year resident of Montgomery Village. Avid supporter at all levels of our local schools in leadership roles, volunteer, substitute teacher, Mentor and Team Mom. Licensed Realtor. Employed as an Office and Project Administrator for an Engineering company in Rockville, Md. Married, husband, Chris Rishell, 25 years and mother of three. I enjoy hiking, cycling, running, staying active and making memories with my family. My motto - It Takes A Village.

Tom Wills

Hard to believe that it has already been 3 years since I was fortunate to be voted onto the North Village board so I thank those of you who did. It has been an interesting time for us over the last years and I have been happy to lend a hand to managing the one snow we had, the many trees that seem to need removal each year and financial challenges the community has faced caused by Covid. Directly or indirectly, it has hit us all in some way. I am happy to have done my part to help the board get through these challenges as best we can, and humbled that the board allowed me to use my finance background as the Treasurer of the organization and the community funds. We have built a solid financial base that has allowed us to weather the short challenges and to continue to work on the capital infrastructure. I look forward to being able to continue working with current members of the board and will be able to do so with your vote.

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

Leaf removal ongoing

by the Northgate Board of Directors

McFall & Berry, Northgate’s landscape contractor, should be working on finalizing leaf removal throughout Northgate. This column goes to press five days before publication, so the precise status is unknown. Inclement weather can cause delays, so please be patient. The work will be completed.

When the time comes to dispose of your Christmas tree, please note the following:

Please recycle any Christmas trees: Christmas trees are given a new life after being composted or chipped for mulch, so keep the tree in a natural state.

• Remove the stand and all decorations, including lights, ornaments, tinsel and garland. Be sure there is no metal attached to the tree.
• Remove any plastic bags from your tree.
• "Live" Christmas trees with root balls and artificial trees cannot be collected as yard trim.
• Set your Christmas tree at the curb by 7 a.m. on your recycling collection day.

If you need a bulk trash pickup after the holidays (or anytime), please place your items out on the following schedule:
Thursdays: Overlea and The Points
Fridays: Apple Ridge, Dorsey’s Regard, McKendree I & II, Shadow Oak and Williams Range.
All bulk pickups must be placed curbside.

Residents of Overlea and McKendree I & II must bring their bulk items to the curb. No recyclable items will be taken as bulk, nor will construction material generated by a contractor. If a resident places a rug or carpet out for bulk pickup, it is acceptable. If a homeowner has a carpet or rug contractor replacing rugs or carpet in the home, the contractor is responsible for the removal of the carpet or rugs.

Collections on the following holidays will be made on the next regularly scheduled service day: New Year’s Day, Martin Luther King Junior Day, Presidents Day, Memorial Day, Independence Day, Labor Day, Veterans Day, Thanksgiving Day and Christmas Day.

The deadline for applying to run for the board of directors is Friday, Dec. 18 at 5 p.m. Contact Sean Farrell at NorthgateHC@comsource.com for application information.

This is the last new column for the year. Thank you for your support during 2020.

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

Patton Ridge reminders

by the Patton Ridge Board of Directors

The fall season is a good reminder that the cycle of nature is also reflected in our lives, that all things eventually come to an end. That seasonal lesson is of special significance to all of us this year. We appreciate all of the residents that have taken the time to approach the board with their concerns and offers of support. We also want to thank our community management partners that have worked extremely hard to respond to resident needs over the course of a difficult year.

As a reminder, our covenants state that the display of political/campaign signs is allowed 60 days prior to Election Day provided they are relevant to the election and are confined within private property. Signs must be removed 14 days after the election for which they are intended. Please also remember that vehicles may only be parked in designated areas and that parking is not allowed on community property or grassy areas.

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

Parking permit pickup resumes

by the South Village Board of Directors

The MVF Office is open, and South Village Homes Corporation has resumed Parking Permit pickup. South Village residents may come to the office, 10120 Apple Ridge Road, between 8:30 a.m. and 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday, through Friday, Aug. 14 to pick up their parking permits.

Please carefully review the instructions below in order to be issued your parking permit. South Village residents will need:

• ID and vehicle registration for no more than 2 vehicles, for verification on the day you come for your passes (permits will not be issued without it).
• Completed “Parking Permit Form.” Signature is required. Forms must be filled out in advance of coming to the office. Due to COVID-19 changes at the office, there is not an area for visitors to fill out the form on site.
• Tenants or landlords must also provide a copy of the “Current Lease Agreement” and “Owner Permit Release Form” (both required) with the Parking Permit Form.

Please note:

• Parking Permit and Owner Permit Release forms are previously mailed and are also available online at www.montgomeryvillage.com/communities/village-communities/south-village-homes-corporation. For more information, e-mail lroberts@mvf.org.
• Parking enforcement requiring the display of permits begins on Monday, Aug. 17.
• If you are not in good standing with the association, you will not be issued a parking permit. If you have a parking spot on community asphalt, it will be removed.
• Unauthorized vehicles per the parking policy are not eligible to be registered.

The South Village Board of Directors appreciates your patience, cooperation and compliance while we work to improve the community.

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

Back to school and the coming of autumn

by Keith Silliman

The weather has cooled, the leaves have mostly fallen, Christmas and the New Year holidays will soon be here, and winter will bring colder temperatures. The 2021 year will be here before we know it.

The major topic discussed during the November Stedwick board of directors meeting was parking. This very familiar subject is of significant interest to many of our residents. A draft parking analysis and plan was presented to the board; it has many of the features of a plan implemented for the South Village Homes Corporation.

The analysis identified the availability of 1,420 marked parking spaces within Stedwick with its 1,260 houses, or about 1.1 marked parking spaces per house. There is considerable variability in the number of those parking spaces across the communities. The Heights and Ridges have no marked parking spaces, and Club Hill has 2.5 parking spaces per house. The other communities have from 1.2 to 1.5 parking spaces per house.

The proposed plan suggests a maximum number of three parking “passes” per household if there is no garage or driveway. The availability of a garage would reduce the number of parking “passes” by one, and the availability of a garage and driveway would reduce the number of parking “passes” by two. The proposal would impact households with more than three cars or that have garages that have been converted to living space or are utilized to store things other than cars.

Parking privileges for the occupants of households more than 90 days in arrears on their assessments may also be impaired. The proposed implementation of any parking pass plan would not occur before the middle of 2021. The possibility of cars from one community parking in another community is an unresolved issue. Comments, either pro or con, regarding this proposal are encouraged on the website or at the January or subsequent board meetings.

This proposed parking pass plan is not necessarily going to be implemented. However, it, or an amended version, is a reasonable alternative to the existing parking problem. Feedback from the county suggests that converting greenspace to additional parking is not a viable option. Other ideas are solicited. If a reasonably fair and equitable alternative to the current situation cannot be implemented, the current approach will remain.

The management report provided to board members each month at the board of directors meeting, which summarizes activities and support provided by the Montgomery Village Foundation, is now being posted on the Stedwick Homes Corporation website. The availability of the report provides residents with additional insight into some of the significant activities of the Stedwick Homes Corporation.

Three of the nine Stedwick Board of Directors’ positions will expire during the annual meeting in 2021. Nominations for candidates for those three positions will close at 5 p.m. on Friday, Jan. 4, 2021. Candidates must be in good standing with the Montgomery Village Foundation and the Stedwick Homes Corporation with regard to covenants and policies and must be current in all assessment payments. Contact Karen Kodjanian at 240-243-2347 or e-mail kkodjanian@mvf.org for details of the nomination process.

The first round of leaf pickup has occurred, and the second is scheduled for the week of December 14. Look for signs at entry ways.

There will be no Stedwick Homes Corporation Board of Directors meeting in December. The next meeting is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. on Wednesday, Jan. 20, 2021. The first item on the agenda is residents time, which provides an opportunity for you to ask questions or express concerns and opinions. If you would like to attend that meeting, contact Karen Kodjanian at 240-243-2347 or e-mail kkodjanian@mvf.org for the meeting contact information.

In the meantime, if you have an issue, concern or item to report, please visit the Stedwick Homes Corporation website at www.stedwickhc.com, contact our Stedwick Homes Corporation community manager at 240-243-2326, e-mail stedwickhc@mvf.org or communicate via regular mail to 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

Happy New Year!

by the Thomas Choice Condominium Board of Directors

Happy New Year, Thomas Choice Condominium!

Along with welcoming the new year, it is the hope of the board of directors and management that all residents take the time this year to become well informed and intentionally aware of the many moving parts of the community. You are invited and encouraged to attend all of the 2020 board of directors meetings, starting with our upcoming meeting scheduled for 7 p.m. on Monday, Jan. 13 in the North Creek Board Room, 20125 Arrowhead Road. You will find all of the meeting dates posted online at www.montgomeryvillage.com or in the Village News.

Questions may be submitted to Community Manager Liana Roberts at lroberts@mvf.org by 5 p.m. the day before each meeting. Feel free to forward questions in advance of the meetings so that management can provide you with the most accurate information. Communitywide understanding of the cost to operate, maintain reserves and maintain the community is imperative in the efforts and strides to keep Thomas Choice Condominium a wonderful place to call home.

Lastly, please note Thomas Choice Condominium is not reissuing parking passes for 2020. Please make sure to carefully read any and all correspondence received and ensure that the community name is Thomas Choice Condominium and not another community within Montgomery Village.

Thank you, and best wishes for the new year!

Whetstone Holiday Lights Contest Winners

by the Whetstone Board of Directors

The 2020 holiday season arrived and, undaunted by all of the difficulties swirling around, Whetstone lit up again. So many residents went all out to spread the holiday cheer. Here are our selections for the best Holiday Lights of Whetstone, 2020 edition:

Kids Delight
Drive by Judge place and you will see so many bright lights and cheerful decorations. Kids Delight this year went to 9304 Judge Place. With a rooftop star that could serve as a beacon for aircraft, an American flag and a host of animals, this house has it all.

Winter Wonderland
When you enter Whetstone from Centerway Road, there is no missing the first house on the right. 9401 Union Place. Every year they do a fabulous job. This year there are lights, reindeer and so much more. Our runner up for Winter Wonderland was 9808 Freestate Place. They have a pond of lights with ducks (or swans?). It is charming.

Traditional
This was a difficult category this year because there were so many beautiful houses. We gave the nod for best Traditional decoration to 19104 Annapolis Way. It is a lovely house that really evokes the spirit of the season. Several honorable mentions are worth your time. 18828 South Meadow Fence is beautiful every single year. 9301 Gunpowder Place, with its hanging icicles, reminded us of the good things about winter. 9717 Breckenridge Place and 18929 Whetstone Circle also should not be missed; with their Williamsburg theme, they are annual favorites of ours.

Best Street
This category is a bit of an upset this year. In second place, we picked Breckenridge Place. Breckenridge is a Christmas community within our community. It is always a candidate for this award and this year, once again, the residents of Breckenridge did not disappoint. But, our pick for Best Street this year is Judge Place. This street gave us a shot of Christmas cheer and won our hearts as we drove through.

Best House
There is one house every year that makes you BELIEVE. It has everything. In fact, if you look closely, you can see Santa through the window dropping off presents (really!). Congratulations to 9748 Whetstone Drive.

We couldn’t mention every house in the neighborhood. There are lots of others that deserve to be mentioned, and also deserve to be seen. I hope you have the opportunity to drive through Whetstone and see the lights this year!

Happy Holidays everyone!

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