Dumping on the Common Area
Please remember that you cannot dump garbage or debris in the common area. The common area includes the lovely green areas that you see around the community. It also includes the wooded areas within our exterior fencing. when you step outside your back yard, you are on common area. You cannot use the common area for disposing of yard waste (such as tree clipping or dirt) or for used motor oil! Please be considerate of the environment and your neighbors. Also be aware that owners and residents who violate this rule are responsible for the cost of any damage caused by the dumping, which includes clean-up.
President's Message (by Leona Taylor)
We were unexpectedly locked out of the Philips school for the August meting, so the venue shifted to my house. If anyone showed up after 8:15 trying to attend the meeting, you probably found a deserted school. Since we were not expecting to be locked out, we were not prepared to notify homeowners and residents of the location change.
A summary of the major meeting items is as follows:
- A homeowner addressed the board in open forum about an accident in which she was involved on Braddock Road heading towards the Beltway at the traffic light at Ravensworth Road. Her car was struck from behind by another vehicle that came up the hill too fast and was not prepared for the stopped vehicles over the hill waiting at the traffic light. There are now two signs warning to watch for stopped vehicles. But the homeowner was wondering if there were other solutions -such as another light before that light to slow traffic or flashing signs- that would work better. The hoard discussed whether letters to VDOT or the county supervisor would help to get a better solution.
- Reserve Advisors, Inc. was selected by the board to perform the reserve study for Leewood. Recent Virginia law changes require the association to have a reserve study performed regularly.
- Second notices and hearing notices for architectural review were reviewed and approved by the board. These notices will be sent out with pictures that show the alleged violation on each particular house.
- Another architectural violation case will be sent to the attorney. The homeowner was informed of the violation with first, second and hearing notices but failed to make the repairs. There are now three cases at the attorney for collection and enforcement.
- Jim Moshos, the President of our grounds and maintenance company, came to the board meeting to meet the board and discuss the services provided by his company J&M. The board passed along the good and bad comments that had been received from residents and homeowners. In general, the comments on the appearance of the community and the service provided by the company were positive. Jim also indicated that there would be no increase in the contract fees for 2003.
- To assist in educating residents and homeowners on where they cannot park, additional "No Parking" signs will be painted on curbing throughout the community. This is important so that we can keep our fire lanes clear in case of emergency.
- The website changes were discussed and decisions made regarding e-mail options. Corresponding changes needed in the POA packet, newsletter, and directory were also identified.
- A member of the parking committee is working on a database to capture information about the number of regular vehicles in the neighborhood. A meeting for the committee will also be scheduled.
After a call to the Philips school by Al Sanford, we were assured that the lock-out was a mistake, and we were provided new phone number contacts should the problem arise again. So the September meeting went on as scheduled in the usual location. Highlights of that meeting are as follows:
- We have ten delinquent homeowner assessment accounts, three of which are at the attorney for collection. One additional account is expected to be sent to the attorney if payment is not received in response to the last delinquent notice sent to the homeowner.
- The Reserve Advisors was notified oftheir selection to perform the reserve study. Additional information has been requested by the vendor to begin the study.
- The landscape designer with J&M did a walk-through of the community and will be provided recommendations on landscaping improvements. These recommendations will be reviewed along with recommendations received from another landscape designer to determine ways to beautify the neighborhood.
The 2003 budget was discussed and items to be included in the 2003 budget were reviewed. It is expected that a draft budget will be available at the October meeting for a full review by the board. At that time, the preliminary reserve contribution for 2003 will be provided.
One of our CD's will be maturing in October. The board approved reinvestment of the funds into another CD or similar investment type with a term that will provide staggered maturities among all of our CD investments.
A revised list of owners due for architectural review hearing notices was presented to the board for approval. The list presented at the prior meeting did not include all affected homes. The list was reviewed, and the board approved sending notices, with half of the hearings to be scheduled for the October meeting and the other half to be scheduled for the November meeting.
The parking committee met during August. The committee discussed how to approach the parking and traffic problems, and in fact, how to determine whether there really are problems. Work is to continue on collecting data on the number of cars regularly housed in our community to help determine if there is a problem. A few suggestions were discussed for additional action such as: (1) talking to the attorney on recent legal developments and how we can interpret our own parking rules; (2) developing a sales brochure to market our community but also provide information on our parking availability; and (3) how to refine or better define our rules to allow for better enforcement.
Fourth quarter assessments are due October 1. Notices will be going out at the end of September.
SUPERVISING CONTRACTORS - Opinion by Tony McSorley
We have contracts for garbage removal, grounds upkeep, and mostly mowing in summer. Snow removal and car towing are done as required under contract.
The August President's article in the newsletter directs homeowners take a hand and not wait and call the board about contractor errors but correct the contractor's mistakes immediately by calling the contractor directly or correct his on site staff yourself. But the list of contractor phone numbers to call listed in the newsletter, as stated in the President's article, is sadly missing. In fact, its never been published monthly. Till the contractor phone numbers are published I expect phone calls will still have to go to the board's contract monitors who still must insure high quality contract performance is maintained. The need for homeowner feedback even if the board no longer follows up with the contractors will still be a requirement of the board contract monitors. How else to know to renew a contractor or cancel or negotiate a lower price. The last couple of times, I believe, the contracts have been just been roll-over and renewed.
It would also help the volunteer's time if they utilized the Leewood Newsletter to distribute the information rather than have board members or their assistant going around as in August with individual one page fliers on parking, reproducing article 18, and one announcing a new Leewood web site location. Both easily could have been taken care of in the newsletter, thereby saving the volunteer's time in producing the flier and distributing to each house in Leewood not to mention cost and neighborhood clutter. This information couldn't wait for the usual monthly Newsletter.
Till the phone numbers are printed in the newsletter, you can use the contractor numbers from your yellow recycle can for garbage or the directory, 703-818-8222. See entrance signs for towing. For lawn service call J&M at 703-553-9825. Maybe these contractor's numbers should also be published in the yearly directory, now that the President wants the homeowners to call directly about any problems.
Web Editor Note: The telephone number of the trash contractor is listed twice in the directory and is in the contacts section of the website.
Do You Have Enough Fault Insurance - Reprint - Opinion by Tony McSorley
At the 2002 Homeowner's Annual Meeting, the board stated they were increasing the Leewood insurance to two million but after that meeting dropped the increase and left it at only a million. Did anyone know? Was it published in the newsletter? I think not.
The following is a REPRINT from last year.
A Washington Post real estate advisor in his column recently said all homeowner associations should carry a minimum of three million dollars in insurance. In August our board checked with our insurance agent and found Leewood carries only one million but the agent said with Leewood only having grass and sidewalks this was more than enough coverage. "AND ANYWAY ALL HOMEOWNERS SHOULD HAVE RIDERS (called fault assessment) ON THEIR HOMEOWNERS INSURANCE TO COVER THEMSELVES IF A JUDGMENT IS HIGHER THAN A MILLION." The board also got a price of $350. per addition million of coverage but are leaning toward not changing our insurance and leaving the homeowners to make up the difference if required by a large judgment over the million.
Therefore, to protect yourself and hope your neighbors are doing the same by getting their own riders, we individually must spend the $350 the homeowners association would pay. At a rate of forty cents (.40) per thousand the homeowners individual riders total share would be $390. ($390 for every MILLION of coverage for homeowners if bought individually.) $350 for every million if bought as a community.
But what do you have an association for, if not to combine and share the load and interest. Not leave it to each individual homeowner to get a rider or NOT and leave other members exposed to possible extensive financial lose. And have a board that keeps extra cash in the yearly operational budgets or build up those reserves rather than seeing all members are exposed to a possible financial blood bath and take proper corrective action.
Web Editor Note: The Association was advised by their insurance agent and a homeowner insurance agent that the liability insurance was sufficient given that we only had "grass and trees".
