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ASSOCIATION NEWSLETTERS

(For Previous Twelve Months)

HOA newsletters, which include board meeting minutes, are posted here monthly.  You may also continue to have newsletters hand-delivered to your door. To do this, please call 410-661-4624 and leave your name and street address on the answering machine. To cut down on paper use and copying costs, we will prepare paper copies only for those homeowners who call with their request.

IF YOU ARE CURRENTLY RECEIVING YOUR NEWSLETTER BY EMAIL, AND YOUR EMAIL ADDRESS CHANGES, PLEASE CONTACT THE BOARD WITH YOUR NEW ADDRESS.  IF WE DO NOT HAVE A WORKING EMAIL ADDRESS, WE CANNOT SEND YOU THE NEWSLETTER.  JUST EMAIL YOUR NEW ADDRESS TO hoa@cromwellstation.net.

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CROMWELL STATION HOMEOWNERS ASSOCIATION

JANUARY 2010 NEWSLETTER

TRASH ALERT from Baltimore County:  The County has complained to the Management Company about several cars being parked at the turn-arounds on Kathsway, Forest Valley and Roger Valley.  The County advised they will not pick up trash if this condition continues as they cannot turn their trucks to exit.  Do not park on the turn-arounds on Monday and Tuesday evenings.

BOARD MEETING 1/6/10:  The meeting was called to order at 7 p.m. by Dan Pugh, President.  Board members, Barbara Fuller and Sarah Drexler, and two homeowners were present.

 The Treasurer’s Report was distributed.  Total expenditures for December 2009 were $11,306.88.  Total expenditures paid for 2009 were $76,564.05.  Total Assets of $210,200.58 include: checking $1,000.00; two money market accounts and a reserve account of $128,644.11.

Old Business

1.      A new homeowner telephone directory is still in process and will be printed soon.  

2.      The Holiday Lights Contest was cancelled due to the December snowstorm.  It was suggested that a Best Front Garden Contest be held in the summer.

New Business

1.      Dan Pugh will arrange to host the captain of the Parkville Police at the May 5, 2010, Homeowners Meeting.  All homeowners are encouraged to attend to hear a report of crime and crime prevention relating to the Parkville area.

2.      Barbara Fuller reported that Bank of America is providing the HOA good service.

3.      There was discussion concerning snow removal on the common area sidewalks.  Dan Pugh will find out what needs to be done. 

4.      Homeowners are being notified by the County about the new single stream recycling program to take effect on February 2010.

5.      The ARC will begin walkthroughs in early spring.  A request was approved to purchase walkie-talkies so that the ARC reps are able to assess fronts and backs of houses in sync.

Open Forum

There being no further business, the meeting was adjourned at 8:30 p.m.

Respectfully submitted:  Sarah Drexler, Secretary

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CROMWELL STATION HOMEOWNERS ASSOCIATION
November 2008 Newsletter

ANNUAL MEETING: NOV. 5TH

The 2008 Annual HOA meeting was called to order at 7 PM with all board members and 13 homeowners present. The September Minutes were approved without correction.

Barbara Fuller presented the Treasurer's Report through September as well as the proposed budget for 2009. The incoming 2009 board of directors will need to vote on this budget.

September: Expenses for the month of September totaled $8,461 including RCM management fee, Chesapeake Landscaping monthly contract, BG&E, Nagel & Zaller legal fees, Harford Hills school for monthly meeting, Reserve Account monthly set-aside, USPS for HOA election mailing, Castlewood Tree Service for tree removal and federal, state and county taxes. Total expenditures YTD total $76,418. Current assets include checking accounts, $37,577; savings account, $19,838; reserve account $121.198 for an asset total of $178,613. Monthly set-asides for the reserve account are folded into our CD each time it matures.

The proposed 2009 Budget includes $9580 for administration, $65,300 for maintenance of community property, $14,250 for RCM management fees and miscellaneous management expenditures, $2,030 for Committees (website, ARC, nominating committee, newsletter, HOA directory) and $8540 for reserve account for a total of $99,700. Income from dues, late fees and interest on savings is projected to total $99,700 producing a balanced budget for 2009.

ELECTION OF BOARD FOR 2009
Ballots containing the names of nominees for the board and ARC were distributed and the meeting was opened to nominations from the floor. Several homeowners present volunteered to run and their names were added to the ballots. After voting, ballots were collected and counted by two homeowners selected at random from the attendees. The results are as follows:

BOARD

Amy Ruth and Sarah Drexler will join the three remaining members from 2008: Ron Spalding, Barbara Fuller
and Dan Pugh. ARC: Ron Brown, Lois Behles and Rob Hoehn. CONGRATULATIONS AND THANK YOU!

YEAR IN REVIEW

  • New and repaired sidewalks. The County came in early in the summer to inspect and repair sidewalks slabs that were no long in code. The County picked up the cost where water meters were involved and billed HOA or private homeowners for the rest.

  • A continuing effort was made to remove the white pines that had died over the past year. This will be an ongoing project until the white pines have been replaced.

  • The board contracted with Reserve Advisors to update the financial requirements of our reserve account. As expected, the account remains severely underfunded.

  • In an attempt to ease the burden of the reserve account, the board contacted the County to determine whether the County would accept full responsibility for the roads in the community (the County currently shares responsibility with CSHOA). At this writing, we have not received a definite answer; however, we expect to hear before year-end.

OPEN FORUM
Some minor issues concerning the community were raised; these issues come up regularly and to a large extent are outside the authority of the board:

  • Communication boxes (Verizon, Comcast, etc.): From time to time they are vandalized by local "artists," leaving them unsightly or occasionally they are left ajar by technicians. This issue must be addressed by the company.

  • Mailboxes: This is another situation that is outside the board jurisdiction. Only the US post office can address mailbox issues.

  • Trees overhanging sidewalks: This issue requires the cooperation of all homeowners. If a tree is growing on your property and is overhanging the sidewalk, branches must be trimmed back to no less than 7 feet above the walkway so that pedestrians can walk under them safely.

  • Linden Trees: These attractive landscaping trees seem to exude a sticky substance that drops on parked cars and attracts insects. Unfortunately, there are a substantial number of these trees in the neighborhood. Removing them is not an option as they are an attractive addition to the community; however, trimming is a possibility that the 2009 board may wish to look at.

SPECIAL REMINDER
Because there are a number of homes currently being rented in our community, the board would like to remind everyone that the County has issued strict guidelines for home rentals. It is not legal for more than two unrelated individuals to be living in a rental home.

THE FINAL BOARD MEETING FOR 2008 WILL BE HELD ON DECEMBER 3RD AT 7:00 pm AT HARFORD HILLS ELEMENTARY SCHOOL

There being no further business, the meeting was adjourned at 8:15 PM.

Respectfully submitted,
Martha Black, Secretary