Fairlington Glen

NEWSLETTER                                                                                                                February 2005

 

 

FEBRUARY 1ST BOARD MEETING

 

DRAINAGE. The Board approved a bid from Newborg Drainage for the correction of drainage problems behind Courts 3 and 4 at a cost of $2,137.

 

 

BUILDING AND GROUNDS COMMITTEE

 

The next Building and Grounds Committee meeting will be held in the Fairlington Community Center at 7:30pm on February 15th. All courts should be represented so we can discuss the feasibility of replacing the current Landscape Subcommittee under the Building and Grounds Committee with an independent committee for Landscape issues that would report directly to the Board of Directors. If you desire additional information prior to the meeting, please contact Charlie Robbins at 703-998-6815 or by email at charles_robbins@hotmail.com

 

 

LANDSCAPE SUBCOMMITTEE

 

There will be no Landscape Subcommittee meeting in March. Our walk-through to get ready for the spring plantings will be on Saturday, March 19th at 8:00am. We will meet in the big circle at 36th and S. Stafford. Anyone interested is invited to join us.

 

 

NEWSLETTER SURVEY/INPUTS

 

The Glen Newsletter is produced monthly following the Board of Directors meeting. Since this is the principal means of disseminating information of interest to all residents, we would like to know if the content is meeting your needs. Please take a moment to answer the following questions and provide email responses to fairlingtonglen@aol.com or drop written responses through the door at 4280 S. 35th Street (Court 15). Compiled responses will be published in a subsequent Newsletter.

 

•        Is information about upcoming meetings/events adequate?

•        Do you save the Newsletter for future reference?

•        What additional information would you like to see included in the Newsletter?

 

Resident-generated items for the Newsletter are welcome. If you have items that you wish to include, please send them to fairlingtonglen@aol.com. If you do not have an email capability, they can be left with Ricky. Please ensure that the items are of general interest and do not promote any commercial venture or organization/function that would imply an endorsement by the Glen which may not be consistent with the views of all co-owners.

 

 

CRIME

 

The battle against crime involves both the police and citizens. It is a widely accepted fact that “police can not be everywhere”. For this reason, the effective functioning of a police department is dependent on citizen cooperation and their resistance to crime. Many crimes would never be committed if more citizens would be alert to suspicious activity and take it upon themselves to notify the police. We are lucky to live in a relatively crime-free area; however, we are not immune. If you see any suspicious activity, please take appropriate action.

 

 

CITIZEN’S POLICE ACADEMY

 

The Arlington County Police Department conducts two sessions of their Citizens' Police Academy annually in March and September. The classes will be held on Wednesday evenings for twelve weeks. Topics include search and seizure, laws of arrest, traffic enforcement/radar, firearm safety, gangs and K-9 uses. Participants will also be introduced to basic self-defense techniques. The starting date for the next class has been delayed and will probably occur during the first week of April. If you or anyone you know is interested in attending, please contact Sergeant Dave Reiten at 703-228-4247 or by e-mail at dreite@arlingtonva.us

 

 

EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS

 

Residents should review their procedures for responding to emergencies including man-made threats and natural disasters. Emergency preparedness documentation provided by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) can be found on the following web pages:

 

•        Family Disaster Plan:

                   http://www.fema.gov/library/famplan.shtm

 

•        Disaster Supplies Kit:

                   http://www.fema.gov/library/diskit.shtm

 

•        Emergency Food and Water Supplies:

                   http://www.fema.gov/library/emfdwtr.shtm

 

 

INSURANCE

 

The insurance deductible on the Glen’s Master Policy is currently $5,000 per occurrence and is the responsibility of the co-owner. All co-owners should so advise their insurance agents and ensure that you carry coverage for the difference between the deductible on your homeowner's policy (e.g., $250) and the Glen's $5,000 deductible. Otherwise, you may find yourself paying for damages up to $5,000 for floods, leaks, sewer backups, fires or other losses. The coverage under an HO-6 policy to cover repair or replacement cost of damage within a unit owner’s unit below the Glen’s Master Policy deductible is not something unique or difficult to obtain; however, since the levels of coverage provided vary widely, co-owners should confirm with their personal insurance agent and/or company that their HO-6 policy provides this coverage.

 

In addition, renovations to a unit are not covered under the Master Policy. These would only be covered under the homeowners' betterments and improvements clause to their individual homeowner policies. This applies to all types of unit renovations including kitchen and bathroom upgrades, basement and attic conversions, and any renovations made by a previous owner. All owners should check with their agents on a regular basis to ensure that improvements and betterments are adequately covered by their homeowner policies.

 

 

HOT WATER HEATERS

 

Hot water heaters have a life expectancy of around 7-10 years and usually fail without warning. Because water feeds into a hot water heater constantly, any failure will result in an outpouring. If your hot water heater is getting old, you may want to consider buying a new one. In addition, before leaving your home for any length of time, consider turning off the water service to your hot water heater.

 

 

WASHING MACHINE HOSES

 

Standard issue washing machine hoses eventually dry and become brittle, and can crack or burst. Most homeowners do not turn off the water to the washing machine when they have finished the laundry which puts constant pressure on these hoses. Since the faucets are open, if the hoses burst water will flood your home until the faucets are turned off ... a disaster at any time especially if you are not home. Consider replacing your old hoses with new, steel-reinforced hoses and always turn off the water when the laundry is done ... any plumber can install a simple lever that will allow you to turn off your hot and cold water faucets.

 

 

CLOTHES DRYER DUCTWORK

 

The ductwork within the wall behind your clothes dryer accumulates lint. If its not cleaned it can catch fire from an errant spark, overheated machine, or even a lightning strike. Clean your dryer ductwork at least every other year. Many chimney sweeps provide this service.

 

 

FAIRLINGTON AT 50

 

Fairlington at 50 - 60th Anniversary Edition. A history of Fairlington, along with photographs (1943-2003), authored by resident Catherine Fellows, are available at $20. Order by calling 703-379-6860 (Sandy).

 

 

MAINTENANCE OFFICE EMAIL

 

Please remember that we now have email capability in the Maintenance Office. Residents are requested to use email for routine maintenance requests to ensure the maintenance staff has a clear understanding of the problem and the address and phone number of the affected resident. The email address is ricksolfg@aol.com. The phone (703-820-9567) is available for emergencies or those without email capability.

 

 

RICKY’S CORNER

 

•        We have received some reports of gutters that were apparently leaking; however, the situation was actually the result of ice melt. Please ensure you take ice melt into consideration before reporting gutter problems.

 

•        The trash receptacles located around the Glen are not for household trash. With trash pickup six days a week, there is no need to deposit your household trash in these receptacles.

 

•        Please remember that sink backups are a resident responsibility and the maintenance crew is not authorized to conduct repairs.

 

 

REMINDERS

 

TRASH PICKUP FOR MAJOR ITEMS. Large items that you need to dispose of will be picked up on the first Saturday of every month. They must be placed on the curb at the street by 9 a.m. These pickups are free. Please do not put large items out at any other time ... THEY WILL NOT BE PICKED UP.

 

KITCHEN SINK BACKUPS. If you experience a backup of your kitchen sink, do not assume that the Glen is responsible ... most sink backups are the result of clogged pipes within the unit. The best way to determine where the fault lies is to flush the basement toilet. If it flushes properly, the backup is not a sewer problem and the co-owner is responsible for all efforts required to clear the backup. You should coordinate with your neighbors regarding both the repairs and what should and should not be placed in the sink drain since you probably share a common pipe.

 

PARKING. Parking in all courts is restricted to lined spaces. Parking is not allowed in court entrances, in fire lanes, or on lawns and sidewalks. Particular care should be taken if you are moving in or out of a unit ... make sure that you do not drive a trailer or other vehicle up on the grass. If you see this happening, please remind the resident and movers that it is not permitted. In addition, there have been instances where contractors and delivery personnel park in the courtyards while conducting their business. Please inform these personnel that the parking spaces are reserved and they need to park in the street.

 

ILLEGAL PARKING. Towing is only allowed from your assigned parking space. You must have a towing code (call Barbara Walsh at 703-848-4332). Cars parked on the grass, double parked, parked in the entrances to the courts, or impeding the flow of traffic in the courts can only be towed by a Board member or an agent of Legum and Norman. Note that parking in front of the handicapped ramps to the sidewalks could result in a ticket from the Arlington Police, so play it safe and don’t park there.

 

OUTSIDE LIGHTS. Please keep your front porch and back lights on to provide additional security throughout the Glen.

 

COMMON AREAS. In order to maintain the quality of the Glen and ensure common areas are maintained in a consistent manner, significant restrictions are in place regarding what residents can do. When in doubt about doing something in common areas such as adding items to the flower beds, leaving personal articles in the common areas, and placing items on fences or having items in the patio area that are visible above the top of the fences, please check the Handbook or call Legum & Norman.

 

VARIANCES. Changes to a unit, including both exterior appearance and interior structural modifications, require permission from the Board prior to the start of work. If you desire to make any changes to your unit, please refer to Chapter 5 of the Fairlington Glen Handbook. If there is any doubt regarding the need for a variance, please check with the applicable individuals listed in the Handbook before taking action.

 

REPORTING PROBLEMS. You can contact Ricky and the chairpersons of the Landscape Subcommittee and Pool Committee by calling 703-820-9567. You can leave a message by pressing “1" for the Landscape Subcommittee and “2" for the Pool Committee. To leave a message for Ricky, wait for the tone at the end of the recorded message or press “9" or “#” to end the recorded message and go to the tone. Please be courteous and don’t call these people at home. If you have an after-hours emergency maintenance problem or can not reach Ricky after a reasonable time, please call the Legum & Norman 24-hour emergency repair number ... 703-600-6000

 

HANDBOOK. All residents and co-owners should have a copy of the Fairlington Glen Handbook dated November 1999. Please review it occasionally since it provides essential information to ensure that you and your neighbors enjoy the wonderful experience of living in the Glen.

 

 

MEETINGS

 

All Glen meetings are held in the Fairlington Community Center at 3308 South Stafford Street. All residents are welcome.

         •        Board of Directors, 7:30pm, 1st Tuesday of the month

         •        Building and Grounds Committee, 7:30pm, 3rd Tuesday of the month (no meetings in August, November, and December)

         •        Landscape Subcommittee, 7:00pm, 2nd Tuesday of the month (no meetings in July, November, and December)

 

 

ON THE INTERNET

 

Visit “http://www.fairlington.org/glenindex.htm” for draft Board minutes, newsletters, and the Handbook. Please contact John Fuller if you have comments on Fairlington Glen information on this site.

 

 

 

The Fairlington Glen Newsletter is a communication channel by which the Board of Directors disseminates information to Glen residents and co-owners. Please provide any comments or recommendations to the Board Secretary, John Fuller, at fairlingtonglen@aol.com, or to any other Board member, prior to the monthly Board of Directors meeting.