Fairlington Glen
NEWSLETTER October 2004
OCTOBER 5TH BOARD MEETING
LANDSCAPING. The Board approved a bid from Living Colour for Fall plantings at a cost of $6,502.
LANDSCAPING. The Board approved a bid from Living Colour for common area landscaping at a cost of $7,403.
LANDSCAPING. The Board approved a bid from Davey Tree for minor tree work at a cost of $830.
ANNUAL MEETING
The Annual Meeting will be held on November 4th in the Fairlington Community Center. You should have received your meeting package including proxy forms. Please return the proxy forms as soon as possible, whether or not you plan on attending, to ensure the necessary quorum to conduct business. Proxies must be sent to Legum & Norman by October 25th or given to your Court Representative or a Board member before the meeting. Your proxy is important, so please return it promptly.
POOL NEWS
Another very successful pool season has ended with a big splash. From the opening barbeque to the closing “South of the Border” party and Dog Swim it was a blast. Thanks to everyone in the neighborhood for making this such a special year. A special thanks to the Pool Committee for all of their efforts. We’ll be preparing for next season starting this winter, so anyone interested in being a part of this fun committee please don’t hesitate to contact Kari Doyle at 703-845-4904 or email at kariboe@aol.com
A special apology to dog swimmers who arrived for the dog swim an hour late. We are so very sorry for the mis-communication. Hope to see you next year.
PLUMBING REPAIRS/WATER CUTOFF
Arlington County must cut off the main water valve whenever repairs are needed. If you have scheduled a plumbing repair that requires that the main water valve to the court be shut off, you must take the following steps:
1. Contact Ricky a week in advance.
2. Ricky will call the county to arrange the cutoff.
3. Ricky will advise you when the county can cut off the water.
4. Bring a check for $25, payable to Fairlington Glen, prior to the cutoff date. The county will charge the Glen $25 for every water cutoff, and will only bill the Glen since we hold the master account.
If you have a working-hours emergency, call Ricky to cut off the water and he will notify the county. If you have an after-hours emergency, call the county at 703-228-6555 and leave a message for Ricky informing him of the problem and the actions taken. There will still be a $25 charge for emergency cutoffs.
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. 6/04
PHONE LISTS
The lists of Court Representatives and Important Phone Numbers are being updated and will not be published in the Newsletter until the update is complete. If you desire information regarding these lists, please contact Paul B. Greenfield at 703-820-9692 or at paul@paulgreenfield.com
RICKY’S CORNER
• Preventive maintenance of the exterior sewer cleanouts throughout the Glen has been completed.
• September was a fairly quiet month with no other major maintenance items.
REMINDERS
ALLEYS. The alleys between courts are there for maintenance and emergency access. While residents can use the alleys for moving items from vehicles to units, parking for any length of time is prohibited and the vehicles are subject to being towed without notice.
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 efforts required to clear the backup. Please coordinate with your neighbors regarding repairs and what should and should not be placed in the sink drain since you probably share a common pipe.
FENCES. Our fences common elements and must be treated accordingly. While the Glen repairs/replaces fences as needed, co-owners are responsible for the expense of damage caused by excessive wear and tear and other items within the co-owner’s control. Examples of things that are not permitted are:
• painting either inside or outside
• attaching sheds
• hooking planters over the top ledge
• draping items over any portion
SEWER LINES. Sewer backups are an unpleasant occurrence and Ricky and his crew do everything possible to ensure they are an infrequent one. However, we need to support his efforts by keeping items that contribute to sewer blockages and backups out of the sewer system so that neither you nor your neighbors have to experience a backup. Please be considerate by not putting sanitary napkins, dental floss, baby wipes, paper towels, condoms, tampons, or diapers down the commode. In addition, please inform your guests, house sitters, babysitters, etc. that our sewer lines are fragile and must be treated accordingly.
OUTSIDE LIGHTS. Please keep your front porch and back lights on to provide additional security throughout the Glen.
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.
Visit Fairlington Citizens Association on the web at “http://www.fca-fairlington.org”
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.