Fairlington Glen

NEWSLETTER                                                                                                                  October 2005

 

OCTOBER 4TH BOARD MEETING

 

FALL LANDSCAPE. The Board approved a bid from Living Colour for fall landscape plantings at a cost of $7,318.

 

TREES. The Board approved a bid from Davey Tree for fall tree work at a cost of $4,660.

 

BUDGET. The Board approved the draft 2006 budget for the Glen which will be presented at the Annual Meeting.

 

 

BUDGET/ANNUAL MEETING SCHEDULE

 

The schedule for the Annual Meeting to approve the 2006 budget and elect Board members, and activities leading up to this meeting, has been modified as shown below. The dates shown are tentative and a firm schedule will be provided in the November Newsletter.

 

         •        October 24: Board Member Candidate Profiles due to Legum & Norman.

 

         •        October 31: Publication and mailing of the draft budget and other Annual Meeting information to co-owners.

 

         •        November 11: Deadline for amendments to the draft budget.

 

         •        November 15: B&G sponsored Candidate’s Forum for Glen Board candidates.

 

         •        November 18: Published amendments (if any) mailed to co-owners.

 

         •        November 28: Co-owner proxies due to Legum & Norman.

 

         •        December 6: Annual Meeting.

 

 

GLEN BOARD CANDIDATES

 

There are two seats (three-year terms each) on the Glen Board of Directors that will be filled at the December 6th Annual Meeting. If you are a co-owner interested in running for the Board and wish to have your candidacy included in the “Annual Meeting Package” please complete the “Candidate Profile” form attached to this newsletter. Forms must be returned to Legum & Norman by October 24th.

 

Candidates should be willing to expend significant time and energy serving the Fairlington Glen community. The Board is responsible for managing a large condominium property with a large budget and a diverse community of people. Some of the responsibilities of a Board member include the following:

 

         •        attend monthly Board meetings

         •        be “on call” by the community seven days a week at any hour

         •        may entail attending B&G meetings once a month as Board Liaison, preparing the annual budget, reviewing financial records, and/or preparing the monthly Glen newsletter and the Glen Ready Reference

 

 

PARKING IN RESTRICTED AREAS

 

Parking is not allowed in court entrances, in fire lanes, on lawns and sidewalks, and at other areas designated by the county. The curbs in the "no-parking" areas of the Glen have been repainted with bright yellow paint. This is an important reminder not to park at the entrances to Glen courts which must be kept clear to allow for the entry of emergency vehicles. In addition, its been noted that the police are ticketing cars parked in "no-parking" areas on the streets in the Glen such as the handicapped access areas. Please avoid parking in areas that would inhibit access by emergency vehicles and other areas designated by the county as “no-parking” areas.

 

 

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.

 

 

WATERING - PLEASE HELP!!

 

We are in the midst of a drought and the infrequent rain we have received has not been enough to ensure the survival of our plants. In particular, new plantings including those planted in the past year or two are stressed and some are dying. Please help us by watering the landscaped areas around your units. It only takes a few minutes to set up a sprinkler and help our beautiful plantings survive. Recent plantings require water several times a week to ensure their survival. While not as critical, the lawns that border our beautiful street trees where the root structures grow should be watered as well. Watering the mulch under the trees or placing hoses next to the trunks does not allow the trees to take in any water ... placing a sprinkler along the front and side yards that border our trees allows the roots to receive water. Please help us ... this is your community and our landscaping increases the value and beauty of the Glen.

 

 

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:

 

•        Contact Ricky a week in advance.

 

•        Ricky will call the county to arrange the cutoff.

 

•        Ricky will advise you when the county can cut off the water.

 

•        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.

 

 

BEDROOM EXITS

 

Co-owners who convert attic and basement areas should be aware that the building code requires the following:

 

•        Basements with habitable space and each sleeping room shall have at least one openable emergency escape and rescue opening. Where emergency escape and rescue openings are provided, they shall have a sill height of not more than 44 inches (1118 mm) above the floor.

 

•        Emergency escape and rescue openings with a finished height below the adjacent ground elevation shall be provided with a window well.

 

•        All emergency escape and rescue openings shall have a minimum net clear opening of 5.7 square feet, including the tilting or removal of the sash as the normal operation. The minimum net clear opening height shall be 24 inches and the minimum net clear opening width shall be 20 inches. Exception: Grade floor windows may have a minimum net clear opening of 5 square feet.

 

 

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 still available for emergencies or for those without an email capability.

 

 

MAINTENANCE OFFICE PHONE CALLS

 

If you need to contact Ricky, the Landscape Subcommittee or the Pool Committee by calling 703-820-9567, please remember that your phone number and address are essential and must be understood. Please speak slowly when providing this information and consider repeating it to ensure it will be understood by those accessing your messages.

 

 

RICKY’S CORNER

 

•        Ivy is not allowed on building facades and fences due to the damage it causes. The crew trims ivy that is planted outside patios; however, ivy planted inside patios is a Co-owner responsibility and the Co-owner is liable for any damage. Please ensure that ivy planted inside your patio is trimmed away from building facades and fences.

 

•        If you have requested that the crew conduct efforts in your patio area, please make sure your patio gate is unlocked. If the gate is locked the crew will be unable to access your patio area to respond to your needs.

 

•        All of the Glen’s gutters will be cleaned starting in mid-October.

 

•        Preventive maintenance of all sewer laterals has been completed. The next scheduled preventive maintenance will be conducted in December.

 

•        Porch lights, patio jelly jar lights, and outdoor faucets are the responsibility of the co-owner. Please do not ask the crew to perform repairs on these elements.

 

 

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.

 

DOGS. Dogs are to be kept on a leash at all times. No dog is to be tethered to any object in the common areas. Dogs are not permitted to run free except in designated “off-leash” exercise areas in Arlington County. The closest dog exercise area to the Glen is currently at Utah Field. Be sure to pick up the deposits left by your dogs. There are trash receptacles throughout the Glen where the bagged goodies can be deposited.

 

B-UNIT STORAGE. Bicycles and tricycles may be stored in the common hallways and basements of B-Units if all residents in the building agree and they do not block access to exits (some limit on the number may be imposed). No other items may be stored in the hallways or basements. In addition, nothing is to be affixed to hallway walls and plantings, furniture, etc. in the hallways is prohibited.

 

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.

 

REPAIRS. The maintenance staff places cones, tape, and other indicators in areas that present a danger to personnel. Please do not remove the these items ... this could result in injuries and legal claims against the Glen.

 

TREES. Trees in the common areas will be maintained by the Glen and its contractors, and residents are not authorized to prune them. In addition, these trees are not to be used as for recreation ... do not hang swings from them and see that your children are not climbing or defacing them. If a problem is detected, please notify the Landscape Subcommittee. Patio trees are your responsibility. Please keep them trimmed so they do not impinge on the roofs or gutters. If you want to plant a tree in your patio area, you need approval from the Landscape Subcommittee to ensure it conforms with species appropriate to small spaces, and from Ricky to ensure that sewer and water lines are not affected.

 

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.



CANDIDATE PROFILE

 

 

Name:

 

Court:                                                    Co-owner for how long?

 

 

Fairlington Glen or other Fairlington Village experience:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Occupation:

 

 

What are your reasons for running for the Board of Directors and your areas of primary interest or concern within Fairlington Glen?

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

As a candidate, what strengths would you bring to the Board?