ANNUAL MEETING
The 43rd Annual Meeting of the Washington Pond Homeowner’s Association was held on September 26, 2022, at the KofC on Pascack Road. The meeting agenda included review of budget, completed projects, changes that took place, announcements, and an open forum with questions and discussion of all homeowners.
ELECTIONS
The Election Committee tallied the votes. There were 36 ballots received and counted. Elected to the Board: W. Kolax (31 votes), L. Mason (32 votes), A. Mason (29 votes), Y. Raigo (36 votes).
The Board consists of 7 members: S. Burgermaster, M. Kolax, W. Kolax, L. Mason, A. Mason, S. Raigo, and Y. Raigo.
BOARD MEETING
October 3, 2021. The Board elected officers and committees:
William Kolax, President
Lana Mason, Vice President
Sophia Raigo, Treasurer
Yana Raigo, Secretary
Board members: Susan Burgermaster, Margret Kolax, Alex Mason
Maintenance Committee: Sophia Raigo, Head | Alex Mason, Susan Burgermaster
Architectural Committee: William Kolax, Head | Lana Mason, Yana Raigo
Recreation Committee: Yana Raigo, Head | Val Kitaychik, Debra Press, Lana Mason
PR Committee: Yana Raigo, Head | Lana Mason, Susan Burgermaster
Pond Maintenance Committee: William Kolax, Head | Bob McDonough, Ilya Zwieback, Kathleen McGrath
Budget Committee: Sophia Raigo, Head | Christine Bole, Alex Mason
The Nomination Committee will be formed 4 months prior to the next annual meeting.
WELCOME NEW MEMBERS
W. Xavier (147), C. Mango (151), S. Adamo (157), C. Calise (159), A. Valdez (231), D. Yuponce (324). Congratulations to The Faloticos (342) on the birth of their baby!
PROJECTS OF 21/22
A large retaining wall located between Pond Court and Pond Drive, adjacent to unit 320, was dismantled and rebuilt.
The fence behind units 320-324 has been secured, and the surrounding area filled with gravel to prevent erosion.
Landscape erosion & drainage issues created by very heavy rains during the spring season were addressed in several areas including the walk-through by the new retaining wall by 320, the walk-through behind the Pond Court mews, and the area behind 158 on Pond Drive.
Multiple heritage Ash trees were removed during the winter season (they were sick and needed to be removed to prevent further deterioration and collapse).
New concrete pads/floors were installed last fall in the dumpster areas on Pond Terrace and Pond Court. The remaining dumpster area pads will be resurfaced in 2022/2023.
CHANGES IN 2022
A new Pond Maintenance Committee was formed, comprised of homeowner volunteers (Bob from 153, Ilya from 214, and Kathleen from 155). The Committee’s focus is on finding the optimal solutions for addressing the ageing pond, debris that has been collecting over the years, issues with algae. To start, a sonar study was approved by the Board. The current pond management company performed the study and will be submitting a report, which will help the Committee and the Board to assess next steps and estimate costs. We thank our volunteers for donating their time to help research, select, and manage projects related to our pond.
Our Pool was approved as an exempt facility which allowed us to operate without lifeguards this summer. All who attended were happy with the results. This allowed the pool to remain open continuously at the end of the season (when lifeguards are hard to come by) and to keep the pool open an extra week past the usual Labor Day closing.
ROADS
Volunteers needed to manage the road resurfacing project. Need to start planning since this project requires detailed preparation. To budget, allocate funds, decide on assessments, the team will start with researching vendors and cost. Please submit your names and contact information to info@washingtonpond.org.
MAINTENANCE FEE
The monthly maintenance will not be increased this year.
REMINDERS TO HOMEOWNERS
The Board addressed the homeowners with several reminders (see following). The website is an excellent source of information if you have any questions, but if you cannot find the answer to your questions there, please drop a note to info@washingtonpond.org and we will be glad to answer.
Parking
Parking has been an increasing concern, especially on Pond Terrace. Per Rule #15, each household is allowed to park 2 cars in the parking lot – mews park in their reserved spaces, townhomes in the garage + 1 space in the general parking lot (each street has its own parking lot which must be used). Washington Pond was designed to accommodate 2 parking spaces per household – as a home for working executives, a family starter home with small children, or a home for a retiree. It is not designed for families with more than 2 vehicles. Pond Court townhomes should be parking their cars in the Pond Court parking area (NOT on Pond Terrace). More than 2 cars per household should be parked in the parking area by the pool; for long-term storage of unused vehicles other arrangements must be made. For security reasons, and in-line with common practice, the homeowners will need to provide a list of vehicles registered to each household including plate numbers/make/models. Notifications will be sent shortly.
Improper Dumping
Improper dumping is an ongoing issue. New signs were posted in all the dumpster areas with the rules. Oversized items cannot be disposed of in the dumpster bins, and nothing must be left on the ground in the dumpster area corrals. Arrangements can be made with the town for pickup, and this is each homeowners’ responsibility. Waste disposal costs are constantly rising. If homeowners do not pitch in by following these rules our community cost for disposal rise even higher. The result will be assessments to all of us for the increased disposal costs, above and beyond what is budgeted for waste management services. If you see anyone leaving items on the ground in the corrals or disposing of oversized items, please report to the Board so that the expense can be charged directly to the homeowner.
Maintenance of Home Exteriors
Keeping the homes exterior aligned with the community rules & regulations is each homeowners’ responsibility, which includes keeping the fences & exterior siding well maintained, and the front areas neat and uncluttered. The Board arranges a community-wide painting every 7 years, to help lower cost for each household. The next one is planned for 2023/2024. In the meantime, please check the exteriors of your home and repair the siding or fence, if needed. You can reach out to Gustavo for minor repairs, but he does get busy, and is available only part time. If you’re looking for a vendor, speak with your neighbors for vendor references, or reach out to the Board (we keep vendor names on file and can provide if requested – but ultimately it is each homeowners’ responsibility to find a vendor and repair their property).
Be sure to follow the rules and receive formal approval for any exterior updates. The ARC Request Form is posted on the website, along with information about approved paint colors, etc.
Pets
We are a pet-friendly community; however, dogs must be always leashed while walking on common grounds, and cats (or other household animals) are not allowed to be on common grounds unattended. And be sure to clean up after your pet! Homeowners who disregard these rules will be incur fines.
Gardening Water Pipes
Don’t forget to winterize the gardening water pipes before the temperatures drop! Please read the FYI post for more information or look for the Gardening Pipes post in the News section of the website.