Canal Walk Newsletter August 2013 From the Board of Directors We hope everyone is having an enjoyable summer. We look forward to seeing you at the pool or at one of the many picnics in the community. MANAGING CANAL WALK In addition to our management team, we also have at our disposal, professionals who we retain to assist with important legal and financial issues. At our open Board Meeting on June 6th, we were asked if we were going to form a committee of homeowners to assist the Board through the transition process. In January, the Board passed resolutions creating both a Finance Committee and a Transition Committee/Team in Executive Session. These decisions were discussed with many clubs and were ratified and explained at our March 7, 2013 Open Board meeting. For those who may have missed one of these meetings, and for those of you who are new to the community: OUR TRANSITION TEAM IS: 1. FWH - Our transition engineering firm provides services for over 40 communities. 2. Ed Wilkin, - is a principal in Wilkin & Guttenplan, one of NJ’s top 20 accounting firms with a specialization in Residential Communities such as Canal Walk. 3. Hubert Cutolo - A managing partner in Cutolo Mandel LLC - a law firm which is prominently recognized for its expertise in community association law. 4. Bonnie Bertan, President, Association Advisors,(AA) 5. Tom Merklinger, Canal Walk, Community Manager,(AA) Association Advisors is a leading management company for Condominium and Community Associations. They provide an experienced managerial and financial staff with a hands-on approach for a community like ours. They also have been Canal Walk’s management company since the outset. As such they provide us much needed historical perspective. 6. Jim Lyttle - Board Member – Former Director, Weichert Relocation Company, Sales/ Marketing/Planning Manager, Exxon-Mobil. 7. Bernie Worst – Board Member – Former Director of Engineering for ADT Security Services, Inc. 8. Nick Iorio - Board Member - Former Environmental and Regulatory Engineer for Exxon-Mobil. 9. Bob Rossomando - Board Member - Currently President and Chairman of Pan Technology Inc., Carlstadt, NJ. Page 1 During July we should receive preliminary drafts of Stage One Transition and an Updated Reserve Study. We plan to have a status report for the October Board Meeting. FINANCE COMMITTEE: Our Finance Committee consists of the above individuals, with the exception of FWH and Bonnie Bertan, and with the addition of Richard Hausler, Vice President Wealth Management, UBS Financial Services. QUESTIONS AND SUGGESTIONS We are an involved community and many residents have good suggestions and requests. In order to provide responses in a timely manner, please submit your questions in writing, using the form at the Clubhouse or send an email to the Community Manager. In this way we can track requests so that you can be assured that our management team or a member of the Board is looking into the issue. RULES AND REGULATIONS REMINDER Whenever we receive complaints, it is usually about some violation of our “Rules and Regulations.” Keep in mind that the “Rules and Regulations” are not “Law.” They are guides; they are suggestions for how to live together and be respectful of each other. However, there is a $50 fine, per day, for each serious infraction if the issue is not resolved. ACTIVITY STUDY Work is progressing on this project and the results should be available within a month or so. The Board has met with our consultants and with the leaders of most clubs, committees and activities to keep them up to date. PARKING We have noticed a few people parking in the Clubhouse parking lot for several days without permission. Except for people going on Canal Walk sponsored trips, this is not permitted. This regulation also applies to the second Clubhouse which will be coming on line soon. So please honor this rule. It will be enforced. We also have noticed that there are many cars which do not have Canal Walk stickers. Many of us get new cars and forget to register them. We are creating a new data base for all cars and they should be registered immediately. It will allow us to identify all cars here regularly and will eliminate fines or towing. There is no cost to register at the office. THINGS THAT FLY – RUMORS: THAT IS If you hear rumors or information that is unclear or raises a question in your mind, satisfy your inner desire to know by asking the Community Manager and/or a Board member. That is the only way to get first hand information immediately. Of course, the Newsletter is the next best choice. We will all do our best to answer you promptly. ENERGY $$ SAVINGS PROGRAM We have received a rebate of $12,950 from the NJ Clean Energy Program for installing 370 LED energy efficient lights in the Clubhouse. Since our cost for the bulbs was approximately $16,000, there was a net cost of $3,050. Over a five year period, we anticipate a total saving of $30,000 in electricity and replacement bulb costs. Page 2 CPR/DEFIBRILLATOR TRAINING We are pleased to announce that representatives of the Millstone Emergency Squad will be conducting classes at Canal Walk on Saturday, September 21st. A maximum of 24 applications will be accepted, and they will be available at the Clubhouse after August 1st. Next open Board meeting is Thursday, October 3rd, at 7:00 pm. Please arrive early in order to sign in. Thank you for being such polite and cooperative neighbors. Jim Lyttle, Bob Rossomando, Bernie Worst, Nick Iorio CANAL WALK’S OWN WEBSITE Canal Walk residents can check on what activities are planned and sign up for activities right from their home computer. Just type this address and you will get to our Canal Walk Website: http://www.Canalwalkhoa.com The Website hosts a "Residents’ Bulletin Board." Guidelines for the ads are on the Website and also in the Clubhouse. This Newsletter also appears on the Canal Walk Website with a special thanks to Howard Kliger of the Website Committee. TO SEE CLUBHOUSE ACTIVITIES ON YOUR TV: NOW ON CHANNEL 8 IF YOU DO NOT HAVE AN HD CABLE BOX OR USE CHANNEL 281 IF YOU DO HAVE AN HD CABLE BOX From the Enclave Board Summer finally came, and we hope you are making use of the new benches, which are nicely set up outside your building, enjoying the sunshine when we get it. Construction on the fifth building directly in front of the Bristal will begin very shortly. Obviously, there will be a lot of heavy equipment coming into that area and using Massachusetts Way and Enclave Circle. We suggest residents in the Astor and the Bristal begin using the parking lot behind the Astor instead of in front or the side of the buildings. In this way, they will avoid possible damage to their parked cars. This could happen should soil or other debris be scattered about by the wind or rain. If you have not yet received a letter concerning your dryer vents, you will be soon. These need to be cleaned every two years because there is a potential fire hazard should one become blocked. We have performed a walk-through for all the condo buildings and made a list of problems, most of which, happily, are cosmetic. They will be addressed in due course by the Property Manager, the Construction Manager or the Customer Service Department. Page 3 Nice new notices have gone up on the trash rooms, and we hope you will comply diligently with the requirements for trash disposal. This is a way in which we can act as good neighbors and help to keep our buildings in the best possible condition. There has been a slight delay in the final version of the Rules and Regulations for the Enclave, but we hope to have it ready by the time you receive your September Newsletter. We would like to remind you that you should call the Freehold office to request a work order if it’s an issue needing immediate attention. Submit a complaint form and leave it for AG in his box in the Clubhouse if the matter can wait. (Refer to the letter you received a few weeks ago.) This is also the most expedient manner for Enclave residents to receive help in an emergency situation, such as needing an exterminator right away. AG is not always available to us because of his other responsibilities, and we do not want any unnecessary delays. There is no need to contact Bernadette or Brigid about non- emergency issues: that is why we have the Association Advisors in Freehold and a Property Manager. They will advise us of problems with copies of the work order status report, and we can then monitor the action being taken. Enjoy our lovely outdoor pool, TGIFs and the rest of the summer! Bernadette Lombardo and Brigid Brown Covenants Committee During this past holiday season some issues came up regarding acceptable decorations for the community. In an effort to clarify the situation, an addendum to Part VIII, D of the Rules and Regulations have been prepared and approved by the Board. Again, these changes are designed to more specifically spell out what is acceptable in the community for holiday decorations. These changes go into effect immediately. Dave Lyttle Part VIII D. Location of Decorations 1. The location of decorations and lights shall be limited to the following areas: a. Builder’s mulch bed area located in the front of the house adjacent to the foundation. b. Mulch beds that go around to the side entrance of a house.