Board Minutes – March 2020

March 12

Board members present: Jessica Joyner, Sarah Keally, Kristina Meyer, Sandy Mohler, Cyndi Hartman, and Kelly Fairbank

Question from a resident regarding approval of Hardiewood:

  • Reston Association will deny the application unless our board has updated our guidelines
  • Sandy is working on the updates for the colors and materials on the guidelines and will take it into account
  • Resident sent an email to the board the details of what he found and the board will review

Financials:

  • Discussed financials

Cluster Cleanup Plan

  • Tot lot trash can – Sandy working on a new enclosure for the new trashcan.   A resident is providing a large rolling trash can to replace existing trashcan.  
    • The board approves $300 worth of materials
  • Issues with erosion rocks being moved by neighborhood children by the tot lot and the board will talk to the parents and put something in the Wheelwrighter
  • Pavers – ones by the tot lot need to be redone during the cleanup with some new sand/dirt to support or use the leftover peat gravel that we already have
  • Entrance sign cleaning
  • Annuals – buy some for the front entrance sign?  Looking at local native plants instead that might do better.
  • Maybe removing invasive plants?  Northern Virginia Native can help us with identifying the invasive plants.
  • Hedging and clipping the overhang from the little free library and stairs will be done by the landscaper since we have a credit.
  • Will provide coffee, sweetener, creamers, and napkins for the coffee
  • Kristina will be in charge of the food for the cluster cleanup and schedule hazardous waste collection for same weekend as cluster cleanup

EDIT – Spring Cluster Cleanup has decided to be postponed to a later date to be announced due to Coronavirus 19 concerns.

Dumpster- we haven’t been getting the voucher; Sarah will reach out to Bates to request the dumpster for the weekend.

Sustainable Symposium

  • Kristina attended on behalf of the board
  • Provided a handout as a summary of the symposium
  • Recommendations include: 
    • Using ground cover to cover shaded areas and bald spots
    • Pollinator gardens to help with butterflies and wildlife
    • Erosion – Kristina will work with the erosion person to walk the neighborhood and identify areas to address and landscaping to address
      • Will include a representative from the County’s soil and water conservation program
      • Looking at working on this in the fall

  • Note:  the in-person walkthrough has been postponed due to COVID-19 concerns.  Some comments have been provided over email with some pictures. Walkthrough will be rescheduled. 

Spring landscaping requests

  • Pruning and cutting back
  • Mulching already completed
  • Stump that fills with water – plant another plant in the middle to help with the water collection

Tree work:

  • Sandy met with tree committee and they are concerned about a tree behind 2261 and 2263 – looking for quotes for tree removal, but requires crane removal 
  • Looking at other potential tree removal companies for our tree work
    • Cyndi requested that they look at the tree between 2231 and 2233 that is dropping branches on the sidewalk

Shingles work

  • Sandy researching roof shingle colors and pulling samples that would work with our colors and potential new colors for the roofs/siding
  • List all the colors and brands that would look good together and keep samples as part of the cluster box for residents as much as is reasonably possible
  • All of this would need to go through DRB approval
    • Board members reviewed several samples of roof shingles that are available and will discuss further at the next meeting with siding samples
    • Board will submit application for additional shingles approval to DRB

Sandy will work on Wheelwrighter and update the look and feel of the newsletter

Next meeting scheduled April 16, 7 PM, Virtual

Board Minutes – February 2020

February 13

Board members present: Jessica Joyner, Sarah Keally,, Kristina Myers, Sandy Mohler, Cyndi Hartman, and Kelly Fairbank

Financials:

  • Discussed potential ways to enforce payment of delinquent dues

  • Board confirmed the approach of sending certified notes to those delinquent after 30 days overdue

Trash Update

  • Trash can in tot lot
    • Regular removal 
    • Install new enclosure will help with removing the can and putting it on the curb 
      • Will install at next cluster cleanup – Sandy will take lead on materials and plans
      • Remove old can once it’s emptied out

American proposal: reasonable proposal but a $1500 increase a year for trash service

– will wait and reassess in July and again at the annual meeting

Landscaping

-will ask the landscaper for a quote for some annuals to plant by the front sign

Erosion Contract

  • Requested a quote from Sunrise Landscaping  for some plants to put on downhill next to 2231 
  • May try to plan some by other erosion areas to help with erosion as well
  • Kristina met with erosion contractor and got a proposal for areas behind 2258-2264 & 2256-2270
    • Adding flatstones and cobble to help slow down the flow
    • Cut back the sucker growth
    • Piping out downspouts

Tree Work

  • Reached out to Steve and the Tree Committee is going to wait a few weeks to meet with Sandy

Concrete Contract

  • Not pursuing other concrete contracts at this time
  • Cyndi to contact the old concrete contractor

Updating By-Laws

  • New by-laws are updated on website.

  • Watch Light out in lower cluster – Cyndi will call Dominion Power to have them work on it.

Next meeting scheduled March 12, 7 PM, 2205

Board Minutes – January 2020

January 16

Board members present: Jessica Joyner, Sarah Keally, Kristina Myers, Sandy Mohler, Cyndi Hartman, and Kelly Fairbank

Contract Review:

Snow Contract

  • Still the same contractor, same rates as last year
  • Usually text him when we need it
  • Jessica is still contractor contact

Landscaping

  • Contractor has been relatively good with invoicing
  • Only a couple of complaints with bushes/shrubs up front by sign and with leaf blowing but those have been taken care of already
  • Kristina will remain being the contact 

Trash Contract

  • Sarah will remain the trash contact

Erosion Contract

  • Joe (Sunrise Landscaping) thinks we can improve the path down to the woods by planting plants behind the houses to help with erosion
  • Also suggested re-routing the downspouts and adding rocks to disperse the water
  • Potential cluster cleanup work by Cyndi’s house side for erosion; if it doesn’t get done then, ask Sunrise  to do
  • Kristina and Cyndi will be the contacts for this contract

Street Lights

  • Not assigned to anyone right now and only contact as needed

Lawyer

  • No assigned contact, only contact as needed when issues come up

Insurance

  • Treasurer usually takes care of this issue
  • Same with accountant

Erosion Grant

  • Plan to reapply for 2020 in May with Fairfax Water
  • We received the check from last year’s award
  • Kristina will look for potential opportunities
  • Put potential mitigation ideas for homeowners in the Wheelwrighter newsletter

Parking Management

  • No current contact and no major issues right now

Wheelwrighter

  • Sandy will be the new editor and others can contribute articles

Tree Work

  • Sandy and Jessica will tag team as the contact
  • Sandy will follow up and coordinate with them
  • Jessica will email Steve to let him know the new contacts

Concrete

  • Only need to address the trip hazards
  • Might look at grinding down some of the trip spots instead of replacing

Bates Trash Contract

  • Trash can issue – taking months to give us new bins as requested.  Emailed and called the customer service representatives several times but still no bins. Sarah emailed the Trash company manager to get a resolution tonight.
  • Debris in the cluster – the truck workers kept trying to stuff trash in a full truck and several bags of trash were spilled out over the cluster because the truck was too full. Trash including broken glass spilled out in front of homes and on roads.  
    • Sandy’s mom will email Wheelwright board with details and pictures and Sarah will forward it onto Bates Trucking
  • Discussed proposal from Republic and it was an extra $300/year

Fairfax County Trash Contract – next steps

  • Still reviewing the possibility of Fairfax County trash contract
  • Sarah requested info from Fairfax County about the size of their trash bins – will email the board once we get info back.

New goals for 2020

  • Sandy wants to address some of the architectural issues with the HOA and work with Reston Association
    • Address issues with garbage sheds
    • Work with architects to redesign them and come up with a proposal
    • Post on website as a reference for residents – potential to move A/C units to the back of the houses
    • Ensure it’s in line with RA and building codes today
    • It was suggested that Sandy work with Satish to come up with an architecture plan
  • Put forward an updating of HOA colors, to modernize the palette, but also include other complimentary colors to include those that are used for the vinyl
    • Update the color paint deck and post the names/formulas on the website for reference
    • Painting could be worked into cluster cleanups with applications for projects to address those who have issues with redoing their paint jobs
  • Sandy will start working on this in the Spring and will request help from the board as needed, beginning with April board meeting

Updating Bylaws

  • Newly updated Bylaws are posted on the website

Board meeting dates

  • Will schedule dates for the year
  • Scheduled for the 2nd Thursday of the month, except for February
  • February 13th for now due to conflicts
  • List dates: (also post on website) All Times at 7 PM
    • February 13
    • March 12
    • April 16
    • May 14
    • June 11
    • July 9
    • August 13
    • September 10
    • October 8
    • November 12
    • December 7
  • Will try to host a Cluster Yard Sale in October 17, 2020

Annual Meeting Minutes – 2019

Wheelwright Cluster Board Meeting – Annual Meeting 2019 – December 2

Board members present: Jessica Joyner, Sarah Keally, Mike Pendelton, Kristina Myers, and Jill Jenkins

Roll Call (to determine quorum): We have met the quorum requirements.

By Laws Review and Voting:

  •  We do have a quorum with those in the room and electronic voters ahead of time – all in person votes done anonymously on paper
  • Annual Meeting Requirements Change – 
    • Amend “his address” to “the address”
    • Start time no earlier than 6 PM and no later than 8 PM
    • This was voted through – unanimously “yes” with 20 votes
  • Treasurer Stipend –
    • It has been done previously in the past
    • Strike “the qualifications of the then Director serving as the association Treasurer” and keep “the qualifications of the Treasurer”
    • Change Director language to “Treasurer”
    • New paragraph, “ The Treasurer may be compensated…”
    • Add semicolon after list of duties in the new language
    • This was voted through – unanimously “yes” with 21 votes

Trash Contract:

  • The board has looked into other options, other private trash companies and Fairfax County Trash Collection
  • Jessica showed a slide comparing Fairfax County Trash Collection and our current contract with Bates
  • Jessica led the discussion on several items of discussion
  • Sarah will get trash can measurements from Fairfax County
  • Residents would like us to send Bates a notice that we are considering leaving them if service doesn’t improve.
  • Save the vote for this for several months to get more information and discuss it again at another meeting
  • Right now Bates Trucking is on a month-to-month service and we can cancel at any time
  • Need to find out if we would be charged for the switch to Fairfax County bins?
  • Suggestion to contact Reston Association to ask them if they have information/suggestions

Tree Committee Update: given by Steve

  • The committee tried to figure out how to address the tree problems and consulted two different tree companies
  • Decided on JL Tree Service for the work and they had competitive prices
  • See the data from the Tree Update for 2019 on 

Erosion Update:

  • Kristina gave an update on the erosion work done during 2019 with the slides
  • Used a grant to help pay for some of the erosion work this year
  • No questions from group on 2019 work completed
  • Discussed proposed projects for 2020
  • There was a question if rain barrels were considered
    • Contact Nicki Base (spelling?) at Reston Association about rain barrels
    • If anyone wants to have one installed during cluster cleanup, let the board know

Community Open Forum:

  • Is there a way to pay dues online?  We used to have it as an option to do that but Quickbooks took that option away because we aren’t big enough as an organization. Also, other options looked into cost 4% or more.
  • Does RA still come around to inspect houses? Not right now, but only when houses are bought/sold. Do we want to consider doing this as a cluster on our own? Maybe, but should be discussed at a meeting soon. Also consider updating the RA and bylaw requirements for doors/windows, trims, etc. to those that are currently there now.
    • Any changes have to be submitted to the Reston DRB for approval
  • Discussion of landscaping company – some residents feel like the service has gone down but others feel like the service has improved
    • Let the board know if you have any issues/problems with the board
    • Should make a comment to landscaping company about attention to the front of the cluster

2019 Budget Review:

  • Jessica gave a quick summary review
    • Focused more on erosion work than concrete, signed a three-year contract for website, and more office supplies were bought (some line items moved around but evens out in the end)
    • Over budget on legal fees this year due to some legal issues

2020 Proposed Budget:

  • Discussed major changes: landscaping (staying the same), tree maintenance increased, moved some tree maintenance to erosion control, decreasing concrete budget, adding in Treasurer stipend, and possible removal of trash service (if voted to change to Fairfax County)
  • Question about raising dues for the upcoming parking lot work and the allocation for 2020 is not high enough to cover the costs of the work at this time
    • This is due to higher costs incurred for tree work and erosion control mainly
    • The Treasurer said that we are making money on our current CD investments and hopes to make more in the future, plus invest more to make more of a profit 
  • Vote for Treasurer stipend of $1200 was approved and the 2020 budget has been approved

Voting for New Board Members:

  • Kristina, Cindy, and Sandy have been nominated and all three were approved for the position of Director
  • We nominated and appointed Kelly as the new Treasurer
  • Sarah will stay Secretary
  • Kristina will remain Vice President and Jessica will be President.

Sarah will update the website with the names of the new board members.

2019 Tree Committee Report

Tree Work Completed in 2019 Calendar Year

Tree Work Completed 2019 as per JL Tree Service Invoices

Note: The primary criterion for tree work was hazard to people or property, verified by a licensed arborist. In addition, in two cases, pruning was performed on large branches touching houses. 

  • 2218 front- removed dying tree and ground out stump
  • 2276 front- removed dying tree and ground out stump
  • 2241-opposite house on parking island- removed dying tree
  • 2214 side- removed dead limbs over sidewalk, small dead nearby and small dead tree closer to creek
  • 2215 back- removed top of dead tree in woods
  • 2215 back- removed top of dead tree in woods
  • Tot lot- removed two dead trees and dead limbs over path
  • 2233 back – pruned dead limbs
  • 2231 front- pruned large branches touching house
  • 2241 back- removed dead tree
  • 2251 back- pruned low dead limbs from two oaks
  • 2252-back- pruned branches touching house
  • 2244- back- cut up and disbursed fallen trees
  • 2242- back near creek– removed dead tree
  • 2252 front- pruned dead limbs over parking spaces
  • Creek to 2249 Gunsmith- cut up fallen tree from our side

Consider Trick-or-Treating Early – Potential Severe Weather on Halloween

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