Author Archives: Sarah Keally

Big Truck Event in Reston

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Bring the kids and check out all the big trucks that Reston Association uses to make Reston beautiful. In addition, we may have a police and fire truck on display. 

Children will receive a “Totally Trucks” construction helmet. Horn free hour, on some of the vehicles, from 8:30am – 9:30am. Rain or shine. 

Friday, Aug. 2
ongoing from 8:30am – 12:30pm (stop by anytime)

Location:
Reston Association’s Central Services Facility  
12250 Sunset Hills Rd
(next to the YMCA)

Overflow parking is at the YMCA and you can walk next door to the event.
Popcorn, cotton candy, sno cones and water will be available for purchase.

Fee:
$2 for children ages 2 – 12 years
Free for children under 2 yrs.

Register through your WebTrac account, contact Ashleigh@resotn.org or 703-435-6577. You can also sign up at the event, but best to have exact change.

https://web1.vermontsystems.com/wbwsc/varestonhoawt.wsc/search.html?module=AR&fmid=8534396&fbclid=IwAR0CS1cMrTZfW2bw0jJOaMHaHsyPdCOcNRnV97erWPWjWC70TM_879jtPBM

Wheelwright Cluster Board Meeting Minutes – April 11th, 2019

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

Residents present: Satish Bahide (2259), Dennis Schulte (2256)

General discussion:

  • Little free library was approved – unpainted and weathered in – no need to waterproof the wood.
    • Sandy already has the materials. It will be built as a project for the Spring Cluster Cleanup
  • We received a request to make the Facebook group for the cluster a private group.
    • We will make it a private group.
    • Question can be added to the request to verify.
    • Edit: I reviewed and because it is a business and not a group, cannot be made private.
  • Website- ask Google how much it would be for a search enhancement for our website to be on top of search results. Sarah will inquire on this and inform the board of the cost.
  • Wheelwrighter for cluster cleanup, recycling & trash guidelines, penalties for not paying dues, highlight a board member (Sarah will send bio to Kristina).
  • Kristina was approached by a neighbor about spraying for mosquitoes and most residents are against it
    • Fairfax County sprays annually for mosquitoes – include in the Wheelwrighter
    • Sarah can get brochures for mosquito prevention and provide for Kristina to pass out with newsletter
  • Proposal for yard sale this year – one suggestion is to combine with Reston Association’s large yard sale, which is the same day as our cluster cleanup this year
    • Kristina requested volunteers to help with organizing the yard sale in later May

Tree Work:

  • Saddler Oaks
    • Felled a tree about 4-5 months ago and took it down, paid to remove it
    • They came over two weeks ago and cut up the tree near the bus path  
    • Reston Association is ok with the tree being taken down

Concrete Contract – assigned to Danny

  • No update

Erosion work

  • Erosion work has been approved, with some contingencies, by the Reston Design Review Board (DRB)
  • Approved the bluestone under the river jack to help anchor the rock
  • Thanks to Kristina for her hard work and submission to the DRB

Fairfax Water Update:

  • Bond program through the County to help protect the Occoquan Rivershed, due May 15th, may be able to cover some of the erosion control work
  • $5,000 up to $10,000 may be awarded; it was agreed that we should ask for $10,000, with some match. Edit: we are asking for $5000
  • There was a couple people who suggested that we include the tree work as part of the erosion work as well; Jessica will reach out to the tree company to get an estimate for the application Edit: this was suggested $11K for all work, was not included in proposal
  • Jessica suggested we include an education program for residents as well to help them understand what we are doing to help the erosion work
  • Any board can submit multiple applications but can only win one per year
  • Kristina had some questions about what to include in the grant application.  Jessica and Dennis offered to help with the application.

Trash services update

  • Sarah to talk to Bates about not getting trash picked up two Thursdays in a row
  • Recycling information and video posted on the Wheelwright website for residents
    • Include a blurb in the next Wheelwrighter

Tree Committee:

  • First meeting happened, attended by Steve, Jeff, and Kerry in addition to Mike.
  • Walked through the property and identified a few trees, the tree committee should consult with Chip and his company on tree priorities and work
  • They reached out to the company who created the tree inventory
  • Jill says there is a tree folder in the Treasurer files and will look through it to see if anything is useful for the committee
  • They are ok with the Tree Charter from the board
  • Prioritize tree cleanup behind Vicki’s house (house number 2204)
  • Jessica will cc the whole committee when emails are related to the tree work. Edit: done.

Cluster Cleanup:

  • Updated flower boxes on the side of 2217 edit: this was removed from the list.
  • Request for 4-5 azalea plants to plant in the lower cluster for erosion control and Easton and his wife will help to take care of them; board approved spending up to $150 for the plants
  • Seeding in some areas.  Kristina will check with the landscaper to see if it’s included in the contract work and if not, we’ll buy a bag to seed. Edit: removed as crab grass preventer will make this moot.
  • Shade perennials planting which would be a good project for the kids.  Kristina will talk to a vendor, Chris, to get the plants and then we’ll mulch.
  • Trash pickup
  • Paint touchup on the curbs – Easton has extra paint and Jessica will check to see how much he has. Edit: no extra paint, was purchased.
  • Ruth and Celia wants to lead a kids project and it was suggested maybe a butterfly and bee garden with a small fence around it. It was suggested to install down the path by Dennis’s house and line the path on both sides, or maybe next to the woods at the bottom of the path. Edit: this was reduced to painting rocks.
    • Dennis and Kristina would take charge of getting costs and purchasing seeds and other necessary items for the boundary – $150 was approved as the budget by the board.
  • Also might be good to plant some phlox  next to the path
  • Little Free Library installation, materials provided by Sandy and wood by the board.
  • Shopping – Kristina volunteered to do the shopping and she has the list from last time
    • Mike Peyton is donating chicken wings, spices, charcoal and coffee supplies in the morning
    • Add an additional package of veggie burgers
  • Party down in lower cluster or upper cluster?  Lower cluster usually has the biggest turnout, so we will do the lower cluster.
    • Add games like bocce ball, corn hole, and others like badminton

Treasurer Duties:

  • Jill has sent out billing for the first quarter of 2019.  She intends to send out a reminder mid-month and any house that does not pay the first month gets a reminder, second month gets parking privileges revoked and their car can be towed, after three months, the board can put a lien on the house.  After 5 quarters late, the board can charge the dues a year at a time.
  • Jessica reached out the lawyer about paying a treasurer.  We have a strict amount that we can charge for the cluster documents package for the HOA disclosure at $100 max.
    • Option B is to reduce or eliminate the treasurer’s assessment fees
    • Option C we can approve out of our operation budget a salary for the Treasurer position in the next budget for 2020 fiscal year

Financials

  • For Jill to gain access to banking, she needs a letter from the President, a copy of the minutes where she was elected as the treasurer
    • Can include other members as well as we are updating the permissions
    • Kristina volunteered to be one person
  • Jill has information to engage the tax accountants for another year and the board approved her to do so.

Next Meeting: May 23  @ 7 PM, 2254

Recycling in the Neighborhood

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Recently there has been some confusion about what can be recycled and what is actually being recycled. Due to recent changes to the type of recycling that China is accepting from the US, the rates of local recycling have gone down. To ensure that recycling is accepted, we want to reduce the amount of “wishful recycling” and only put items in the bin that can be recycled: https://www.batestrucking.com/recycling-collection-services/residential/.

Any trash and recycling that is picked up by our new trash and recycling collector, Bates Trucking, is still subject to the rules of the locality that it is dropped off, materials taken to the I-66 Transfer Station or I-95 Landfill Complex within Fairfax County. Here is a great reference webpage that can help determine if it will be accepted or not: https://www.fairfaxcounty.gov/publicworks/recycling-trash/residential-materials. Many items in recycling end up in the trash due to wishful recycling and also the costs of recycling the raw materials.

Please ensure that you are placing recycling in the proper bins and trash in the proper bins. The green top bins are for trash and blue top bins are for recycling. Recycling placed in plastic bags will not be accepted for recycling and will be picked up by the trash truck. If you need a blue recycling bin or trash bin, please email wheelwright.cluster.assoc@gmail.com to request one; include your name and address please.

Board Updates and Upcoming Activities

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The next Wheelwright Cluster Board Meeting will be held on April 11, 2019 at 2233, 7 PM. Minutes from the last meeting have been posted below.

Cluster Cleanup is scheduled for April 27, 2019 starting at 9 AM. We’ll meet at the table in the upper cluster common area then divide up jobs. We’ll enjoy a nice cookout and party afterwards, all residents welcome to join the party afterwards!

Calling for ideas for the Spring 2019 Cluster Cleanup, scheduled for April 27th! Please email the board at Wheelwright.cluster.assoc@gmail.com if you have ideas on projects you would like to see completed! No project is too big or too small!   

Cluster Board Meeting Minutes – March 7, 2019

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Board members present: Jessica Joyner, Mike Pendleton, Sarah Keally, Kristina Myers, Daniel Baldwin, and Jill Jenkins.

Residents present: Kerry Wingell (2219), Karen Walker (2207), Lynn Kunkle (2216)

General discussion:

  • Large dog pooping along bus path daily despite the signs asking dog walkers to clean up after their pet.
  • New Landscapers doing a great job cleaning up and beautifying the common areas already, noticed by several board members and even received an email from a resident saying so.
  • Jill would like to restructure the files so all the contracts are together.

Accounting/Homeowners Association Software:

  • Jill asked  the Wheelwright tax her accountanting friend, and they recommended Quickbooks as the best accounting software out there. They recommended not updating the current version and it would still be useful.  
  • The tax accountant friend has helped her to navigate the current accounting software to speed up tasks required by the Treasurer to complete.
  • HOA software: talked to our Alliance Community and they are working on a quote for the cluster financials

Tree Work:

  • Kerri did a walkthrough to look at the trees, recommended some trees trimmed, some removed and then add grass
  • Talked to the landscaping vendor about picking up the leaves (per the contract) instead of blowing the leaves into the woods. He also discussed drainage issues with leaves and cleaning up yards.  Landscaping company will provide some solutions on drainage.
  • Tree committee charter
    • Dan & Mike drafted a charter and sent out to the board to review this morning.
    • Board member comments regarding draft charter:
      • Additional clarity about who exactly is selecting the tree assessment professionals is needed.
      • Yes, it should be 1 chair, 1 member for minimum number of Tree Committee members.
      • I agree, we need details on if they can hire/engage a new company or is the selection of the vendor a decision of the board.  My thought is that they can get bids, but the board will need to review and approve a vendor before any work is completed. (allows us to control finances).
      • Can we add in a note about emergency work?  If emergency work is required (e.g. a tree falling in someone’s house) the tree committee shall be engaged but decision making will  revert back to the board.  I am thinking we need this as we coordinate with more than just the tree vendor, last time we talked to RA, the lawyers and our insurance. 
      • We should ensure that any time they meet with tree professionals, the board needs to be notified in a reasonable amount of time so that a board member can participate. Possibly include: These meetings will also be communicated to the community so they can attend as well. 
      • We should also include that if the board finds that the tree committee is not fulfilling their stated purpose, members can be asked to leave or the committee can be disbanded.  This requires a majority vote by the board. 

Concrete Contract – assigned to Danny

  • He has been contact with the contractor and wanted to clarify if it was just for sidewalks and walkways – yes
  • Danny will ask contractor to come out next week to start working on a major project
  • Jessica and Danny to walk community on 3/12 to review areas needed.

Erosion work

  • 2249 has water running by and collecting by that house at the bottom of the hill, also include as part of the community erosion project
  • Kristina sent an email about the erosion work

Trash services update

  • Trash service has been going well with no more hiccups.  

Survey results – updates

  • Sent to the board for review, no additional findings beyond what was previously noted. Feedback will be included in 2019 projects.

Little Free Library

  • Designs reviewed and will be submitted for DRB approval.  Requested location was moved to further in the community between 2241 and 2243.
  • Plan to include for the spring cluster cleanup.

Financials

  • Jill has had problems with our billing with the lawyer and tried to contact the vendor several times.  Still no response after 3 weeks.

Tree Work:

  • Kerri did a walkthrough to look at the trees, recommended some trees trimmed, some removed and then add grass
  • Talked to the vendor about picking the leaves up, discussed drainage with leaves and cleaning up yards
  • Long term, addressing the leaves will help with ongoing issues with erosion work

Cluster Cleanup Date:

  • Confirmed Looking at April 27 for Spring Cluster cleanup as it’s after Easter
  • That date works best with everyone at the meeting
  • Jessica requested us to provide input on projects for cluster cleanup to do:
    • Will NOT need to paint benches – landscaping will do this as part of their 2019 work.
    • Don’t need more flowers – landscaping will do this as part of the 2019 work
    • Build and paint Little Free Library–Board members should send their vote for the best option you like based on options in this month’s agenda. Install the weekend before Cluster Cleanup and then paint it during the cleanup.Cutting and painting needs to occur before the cluster cleanup and then it can be assembled the day of the cleanup.
    • One suggestion was to put the free library by the sidewalk at the entrance to give users more room and less likelihood to get strangers in our neighborhood.

Treasurer Duties:

  • Delay getting notifications from Trash Company and asked Sarah to reach out to Bates Trucking to send her that contact information for billing.

Review of Cluster Survey results were discussed.

  • Jessica gave a brief update of new responses

Financials – no real update

  • Weird things that Jill noticed – inventory management and others; discussion with Easton to clarify.
  • Billed back in April to Michelle Anderson for inventory assets and wanted clarification on what that bill was for.
  • Jill pulled a list of those who are paid ahead and those who still owe – contacting residents who owe by email and requested payment.
  • Jill still needs access to the bank accounts and has been making deposits – will try to get access on Saturday.
  • Any receipts for the Wheelwrighter this past issue?

Next Meeting: April 11 @ 7 PM, 2233

Meeting Minutes January 25, 2019

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Wheelwright Cluster Board Meeting – January 25, 2019

Board members present: Jessica Joyner, Mike Pendleton, Sarah Keally, Kristina Myers, Daniel Baldwin, and Jill Jenkins.

Residents present:  Matt Keally (2233)

General discussion:

  • Jill, who has taken over as Treasurer, feels like the Treasurer role should be a paid position due to the amount of work required to complete the tasks and keep up with duties. Board members agreed that it was something to look into over the next year as a possibility and will consult with the lawyer to see how that could be implemented as well as the level of compensation.  Suggestions were free dues for the time of service or $100/month.
  • All board members should have access to the cluster email now.  If you haven’t tried to access it, please do and let Jessica know if you cannot.
  • Jessica will add more admins to the Facebook page so others can help make posts when needed.
  • DRB application to Reston was submitted to Reston Association (RA) staffer Sarah Gaston.  It was submitted without signatures so was rejected until signatures could be obtained for entire row at entrance (2201-2215). Kristina needs help getting signatures for entire row so Jessica will assist in that task.
  • Cluster sign was stolen after last cluster cleanup, so a new one was purchased.  Danny will take over duties of putting out sign and pick it up from Mike.

Concrete Contract – assigned to Danny

  • Work has been identified by same contractor who did work in 2018 to fix tripping hazards in 2019.
  • An entire proposal for all work that was identified with a contractor walk through exists and will be shared with Danny to help work on scheduling some of the work.
  • Danny will work on getting additional quotes for the work.
  • The drainage/pooling of water issues identified in front of 2231 were discussed and possible solutions presented by contractor.  Danny will work on this issue with specific costs.

Trash Contract – assigned to Sarah

  • Waste Management (previous contractor) sold all HOA contracts to Bates Trucking, effective January 1, 2019.  All existing contracts will be honored.
  • Will reach out to contractor to confirm trash schedules and post on the website/Facebook page.  
  • Will talk to the general manager about billing process and when to expect bills.
  • Also will request the notification process for when dates and pickup schedules change.

Landscaping Contract – assigned to Kristina

  • Newcastle is the new contractor starting January 1, 2019.
  • Currently doing a weekly sticks pickup from residents yards.
  • Plans from contractor (included in proposal) are to paint and stain cluster benches, add in butterfly garden, in addition to other landscaping duties.

Electricity Contract – assigned to Kristina

  • Will call Dominion Energy about two watch lights in front of 2233 and 2235/2237 being out and have it fixed.
  • Dominion is now requesting cluster account number when issues are reported by board and requests to fix cluster lights must be called in by a board member -residents can’t call it in.
  • Residents should report issues with cluster lights to cluster email, wheelwright.cluster.assoc@gmail.com.  

Snow Contract – assigned to Jessica

  • Mike Peyton (2217) is currently the contractor.
  • All agreed he did a great job with the last snowstorm in clearing the parking lots.
  • He has been doing a great job invoicing the board once a job is complete.  
  • Currently budgeted $8,000 for snow removal, which depending on rest of winter season, we could have a surplus of funds for this budget item.

HOA Software Discussion:

  • Mike (Pendleton) proposed we look into the possibility of purchasing an HOA software to help manage administrative tasks for the board and keep us organized, including a financial software to replace Quickbooks.
  • He has done research and came up with a few options – some issues is they may not include financial software or software becomes unsupported and out of date quickly. Mike is going to wait until Jill does financial software research to make sure they can work together.
  • Sarah will ask Franklin Farm HOA board contact about software they might be using and if they recommend anything.
  • Jill will reach out to RA and inquire if they have any recommendations, in addition to doing research on other financial software available besides Quickbooks.  
    • Quickbooks is cumbersome and not user friendly and often screws up financial data, making it so the Treasurer must manually do tasks to understand where discrepancies lie.

Dues for Furloughed Fed Workers:

  • It was proposed by a couple board members that we give furloughed federal worker residents extra time to pay dues without penalties if government shutdown continues.
  • Now that government is temporarily open, a plan will be worked on for if/when the shutdown occurs again. Residents experiencing difficulties should notify a board member and show their government issued ID as proof of federal employment.
  • Jessica will write a blurb for the Wheelwrighter to inform residents of the plan.

Tree Committee:  Mike and Danny will be liaisons for this committee

  • The board must create a tree committee per the referendums passed at the 2018 Annual meeting in December.
  • No official guidelines were given so board will write them up in a charter for the committee and outline responsibilities for tree committee members and board members.
  • A blurb about the new committee will be included in the next Wheelwrighter – residents should send concerns to the board email, wheelwright.cluster.assoc@gmail.com.
  • Board is looking for residents to volunteer to be on the committee.
  • Board liaisons will work on the committee charter which outlines roles/responsibilities and discuss at the next meeting
    • Sarah to send a sample charter to Danny and Mike.
    • Charter should include committee members will be responsible for writing all design review board applications that will go to RA.

Shingle DRB application was approved by RA–thank you to Kristina and Jessica for their work on the application.

Wheelwrighter – assigned to Kristina for next issue; Sarah will be responsible for development after that.

  • Next issue will be distributed by February 1, 2019.
    • All assigned articles/blurbs due to Kristina by January 30.
  • Content for next issue to include:
    • New contractor for trash service – Sarah
    • Donations of Goods – Danny
    • Treasurer change – Jill
    • Dues and Furloughs – Jessica
    • Tree Committee – Danny
    • Board member spotlight – Kristina

Treasurer Duties:

  • Other board members trying to take on some tasks for Treasurer so it’s not so time intensive.
  • Secretary (Sarah) to update guidelines with new options for shingles. .
  • Money from cluster doc packages voted to go to Treasurer, even though Secretary will take on the task of putting packets together.
  • Jill requested a wireless mouse for use with computer–all voted in favor of providing her a wireless mouse plus additional supplies needed to carry out Treasure job duties.
  • Jill needs to be added to bank and Easton’s name removed from Cluster account.
    • Jessica will email Easton about debit card transfer over to Jill.

Parking Lot Map:

  • Mike created a parking lot map and identified which spaces are assigned by name/house number and which ones are free (unassigned).  

Review of Cluster Survey results were discussed.

Financials – reviewed current budget and spend down in addition to collection of dues for the first quarter of 2019.

Next Meeting: March 7, 2019, 7-9 p.m. at 2209.