Wheelwright Cluster Board Meeting – April 16

Board members present: Jessica, Sarah, Kristina Sandy, Cyndi, and Kelly

Financials:

  • Discussed financials

DRB Changes 

  • Hardie board – RA approval
    • Board to submit an application to change guidelines. 
    • Include changing colors as well? 
      • Redo colors for paint, vinyl, and hardie board and include most colors 
      • Send out survey residents on the colors to get feedback using SurveyMonkey
      • Sandy will pull the color samples of paint, vinyl, and hardie board and coordinate with Matt
      • Integrate three colors from vinyl selections and three from hardie board into the RA DRB application and Wheelwright Cluster documents
  • Shingles guideline changes
    • Sandy to provide plan
      • Bring out boards to look at the samples this weekend, Sunday, to pick colors 
    • Who will do the application? Jessica will work on the application over the next few weeks
    • Jessica to reach out to Kelly (RA) to determine the DRB schedule (can we get on it now?) 

Tree Work

  • Completed 4/9/2020
  • Took most of the tree down behind 2261 and it looks good now
  • Tree Committee did a walkthrough the cluster with the arborists (JL Trees)
  • What is the plan for the rest of the budget? 
    • Remove the tree between 2233 and 2231 due to issues with erosion control and it being too big for the houses.
    • Submit RA application for removal of the tree since it’s healthy right now
    • Sandy to coordinate with tree committee on quote for removal and Sarah/Sandy to work on DRB application for RA
  • How much do we have left? We have roughly $6700 left in this year’s budget for tree work.

Cluster Cleanup Plan

  • Dumpster planned for 4/18
  • Hazardous waste? Not this time.

Landscaping update

  • Kristina talked to contractor about some complaints of rocks moving around, trash and debri blowing around into the yards
    • Residents can specify that they don’t want to have the yard debris blown and no edging
    • Kristina will pass along any feedback she receives from residents
  • Weekly mowing will be on Wednesdays through the summer of 2020
  • Annuals
    • Contractor will balance out the current plantings and only put annuals in the middle to give it a little color
    • Board approves amount of $150 or under
  • Rotting stump, he will see about planting something in the middle. Kristina will ask him what he recommends we plant
    • Cindy has periwinkle and other ground cover plants that could be divided out to plant there.
  • Tree in the lower cluster island – suggest mulching around the tree where the bald spots are, but all agreed to mulch the entire area to keep it balanced.
  • Pavers – received a suggestion from the contractor on securing the pavers including rebar
    • Most people agree that we don’t need rebar and can do something less extensive

Erosion Work

  • Feedback from experts?  Feedback from experts agree that there needs to be work on both sides of the path slopes, a bigger plan that would involve erosion netting to cover the entire slope and add native plants to anchor it down.
  • It’s a large project that we might want to do in stages and only do one slope at a time, including getting multiple bids
    • Focus on the area behind 2251
    • Continue beyond path by tot lot and townhouses
    • Submit project to the Fairfax Water grant due May 15, 2020 and DRB application
      • Kristina waiting on quote to finish the application
  • Erosion application – due May 15 to Fairfax Water for grant application
    • DRB application will be done simultaneously
    • Utilities will be handled by contractor with Miss Utility

Concrete Contract

  • Cindy sent out messages and emails but has not received any responses
  • She will keep trying to reach out – might not be getting responses due to COVID 19
  • Kristina will reach out to the FB group for HOAs to see if she gets anything
  • Cluster will review proposal about pavement treatment solicitation and discuss next time

Curbside glass recycling

  • Pursue vendor for glass collection for recycling – Jess will respond and ask for a quote

Electric charging station (Mary) 

  • Mary reached out about new guidelines for adding an electric charging station to houses
  • Something to consider adding in the future for residents – could be a significant upfront cost
  • Bring up as a topic at the annual meeting to see if there is additional interest
    • Cindy will reach out to people to see what she can find
    • Kristina will reach out on FB group for additional research

Mulch

  • Jessica will create signage about amount per wheelbarrow and costs
  • Mulch amounts & wheelbarrows with costs
  • Spread mulch early on Monday after this weekend – Cindy, Kristina, and Sandy

Playground equipment

  • Leaving alone at this point

Dominion Power – fixing light in lower cluster

  • Apparently was fixed on March 20 but still not working correctly
  • Cindy submitted a new work order on 4/15/2020

Scavenger Hunt? Will hold off until the Fall.

  • Kristina and Sandy suggested a news opt-in email list for those who want news about the cluster, newsletters, etc
  • Sandy to send out email and flier about signing up for news – opt out to by emailing the board
  • Trying to transition to electronic notifications/communications due to current climate of COVID
  • Sarah to investigate emails list from website; Kelly and Jessica will pull together a full list

-Update website with correct Treasurer information to drop off payment, including location of payment dropbox

-Look into adding a permanent location payment box – maybe by mailboxes?  Will think about it and talk about it later as there are security issues to consider.

-Kelly looking into the option of paying dues online and what options are available

May Board Meeting – Virtual again – Kristina will run the meeting next month if Jessica is unavailable

Next meeting scheduled May 14, 7 PM, Virtual

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