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I was appointed Secretary (Non-voting) at the Board of Directors (BOD) Organizational Meeting on June 19th. I have some experience for the secretary position as I served as secretary for the Transition Committee and a fill in for the Residential Advisory Board (RAB).

 

My responsibilities include preparing the agenda, board minutes, board meeting packet, and general administrative assistance to the board.  I will prepare the minutes for publication on the residential website seven days before the meeting for residents to review.  Meetings are scheduled for the Fourth Thursday of the month at 6 p.m. via Zoom.  The Zoom address can be obtained by viewing the website calendar and clicking on the board meeting 

 

The agenda will include a “Public Comment” period for residents to weigh in if they wish.  This will be held at the beginning of the meeting to allow individuals to speak, but not having to sit through the entire meeting if they are limited by time.

 

To provide early transparency of each meeting, the board decided to approve the minutes via email so to allow posting on the website before the next meeting.  My goal is to try to get the minutes published approximately two weeks after the meeting.  Of course, if the board goes into Executive Session (the meeting is not adjourned with this action), it may be a longer period.  

 

On a final note due to this appointment, I resigned as chair of the Asset Maintenance Committee (AMC) of which Fred Lesnett was elected to that position.  The board has also decided based on the recommendation of the AMC to postpone the AMC program of Third-party Residential Inspections to 2021.  I encourage each Owner to conduct a self-inspection this year to review the maintenance status of their property (mostly power washing and painting), and to lessen the probability of incurring maintenance problems in the future. This action will maintain our property values as a first quality neighborhood.

 

 

The transition from Developer to Homeowner control of the New Town Residential Association was completed on June 18, 2020.

 

The following residents have been selected to the Residential Board of Directors.

 

Charles Stetler	President	Charlotte Park
Jean Brown	Vice President	Savannah Square
Rick Fisher	Treasurer	Abbey Commons
Angela Lesnett	Director	Village Walk
Larry Burian	Director	Village Walk
David Holtgrieve	Secretary (Appointed)	Charlotte Park

Board of Director meetings are scheduled for the 4th Thursday of each month at 6 pm.  Presently, the meetings will be via Zoom, during the Covid-19 pandemic.

 

The Governor of Virginia has set the Phase Three reopening for July 1, 2020. The Board has approved opening the pool with appropriate precautions. The NTRA Pool Committee and Town Management are diligently working on the details to get the pool open safely for all residents.  Watch for final details.

 

The Master Declaration Amendment for including Savannah Square into the NTRA received 233 favorable votes during the voting period in connection with the BOD election. We need 335 favorable votes-a 2/3 majority-to pass the amendment.  We are working on a plan to solicit more favorable votes from non-voting residents to date.  A package will be delivered to these residents containing a paper ballot, more information about the amendment, and a self addressed, stamped envelope for returning the ballot. Voting will continue until the 2/3 majority is reached.

Welcome to summer to all residents of New Town.   It really doesn’t seem like summer because the coronavirus has delayed all the events traditionally associated with the summer  Missed graduations, proms, vacations, visits with friends and neighbors. We all need to stay safe, wear our masks and hopefully everyone will get through this.

 

There will be an election of the new Board of Directors by electronic voting from June 5-15. Results will be announced on June 18th at the transition meeting.

     

Also by electronic voting, you will be asked to approve the first amendment to the Declaration to include Savannah Square. Residents can review information about this issue on the website (Ballot amendment FAQs and June Crier article by Board Member John Wright) and also by electronic mailing. It is important that this amendment passes, so PLEASE VOTE YES.   

     

The pool opening is still on hold. We are awaiting instructions from the pool contracting company as to lifeguard availability. We realize residents are eager for the pool to open and will keep everyone informed whenever we know anything.

     

Good news....the playground drainage project is just about complete. The only thing left to do is the re-mulching of the area.  

     

The RAB will be terminated on June 18th. So, this is the last message from your RAB chair. A big THANK YOU to all the volunteer residents who have served on the RAB.    

The committees will continue, but now they will work directly with the newly elected Board of Directors.  

      

Let’s hope for a peaceful summer....stay safe.

 

Our world has changed significantly in the past months.... no one knows what our new NORMAL will be in the future. But, we will continue to look forward with optimism.   

 

The NTRA will be following the guidelines set forth by our Governor Northam. This includes:

• Staying home as much as possible.  Walks, with masks, socializing six feet away from neighbors...whatever you need to do to stay safe and keep your neighbors safe, too.

• The Board of Directors has asked Town Management to look into alternatives for the election of the new Board of Directors, instead of having a special residential meeting.  It’s not clear when or if residents would feel comfortable assembling in the near future. 

• The pool opening is on hold.  But, we are proceeding with the startup and pre-opening directions so that the pool will be ready whenever clearance is given for the opening.

The LAC is initiating a test project throughout the community, whereby designated areas will be set aside for dog use.  These spots will be mulched and marked with signs about usage of these areas.  With a growing population of dogs, the committee thought it would be a good alternative having certain areas for dogs instead of neighbors’ lawns.  Hopefully there will be a positive response to these doggie areas.  VA Lawn installed the first two Dog Mulch Beds (DMB) on Casey Boulevard on Saturday, April 25th.  Reminder, there are dog stations available for fecal disposal, located throughout New Town.

 

The beautiful Little Library was built and erected in the park at Elizabeth Davis/Center Street. Unfortunately, due to the coronavirus, there has been a delay in opening it for use.  As with so many things, we can only sit back and wait for the grand opening.

 

Please remember to honor your Mother on her day. (May 10).  She needs a hug especially this year. (We all need a hug.....if we can ever get close again !)

 

This is probably going to be the saddest letter from the chair...or from any other committee member. We are strong and hopefully everyone survives in our little community. This quote has been on Facebook and I thought you might read it and think about what it says. It applies to both young and old.

 

"I think that when the dust settles, we will realize how very little we need, how much we actually have, and the true value of human connection."

 

Please remember the requests of our governor. This request was also put on the website about social distancing..staying six feet away from people. It’s so difficult because everyone needs a hug once in awhile. We have postponed all NTRA sponsored social activities for the future until cleared.

 

Also postponed will be the transfer from developer to homeowner control and the election of the new BOD. The present BOD has asked that the RAB and all committees continue to function and NOT terminate on April 1, 2020. They all agreed to comply.

 

Please try to be tolerant of our landscapers. They should be complying with requested behavior by healthcare officials. In my personal opinion, landscaping of our property is a non-essential activity. The landscapers will be  providing a weekly schedule of their services which will be posted on the website.

 

Remember to try to STAY SAFE by following guidelines from health officials. One thing I have noticed more people walking than ever before. So enjoy saying hello to new friends. And maybe lose a few pounds! LOL

 

Welcome  Spring !  One last snow fall before the daffodils show their blooms and warm weather surfaces.  So much is happening in our community in the next couple months.

 

Probably the most important event is our HOA being turned over to homeowner control on April 2, 2020 at Legacy Hall at 6 p.m.  During  this meeting,  members will elect five new directors to the board.  They will serve a term of approximately seven months until the next NTRA annual meeting in December 2020.

 

1. New Town Day at William and Mary Kaplan Arena on March 7th at 1 p.m. in Person room. Many residents have supported the women’s basketball games each week. This is our way to thank the women’s team for a great and exciting season.

2. Another sensational season for the Noon Time Talks continues at Center Street Grill on March 11th at noon.  If you’re interested in space, this talk enitled "NASA’s Search For Life Beyond Earth" is definitely for you.  Reserve your “space” soon!

3. If you haven’t heard about it yet, we’re awaiting a Little Outdoor Library to be placed outside the pool area.  You’ll be able to sit at the pool and read a “new to you” book.

4. We welcome some new people to the New Town Communication family….  Max Pfannebecker as new Crier Editor and Christian Kent on the website team.

5. The finance committee agreed to purchase an  audio/visual system for use at our NTRA meetings and parties throughout the year.

The Transition Committee has been busy reviewing NTRA documentation, including all declarations and financial reports.  The actual transition date is scheduled for April 2, 2020.

 

Our annual home inspection program will begin again for all residents commencing on March 16th.  Please prepare your home exterior for your inspection.  Review your self check list.

 

Looking forward to seeing New Town hibernating residents out on our great trails enjoying spring!

 

Read the February message from the Chair of the RAB.

Read the December message from the Chair of the RAB

Read the November 2019 message from the Chair of the RAB.

RAB for October 2019.