Town Crier Articles

 

On Thursday, December 10th the NTRA Board of Directors held the first Annual Members Meeting since homeowner control.  This Zoom meeting included reports from seven of the NTRA’s Committees and a message from the new Board of Directors.

 

Almost 90 residents (about 70 households) participated on the Zoom. The traditional annual meeting packet with financial reports was posted to the NTRA website for early review and use during the session. (See Annual Meeting Docs). Included in the financial report was a list of replacement projects for 2021 including the pool pergola and gravel path at Chelsea Green. 

 

The 2021 Budget and associated assessment fees have been adopted by the Board. Members voted through an electronic poll to approve the transfer of any surplus operating revenue to be applied to future assessments per IRS rules. It is estimated that $47,000 could be transferred to the NTRA replacement reserve and another $38,000 to Village Walk replacement reserve at the end of the year. In response to comments submitted earlier on the budget, the Board has agreed to examine whether a different approach to assessments may be warranted in the future to comply with community declarations.

 

The Board also presented its priorities for 2021 namely:

The Board recognizes that services need to be improved and asked Members to recognize the significant challenges that the community is dealing with under homeowner control. Above all, the NTRA needs more volunteers who are willing to step up and work on these issues.

 

Tim Grueter of Town Management provided an update on buildings including 516 current homes in New Town. Work to refurbish the trails and to complete the storage building that is shared with the New Town Commercial Association is ongoing. 

 

The comment period that followed covered a range of topics. Besides requesting more details on the replacement reserves and assessment fees, owners asked about the condition of trails with several commentors complaining about the volume of trail trash, especially in areas near commercial establishments. The placement and security of the mailboxes in Roper Park was another concern. Board President Chuck Stetler committed to followup on both issues. 

 

One Member inquired about the possibility of having a Neighborhood Watch program in New Town. Several participants noted options for approaching this, including one resident who tried to initiate such a program in 2009 but found a lack of interest from the community. 

 

An update on the retention pond maintenance work in Village Walk was also provided (see related December Crier article – BMPS and BRBs in New Town). One Member asked how owners could provide ideas for governing documents that should be revised, and the President encouraged all to submit comments through the website or directly to a Board member. The placement of the playground slide generated a question for Town Management who advised that the New Town Design Review Board is reviewing this decision. Libby Flowers of the ARC advised owners to anticipate delays in finding suitable building materials for any repairs and refurbishments, which generated several comments related to roof tiles and repairing leaks. Finally, our ever-vigilant community wondered about a damaged Honda that has now been removed from Casey Boulevard and RVs parked on the public side of Casey Boulevard (beyond the speed bump) as well as reporting that landscape crews had blown leaves into the BMP on Casey Boulevard rather than using a vacuum truck to remove them. 

 

On a personal note, I attended this meeting as one of my last official functions as Chair of the Communications Committee. I also participated as a brand new Board member. From both perspectives, given the challenges of this unusual year, my sense is that the Board’s points and the Members’ contributions were sincere and well-received. Perhaps Zoom also helped us to remain calm and respectful of differing views, more than during past in-person sessions. Our Association goal: “We know 2021 will be even better than 2020.”

 

Twelve months ago, I was celebrating Christmas and New Year in the U.K. and as Brits this is our biggest celebration (unless you are Scottish and then it is all about ‘Hogmanay’).  On Christmas Eve, the kids will leave out a traditional British mince pie, a glass of sherry for Santa and a carrot for the reindeer.  This year, my boys are also leaving him a bottle of hand sanitizer to stop Santa turning into a one-man super spreader.  Christmas Day includes serving turkey with ‘pigs in blankets’ (sausages wrapped in bacon), pulling crackers (the tiny explosive devices that contain a paper hat, a joke, and an awful plastic toy) and watching the Queens speech at 3pm.  Traditionally celebrated with family and close friends, Christmas day rolls into Boxing Day, which is a national holiday in the U.K. and we continue our celebrations by visiting those we did not see on Christmas Day.  No sooner is that complete, and our thoughts turn to New Year, including what we should eat (it’s all about the food) and who we should celebrate with.  This year looks different for us with our family many miles away, so we thought we would take a look at how others are celebrating around the world.

 

One of the biggest Spanish (and Mexican) New Year’s traditions is to eat one grape on every chime of the last 12 seconds of the year so that by the time it strikes midnight, you will have stuffed a total of 12 grapes into your mouth. If you manage to chew and swallow them in time, it is said to bring you good luck for the entire year. 

 

In Scotland, New Year’s Eve is known as ‘Hogmany’, is celebrated traditionally through ‘first-footing’, which starts immediately after midnight. This involves being the first person to cross the threshold of a friend or neighbour and often involves the giving of symbolic gifts such as salt, coal, shortbread, whisky, and black bun (a rich fruit cake), intended to bring different kinds of luck to the householder. Food and drink (as the gifts) are then given to the guests.

 

New Year’s Eve is known as ‘Silvester’ in Germany and also marks the feast of St Sylvester.  Friends will wish each other ‘Prost Neujahr!’ or Guten Rausch, which literally means ‘good slide,’ and is said to wish someone good luck as the new year comes round. 

 

A little-known tradition in some parts of Germany is to melt small pieces of lead in a spoon over a candle, then pour the liquid into cold water. The bizarre shapes from the Bleigießen (lead pouring) are supposed to reveal what the year ahead will bring. If the lead forms a ball, luck will roll one’s way, while the shape of a crown means wealth; a cross signifies death and a star will bring happiness.

 

In some parts of the south of Ireland there is a custom called the "New Year's Swim".  In the morning of the New Year many people dive into the cold sea, but only for a few minutes.

 

In some areas of Mexico, it is traditional to leave lentils at your door on New Year’s eve or eat lentil soup before midnight, and wear red (or yellow) underwear. 

 

If lentils are not appealing, then it is also traditional to wear brightly colored underwear.  Different colors symbolize different things, for example, red signifies love; white underwear brings peace and calm and attracts dignity; wear green for good health; and orange for wisdom.

 

You can also burn your negative thoughts – make a list and burn it (safely), and legend states that bad vibes won’t come back to haunt you.

 

A Danish New Year’s Eve tradition is to throw plates and dishes against friend’s and neighbor’s front doors. The bigger the pile of broken china is the next morning, the more friends and good luck you’ll have in the coming year. Another custom in Denmark is the jumping off chairs at midnight, symbolizing the leap into the New Year.

 

In Ecuador, people build scarecrow-like to set them alight. Burning the año viejo (old year) is meant to destroy all the bad things from the last year and cleanse for the new.

 

In Naples, people toss everything from toasters to fridges off their balconies. Getting rid of old possessions symbolizes a fresh start in the new year. It is worth knowing before you try this that most locals stick to small and soft objects to avoid injuries!

 

At midnight, Buddhist temples all over Japan ring their bells 108 times to dispell the 108 evil passions all human beings have, according to Buddhism. Japanese believe that joyanokane, the ringing of the bells, will cleanse them from their sins of the previous year. Traditionally, 107 bells are rung on the last day of the year and the 108th in the new year. In addition, many people eat buckwheat noodles called toshikoshi soba on New Year’s Eve to symbolize the wish for a long life.

Seven years ago, Michelle Daikos, was an interior designer, until her then pet care provider, who was in need of some extra sitters, asked Michelle if she’d like to help out by walking a few dogs for her on the weekends.  Michelle did so--and loved the experience so much, she decided to start her own pet sitting company.  Wagging Tails has operated in the Greater Williamsburg Area since then, but Michelle, a brand-new resident in New Town, now manages Wagging Tails out of her new home in Chelsea Green.  Michelle “loves living in New Town,” where she can walk everywhere to services and entertainments and where “everyone is so friendly.”

         

Welcome to a new periodic Crier feature – Know Your Rules.  Are you aware of the requirements for NTRA homeowners who wish to rent their New Town homes?

         

In case you were unable, or chose not to attend the NTRA Budget Presentations held on two consecutive evenings via ZOOM, the take-away was this:   NTRA financial matters are in good hands.

                             

Stormwater Management Facilities or Best Management Practices (BMPs)— “Stormwater BMPs”—are an integral part of any new construction or land development project, today, whether commercial or residential. They are recognized by James City County as key components in improving water quality of all waterways in the Tidewater Area by removing pollutants from rainwater. As defined on the County’s website, rainwater falling on the ground and running across the earth’s surface as stormwater “collects leaves, grass clippings, pet waste, litter, lawn fertilizers, pesticides and more” into area streams, ponds, and rivers, and BMPs are key in minimizing the negative effects of these pollutants on our water ways. There are nearly 800 BMPs in the County, 27 of which are located in New Town, and all are inspected by the County every 5 years using industry standard reporting. Owners of the properties upon which BMPs are located are legally responsible for providing basic annual maintenance to the structures and to make any repairs that may be needed. Typical BMP owners are homeowner associations (HOA), private communities, commercial retail properties, and business property owners.

         

 

Our final 2020 Zoom New Town Talk will be Saturday, December 5 at 10AM. (Zoom link is on the NTRA website calendar.)

 

CORRECTION: an earlier version of this article stated in parahraph 2 that certain streets were maintained by a private entity "like Town Management" and this has been corrected to read "like New Town Residential Association."

 

While there’s no hard and fast rule to figuring out what person or entity is responsible for maintaining those slabs of concrete, asphalt, or bricks upon which we walk and drive, there are some quick rules of thumb.

 

Most of the streets that run through New Town are maintained by VDOT, but several of the Alleyways and smaller side streets in our neighborhoods are not. A good method of determining whether or not a street is maintained by VDOT in New Town is by noting availability of street parking and presence of two travel lanes. Casey Blvd and New Town Avenue are both VDOT maintained streets with street parking and two lanes of travel. Alleyways in New Town, like Eleanors Way, Melanies Way, and Victorias Way are all alleyways with a narrowed path of travel and a lack of street parking. These would be maintained by a private entity like the New Town Residential Association.

 

As a general rule, the entity that owns the land on which the sidewalk sits bears responsibility for maintaining that sidewalk. These sidewalks would include a sidewalk leading from your residence or business to the street (running perpendicular to the street).

 

Sidewalks that run parallel to the street are typically the responsibility of the entity that maintains the street. For example, sidewalks that run parallel along Casey Boulevard would be the responsibility of VDOT because they maintain Casey Blvd and its respective right-of-way. The right-of-way in this case extends from the outer edge of the sidewalk across the street to the outer edge of the opposite sidewalk. Within that right-of-way, maintenance obligations fall to VDOT.

 

 

Sidewalks that run along alleyways (like the previously mentioned Melanies Way or Victorias Way) would not fall under VDOT because the alleyways themselves are not maintained by VDOT.

 

Additionally, VDOT usually will only maintain concrete and asphalt surfaces, meaning brick crosswalks are maintained by another association. One exception is the bumpy transition into crosswalks installed for ADA guidelines. VDOT will usually maintain those as a matter of public safety.

 

Town Management’s Randy Casey-Rutland notes that there are exceptions to every rule in knowing which entity is responsible, but the fastest way to make an issue known is to report to VDOT (to https://my.vdot.virginia.gov/) even when you’re not sure which entity is responsible. Even if the repair isn’t theirs to make they will typically respond quickly and let you know the status or let you know that the repair does not fall under their maintenance obligation.

 

Casey-Rutland adds that more residents reporting an issue with streets or sidewalks usually leads to a more timely repair.

 

         

The Finance Committee (FC) has been meeting since early August to address the 2021 New Town Residential Association (NTRA) Budget. Committees have provided input which has been evaluated and incorporated in budget reviews with the Board of Directors (BOD) during October. Forecasted 2020 year-end actuals have guided the recommendations by expense line item for 2021. 

       

• The BOD is evaluating these costs in light of their impact on assessments. However, we have fallen behind in this area. Landscaping funds were budgeted for 2020 but no activity took place because of Covid-19 as explained above.

Capital Contributions and Administrative Fees: At closing, when buying a new home, the buyer or seller (if negotiated with the buyer) pays a capital contribution fee and an administrative fee. The capital contribution goes directly into the NTRA’s replacement reserves. The administrative fee goes into the operating checking account. VW has an additional capital contribution for exterior maintenance. These fee amounts have to be set in a prudent way in that they impact buyers, sellers and owners. We have surveyed other local HOAs (Ford’s Colony, Governor’s Land, Kingsmill) and believe that our fees are in line with other Associations in the area. The fees incorporated in the 2021 Budget are:         We believe that our projected 2020 ending balance, only 15 percent below the 2019 Study recommendation, does not represent a problem at this time for the Association. From this point forward we will build the Replacement Reserve Fund over time rather than approaching it as if we need to contribute $94,576 every year for 40 years. Our focus will be to fund to the 40-year goal of $4,245,382 with small annual but increasing replacement reserve contributions that will compound over time. This is a more reasonable approach.  Our major focus will be on needs for the next five to ten years. A Replacement Reserve Study is done every five (5) years with our next one planned for 2024. Things will change again and the 2024 Study will provide us with another recalibration point.