Town Crier Articles

NTRA Committees; Communications Committee
Posted on November 1, 2019 9:00 AM by Lucy Painter
Categories: NTRA Business
The Communications Committee carries on the work of informing residents of events, activities, and policies that affect residents of New Town, including information on landscaping schedules, new neighbors and businesses, emergency preparedness, and social events. Working with members of other committees such as Activities and Landscaping, the members of Communication provide an outlet for news and special features of interest to residents provides information by way of a monthly online newsletter, the Town Crier.
 
The Town Crier has been available online since its beginnings but in a formal newsletter format.  As of mid-2019, that format has changed to individually posted online articles easily available to residents on the NTRA website.  Here a reader may also find a resident directory, an archive of past issues and timely posts. Featured in each release of articles is a file (absent pictures) that enables readers to print out the whole newsletter if they prefer.
 
Currently the Communications Committee is staffed with six members:  Mary Cheston, Kathy Mullins, Beckie Roberts, June Dawkins, editor Phil Casey and chair Lucy Painter. Dave Burket serves as RAB Liaison. As we enter 2020, this committee will need new volunteers, including those who love to edit, to talk with neighbors and new business owners, to write, and to work with the technology involved in publishing online. If you are interested, please contact Lucy Painter at 941 323-7037.
How to Contact an NTRA Committee
Posted on November 1, 2019 9:00 AM by Mary Cheston
Categories: NTRA Business
Have a question for the Landscape Advisory Committee or want to suggest an event for the Activities Committee?  Can you volunteer to serve on or even provide specific help to one of our committees? There’s an easy way to reach us through the NTRA website.
 
  • Use the “Report an Issue” feature under the Residents tab on the NTRA website (see screen shot below). 
  • Select the drop down title closest to your interest. 
  • Then let us know what you are thinking.
 
The website software provides the fastest way to reach appropriate NTRA personnel and allows us to track how your concern is addressed. You can check back later to see how your comment was handled.
 
Remember, this website feature is not limited to reporting something wrong to NTRA management. We’d love your suggestions and ideas as well!
 
 
 
 
NTRA To Change Banks For HOA Dues Collection
Posted on November 1, 2019 9:00 AM by Dave Burket
Categories: NTRA Business
Beginning January 1, 2020, the NTRA will be using a different banking firm for the collection of our homeowner dues.  The new banking entity is Alliance Association Bank with its home office in Chandler, Arizona.  Their business focuses on homeowner associations and is backed by the national strength of Western Alliance Bankcorporation.
            
This change from BB&T to Alliance will be of financial benefit to the NTRA in that there are no service fees applied on our deposits and they will pay interest on monies in the checking account.  It should be noted the NTRA currently has a long-term Certificate of Deposit (CD) with Alliance Association Bank.
            
The NTRA will be providing more information to our homeowners on this change prior to January 1, 2020.  
Landscaping Update
Posted on October 1, 2019 9:00 AM by Jim Bowers, Chair LAC
Categories: NTRA Business
Much of the landscape preparation for next year’s growth has already been executed:
 
  • Mowing height has been lowered
  • The ground has been aerated
  • Lawns have been over seeded
 
No doubt you have seen plugs of sod left from the aeration process and wondered where the lumps of clay came from. Besides promoting grass growth, this may help some lawns drain better.
 
There is still work to done in 2019:
 
  • Pruning will start around October 28  
  • An application of winter weed killer will be done in December, but the exact dates depend on the weather.
Pool Closes for 2019
Posted on October 1, 2019 9:00 AM by Phil Casey
Categories: NTRA Business
Our pool is buttoned up until the 2020 opening, but 2019 was a successful season. 
 
 
Attendance was steady from the year before and never became a problem.  The biggest crowds during the year were in fact during the NTRA sponsored pool party events for which attendance was estimated at 150.  This was the second year that we kept the pool opened for use during extra weekends in September.  The weather was good each weekend, unlike 2018, so we got a better idea of use.
 
The year end maintenance went smoothly with no major investments or maintenance actions known to be required to open in 2020.  Town Management will investigate costs for painting the “mushroom” fountain and for design modifications to the gazebo to prevent water capture and wood rot.
 
The furniture we bought to begin 2019 was integrated with existing furniture and will continue to be cycled through as indicated by wear.  To date, the new furniture is wearing well and the extra umbrellas provided welcomed shade throughout the season.
 
It was a quiet year regarding pool policies and rules.  No new rules were identified for consideration.  In fact, the only issue identified by residents to Town Management during the season was about the temperature of water coming from the newly installed drinking water fountain.  Speaking of that, we saved about 450 plastic water bottles via the new feature for filling reusable containers.
 
New plants were added around the pool border in 2019.  It turned out that the hydrangeas we used could not tolerate the heat well.  The landscaper will replace them with a hardier variety.
 
We were very lucky with our lifeguards this year.  They were a steady presence through the whole season.
 
So, that marks the close of the pool for 2019.  It’s a great year when the most pressing issue is that the drinking fountain dispenses too cold water!
NTRA Committees
Posted on October 1, 2019 9:00 AM by Lucy Painter
Categories: NTRA Business
As you know, much of what goes on in New Town does so because of dedicated volunteers who work on different committees to keep our community running smoothly.  With this issue, we begin a look at these different groups that impact our everyday lives.
 
Do you go to pool parties, talk with neighbors at the December Holiday parties, learn about happenings outside of our area at Noon Talks?  Thank the Activities Committee. Do you know what to do in an emergency, how to prepare, where to go in case of evacuation? Thank the Emergency Preparedness Committee. Are you reading this article online? Thank the Communication Committee.
            
These are only three of the seven committees that operate here. To let you know what each does and how it functions, we begin a series of articles highlighting their work and, in some cases, how you may get involved.
            
We begin with two committees that currently do not require volunteers - the Architectural Review (ARC) and the Transition Committees. The Board of Directors appoints these members, unlike other committee volunteers. 
 
According to the ARC Charter, the "ARC is empowered to provide for efficient review, approval, or disapproval of all plans submitted by Owners within the Association for additions to or alterations of the exterior appearance of completed structures of a property itself."  Vice Chair Libby Flowers explains that such changes are permanent alterations to the exterior of a home such as addition of fencing, storm doors, satellite dishes, solar panels, patios and decks, and change in exterior paint colors.
            
Once the ARC receives an application, its members visit the site of the proposal to see how that change would affect the neighborhood.  Traditionally the ARC members have worked to maintain the appearance of our community, the orderly and maintained sense of place it now has. 
            
Another important committee that impacts our community's future is the Transition Committee, now in process of completing its Charter.  In response to our request for information, Rick Fisher provided the following:
 
The Board of Directors (BOD), at the June 2019 meeting, directed that a Transition Committee be formed to ensure that a due diligence review is performed by an independent group of homeowners prior to the Transition from the Developer.  The Transition Committee will have an approved Charter and membership. The Charter will become a self-explanatory document that will be shared with all homeowners and will outline specific tasks that will be accomplished by assigned Committee members. 
 
During this process, there are many categories of work planned that cover our community from its fiscal to its physical health. Some categories included are review of documents, existing policies and procedures, nomination and election processes, insurance coverage and vendor contracts. More details of the scope of this committee will be available as the Charter is approved.
 
In future issues of Town Crier, look for more information on what is happening around you and how you may want to get involved. 
 
 (Editor’s Note:  After three years as editor, I solicit a volunteer to replace me.  If interested to learn more, please send a note to ntratown.crier@gmail.com)
New RAB Member: Angela Lesnett
Posted on September 1, 2019 7:00 AM by Town Crier Staff
Categories: NTRA Business
Angela Lesnett and her husband, Fred, moved to New Town’s Village Walk neighborhood from Arlington, Virginia, in 2017. 
 
Since moving to the Williamsburg area, Angela’s involvement in the community has included volunteering for Literacy for Life and starting the Women's Lunch Group in New Town. She enjoys travel and reading, and is committed to daily workouts at the Jamestown Recreation Center (...a necessity, Angela says, because she also enjoys the many good restaurants in Williamsburg). 
 
 
Angela loves the friendly and walkable Village Walk/New Town community and is happy for the opportunity to serve on the Residents' Advisory Board to maintain New Town as a great place to live.
 
Angela retired after 26 years as an in-house corporate attorney for Freddie Mac. Prior to that she was an associate at a large St. Louis law firm and held two judicial clerkships.  Angela holds a Master of Laws in Taxation from Georgetown University, a J.D. from IIT/Chicago-Kent, and a B.S. from Quincy College in Illinois.
Results of the Landscape Survey
Posted on September 1, 2019 7:00 AM by Jim Bowers, Chair LAC
Categories: NTRA Business
This past spring, the Landscape Advisory Committee emailed a link to our first Landscaping Survey to better understand how our landscape contractor, Virginia Lawn and Landscape, is doing and what our residents would like to see going forward. The survey helps our committee identify ways to improve landscape services while maintaining efficiency. 
 
To see more of the overall survey responses, please view the Committee’s presentation on the NTRA website. 
 
As we have heard from our residents, landscaping plays an important part of our community. Proper landscape plantings and care increase our residents’ satisfaction with their homes and community. Additionally, it sustains and improves our property values. New Town has a diversity of housing types and unique neighborhoods all conveniently located within walking distance to a wide variety of commercial establishments. It is this very diversity that also creates challenges for landscape maintenance. 
 
Our response rate, 30% of homeowners, is considered quite good by survey standards. Those who responded told us quite a bit about how our contractor has done and what we can do better.
 
Over 60% of respondents were pleased with the overall quality of landscape work performed. The same number felt that the landscape staff demonstrated knowledgeable, profession and courteous service. Over 75% felt that the landscape staff left the areas clean and neat.
 
When we asked residents if they would prefer to do some or all of their own lawn care, a resounding 80% said “No." Those 20% who would choose to do some of their own work, primarily cited pruning/trimming followed by weeding. 
 
When asked for areas of improvement, respondents cited a need for better communications and related supervision. Subsequently, we have met with Town Management and Virginia Lawn and Landscape.  We have communicated to our landscaper the priorities of our residents as expressed in the survey. 
 
Another area for improvement includes maintaining size and form when pruning trees & shrubs. Pruning is particularly tricky considering the need to maintain security around homes, the variety of plants in New Town and the sheering schedule currently in our contract. There were also numerous comments about the condition of the common areas in New Town. (In some cases, parks are a combined responsibility of the NTRA and the New Town Commercial Association.) Next steps will evolve as we continue to meet with the landscape company.  
 
Our committee of volunteers appreciates the community’s responses to our survey. We need more residents to become involved with our Committee and help oversee beautification efforts. Please come to one of our meetings (third Wednesday of the month) or volunteer to serve with us!  
 
Asset Maintenance Committee Home Inspection Process Update - Phase III
Posted on July 1, 2019 7:00 AM by Dave Holtgrieve, BOD Secretary
Categories: NTRA Business
The Asset Maintenance Committee is executing their home inspection process in the general area of Charlotte Park.  The first phase inspections and notification steps were completed in April.
 
Re-inspections took place on June 17th for some homes on Center Street, Elizabeth Davis Boulevard, Ercil Way, Olive Drive, and Rollison Drive.  Second violation notifications were sent out by the June 21st requesting that owners complete the required maintenance.  If violations are not rectified by the final inspection, the owner will receive a hearing notice to appear before the Board of Directors. 
 
Most owners have been in compliance with the program that was designed to ensure homeowners' real properties are maintained consistent with a "first-quality" development.  
Help Wanted – Join Us on Our Website Adventure
Posted on May 1, 2019 2:47 PM by Mary Cheston
Categories: NTRA Business
So how are you enjoying the new NTRA website?
 
As of April 27, we have 330 residents registered on the site.  ANY resident of New Town may register - owner or renter.  Our website is the best means to keep informed about association policies and activities around New Town.  For example, for the 2019 community pool season, information will be posted on the site rather than using mailings to each homeowner.
 
This web platform has a mobile version that is also user-friendly. Log in to the site on your mobile device and see what you think.
 
Looking for information on NTRA committees?  All Committee records are downloadable from the Newsletters/Committees/Policies menu item.
The Website Team needs your input and help.
 
• Do you have ideas for other web features or some style suggestions for pages on the site? Pass them along or better yet, volunteer to serve with us.
• Are you a Facebook fan? Volunteer to help us spruce up the NTRA Facebook page and keep things interesting for our followers. (This support can be provided from the comfort of your own home – no meetings required.)
 
• Send us photos of your favorite New Town locations or activities – we want to have seasonal pictures to post.  (Horizontal slice/view photos are preferred.)
 
We’d like to hear from you – the hard part of migrating to a new internet platform is done, join us to make the site even better!  Send an email to ntrawebsitecommittee@gmail.com.
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