Town Crier Articles

1. Places homeowners in the NTRA on nearly equal footing regarding maintenance and subject to the same requirements for Maintenance of Property as outlined in Article 7.2 of the NTRA Master Declaration.  Exceptions for Village Walk will be the post tension slab system, irrigation system, fire suppression system, and yearly termite management. These will remain with NTRA and be funded through the Village Walk neighborhood assessment.
2. Reduces confusion regarding the responsibility for various types of exterior maintenance.
3. Allows homeowners to select the contractor that performs maintenance work on their home and also to choose the scope of work, quality of materials, timing and pricing.
4. Allows the homeowner to supervise and approve the completed work.
5. Speeds and simplifies the repair process by removing the management company and Board of Directors from the repair process and eliminating the NTRA contracting requirements.
6. Will significantly lower quarterly assessments and bring them in line with others in NTRA with similar homes.
7. Removes the sharing of exterior maintenance expenses, i.e, Village Walk owners will no longer have to fund the maintenance needed on each other’s homes.
8. Eliminates the possibility of all NTRA members becoming financially responsible for the exterior maintenance of the homes in the Village Walk neighborhood.
9. Retains the marketability of Village Walk homes which could significantly degrade if the neighborhood has very high association dues and continual large additional assessments.
10. Eliminates major yearly increases in Village Walk assessments that will be required if the Association continues to provide exterior maintenance.

2024 is a Presidential election year and all citizens are encouraged to vote. 

 

New to James City County?  You can register to vote online, in person or by mail.  The last day to register is Tuesday, October 15, 2024. Here is the JCC website with all the details including links if you just need to update your name or local address: https://jamescitycountyva.gov/4015/Register-to-Vote-or-Update-Information

Early voting for the Presidential Election starts on Friday, September 20 and will end on Saturday, November 2. Early in-person voting will be held only at the Office of Elections/Vote Center: 4095 Ironbound Road located behind the JCC Courthouse.  

 

New Town’s precinct is Jamestown B and on November 5, Election Day from 6am to 7PM all New Town registered voters can vote at the JCC Recreation Center, 5301 Longhill Road.

 

All of James City County is located in US Congressional District 1.

 

For more voting information here is a link to Office of Elections.

 

Political Signs – As a reminder, the New Town Residential Association rules permit ONE sign per lot, “not more than 6 feet square expressing support or opposition to political candidates” or other ballot issues. Signs may be placed starting September 6th (60 days before the election) and “shall be removed within 2 days after such election”.  (NTRA Rules, Section II, 36c) 

Do you have a few extra hours to spare now that the kids are back in school?  Perhaps you are new to our community and want to meet more people. Volunteering with one of our various HOA Committees is the perfect way to be engaged with your neighbors. Owners in good standing and tenants are eligible to serve on most Committees.

 

Current critical needs include:

• COMMUNICATIONS COMMITTEE – HELP!!! Our website and newsletter are dependent on volunteers. Don't you want to know what is happening with your fees? There has not been an active Communications Committee for the past 2 years.  Instead, individuals have been contributing periodic articles for the monthly Town Crier. This Committee is an easy time commitment – just a few hours a month to brainstorm and write an article. We need to reinvigorate information sharing in our community and that means we need you!

• ARCHITECTURAL REVIEW COMMITTEE (ARC) – This Committee reviews all applications for changes to property.  Members serve 3-year terms, so to ensure continuity, the ARC uses an alternate member to learn the process and step in for votes when needed for a quorum.  The ARC currently is seeking an alternate member who will rotate into full status.

There are eight NTRA Committees – (the others are Activities, Asset Maintenance, Emergency Preparedness, Finance, Landscape Advisory and Pool). Surely one of these teams would appreciate your involvement, even on an intermittent basis.  The Board of Directors will have two vacancies in December and also will be seeking volunteers to run for these positions.

 

If you are curious but not sure, now is the time to reach out for more information, perhaps visit a Committee meeting and see whether you are a good fit for their work. All Committee meetings are published on the NTRA website calendar. 

 

Interested or want more information? Send a quick email to ntrawebsitecommittee@gmail.com to be put in touch with the Committee Chair.

In the days before our last pool party of the summer, we had an amazing week of weather with temperatures in the seventies, a welcome relief from the beastly August heat.  Saturday, August 24, it was a bit warmer, low eighties and sunny, but the pool water after that unseasonably cool weather, was definitely chilly.  Normally the pool is a popular spot on July and August Saturday mornings. Young families, with antsy kids ready to get some energy out, arrive at the pool for the early 10:00 opening.  But this Saturday, at 12:00pm when the pool party was scheduled to begin, Activities Committee members, who had tables piled with pizza, watermelon, and dessert and had created plans for water games, looked around anxiously at the virtually empty pool site.  Only one small group of four residents huddled under an umbrella. 

 

 

But, before the Committee could start thinking about plans for all that excess food, residents began streaming through the gates, with over 60 attending.  This pool party featured eating and visiting more than swimming, although some brave souls took to the water, but not enough for the planned pool games.  Still kids enjoyed playing with beach balls bought for the games, other folks played cornhole, and residents Nathaniel David and Susan Byrne won $25 gift certificates, courtesy of the New Town Commercial Association.  Others, like a new Shirley Park family with a three-year old daughter, learned more about our community and met some neighbors.  

 

The pool closes after Labor Day, but please join the Activities Committee at its next major event, the Fall Fest on Saturday, October 5 (rain date Sunday, Oct. 6) at 2:00 at Village Walk.

 

Check out more fun photos of our 2024 pool parties at our latest photo album:  2024 Pool Party Fun.

 

The New Town Residential Association Activities Committee hosted a Social at the community pool on the evening of Friday, July 19 which drew over seventy residents.  They brought their favorite adult beverages and enjoyed a variety of delicious hors d’oeuvres and desserts.  The  temperate weather with low humidity was a welcome relief from the sweltering heat of the last weeks. Conversation flowed easily as neighbors caught up and met new residents.  Adding a special touch to this event was live music provided by  Joe Duggan, who sang a variety of  favorite songs in a mellow voice, which made a beautiful evening  even more special. We look forward to welcoming Joe back to our future socials.

           

Our next event is a pizza pool party on August 24 at 12:00, rain date Sunday, August 25.  We are adding a new touch to this season’s last pool event,  games, races and prizes for adult and kids!!  We hope to see you there for all the fun. 

 

   

 

   

 

In an emergency are you prepared to take shelter in a designated community facility? 

 

 

Because New Town is within James City County, New Town residents will be sheltering at facilities to be announced at the time of the emergency event.  Per our JCC Emergency Management Planner, those facilities may be a number of local schools and he recommends that in an emergency, individuals heed communications from JCC regarding shelter locations and their hours of operation. Another possible option may be what was described as “Power & Shower,” during which non-city residents may be able to go to a Williamsburg city shelter to power their personal devices and take a shower.             

 

When New Town residents take shelter, the sheltering guidance provided for Williamsburg city residents will also be applicable to New Town residents. The most current guidance may be found at https://www.williamsburgva.gov/210/City-Shelter.  Here is an abbreviated version (as of July 2024).     

 

 

Be prepared to take shelter for approximately 1 – 2 days and bring the following in sufficient quantities for a stay of that length:  

The shelter will be staffed by medical personnel to assist medically-dependent persons to maintain their status during the emergency.  Those who are oxygen-dependent should bring extra oxygen. 

 

The shelter will accommodate service animals. As a pet-friendly shelter, there are limited accommodations for household pets (cats and dogs, no exotic animals).  Pet owners must bring: any pet medications, collar/leash, pet crate, pet food, proof of rabies vaccination, water and food bowls.

 

Despite a delayed opening, the 2024 pool season is now off to a great start! Seventy-five neighbors participated in the Saturday, June 15 pool party and finished off twenty pizzas in short order, as well as enjoying watermelon and homemade cookies and bars. The weather and the water temperature were perfect and everyone from toddlers to teens splashing and jumping about, parents, grandparents, young couples and seniors enjoyed the water or poolside socializing. Octovia Wyman of Town Creek won the raffle for a gift certificate provided by the New Town Commercial Association.  More raffles to come at all our events.

 

The Activities Committee wants to send a shout out to the whole crew of Activities Committee member Terri Finn’s Shirley Park neighbors, who volunteered during the pool party, helping to make everything go smoothly.

 

Our next event is a Poolside Social on Friday, July 19.  Joe Duggan from the Williamsburg band, Joe’s Day Off, which covers country, rock and oldies, will be providing live music.  You are welcome to take a dip in the pool, participate in a fun ice breaker, or just enjoy the company. There will be several raffles, appetizers and desserts.

     

Finally, look for details on Family Pool Volleyball, one evening each week, if enough folks want to play. It is pure fun, no experience necessary and we use a light ball.  

 

 

 

   

Hello NTRA Neighbors!

 

Recently the 2024 home exterior inspection schedule was sent to NTRA residents signaling the start of the annual inspection process. This is your association’s way of ensuring all the homes are kept beautiful, making everyone proud of New Town and the area in which we live and play. The program was designed and adopted by the Board in 2018 to maintain the curb appeal of NTRA homes and the overall property values for all invested in New Town.

 

Chesapeake Bay Management Company, assisted by members of the NTRA Asset Maintenance Committee, will begin inspecting all home exteriors starting around July 18th in Village Walk. These inspections will proceed neighborhood by neighborhood to make sure all homes are up to standards reflected in the HOA Master Declaration and Rules and Regulations (available on the NTRA website). The goal is for all homes to be inspected no later than October 31, 2024.

 

Follow-up inspections for any locations with identified deficiencies will be conducted in each neighborhood after a 30-day period to allow for repair.

 

The inspection schedule is:

• Village Walk – Thursday, July 18, 2024
• Charlotte Park – Thursday, August 1, 2024
• Shirley Park – Thursday, August 22, 2024
• Chelsea Green – Thursday, September 12, 2024
• Savannah Square – Thursday, September 26, 2024
• Abbey Commons – Thursday, October 10, 2024

Note: These dates are all weather dependent.

 

Please review the areas we will be inspecting as shown in the 2023 revised Self-Checklist for Owner Inspection of Homes (so you can make any repairs necessary prior to the inspection.)  

Note for Village Walk -- while most exterior surfaces of Village Walk homes are the NTRA’s responsibility to maintain, there are items which are solely a homeowner responsibility. Consult the Village Walk Maintenance Responsibilities Chart.

 

What do I do if I receive a deficiency notice? If you receive a notice, respond with your “plan of correction” within two weeks. Violations come in all forms and the inspection checklist is on the NTRA website. The AMC also has compiled a list of vendors other owners have used in the past for repairs/maintenance. Being realistic, not all violations can be cured in a short period of time. The important thing to remember here is to provide your “plan of correction” to Chesapeake Bay Management (ntraadmin@1cbm.com) as soon as your plan is worked out. A plan could be as simple as,

“I power washed the front of my house and the deficiency is corrected. I am in compliance.”

“I am researching house painters and obtaining bids. I will advise you by ____ (date)”

It is up to you, the homeowner, to maintain communication with Chesapeake Bay Management on progress being made to cure the deficiency.

 

Please understand that failure to communicate your plans and actions to correct inspection deficiencies can result in fines for not keeping your property in accordance with the NTRA requirements.

 

If you have any questions, please contact the Chesapeake Bay Management Office.

Spring and summer bring the end of the school year, summer vacation and - - yes - - dealing with necessary maintenance on our homes. Homes in New Town are part of the New Town Residential Association (NTRA) and are subject to certain rules and restrictions regarding alterations to their exteriors.

 

NTRA’s governing documents establish the Architectural Review Committee (ARC) which is charged with the responsibility of preserving the aesthetic appearance of the community to help protect the value of the homes. To carry out this purpose, the ARC has established guidelines for approving modifications to the exterior characteristics of a home and/or improvements to a lot. Here are reminders of a few of the requirements.

 

Obtain ARC Approval BEFORE Starting: It’s important to remember that an owner must submit an application and obtain ARC approval before starting construction or renovation that changes the exterior appearance of the property.

 

Projects that Require an Application: An Application and approval are usually required for routine maintenance projects such as painting (new color) and re-roofing, and are always required for projects such as the addition of patios or other hardscape features, fences, storm doors, generators, solar panels, trash can enclosures and other exterior changes. General guidelines for these and a number of other exterior changes can be found in NTRA Policy 4.1, Architectural Review Committee Guidelines/Standards. If in doubt, contact NTRA’s Managing Agent.

 

Owners should not rely on the appearance of other NTRA residences as assurance that their project will be approved. Due to differences in home types and great variation in lot sizes and configurations the ARC must sometimes make a determination on a case-by-case basis; NTRA’s governing documents expressly allow for such consideration.

 

Installation of certain ARC-approved features may result in other requirements. For example, owners installing a fence must provide a buffer zone if required by the landscaping contract then in effect, and installation of a fence may limit certain landscaping services. More details about a homeowner’s landscape responsibilities can be found on the website in NTRA Policy 9.2, Landscape Services and Responsibilities. 

 

When requesting approval, homeowners are responsible for submitting accurate descriptions and drawings for their proposed project. Sometimes projects are given conditional approval and homeowners should take care to ensure that all conditions for their project are followed.

 

ARC Application: The ARC Application and Instructions can be found on the NTRA website. A completed ARC Application must be submitted to Chesapeake Bay - the NTRA's management company, not to ARC members directly or through the NTRA ticketing system. Applications must be submitted at least one week before the ARC meeting which is held on the second Monday of 

May has been a month of change for the administration of our HOA with Chesapeake Bay Management assigning a new community manager and administrative assistant to the New Town Residential Association.

 

 

Jim McEvoy brings years of hands-on management experience which will be valuable for New Town. He has had approximately 15 years’ experience in hotel and resort management in the Atlantic City New Jersey area.  

In addition, he has performed well working in the vacation ownership industry for 16 years with both Wyndham Vacations and Bluegreen Vacations (where he won the Resort Manager of the Year Award in 2014). His prior assignments with community association management were with United Property Associates in Newport News, and Everest Property Management in Williamsburg. At Chesapeake Bay Management he worked as the community manager for seven small communities (all at the same time) in the Williamsburg area. Imagine what managing projects in seven communities, dealing with seven boards of directors, and seven different sets of governing documents must be like!

 

Jim became a Certified Manager of Community Associations (CMCA) in 2022 by completing the required training on financial management, community leadership, association communications and community governance.  He is a lifelong learner and is currently working towards completing the requirements to become a certified Professional Community Association Manager (PCAM).  This coursework includes risk management, legal aspects of community governance, facilities management, and leadership.  Chesapeake Bay Management has confidence in Jim’s ability and potential and shows this by funding his tuition.  He currently has completed one-third of the M-200 courses (a pre-requisite to the PCAM exam) , after which he will be eligible to apply for the PCAM credential.  His goal is to attain this prestigious credential by the first quarter of 2025.

 

Jim enjoys managing community projects that improve and maintain the community.  Several of his past projects have been so large that the execution had to be spread over multiple years.  He excelled at writing specifications and obtaining multiple competitive bids from vendors.  As the projects were executed, he ensured that contract specifications were met.

 

Jim was born in Camden, New Jersey and grew up in multiple locations throughout South Jersey.  He has successfully raised a son and daughter and together with his wife Tina enjoys spending time with his four grandchildren.  When he is not at work he can usually be found reading about American history, history in general, and world literature.  Jim and Tina enjoy traveling and visiting historical sites.  They currently reside in Norge Virginia and have lived in the Williamsburg area since 2010.