York Farms Community

YFMC fall '08 newsletter & 12/20 meeting announcement

fall '08 newsletter

York Farms Maintenance Corporation Newsletter

I. Update On Board Activities

We are pleased to update you regarding the progress of the board. We initiated fertilization of the common areas last fall. Please do not park on the grass of common areas and ask your guests to refrain from parking on the grass as we incur tremendous costs to repair ruts/damage to the common areas. Repairs to both retention ponds were completed this fall. Last winter we advised Hunter’s Run of its responsibility for sharing the cost of maintenance to the rear retention pond and are awaiting reimbursement for 30% of the fees paid for the maintenance of that pond. In response to your feedback, in April, we applied for and received a grant from the Department of Conservation to share the cost of the repair to the spring on Cornwell Drive (common area near 249 Cornwell Drive) which resulted in icing conditions on the road during the winter and water runoff during the spring and summer. Repairs to the spring began on May 22, 2008 and were completed within one week. During the repair process, the Department of Conservation discovered another spring underneath the road. We will monitor this spring for leakage. If leaking occurs, we will contact the Department of Conservation for further direction and assistance to correct the problem. The corporation’s share of the repair to the spring in the common area amounted to $9000. We renewed contracts with our current vendors who provide snow removal, landscaping, and retention pond maintenance. We stressed the need to for them to pay attention to edging of the common areas and weeding of the front entrance beds. In April, the front entrance signs were power washed, caulked, and painted. The signs were not replaced per your directives at 2008’s budget meeting. In response to your request, we continue to pursue collection of corporation assessments from delinquent homeowners.

We initiated neighborhood clean up day in April and plan to continue with this initiative next spring. Please help us keep our neighborhood clean and keep costs down by participating on neighborhood clean up day. If you are not able to assist on the designated day, then help us maintain our neighborhood by not littering and encouraging your children and guests to refrain from littering in our neighborhood. In addition, we had a great turn out at our community picnic on May 17. This was a joint effort by the maintenance corporation and the Civic Association. Thank you to Andrea and Reggie Thomas for the use of their home and their hard work on this function. Thank you to all the corporation members who prepared delicious dishes and attended the picnic.

As we are a working board who strives to avoid wasteful spending and keep costs down, we would appreciate the support of all corporation members. Please help us to maintain this beautiful community by maintaining your properties, attending corporation meetings, participating in community activities, giving us feedback, and paying your assessments in a timely fashion. We realize the economy is quite turbulent and impacts all of us. We must work together to maintain our community and to pay for the expenses incurred in doing so; therefore, we all must pay our assessments. Please notify the board if you are experiencing extreme financial difficulty and are in need of a payment arrangement in order to pay your assessment. Again, thank you for the privilege to serve and for your support. We look forward to serving you this coming year.

A. Call to Order

Marika White called to order the quarterly meeting of the York Farms Maintenance Corporation Community Meeting at approximately 8:15 p.m. Meeting held at the Delaware State Police Troop 2.

B. Attendees

The following Board members were present: Marika White, Reggie Thomas and Maureen Davis. Civic Association members present: Fran Woerner and Andy Thomas. Block Watch Chief and special invited guest, Bill Truszkowski of Vance Waste Management were present.

C. Financial Update

1. The proposed Budget was presented by Marika White. Members were reminded of corporation members’ decision to maintain the existing entrance signs verses replacing them. The signs were power washed, caulked, and painted at a cost of $400. Two dead trees were also removed at a cost of $150. Money was also spent to repair ruts to common area grass caused by vehicles driving and parking on the grass. Members were asked to refrain from parking on the grass. Budget was ratified by those present. Update regarding legal fees for collection of past due assessments was discussed: 10 cases filed, 4 reimbursements. Residents asked if we should continue to pursue and responded, “Yes we must or else they will not pay, and it’s not fair.”

2. Vote for budget. Unanimous approval of budget by all members present. The Assessment Fee for the 2008-09 year will be $125.00.

3. Repair of the retention ponds was discussed. NCC will construct a dry retention pond at the beginning of development and a wet pond at the end of the development.

4. The cost of the maintenance and repair of the rear retention pond is shared with Reybold. Reybold is responsible for 30% of the costs. Today the Board received $1,949.00 from Reybold for maintenance expenses billed through October 2007. In October, they will be billed for this year’s expenses.

5. Update regarding installation of U-drain to common area adjacent to 249 Cornwell Drive to prevent leakage of water in the street caused by a spring underneath the grass. The cost of the repair was shared by the YFMC and the Delaware Department of Conservation due to approval of the Job Share Grant by the Conservation District. Fifty percent of the cost was paid by the Conservation district with the development paying the remaining 50% or $9,360.

D. New Business

Bill Truszkowski, (302-220-7980) of Vance Waste Management spoke to the residents of York Farms about his new company. In trying to alleviate the traffic in and out of our development by the many trash companies, Mr. Truszkowski will provide the following services: Trash pick-ups twice a week (Tuesday & Friday), Yard waste pick-ups on the 1st and 15th (by request only, at a cost of $5.00 per pick-up), 5% off of your current trash collection bill, Rates could be as low as: $20.00 a month (with all 110 York Farm residents participating), $22.00 per month (with 30 residents participating), $23.80 per month with a minimum 2 pick-ups per week and 20 residents participating (fuel surcharge included in rate) which also includes a can

E. Old Business

140 Cornwell Drive

Property continues to be an eyesore and a concern of neighbors within close proximity to the property. Efforts to have the homeowner comply with deed restrictions have been unsuccessful (letters to home owner by attorney, filing of complaints with NCC). Per our attorney, it would cost approximately $3000 to file a suit which he could not assure us of wining. The attorney also could not guarantee enforcement of the judgment if we won. Homeowner was cited by NCC, but there is still debris and construction material on the property and weeds are growing to the rear of the property. Membership was asked if the Board should continue legal proceedings. No response to re-initiating legal action.

F. Miscellaneous Topics of Discussion

1. Suggestion by a York Farms resident for concrete curbing in the common areas.

2. Residents given the number for NCC Code Enforcement - Officer Art Warner - (302) 395-5555 to report unsightly yard conditions and other code violations.

3. Discussion regarding additional volunteers for the Architectural Committee. Numerous deed restriction violations noted within the community i.e. boat storage in excess of 7 days, sheds not matching siding of home, etc ... We are looking for volunteers to assist with letter writing campaign to notify neighbors of violations prior to initiation of legal action against violators.
York Farms is a beautiful community. We want our community to stay beautiful! We encourage all of you to do all you can to make sure that our visitors and prospective home buyers see and appreciate the beauty and value of our community. Thank you for your efforts to maintain our community’s property values!

I. You are cordially invited to the next YORK FARMS MAINTENANCE CORPORATION MEETING TO BE HELD ON DECEMBER 20, 2008, AT 10:00 A.M. AT THE BEAR LIBRARY. Please refer to the agenda below. Please be advised that your assessments must be current in order to participate in the election. We invite you to become a board member and welcome your assistance. Open positions are PRESIDENT, VICE-PRESIDENT, SECRETARY, AND TREASURER, ARCHITECTURAL COMMITTEE LIAISON, BEAUTIFICATION COMMITTEE.

1. Financial Update:
2. Approval Committee Update:
3. Civic Association Update:
4. Election
5. Remarks from State Rep Valerie Longhurst or State Senator Dori Connor
6. COMMENTS - (Open)

II. Civic Corner:

Thank you for:

1. Your cooperation shown in enhancing your curb appeal . There was a noticeable
improvement throughout the development which will continue to benefit all of us.
2. The cooperation of the Maintenance Corp. in maintaining the aesthetic and structural
integrity of our community.
3. Properly securing your trash in a receptacle to avoid litter on our lawns and road.
4. Securing and curbing pets. Numerous cats roam the community causing a nuisance.
Please respect the property rights of your neighbors. If you walk a dog, please pick up
after it.
5. Reducing your driving speed for the safety of all.
6. Not parking on lawns. This not only detracts from the curb appeal, but it is a violation of the
NCC Code Enforcement. The latter violation is now subject to a county fine.
7. Adhering to the deed restrictions: home parking of commercial vehicles, buses, and boats is prohibited.

Happy holidays to everyone. Please remember that during this holiday season always
alarm and properly secure your homes . Properly secure your cars. Be alert during this busy
time of the year for unwelcome visitors. If you see or hear anything unusual, please immediately call
the police.

III. Board Contact Information

President: Marika White, 216 Cornwell Drive,
e-mail: marika0824@yahoo.com

Vice President Reggie Thomas
e-mail: RegThomas@aol.com

Secretary Maureen Davis
e-mail: Mdavis550@aol.com