Crescent at Cherry Lane Homeowners Association

At the Board of Directors meeting is on June 28, the Board of Directors appointed a new board member to fill Mr. Chittenden's term following his resignation on June 29.  The Board also appointed two new officers as a result of Mr. Chittenden's resignation as president.  

Effective June 29, Jackie Johnson, who has been serving as Secretary, was appointed to fill Mr. Chittenden's seat on the Board of Directors.  Ms. McCormick, who had been serving as Treasurer, was appointed President.  Ms. Johnson was appointed to fill Ms. McCormick's previous role as Treasurer.  Ms. Kimberly Murray, of Harford Property Services, was appointed to the role of Secretary.  

MR. CHITTENDEN TO STEP DOWN AS PRESIDENT

The Board of Directors (the "Board") of the Crescent at Cherry Lane Homeowners Association will hold a meeting on June 28, 2016, at the First Baptist Church of Laurel.

Pizza and soda will be available at 6:30 p.m. and the meeting will follow at 7:00 p.m.

The primary purpose of the meeting will be to select a new president of the Association.

Mr. Chittenden will resign his position as president as of June 29, when he will no longer be eligible for the position.

In accordance with the Association's bylaws, the Board selects individuals to serve as officers and directors if a vacancy occurs during a term. Mr. Chittenden's term as President and his seat on the board both would have expired at the annual meeting and Board meeting this fall.

Homeowners who are interested in serving either as an officer or on the Board of Directors should attend the meeting. If you are unable to attend, please contact Kim Murray with Harford Property Services via email ([email protected]).

Candidates should be prepared to speak regarding why they wish to serve and what their plan is for the community.

The Board will also enter an executive session to discuss legal matters in private. The executive session will be held at the conclusion of the meeting.

• The mulching for the homeowner flower beds has been rescheduled for Wednesday, April 6, weather permitting.
• Beds will be mulched to a depth of 2-3 inches.
• Residents who desire mulch other than a standard brown dyed mulch should place a sufficient quantity of mulch near their planting beds no later than 7:00 am on Wednesday, April 6.
• Brown dyed mulch will be used for all homeowner planting beds other than those who have placed bags of mulch outside.
• If the date is changed due to weather, a notice will be posted on the Association’s website.

There is no reduction in the annual on-lot maintenance assessment for those who choose to purchase their own mulch. If you have any questions, please contact Harford Property Services at 410-939-1500.

• Spring is here and the landscaping contractor will be on-site on Wednesday, March 30, weather permitting, to mulch homeowner flower beds.
• Beds will be mulched to a depth of 2-3 inches.
• Residents who desire mulch other than a standard brown dyed mulch should place a sufficient quantity of mulch near their planting beds no later than 7:00 am on Wednesday, March 30.
• Brown dyed mulch will be used for all homeowner planting beds other than those who have placed bags of mulch outside.
• If the date is changed due to weather, a notice will be posted on the Association’s website.
• There is no reduction in the annual on-lot maintenance assessment for those who choose to purchase their own mulch. If you have any questions, please contact Harford Property Services at 410-939-1500.

Snow Removal Operations

The HOA's snow removal contractor will be back onsite tomorrow, Wednesday, January 27, 2016.

Alleyways

The contractor has secured larger equipment and will be seeking to widen clearance in the alleyways by moving snow into common areas where possible.

Public Roads

• The HOA has requested that the contractor remove and/or consolidate snow that is on public roadways in the community. The goal will be to clear, as much as possible, the sides of each public roadway on which parking is permitted.
• To enable this, residents are asked to please remove their vehicles from parking spaces on First Baptist Lane, Hardcastle Street, Breckenridge Street, Rockcastle Street, and Archsine Lane during the day tomorrow. This will enable the contractor to clear as large an area as possible.
• Although the Association is not responsible for plowing city streets, the Board has determined that under these exceptional conditions, it was appropriate to undertake the additional expense to clear streets beyond the level that the City of Laurel will provide.
• Efforts will be made to avoid pushing snow onto the sidewalks required to be cleared by residents and driveways. However, some overflow is likely inevitable. Residents are asked to be patient and to help with the clean-up by keeping the sidewalks clear.

If you are aware of areas needing additional attention, please email [email protected], so that we can pass along this information to the contractor. 

Mailboxes

The USPS has ionformed us that they are unable to deliver mail to a number of single-family home mailboxes because of the snow. The contractors effort to clear snow from the public roads should improve the situation; however, residents are reminded to clear the sidewalks in front of their homes. All community mailbox areas have been cleared at this time and mail is being delivered.

This follows up on our earlier post to provide further information about the ongoing HOA snow removal operations in the community and what snow removal homeowners are responsible for performing. Here are the latest updates, described in more detail below:

• The Mayor of Laurel has extended the deadline for residents to remove snow from sidewalks on their property.
• The HOA's snow removal contractor continues to clear common area sidewalks and alleyways.
• City crews are responsible for plowing city streets.

Homeowner Snow Responsibility

Homeowners are responsible from removing snow from certain areas on their property. Homeowners are required by city ordinance and HOA rules to clear snow from public sidewalks on their property.  The entire sidewalk in front of your property must be cleared, it is not sufficient to clear only the portion of the sidewalk at the end of your driveway or front steps. City law normally requires that these areas be cleared within 12 hours of the end of snowfall. However, the Mayor of Laurel has extended the deadline to January 31.  Residents are encouraged to clear their sidewalks as soon as possible to ensure pedestrians can move through the community safely.

Sidewalks required to be cleared are:

Cherry Lane 

•  street-side sidewalks on the even-side of Cherry Lane

First Baptist Lane

• street-side sidewalks on the odd-side
• street-side sidewalks on the even-side from 14800 to 14806
• house-front (upper) sidewalks on the even-side from 14900 to 14906

Archsine Lane

• street-side sidewalks on the even-side
• street-side sidewalks on the odd-sidefrom 7201 to 7319
• house-front (upper) sidewalks on the even-side from 7321 to 7349

Breckenridge Street

• street-side sidewalks on the odd-side from 7201 to 7313
• street-side sidewalks on the even-side
• house-front (upper) sidewalks on the odd-side from 7401 to 7415

Hardcastle Street

• street-side sidewalks on the odd-side
• house-front (inside) sidewalks on the even-side

Rockcastle Street

• street-side sidewalks on the odd-side of Rockcastle Street

In addition to those areas required to be cleared, homeowners are responsible for clearing their walkways and stairs to their front doors and for clearing their driveways. You may choose not to clear these areas if you want.  Residents are urged to tackle this project in steps, rather than all at once. For tips on safe shoveling, please seem this article from The Washington Post.

HOA Snow Removal

The HOA's snow removal contractor is continuing to clear alleyways and common area sidewalks. All common area sidewalks have been cleared and treated at least once.  All alleyways have been plowed, and the contractor is working to remove snow from the alleyways now. Alleyways typically end in "Place," i.e., Crescent Place, Robertson Place, Owsley Place, Whitley Place, etc.

City Streets

City streets typically end in Street or Lane, i.e., First Baptist Lane, Cherry Lane, Archsine Lane, Breckenridge Street, Hardcastle Street, and Rockcastle Street. City streets will be plowed by the City of Laurel. The HOA's crews have made preliminary passes plowing some city street to allow them access to the alleyways. The HOA does not know when City crews will plow the city streets.

Trash and Recycling Collection

As a reminder, Monday's trash and recycling collections have been postponed until Tuesday. Please do not place trash and recycling curbside before 7:00 p.m.tonight.

If you have any questions, please email [email protected].

This follows up on our earlier post to provide further information about the ongoing HOA snow removal operations in the community and what snow removal homeowners are responsible for performing. Here are the latest updates, described in more detail below:

• The HOA's snow removal contractor is on-site working to clear common area sidewalks and alleyways.
• City crews are responsible for plowing city streets.
• Homeowners are responsible for clearing their own sidewalks, driveways, and walkways.
• Monday's trash and recycling collections have been postponed until Tuesday.

HOA Snow Removal

The HOA's snow removal contractor is currently on-site and is working to clear alleyways and common area sidewalks. As reported earlier, any areas not cleared today will be cleared tomorrow morning. All alleyways should be clear by tonight, if not earlier. Alleyways typically end in "Place," i.e., Crescent Place, Robertson Place, Owsley Place, Whitley Place, etc. City streets typically end in Street or Lane, i.e., First Baptist Lane, Cherry Lane, Archsine Lane, Breckenridge Street, Hardcastle Street, and Rockcastle Street. City streets will be plowed by the City of Laurel. The HOA's crews have made preliminary passes plowing some city street to allow them access to the alleyways. The HOA does not know when City crews will plow the city streets.

Homeowner Snow Responsibility

Homeowners are responsible from removing snow from certain areas on their property. Homeowners are required by city ordinance and HOA rules to clear snow from public sidewalks on their property. This includes:

Cherry Lane 

•  street-side sidewalks on the even-side of Cherry Lane

First Baptist Lane

• street-side sidewalks on the odd-side
• street-side sidewalks on the even-side from 14800 to 14806
• house-front (upper) sidewalks on the even-side from 14900 to 14906

Archsine Lane

• street-side sidewalks on the even-side
• street-side sidewalks on the odd-sidefrom 7201 to 7319
• house-front (upper) sidewalks on the even-side from 7321 to 7349

Breckenridge Street

• street-side sidewalks on the odd-side from 7201 to 7313
• street-side sidewalks on the even-side
• house-front (upper) sidewalks on the odd-side from 7401 to 7415

Hardcastle Street

• street-side sidewalks on the odd-side
• house-front (inside) sidewalks on the even-side

Rockcastle Street

• street-side sidewalks on the odd-side of Rockcastle Street

Some of these areas were partially cleared by the HOA's contractor by mistake. Even if the contractor partially cleared your sidewalk, you are responsible for ensuring that it remains clear. The entire sidewalk in front of your property must be cleared, it is not sufficient to clear only the portion of the sidewalk at the end of your driveway. City law normally requires that these areas be cleared within 12 hours of the end of snowfall, which would be approximately noon today. However, the Mayor of Laurel has extended the deadline to 24 hours, or approximately midnight tonight.

In addition to those areas required to be cleared, homeowners are responsible for clearing their walkways and stairs to their front doors and for clearing their driveways. You may choose not to clear these areas if you want.

Residents are urged to tackle this project in steps, rather than all at once. For tips on safe shoveling, please seem this article from The Washington Post.

Trash and Recycling Collection

Monday's trash and recycling collections have been postponed until Tuesday. Please do not place trash and recycling curbside before 7:00 p.m. on Monday night.

If you have any questions, please email [email protected].

Winter Storm Jonas has left approximately two feet of snow in our community. Our landscaping contract, despite their best efforts was unable to keep up with snow removal during the storm yesterday when whiteout conditions made it unsafe to continue. Here is the latest update:

• The contractor will be back on-site later this morning to resume snow removal operations. Their first priority will be to plow and salt all alleyways.
• The contractor will work to clear at least 50% of HOA sidewalks today. Any sidewalks that are not cleared today, will be cleared tomorrow before lunch time.
• In the meantime, we urge you to use extreme caution as you move about outside. The Mayor of Laurel continues to ask you to stay off the roads to allow road plowing operations to continue.

We thank you for your patience.  If you have any questions, please email [email protected]. 

Laurel Mayor Craig A. Moe has announced that Halloween “Trick or Treat” activities in the City of Laurel will occur on Saturday, October 31, 2015, from 6:00 to 8:00pm.

In order for all children to be safe, Mayor Moe requests that parents make sure their children have costumes that are flame resistant, will reflect light and be visible in the low-light conditions of the early evening hours. City Officials ask that everyone be on the alert for Trick-or-Treaters as they drive through their neighborhoods.

Laurel Police Chief Richard McLaughlin advises residents to leave their porch lights on if they wish to receive Trick-or-Treaters and the Laurel Police will have extra patrols out on the street during Trick or Treating that evening.

Halloween Safety Tips

• When choosing a costume, stay away from billowing or long trailing fabric. If you are making your own costume, choose material that won't easily ignite if it comes into contact with heat or flame. If your child is wearing a mask, make sure the eye holes are large enough so they can see out;
• Provide children with flashlights or glow sticks for visibility;
• Dried flowers, cornstalks and crepe paper are highly flammable. Keep these and other decorations well away from all open flames and heat sources, including light bulbs and heaters;
• It is safest to use a flashlight or battery-operated candles in a jack-o-lantern. If you use a real candle, use extreme caution. Make sure children are watched at all times when candles are lit. When lighting candles inside jack-o-lanterns, use long fireplace-style matches or a utility lighter. Be sure to place lit pumpkins well away from anything that can burn and far enough out of way of trick or treaters, doorsteps, walkways and yards; and
• Remember to keep exits clear of decorations, so nothing blocks escape routes.