Happy New Year

On December 31st when the clock strikes twelve, people all over the world cheer and wish each other a very Happy New Year. May the New Year be the beginning of a better tomorrow for everyone.

On behalf of the Old Towne Association Board of Directors, we wish you health, peace, wisdom, happiness and blessings for 2009.

David Maddern, President

Change of Meeting

After some dialog with Stop & Shop and through the courtesy of the new store manager, Rick Donegan, we will be conducting our December meeting at Stop & Shop, December 2, 2008, 2nd Floor. Stop & Shop has an elevator for those unable to maneuver the stairs. We are in the process of setting up the 2009 calendar and it is our hope we can set the first Tuesday of the month as our meeting dates (easier to remember). We will keep every apprised as we head into the New Year.

Bulky Waste and Scrap Metal Collection

On Thursday, October 23, the Town of Cheshire will be conducting its curbside Bulky Waste Collection. Ferraro & Sons, Inc. will again be picking up at Old Towne.

Items are to be placed in one location in each cul-de-sac. It is our suggestion that this be in a designated visitor parking spot closest to the entrance to the cul-de-sac. For the convenience of unit owners, items may be placed in the one designated location starting at 8 am, Wednesday, October 22.

The contractor is unable to sort materials during collection. Therefore, bulky waste items and scrap metal items that are mixed together will not be collected. Weekly garbage collection is to be kept separate from this area and must not be put out until 6 pm the night before pickup.

ACCEPTABLE ITEMS
Stoves, Microwaves, Washing Machines, Metal lawn furniture, water heaters, gas grills (no tanks), air conditioners, metal lights, exercise equipment, large metal toys, doors, window frames, dishwashers, dryers, Refrigerators (doors must be taken off), metal bed rails, lawn mowers, snow blowers, tool boxes, garden tools, bicycles, roto tillers, metal pipes, metal trash cans, safes, fans, gas/electric heaters.

UNACCEPTABLE ITEMS
Household Garbage and Trash, Motor Vehicles, All Terrain Vehicles, Brick/Concrete/Asbestos Materials, Motorcycles, Small Recreation Vehicles, Vinyl Siding, Grass Clippings, Brush or Branches, Paint, Paint Thinners, Gasoline, Propane Tanks, Antifreeze, Oil/Chemical/Gas Tanks, Explosives, Batteries, Tires, Food/Beverage Containers.

For more information on Accepted Bulk Waste Materials and Scrap Metal Acceptable Items, please visit the website below. Disregard collection dates noted on the website as this is for residential collection excluding condominiums. Collection for Old Towne is 10/23/08.

http://www.cheshirect.org/publicworks/trash.html

US Foreclosures Reach a Record High

Thought everyone would find this article interesting. These are difficult economic times for many. However, as this relates to Old Towne, currently all unit owners are current with common fees and assessments (no one is behind 3 payments or more which initiates the first demand letter for payment in the foreclosure cycle). If you wish, check out the link below for more information on US property foreclosures.

http://www.opalesque.com/Realestate_Briefing/?p=1534

From Propertywire.com: The number of property foreclosures in the US rose to a record high in August with analysts predicting a further 10% fall in house prices by the end of next year. One in 416 home owners in the US got a default notice in August, according to the latest figures from Realty Trac, the California based seller of foreclosure data. It is the highest monthly figure since records began in January 2005.Bank seizures, the last stage of the foreclosure process, have more than doubled from a year ago. Defaults have risen 10% in the last year and auctions are up 7%, the figures show. Nevada had the nation’s highest foreclosure rate for the 20th consecutive month, with one in 91 households in some stage of default. California had the second-highest rate, one in 130 households. Arizona had the third-highest rate at one in 182 households, followed by Florida, Michigan, Georgia, Ohio, Colorado, Illinois and Indiana. The worst US housing slump since the 1930s shows little sign of abating.

Frank Miner's Celebration

From all accounts, the evening honoring Frank Miner by the Cheshire Democratic Women's Club was a complete success. Marty Cobern graciously forwarded a picture of Frank and Patti. Our appreciation also to Kathleen Kenney, Old Towne resident, for making the Board aware of the award given to Frank. Among the guests was Attorney General Richard Blumenthal.

Additionally, see the comments written by Marty Cobern. .........Allow me one anecdote: When I first met Frank ~25 years ago, we discovered we were both Cooper Union alumni, although a year or two apart. In short order, I was not only involved in local politics, but raising money for the Cooper Union capital program. Quite a convincing guy, and a wonderful choice! The CDWC honored itself by honoring Frank. Marty

Frank Miner: 2008 Civic Pride Award Recipient

On Friday, September 5th, The Cheshire Democratic Women's Club will be honoring Frank Miner. A donation and the following letter was sent giving testimony to Frank for his dedicated service to Old Towne.

"On behalf of the Executive Board of Old Towne Condominium Association, I would like to extend our appreciation to you. As treasurer of the Association for many years, your work was thorough and concise and your collective efforts revealed the care and commitment you had to our community and its unit owners. We know your dedication to get things done was the key to establishing the principles we follow today. You personify excellence and serve as a standard for others to emulate. Congratulations and may the path you follow be filled with happiness."

David Maddern, President

Our Paving Project

Well, folks, we are about 99% done! Sweeping the main road is last on the list and should be done shortly. Thank you to all unit owners for their courtesy and cooperation. We realized that having vehicles displaced from their garages was not only inconvenient but, for many, difficult. However, the calls received by the Board were only to express how pleased owners were with the new paved cul-de-sacs. We have a walk through schedule with US Pavement to go over some minor issues, some emailed in by unit owners and what the Board has observed. All in all, we are very pleased.

Board Memo

As many of you know, it is not a perfect world. However, we think Old Towne is a lovely community. As your Board, our goal is to maintain and protect this for the future.

With new owners joining Old Towne, the Board of Directors thought it would be informative to review our meeting process. Any resident may attend these meetings. We ask that a business atmosphere be maintained as there are many details to cover in one meeting.

At times, delinquent payment and other owner issues need to be discussed and it is necessary to ask non-board members to leave so they may be discussed in private. This is done to protect and respect the confidentiality of owners.

An open forum is available if Unit Owners wish to present a matter to the board. Owners will be provided five minutes to present their issues. It is important to remember that the board is empowered by the declaration, bylaws and rules. Anything that falls outside of this has no place at the meeting and thus, it is not a forum to vent, make accusations, rant or speak out of turn.

The condominium association operates as a business and as such the minutes that are recorded reflect this. The minutes are not available online because they often contain private owner issues. The minutes are available after the board meeting that accepts them as accurate. Unit owners may request a copy by submitting a written request to the management company.

Board members receive no pay or compensation of any kind. They pay the same fees as everyone else and are subject to the same rules. They do, however, have the burden of running the association, working on committees, preparing for meetings, dealing with owner issues, management issues, building, landscape, pool, etc. Anytime a owner can offer a solution to a problem, it makes our jobs easier and we appreciate it.

Anyone that needs to communicate with the Management Company or Board should do so in writing and in advance of the meeting. This allows us to have it distributed to all board members and have it put on the agenda. Having an item in advance permits the meeting to be conducted timely and helps us do our job more efficiently.

We have several issues to deal with in the months ahead such as our landscaping issues, upgrading the remaining decks and patios, seeking information on chimney caps and gutter guards, etc. We are making progress and trying to lessen how these projects impact the association budget. Support your neighborhood, your condominium and your directors. Thank You.

Tranquility

There is a pleasure in the pathless woods,
There is a rapture on the lonely shore,
There is society, where none intrudes,
By the deep sea, and music in its roar:
I love not man the less, but Nature more.
~ George Gordon, Lord Byron
from 'Childe Harold's Pilgrimage'