Sorry for not being in touch but work travels have kept me busy but you all have not been forgotten. There has been much activity since my last posting.
Why pray tell must one go on an investigative expedition to find out when the next Board Meeting is? The March edition of The Colonies Crier had the March 13 Board Meeting date conveniently buried in the Calendar located on the next to last page vs. publishing it on the front page. Noticeably The Council of Co-Owners of the Colonies Condominium at McLean had absolutely NO issues with listing the date of the Annual Meeting (headline: Countdown to The Elections) at the top of the center column on page 1. Of course the esteemed Council of Co-Owners of Co-Owners of The Colonies Condominium at McLean (publishers of The Colonies Crier) would list the upcoming election and Annual Meeting information literally front and center so all of us co-owners will re-elect the existing quacks to the Board (one person up for re-election is Treasurer Kelleher who works part-time in The Colonies Management office; an EXTREME CONFLICT OF INTEREST observed by the average individual with an IQ above 10 (medium idiot/feeble-mindedness level)). Funnily enough, the March 13, 2013 Board Meeting is also not listed on the Upcoming Events schedule posted throughout The Colonies (it would have been completely practical to have made the Daylight Savings Time graphics smaller to accommodate a line to add the Board Meeting). It is glaringly apparent Management and the Board of Directors would rather have the lowest possible turnout of co-owners at Board Meetings so they are not held accountable for anything! Dates of Board Meetings should be publicly posted at least 3 weeks prior to the Meeting so co-owners are informed and can make scheduling arrangements to attend vs. seeing the Agenda posted the Friday before.
The battle of pet waste throughout The Colonies property continues. Several points were brought up in recent Colonies Connection postings. However what are the pet registration fees used for? Would the availability of litter bag dispensers with each pet waste receptacle located throughout the property combat this problem? No reason pet registration fees could not be used for that AND supplying the bags (buying the bags in bulk would be nominal).
The January 27, 2013 $0.02 increase in postage to $0.46 per first class postage stamp further raises the monthly expense absorbed by all co-owners since Management refuses to cease mailing the monthly statements to all co-owners. The most recent Board Meeting was a joke covering this topic as excuse given by (too) LONG-TERM Board Member Levin (a perfect example as to why Board Member term limits need to be implemented ASAP) was our low delinquency rate is attributed to the statements being mailed monthly. Many of the Board Agenda topics are decided before the Board Meeting convenes. Sending a survey was suggested a proposed form was supplied that was created and suggested it be mailed in the Annual Meeting package. Giving co-owners 6 months notice or even saying the mailing of monthly statements will cease with December 2013's statement would be plenty of time. Postage costs relating to the mailing of monthly statements are as follows (the 418 units is accounting for co-owners with multiple units and the 2 units owned by The Council of Co-Owners):
Other postings of late have been concerning the implementation of the greater Tysons area being also allocated as a separate tax district (The Tysons Tax District did pass at the County and State level). Many co-owners did express their comments and took action by writing to Fairfax County Board of Supervisor members and Delegates opposing the tax. Interestingly enough The Colonies Crier did not mention it in their March edition.
In closing, fellow co-owners, we cannot seem to fight the tax but we can unite to deal with the poor Management and our Board. You do not have to vote them in and can write people in who my not be running officially (last year 3 people had votes by write-in; 2 of which had run in the 2011 election by petition).
Why pray tell must one go on an investigative expedition to find out when the next Board Meeting is? The March edition of The Colonies Crier had the March 13 Board Meeting date conveniently buried in the Calendar located on the next to last page vs. publishing it on the front page. Noticeably The Council of Co-Owners of the Colonies Condominium at McLean had absolutely NO issues with listing the date of the Annual Meeting (headline: Countdown to The Elections) at the top of the center column on page 1. Of course the esteemed Council of Co-Owners of Co-Owners of The Colonies Condominium at McLean (publishers of The Colonies Crier) would list the upcoming election and Annual Meeting information literally front and center so all of us co-owners will re-elect the existing quacks to the Board (one person up for re-election is Treasurer Kelleher who works part-time in The Colonies Management office; an EXTREME CONFLICT OF INTEREST observed by the average individual with an IQ above 10 (medium idiot/feeble-mindedness level)). Funnily enough, the March 13, 2013 Board Meeting is also not listed on the Upcoming Events schedule posted throughout The Colonies (it would have been completely practical to have made the Daylight Savings Time graphics smaller to accommodate a line to add the Board Meeting). It is glaringly apparent Management and the Board of Directors would rather have the lowest possible turnout of co-owners at Board Meetings so they are not held accountable for anything! Dates of Board Meetings should be publicly posted at least 3 weeks prior to the Meeting so co-owners are informed and can make scheduling arrangements to attend vs. seeing the Agenda posted the Friday before.
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| Colonies February-March 2013 Events |
The battle of pet waste throughout The Colonies property continues. Several points were brought up in recent Colonies Connection postings. However what are the pet registration fees used for? Would the availability of litter bag dispensers with each pet waste receptacle located throughout the property combat this problem? No reason pet registration fees could not be used for that AND supplying the bags (buying the bags in bulk would be nominal).
The January 27, 2013 $0.02 increase in postage to $0.46 per first class postage stamp further raises the monthly expense absorbed by all co-owners since Management refuses to cease mailing the monthly statements to all co-owners. The most recent Board Meeting was a joke covering this topic as excuse given by (too) LONG-TERM Board Member Levin (a perfect example as to why Board Member term limits need to be implemented ASAP) was our low delinquency rate is attributed to the statements being mailed monthly. Many of the Board Agenda topics are decided before the Board Meeting convenes. Sending a survey was suggested a proposed form was supplied that was created and suggested it be mailed in the Annual Meeting package. Giving co-owners 6 months notice or even saying the mailing of monthly statements will cease with December 2013's statement would be plenty of time. Postage costs relating to the mailing of monthly statements are as follows (the 418 units is accounting for co-owners with multiple units and the 2 units owned by The Council of Co-Owners):
Postage Rates
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| Pre
01/27/2013 $0.44 |
Current Rate $0.46 |
Annual Amount (based on current $0.46 rate) | |
| 459 Units (Total) | $ 201.96 | $ 211.14 | $ 2,533.68 |
| 418 Units | $ 183.92 | $ 192.28 | $ 2,307.36 |
In closing, fellow co-owners, we cannot seem to fight the tax but we can unite to deal with the poor Management and our Board. You do not have to vote them in and can write people in who my not be running officially (last year 3 people had votes by write-in; 2 of which had run in the 2011 election by petition).
