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| SEPTEMBER, 2007 Emergency Procedures: Please be advised that emergencies are considered --- flood, no heat/no hot water. Call the Management Company’s emergency line, if it is before or after business hours or on the weekend and your call will be routed from our 24/7 answering service to the manager on call. Please wait a reasonable amount of time (15-20 minutes) for a call back. The on call person will contact the appropriate emergency personnel to come out prior to a return call (when possible), but the emergency line does not take the place of calling the fire and/or police department when required. Non-emergency calls called into the emergency line – such as telephone, electric or cable installations – are NOT considered emergencies and should be arranged during normal business hours, Monday through Friday. Calls that are not an emergency – car towing, pet or neighbor complaints, will not be returned until the next regular business day. Problems related to your unit’s interior, such as, but not limited to: electrical problems, your garage door not opening, bathroom/kitchen plumbing problems/leaks, slider and/or window repairs, etc., are a unit owner’s responsibility, please do not contact the Management Company regarding these matters, other than to ask for a recommendation for a vendor to use. In addition, for liability reasons, the Management Company does not maintain keys to the units, if you lock yourself out of your unit, please contact a locksmith or leave a spare set of keys with a neighbor in case of emergency. Requests to the Board of Directors: Requests for renovations to units must be submitted in writing to the Management Company along with details/drawing of the proposed renovations (please see your Welcome Package and/or the Rules and Regulations for Schooner Cove). The renovation request will be reviewed, discussed and voted upon at the next Board Meeting. Your request will be responded to in writing following the Board Meeting. Copies of your contractor’s insurance certificate and license must also be submitted with your request. Board Meetings are held on the third Tuesday of the month. Requests for Maintenance/Repairs Related to Common Areas (i.e. exterior stairs and walls, parking area, dumpster areas, etc.): Requests for maintenance and repairs should be called (faxed, emailed) in to the Management Company. Please note that there is not an on-site building maintenance person, therefore maintenance/repair requests are submitted by the Management Company to the necessary vendor for repair and are handled within an appropriate timeframe, depending on the urgency of the request and the availability of the vendor. Complaints: In order to be acted upon, any and all complaints (pet problems, noise issues, etc.) must be submitted in writing (by letter, fax or email) to the Management Company. Complaints should include the name and unit number of the offending unit, time of day/night the offense occurred and what the offense is. The complaint must be in reference to not abiding by the property’s Rules and Regulations. Please note that verbal/telephone complaints or complaints which are not considered as breaking a rule/regulation, cannot be acted upon. Preparing for the Cold -- Heat and Hot Water Problems: As we are sure you are aware, fuel costs have increased substantially, as a result, it is each and every unit owner’s responsibility to try to conserve fuel. As the temperatures continue to fall, we recommend the following in order to maintain a comfortable heat level in your unit throughout the winter months: • When you leave your unit or are traveling during the winter months, turn down the thermostat to 60-65 degrees to conserve heat. • Keep furniture, rugs, etc. at least 6 inches away from the radiators, so that heat can circulate. • Make sure your air conditioners are well covered, preferably with plastic or a thermal cover, and any air pockets on the sides of them have been filled. Install sealers behind your switch plates on exterior walls to minimize breeze. • Place plastic sheet covers over sliding glass doors and windows – specifically any windows facing west or north that get the most wind (you can purchase these at Home Depot and they are easily installed using tape and a hair dryer). Check rollers and adjust so sliders close properly, replace felt if needed. You may want to consider purchasing a thermal or insulated curtain for your sliding door(s) as opposed to verticals, which do not provide any warmth. You may want to consider replacing your original windows with new ones that provide better insulation from the cold. • Fireplace dampers should be kept closed when not in use and glass doors should be installed vs. using a screen. • For those units who seem to be experiencing a draft under the front doors, add a piece of weather stripping or a rolled up towel at the base of the door on the inside to minimize the draft. • Keep your garage doors fully closed when not in use and do not leave them open for extended periods of time, to avoid possible freezing of pipes located in the ceilings and to avoid excess cold air traveling into the units above. Check weather stripping at base of garage door to ensure it closes tightly to ground, replace if needed. The boilers will be up and running shortly for the season, so if you are experiencing a heat problem in just your unit (or in just one room) the plumber will need to come out and check your unit. Heat problems, including zone valve repairs, which are related solely to your unit, are a unit owner responsibility. For your plumbing needs, we recommend using, W.R. Johnson & Co. at 324-9571, as they are the chosen plumbing vendor for the property, please feel free to contact them directly. Trash and Recyclables: Please place all trash into dumpsters, not along the side of the dumpster housing. The city will only pick up trash that has been appropriately disposed of into the dumpsters. Any trash left outside of the dumpsters (this includes the area around the dumpster enclosure) will not be picked up. Unit Owners who leave trash outside of the dumpsters will be fined $50.00, as well as charged whatever additional fee that may be necessary to have this excess trash picked up. In the case of a holiday falling on a normal pickup day, the trash pick up will be on the next day. Please be courteous and if the nearest trash bin is full, please carry your trash over to another bin for disposal. Unit Owners who are moving or having renovations performed in their units must advise their contractors/movers that debris cannot be disposed of in the dumpsters, they must arrange for their contractor/mover to remove these items from the property and dispose of them elsewhere. There is to be no storing of debris or garbage on stair landings or in unit owner’s garages, this is a health hazard and offensive to the neighbors in adjoining garage area. Trash pickup is on Monday, Wednesday and Friday. Recyclables are to be placed in the blue recycle bins near building 3 and should be separated as noted on the containers – newspapers, bottles and cans. Plastic bags should be disposed of appropriately and not placed into the recycleable bins. Pizza boxes should be placed in trash – not in the recyclables. Also, please dispose of cigarette butts appropriately and do not toss them throughout the property. Common Storage Rooms: The storage areas located at the lower entry levels should be shared by the units in that section. These storage areas should be kept closed, but not locked as they may need to be accessed by service personnel. We recommend that you do not store any valuable items in this area. Please note that unit owners must coordinate among themselves to share this space, keep it tidy and organized, the Management Company does not handle issues related to the storage areas unless there is a problem such as a leak, or broken door. (As discussed at the Annual Meeting, these rooms and doors are going to be repaired/replaced in conjunction with the stair restoration project). Crawlspace Access Via Unit Owner Garages: Unit owners who have garages where crawlspace access hatches are located are reminded that the access hatch must be kept clear at all times as well as a clear path to reach the access hatch. Do not store or place any items over this hatch area and an appropriate pathway to reach the hatch is also necessary as service personnel must be able to access this area at all times. Any unit owner who does not maintain clear and proper access to the crawlspace area may be charged a fine imposed by the Board of Directors and also charged an additional fee if the association incurs expenses for moving of furniture, etc., by service personnel trying to enter the crawlspace area. Contractors performing work in individual units: PLEASE REFER TO THE MODIFICATIONS SECTION OF THE RULES AND REGULATIONS PRIOR TO MAKING ANY RENOVATIONS TO YOUR UNIT. All building contractors used by unit owners should be appropriately licensed in their respective trades, and insured. They must also carry Workman’s Compensation Insurance and Liability Insurance. Contractors should not begin working prior to 8:00 am and should be completed by 8:00 pm, Monday through Saturday. Please be courteous to your neighbors by asking your contractors, if possible, to do the majority of the “noisy” work during regular business hours, as opposed to the weekends/early mornings. Contracting work is not permitted on Sundays, unless pre-approved by the Board of Directors. Also, as noted previously, copies of your contractor’s insurance certificate and license must be provided to the management company prior to work beginning and request for renovation needs to be approved in advance of work being performed. ALL CONTRACTORS MAY UNLOAD IN FRONT OF UNITS (no more than 15 minutes) BUT MUST PARK IN VISITOR AREA OF THE LOT – THEY ARE NOT PERMITTED TO BE PARKED IN THE FIRE LANES OR TO BLOCK UNIT OWNER GARAGES. UNIT OWNERS MAY BE FINED FOR THEIR CONTRACTORS VIOLATIONS TO THE PARKING RULES AND REGULATIONS. Parking Rules and Regulations: The Parking Rules and Regulations are disbursed annually, please review for clarification of procedures. The registration form to register your vehicle can be obtained through the Management Company. Requests for new/change of vehicle parking stickers must be submitted via the parking registration form and faxed or mailed to the Management Company as noted at the bottom of the form. If you do not have a parking registration form, please contact our office and we will send/fax it to you. Our secretary will issue the new stickers and mail them to you. Please allow a few days for mailing of the new sticker (s), while awaiting your tags, please park in Visitor area and place a note in your front window stating “awaiting new stickers, do not tow”. Replacement fee for lost visitor stickers is $100 (payable to “Schooner Cove” and should be forwarded to the Management Company for processing). Parking violation tags – the Parking Attendant has official, pre-printed Schooner Cove parking violation tags (similar to the type of tag used by the Stamford Police Dept.) and it is used when a car is parked inappropriately, if your car receives any other type of handwritten note regarding inappropriate parking and it is not on this official form, it has not been issued by the parking attendant. Parking rules are strictly enforced, violators parked beyond building two mailboxes receive no warning for improper parking, it is an automatic tow. If your car should be towed, please note the numerous signs with the towing company’s name and number on it (Lone Star Towing – 327-4240) attached to the fences around the complex, (DO NOT CALL THE MANAGEMENT COMPANY) you will be responsible for picking up your vehicle and paying for the tow. If you feel you were towed inappropriately, you must submit a written complaint (after the tow) to the board via the Management Company with the details as to why you feel you should not have been towed. The complaint will be reviewed at the next monthly board meeting and you will be responded to in writing. Pets: As per the rules and regulations, only ONE pet per unit is permitted. Pets must be walked off property and must be scooped up after. All pets should be registered via the pet registration form in the property’s Welcome Packet. If your pet has not been registered or you have a new pet, please complete the form and return it to the Management Company. If you do not have a pet registration form, please contact our office and we will send/fax it to you. As a courtesy to dog owners, a doggie depot station for pooper scooping is installed near the emergency gate for your use. Smoke Alarm Detectors and Fire Alarm: Inoperative smoke alarm detectors can cause extensive and avoidable injury. Realistically, you should change your batteries at least twice a year, it’s easier to remember to do this when you change your clocks, so if you haven’t done so already – now would be a good time! Annual testing of the monitored fire alarm system in buildings one and four is done in the Fall. Chimney and Dryer Vent Cleaning: A major fire hazard if either of these areas are left unchecked and are not being cleaned and maintained properly, for your safety and the safety of your neighbors. We highly recommend that you clean your chimneys at least every other year and clean your dryer vents every two years to avoid the possibility of internal fires. Never leave your home with the fireplace burning or dryer running. Gas Grills/Propane Tanks: Unit Owners are reminded that propane tanks on your gas grills should not be more than 10 years old. They must be disposed of properly (at the Stamford Dump) and replaced with a new one. Please do not leave them in or around dumpsters as this can be highly dangerous and against the law. You are also reminded that grills must be at least one foot away from exterior walls, so that when raised, the hoods to the grills do not touch exterior walls as they can severely damage/melt the dryvit exterior. Any grills melting the dryvit walls and said unit owner will be responsible for repair. Charcoal grills are not permitted on the property. Let it Snow, Let it Snow, Let it Snow: Though the snow plowers arrive early and have kept the parking areas in good shape, it is important that each one of us practices good judgment when it snows. • Be courteous to your neighbor. Keep your speed low (regardless of whether you have a 4-wheel drive vehicle or not). THE SPEED LIMIT ON THE PROPERTY IS 5 MPH. • Please give the snow plowers ample time to clean the lot and then the stairs. Stairs are not done until the storm ends. If you notice that there is an area that has not been cleared appropriately, and the snow plowers have already left the property, please call the Management Company, advise them as to where the problem area is and they will contact the snow plower directly. • Since there is an abundance of snow calls, the Management Company is not expected to return calls back to the unit owner, but to just dispatch the appropriate vendor to get the clean up accomplished. • Be patient – it takes time to clear the lot and steps appropriately. Shoveling of steps is not done until the snow storm is over. • Park in your garages (if applicable) and/or in appropriate parking areas to allow the trucks to get in and out easily. • Although we expect that the snow plower will have cleaned off your stairs and walkway as early as possible, but may not depending on the time the snow fall ends, if you must step out into the snow/ice, please be cautious and careful. • Sand buckets with scoopers will be placed near the dumpster areas so that unit owners may toss out extra sand if they have an icy spot near their car/unit. You may also want to keep a small bucket of your own by your door or steps for your personal use. • Outside Decks and Terraces - It is the resident’s responsibility to sweep the snow off your respective decks (as well as any leaf debris) attached to your units. Build up of snow and ice on these decks will cause eventual water damage as the snow/ice melts and can possibly seep into your unit’s ceilings and walls (or your neighbor’s). As you know, unit owners are responsible for any damage they may cause to another unit or to the common elements – so please keep the decks cleared off. Resident Non-Owners/Tenants: All of the rules and regulations governing owners apply fully to resident non-owners. However, like any landlord-tenant relationship, the landlord is the owner of the unit, not the Association. Therefore, the tenants should not be contacting the Management Company (nor the Board of Directors) with their issues/problems, they must contact their landlord, who in turn should contact the Management Company when and if necessary. Landlords should provide a copy of the Schooner Cove Rules and Regulations (as well as a copy of the Welcome Package) to their tenants for information purposes only. Unit Owners are responsible for the actions of their tenants. Traveling and/or Leaving your Unit Empty for Long Periods of Time: When you are traveling for extended periods of time, your unit should be inspected by someone you know or a keyholder service, at least once a week to ensure that there are no problems, leaks, etc. Not only will this give you peace of mind, but will help keep the Association appraised of any needed repairs. Other recommended vendors who can be contacted for your personal needs: • Appliance Repair – Sabini Appliances 324-6109 • Carpet Cleaning – Americlean 203-460-2328 Ideal Carpeting 966-1703 • Chimney Cleaning – O’Connell 329-1245 Chimney Corners – 853-2003 • Duct and Vent Cleaning – Duct Clean 380-0191 Duct & Vent Cleaning of Amer. 800-442-8368 • Exterminating – ABC 866-1233 All County 327-0259 • Electricians – DeMartino Electric – 322-8820 Mark Ballard – 847-8007 • Glass, Mirrors, Shower enclosures – Affordable Glass – 967-2013 • Interior Painting – Hoffman Contracting 966-1919 Hycliff Painting 329-8699 • Locksmith – CR Lock – 348-5975 • Window Replacements – Metro Windows – 914-804-0800 AES – 324-6699 • Window Screen replacements – J&J Windows 322-3699 B&B Screen 348-7924 • Window Washing – Westport Window Washing 226-1313 Squeaky Clean 918-6074 Contacting the Management Company: Property Manager – Jackie Moccia, The Property Group, 25 Crescent Street, Stamford, CT 06906 – phone (203) 967-8337 x103, fax (203) 967-2012 or email – jmoccia@thepropertygroup.net, assistant is Tricia Craig on ext. 125. Questions regarding your account should be directed to the bookkeeper, Ellen Flink x166. Monthly checks for common charges are due on the first of the month and should be made payable to the property. Monthly statements will be provided a week prior to the due date to ensure timely payments as payments arriving after the 15th of the month will incur a late fee. The “after hours/weekend” emergency number (in case of flood, fire, no heat/hot water) is 967- 8337 x300. Please note: That neither the Board nor the Management Company is recommending nor receiving any gratuities for mentioning any of the service companies that may be listed herewith. They are just one of many service companies in the area that you may find suitable for your needs, whomever you use as a vendor is your decision, we are just providing you with information for your convenience. |