May Newsletter 2008

Volume 1, Issue 3, By L. Seagren
Updates

With summer soon approaching, the club house has been de-winterized and is available for rentals. The use of the pool is not included in the rental. The pool was uncovered, Friday, May 16th, 2008 and had some minor repairs. We hope everyone enjoyed Memorial Day Weekend, as the pool is officially open for our enjoyment. Please be sure to familiarize yourself with the “State Rules” and “Association Rules” posted outside the pool.

As per unit owners request, the Bug Exterminators (FMG) were out again. Thank you, to our superintendent, Ed Donahue, for his expedient arrangements and for caulking in the carpenter bee holes. Speaking of Mr. Donahue, he has started to paint the back hall of Building One. Mr. Donahue will complete one hall per week for the next ten weeks. Please do not stop Ed while he is working and continue to send your work requests via email to riverviewcondoassociation@gmail.com or fill out the “MAINTENANCE WORK ORDER” form located in your common foyer, on the bulletin board. Place the form in the Supers mailbox, outside the clubhouse.



The power washing has started with Building Six and will continue clockwise around the circle until each building is completed. The power washing also includes the decks, bricks, and any bad spots around the pool area. For those of you that missed the “POWERWASHING” notice posted in your common area foyer, please read the following carefully…


EVERYTHING MUST BE TAKEN OFF YOUR DECK— GRILL, TABLES, CHAIRS, DECORATIONS, PLANTS, WIND CHIMES, BIRDFEEDERS, MATTS, AND ANY THING ELSE THAT MAY BE THERE.


LEAVE YOUR WINDOWS CLOSED DURING THE TIME YOUR BUILDING IS BEING WASHED. OBVIOUS SPRAY WILL SPOT YOUR WINDOWS— YOU COULD CLEAN THEM WHEN THEY ARE FINISHED SPRAYING.


THERE WILL BE A BIT OF NOISE AND POSSIBLE INCONVENIENCES DURING THE NEXT MONTH. KINDLY LEND YOUR NEIGHBORS A HAND TO HELP WITH THIS ‘HOME’ IMPROVEMENT.

New News
For those of you that are in need of a new water heater, consider a “Worry-Free Hot Water Heater Lease,” offered by the United Illuminating Company. The service starts at $12.50 a month, with no installation fees. Their toll-free number is 1-866-862-2978.



This rental from the UI includes:

• A high quality, energy-efficient electric hot water heater


• Installation and maintainance by UI with no repair fees or paperwork


• A tank that lasts up to three times longer than a typical glass-lined tank


• No up-front costs and one low monthly fee

The Board is investigating sidewalk repairs. So far we are leaning towards the idea of having the slanted or raised sections grinded down to a level walking plane. There will be a temporary discoloration where the grinding is done, however, in time it will blend in just fine.

Hooray, we are on the web-- riverviewcondo.blogspot.com. Newsletters will be posted there, so if you loose one, you could always revisit it online. If anyone has any ideas as to what they would like to see in our blog, that would benefit our community, please jot us a line with your suggestions. Also, if anyone would like to receive a paperless newsletter, let us know via email. However, keep in mind that the paperless come without the budget report.

Lisa Kolman has resigned from the board, as Secretary. If anyone is interested in filling this position please drop a line to the board.

April Newsletter 2008

Volume 1, Issue 2, By L. Seagren
Update on Old Business

Last year’s plantings and grass seeding weathered the snows well. And as Spring breaks out our landscaping efforts are blooming with pride. It’s a treat to see the Ornamental Pear Trees along our entryway and the cities main streets in bloom and filling out nicely. The newer grass feels lush and is greener than ever. With open arms, we welcome back our landscapers, for a consecutive year, as we have renewed Stan Higgs contract. The landscapers have started their Spring grooming and in the near future we will see the pruning of the shrubs.

The Boards monthly meeting was held Tuesday, April 22, 2008. An extensive set of major projects were discussed. In continuation of last month’s newsletter and meeting, we would like to update, all, on our improvements.

The two holes in the fence at the back of building six were mended. And the long stretch of fencing behind buildings four and five was straightened. The caulking of window frames and the re-nailing of loose boards has been completed. Our 1970’s, 40 foot, towering antenna that stood above our club house and pool area has been removed. However, its three metal prongs remained stuck in the cement. Therefore, as a creative solution, “Joe the Carpenter” crafted a boxed bench to not only cover the prongs, but to serve a functional purpose— we can sit and catch the rays or enjoy the pool views.

Speaking of “Joe the Carpenter,” his crew has finished with the Spring deck repairs. The Board will continue having him check the decks for rotted wood twice a year. The power washing will be starting in a few weeks now that the weather is cooperating. Preservative will be applied to each building followed by the painter who will paint the outside decks, steps, and doors.

In conclusion, the Board is delighted to see our residents using Riverview’s new e-mail address. Former Board Member, Dawn Kubie, met with Lisa Seagren, to assist her in setting up a FREE website for our community. Mrs. Seagren is working on the web page and hopes to have it up for all to view by next month. Thank you, Dawn, for the suggestions and a great cost efficient solution!

Springing in The New Business

Our Electrician, Jim Slatky, serviced each buildings breaker box by bringing them up to insurance and building compliance code. Jim will be back soon to fix the outside lights on buildings three and four.

Plumber, Jeremy Oliver, fixed the broken sewer pipe in building four and a backed up drain in building six. Jeremy reminds us to run lots of water for our garbage disposals. This will help maintain the drains.

The exterminator was here and applied a spray for insects and rodents. If anyone continues to have a bee problem, please call Ed at 543-4305 and he will help you make arrangements with the exterminator.

Once a year, in April, The Southern Connecticut Fire Extinguisher Company inspects all common area fire extinguishers. We happily report that each extinguisher has passed. The Board looked into a universal security system for each common area as a solution to the vagrant problem in building one. The Board of Directors voted that the cost of installing a security system is too much for our budget at this time. Unfortunately, as in every community, there are unforeseen concerns. At times like these we need to pull together— we are our neighbors keepers.

On that note, a simple reminder to be courteous to your neighbors. Now that the warmer weather is here be aware when sweeping your upper deck that the debris doesn’t fall below. And kudos to pet owners— keep on stooping and scooping.

Our pool company will be here next week to inspect the pools infrastructure and make any necessary repairs.

March Newsletter 2008

Volume 1, Issue 1 by L. Seagren

March 13th's Annual Meeting

The Annual Meeting of the Riverview Condominium Association was held Thursday, March 13th, 2008. Through the collected proxies, it was found that a quorum was present and voting could proceed. Thank you to all of you who took the time to attend this year's annual meeting. An additional thanks to those members who were unable to attend, but did however, take the time to send in their proxies. Without your efforts, a quorum would not have been possible.

Each board member serves a two year term. Ms. Aggie Lucas and Ms. Lisa Seagren had met the end of their terms. The two had decided to run for, and were elected to, another term of office. Congratulations to Ms. Lucas and Ms. Seagren on their reelection.

The improvement of the common area, specifically each building's foyer, was once again brought to the discussion table. At the close of discussion, the majority of unit owners voted upon and approved the board looking into various ways of handling the situation. And our superintendent, Ed Donahue, agreed to start painting the back part of the common area entry way, this Spring.

Another highlight of the meeting was the discussion of the exterior work that has just begun to take place. Recently, the roofs above each entrance way have been treated to prevent leaks. The building's damaged wood is currently being replaced, as well as the re-nailing of loose boards. In addition, the caulking of window frames, as needed, is being done. After our first assessment, it is pleasing to begin to see these monies manifest into practical and much needed improvements.

From here, the next order of business will be the power washing and application of a preservative to each building, followed by the painting of the decks and outdoor steps.

As the meeting came to an end, a couple of technology topics were mentioned. And one is now available, as Riveriew's present board has an e-mail address, riverviewcondoassociation@gmail.com

Each email sent to this address will be opened one week prior to each monthly meeting. There will be no immediate reply, as each e-mail will be printed out and presented to the board. After the board, collectively, goes over each e-mail a reply will be put into affect. Please understand that one Member of The Board cannot answer for the whole board. So be patient while waiting for our reply.

The second technology topic mentioned at the Annual Meeting was the possibility of designing a website for Riverview's Association. This will indeed cut back on the cost of printing, copying, and the time in distributing each newsletter, door-to-door. However, before the board pursues this task, we turn to you, it's residents and owners. If anyone is a web designer or knows of a friend who could do this for us, at a reasonable cost, please send us an email or write us a letter and put it in the Association's Mailbox. Add your phone number so that we could contact you. Thanks in advance!

Election of Officers

Subsequent to the Annual Meeting, the board holds yet another meeting. That is, the Election of Officers. This meeting was held Wednesday, March 19th, 2008. Ronald Kluger remains President, Beverly Salzman-- Vice President, Aggie Lucas-- Treasurer, Lisa Kolman-- Secretary, and Lisa Seagren is our Member at Large.

President Kluger addressed a couple of resident concerns before the election started. To begin, the fence in the back of building four needs to be fixed. In addition, the fence by building six has two holes that need mending. The board voted and agree to get this resolved as economically as possible.