Change of Officers
On June 26, 2023 Susan Franke, under contract to sell her home, resigned from the Board of Governors of the Association, from her position as Secretary of that body and from her position as Clerk of the Pond Place Tax District. Many thanks for her assistance to the community over the past several years. At its July 27th meetings Judy Larkin of 9 Jay Court was elected to fill the unexpired portions of Susan Franke’s terms. Welcome Judy!
Tree Removal
In late July McLellan Tree Service removed another 25+ dead trees (many small) in the Route 44 gate area and in the wood strips along the western and southern tree belts along the pond.
Pickleball Public Comment
The FY 23-24 Tax District budget includes funds to refurbish our tennis court. Members of the community have approached the Board requesting the court be simultaneously striped for pickleball. Others have voiced concerns about duel use of the court. Our general counsel, Attorney Gregory McCrackin, has advised the Board that it may permit duel use and may adopt, after public hearing, rules regarding court usage. The Board held a poorly attended public comment session via Zoom on June 29, 2023 on the issue with a majority of the small number of non-board participants favoring pickleball use. The Survey Monkey earlier this month had a total number of 78 respondents: 62 were in favor of duel striping and 16 opposed. Of the 78 respondents, 46 indicated they would use the court to play pickleball if it were duel striped and 32 said they would not play pickleball. The Board voted unanimously to accept the proposal from Hinding Tennis Courts, LLC of West Haven to proceed with the refurbishment. A Several Board members want to visit the Town of Avon courts to watch and listen to pickleball being played. The Board will take up the matter of duel use at its August meeting.
Common Area Maintenance & Improvements
At its July 27th meeting the Board approved a proposal from Kas Mersini Masonry to replace the common portion of the walkway serving 4,5 and 6 Owl Court and a proposal from White & Katzman Maintenance Division to build a bench in the location of the old school bus stop.
Privacy Fence
As you likely noticed, demolition of the old Dakota structure is underway to make way for a new Firestone auto repair facility. As a condition of approval of its site plan, the developer will be erecting an 8’ high gray vinyl fence along its boundary with Pond Place which runs behind Edgewood and Finch Run.
FY 2021-22 Audit
Our long time auditors, King & King, CPAs of Winsted and Simsbury, have completed their audit of both the Tax District and the Association for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2022. Christopher King will present their work and findings at the August 24, 2023 Board meetings and the audit reports will themselves be posted on the Pond Place website.
Stubb Pond Matters
The third seasonal treatment of Stubb Pond with DEEP approved algaecides and herbicides by Life, Inc. is scheduled for August 2, 2023. Due to shallowness, siltation and rising annual water temperatures the pond has been beset by high concentrations of aquatic weeds and algae. Residents will receive notification in advance by either e-mail or delivery of paper notices for those who do not have e-mail addresses on file with our management company.
Board Meetings
The next meetings of the Pond Place Tax District and Pond Place Association, Inc. Boards will be held on August 24, 2023 at 6:30 P.M via Zoom. All owners and residents may attend the meetings and are invited to make comments. Hyperlinks and instructions for participation will be posted on our website www.pondplace.org the day of the meeting. White & Katzman may also send hyperlinks to the Zoom meeting via electronic mail for those who have e-addresses on file.
The Board of Northington Meadow, Inc., which holds title to the Stub Pond parcel, and which is composed entirely now of the members of the Pond Place Association, Inc. Board of Governors, will be holding public meetings transacting Stub Pond business and reporting to the community during the regular Pond Place Association, Inc. meetings to provide more openness and inclusion.
Building Guide Revisions
Members of the Boards and the Design Review Committee have been working to update, expand and improve the Pond Place Building Guide. The Guide revisions are now complete and the final draft will be circulated to the community during August and will be put before the Board for a vote at its August 24th meeting.
Spring Inspections & Enforcement
Mike Montgomery and Lauren Pizzoferrato from White & Katzman have completed their Spring 2023 inspections and violation notices have been remitted. Please do your part to help keep the community in good repair and attractive. As a reminder white & off whites for aesthetic reasons are prohibited for any exterior purpose whatsoever. Homeowners in violation of this rule will expect to bring their properties into compliance this summer. If you received written permission from CM Property Management for a white or off white color application or for installation of a white fixture, the Board may, depending on the circumstances, delay or defer enforcement. If you purchased your house during the last few years and when you purchased it something on it was white, and it was not noted as a violation or discrepancy on your Resale Certificate, the Board may, depending on the circumstances, delay or defer enforcement. All others will be expected to re-stain their white or off white trim, garage doors and doors with a DRC approved color. White windows, weatherstripping, drip edge, molding, garage weatherstripping will need either to be spray painted black or brown or be replaced.
Land Maintenance Rule
Homeowners are reminded that the Pond Place Declaration provides in Article VI Section 1 C of the Declaration: “Dwellings and the Land shall be kept in a neat attractive manner and kept in good repair.” Land refers to Exclusive Use Areas including those which encroach on buffer areas. The Board with one abstention codified this passage as a rule on October 25, 2021 and it will be enforced. Homeowners are expected to keep their lawns mowed, weeds in check and their properties in good order. Owners who have tenants should understand that delegating these maintenance obligations to tenants will not excuse compliance or remission of fines in the event of non-compliance by tenants.
Service Line Maintenance Responsibility
The Board recently requested guidance from the Association’s attorney on maintenance and repair responsibility for water, sewer and gas pipes outside of a dwelling unit or other structure. His written opinion of counsel is posted elsewhere on the Pond Place website. I will summarize it as follows: Homeowners are responsible for the maintenance and repair of water and sewer pipes that exclusively serve their dwelling unit. The Pond Place Association, Inc. and Tax District are responsible for those which serve multiple dwellings. CNG currently retains full responsibility for gas pipes that extend from the foundation of dwellings outward. Homeowners are urged to obtain an indorsement to their HO3 or HO5 homeowner’s insurance policy for “service line coverage”. Most insurance companies offer this endorsement for a small additional annual premium. Outside pipe breaks or ruptures can be very expensive to repair. Do yourself a favor and acquire such a rider or endorsement. The Board has been unable to obtain coverage for all exterior service line pipes in Pond Place but will continue to endeavor to do so.
Prohibition on Feeding of Roaming & Feral Animals
The Board enacted a new rule on September 27, 2021 prohibiting the leaving outside of food for feral and roaming animals as follows: “For purposes of health and safety, no member of the Association, members of his or her household, his or her tenants or residents of the Tax District shall leave any food outside the confines of a dwelling unit or in an open garage or shed which may attract or be consumed by bears, coyotes, coydogs, bobcats, skunks, possums, raccoons, roaming dogs or roaming cats. Violations shall be punishable by fine.”
Speed Limit
Kindly respect the 20 MPH speed limit on all Pond Place roads for everyone’s safety, including pets.
Trash Barrels
There has been improving compliance with our trash and recycling barrel rules. Residents are reminded that trash and recyclable barrels must be kept in the garages or sheds except on the night before (currently Tuesday nights) or the day of (currently Wednesdays) pickup. Those who do not have garages or sheds are expected to place their barrels out of public view. It is not acceptable for those with garages or sheds to store their barrels outside. Please comply and help to keep the community sightly. Except for a handful of residents, the community is in compliance with these rules. Habitual violators will be subject to fines for non compliance.
Those members who opted out in writing last year from community wide trash and recyclables service through Paine’s will be treated automatically as continuing their opt out without further action on their part. Members who purchased after 6/30/2021 or previously failed to opt out are NOT eligible to opt out in the future. Those who wish to receive service should contact Mike Montgomery or Lauren Pizzoferrato at White & Katzman, not Paine’s.
Design Review Committee
Owners and residents are cautioned that virtually any change to the exterior of a dwelling, garage or shed, including re-staining, requires written prior approval of the Design Review Committee. The Exterior Modification application form is available at www.pondplace.org .Those who have applications pending are advised that the committee has been reviewing and voting on applications electronically to expedite processing. Association members are urged to read the Pond Place Building Guide carefully to assure that they have submitted all necessary information and documentation required. It has been my experience many do not do so which will cause delays in approval. Insurance documentation is only needed if the Committee so requires after their review of the application. Color approvals now require submission of swatches. Most modifications of the exterior of your dwelling, garage or shed require prior approval of the Design Review Committee. You act at your peril if you execute an exterior modification without prior approval. Applications and correspondence should be sent to White & Katzman by uploading through the PILERA platform or by e-mail or snail mail to the attention of our manager, Michael Montgomery.
Residents or owners are welcome to contact me with issues, complaints, concerns or for guidance. Best wishes to all for a happy and healthy Spring.
Christopher J. Rossetti
(860) 678-0889
Management Contact Information:
POND PLACE PROPERTY MANAGER
Mr. Michael Montgomery
Managing Agent
P: 860.291.8777 x107
E: Mikem@wkmanage.com
POND PLACE ADMINISTRATIVE TEAM
Ms. Lauren Pizzoferrato
Assistant Property Manager
P: 860.291.8777 x122
E: Laurenp@wkmanage.com
POND PLACE ACCOUNTING TEAM
Ms. Cheyna Fortson
Accounts Receivable
P: 860.291.8777 x128
E: cheyna@wkmanage.com
Reminders
Trash & Recyclables pick-up: Paine’s picks up trash on Wednesdays weekly and recyclables on Wednesdays bi-weekly on their B-Week schedule with one day delays for certain specified holidays: Memorial Day, 4th of July, Labor Day and Thanksgiving during 2023. The schedule is posted on www.pondplace.org Your barrels need to be on the curb by 6:00 AM on Wednesday mornings and should be returned to their sheds or garages before sunrise the day after. Should new residents or owners wish smaller or larger barrels than those inherited from the prior owner or tenant they should contact White & Katzman, not Paine’s. Likewise any requests for special pick-ups or complaints regarding non pick-ups should be routed through White & Katzman.
Persons who have fallen into arrears on their obligations to the Pond Place Association or the Pond Place Tax District are reminded their delinquent amounts will be carrying a high rate of interest. It is in their best interest to get these arrearages paid off.
Unpaid FY 21-22 dues and taxes are now DELINQUENT and are being turned over for collection.
Unpaid FY 22-23 Dues to the Association are now DELINQUENT and are being turned over for collection.
FY 23-24 Taxes to the Tax District are due in two installments, the first half (like town taxes) on July 1st, 2023 and the second half on January 1st, 2024. Taxes become delinquent if not paid by the 31st of the month in which they are due and will carry retroactive interest at 1 ½% per month (18% per annum) until paid; these unpaid taxes are now DELINQUENT and are being turned over for collection.
Your land lease payment (if you have not already paid your lease off) is due in the amount of $50 on the 1st of every month. Those who are not delinquent may prepay an entire year in the amount of $519.11 and take advantage of a significant savings.
Land Leases in arrears on July 1, 2022 will carry retroactive interest at 3% from the date of delinquency with respect to all delinquent payments from due date. Those more than 12 months delinquent will be referred to the Association’s attorneys for legal collection.
Taxes in arrears are currently carrying a rate of 1.5% per month retroactive to the date of delinquencies. Those 75 days or more delinquent will be referred to the Tax District’s attorneys for legal collection.
Delinquent Association obligations carry interest at the rate of 12% per annum from date of delinquency. Those more than 75 days delinquent will be referred to the Association’s attorneys for legal collection.
