Quorum Still Not Reached – Please Vote Today
December 17, 2008
Dear Homeowners:
On November 18, 2008, we mailed you a 2nd notice requesting that you forward a Proxy Ballot to us by December 15, 2008 in order to elect two (2) new Board Members. As of this date, we have not received your proxy ballot back.
There are three (3) homeowners running in the election to be elected to two open positions. We are, once again requesting that you vote for the two candidates who you feel would best be suited to run our Association for the next three (3) years.
By you voting, you will elect the people who you feel will best determine the budget for the next three years, as well as policies and maintenance to our property that effects everyone of our owners, and our property values, in these very difficult economic times.
We cannot urge you enough to take the time to cast your vote and return your ballot back to our Managing Agent by no later than December 31, 2008. Please be a responsible homeowner and vote.
Very truly yours,
Board of Trustees
Riverbend Townhouse Owners Association
Enclosures (vote proxy)
Administrator’s note – The candidate resumes that were included in the Board mailing are omitted from this public forum, as usual, to protect candidate privacy.
Recycling
| 8 January 2009 | ||
| 8:00 am | to | 10:00 am |
| 22 January 2009 | ||
| 8:00 am | to | 10:00 am |
| 5 February 2009 | ||
| 8:00 am | to | 10:00 am |
| 19 February 2009 | ||
| 8:00 am | to | 10:00 am |
| 5 March 2009 | ||
| 8:00 am | to | 10:00 am |
| 19 March 2009 | ||
| 8:00 am | to | 10:00 am |
| 2 April 2009 | ||
| 8:00 am | to | 10:00 am |
| 16 April 2009 | ||
| 8:00 am | to | 10:00 am |
| 30 April 2009 | ||
| 8:00 am | to | 10:00 am |
| 14 May 2009 | ||
| 8:00 am | to | 10:00 am |
| 28 May 2009 | ||
| 8:00 am | to | 10:00 am |
| 11 June 2009 | ||
| 8:00 am | to | 10:00 am |
| 25 June 2009 | ||
| 8:00 am | to | 10:00 am |
| 9 July 2009 | ||
| 8:00 am | to | 10:00 am |
| 23 July 2009 | ||
| 8:00 am | to | 10:00 am |
| 6 August 2009 | ||
| 8:00 am | to | 10:00 am |
| 20 August 2009 | ||
| 8:00 am | to | 10:00 am |
| 3 September 2009 | ||
| 8:00 am | to | 10:00 am |
| 17 September 2009 | ||
| 8:00 am | to | 10:00 am |
| 1 October 2009 | ||
| 8:00 am | to | 10:00 am |
| 15 October 2009 | ||
| 8:00 am | to | 10:00 am |
| 29 October 2009 | ||
| 8:00 am | to | 10:00 am |
| 12 November 2009 | ||
| 8:00 am | to | 10:00 am |
| 27 November 2009 | ||
| 8:00 am | to | 10:00 am |
| 10 December 2009 | ||
| 8:00 am | to | 10:00 am |
| 24 December 2009 | ||
| 8:00 am | to | 10:00 am |
There is a recycling pickup today.
The pickups of plastic, glass, newspapers, and cardboard usually occur between 8 AM and 10 AM on alternating Thursdays. See the North Brunswick Township site for the full schedule. Riverbend is in Zone 3.
Please note that the recycling pickups near the Thanksgiving holiday hasbeen adjusted to accommodate the holiday. The reminder here has been updated to reflect the change.
As of October 2007, North Brunswick’s recycling materials were picked up by Central Jersey Waste and Recycling, Inc. of Trenton, NJ. You can reach them at 609-656-4200.
Learn more about Middlesex County’s Solid Waste Management programs, including the schedule for Household Hazardous Waste Days.
Please be a responsible citizen and recycle!
Trash Pickup Rescheduled
According to a notice posted to the North Brunswick Township site, the trash pickup which would normally occur on Thursday (Christmas Day) has been rescheduled.
Maybe it’s me, but I found the notice confusing. I’m pretty sure that we are not an automated collection, so that would mean we’ve been rescheduled to Monday the 29th. But that’s a normal pickup day. Go see the notice for yourself (the link may have a limited lifetime). Personally, I’m going to make sure I’m ready for Wednesday.
For the sake of completeness, the recycling pickup is clearly rescheduled to Friday the 26th – we are zone 3. The change is already noted in our on-site calendar.
Site News
There was a brief period of instability this morning as our software was upgraded to version 2.7. During post-upgrade testing it became evident that the calendar and event code needed some work as well. Please tell me if you notice anything amiss.
North Brunswick has published the 2009 Recycling Schedule and those events have been added to our on-site calendar. Did you know that you can subscribe to our calendar and receive event notification right in your RSS feed?
Winter Maintenance & Snow Removal Update
Executive Property Management
As we approach the winter season we would like to take a moment to briefly explain the snow clearing service, preventative maintenance/safety measures and cooperation needed from you during this season to make the upcoming winter as trouble free as possible.
A. SNOW CLEARING SERVICE
The service provides for clearance of roads, empty parking stalls and sidewalks in the priority sequence listed above. Except under extreme conditions, the roads will be reasonably cleared by 6:30 a.m. to allow for people to go to work.
A common problem we are always faced with, is the fact that cars are not moved from roadways and parking stalls at the time the contractor is performing the snow clearance. This not only hinders and limits the contractor from performing an effective clean-up, but also exposes the vehicles to potential damage. We urge you to anticipate snowfalls by taking the following precautionary measures:
- Keep cars parked off the main roadways, park in parking stalls. Use your garage to park your car in.
- Park cars facing front forward to ensure easy getaway.
- Move cars from parking stalls as soon as roadways have been cleared, to an area which least obstructs the snow contractor’s performance.
- Do not go out in the severe winter weather unless you absolutely have to. Wait until the clearing has been done in your area. Take some responsibility for your own safety by being cautious during the winter weather.
Any cars that are not moved at the time the contractor is clearing an area, will not be cleared after-the-fact by the contractor. If there are areas which may have been overlooked by the contractor, we would appreciate your immediately calling Executive Property Management’s main office number at (732) 821-3224 to report this information. Please remember that the contractor starts at one end of the community and ends at the other. Someone has to be first and someone has to be last. The contractor will alternate the starting position. Please do not direct the contractor, they cannot leave an area to assist someone else in the complex. They will get to you.
B. PREVENTATIVE MAINTENANCE/SAFETY MEASURES
- All outside spigots should be winterized by shutting off the inside valve and draining all the remaining water from the outside in order to prevent freezing during the winter. The outside valves should then be left open during the winter. You may want to have the line blown out with air pressure.
Homeowners are responsible for any damage caused by their own individual plumbing. Even though the faucet is located outside, it is still the homeowner’s responsibility.
- Heating systems should be checked by a qualified serviceman. Replace heating filters and check the condition of your hot water heaters. If rusted, it could leak and cause a lot of damage.
- Have your fireplace and chimneys checked and cleaned by a qualified chimneysweeper.
- Check the charge of fire extinguishers and the operation of smoke detectors. Remember to replace the batteries at least twice a year.
- Review family fire prevention and escape plans.
- Remember to leave your heat on, if you plan to go away for any length of time, to prevent frozen pipes and water damage. The heat should be left at 60 degrees.
- Always turn off the water supplies to your washing machine when not being used. Check your washing machine hoses for signs of wear.
- You should have a carbon monoxide detector installed on each floor of your home.
C. SHOWERS AND BATH TUBS
Homeowners may notice leaks evident in their first floor ceilings which could be coming from their shower stalls and bath tubs. As water can travel down or across a beam, the leak does not always show up directly under your bathroom areas. Standard maintenance for all homeowners (whether you live in a single family home or condo) requires annual caulking and re-grouting of bath tubs and tile walls and/or floors in your bathroom areas. This is a simple maintenance procedure and very inexpensive as the materials needed can be purchased at any local home improvement store.
It is suggested, all homeowners re-caulk their bath tubs where the tile wall meets the top of the tub once per year. This prevents water from getting between the tub and tile and seeping through the wall board.
Loose or deteriorating grout is another opportunity for water to soak through the wall board. When the shower is running for 10-20 minutes and beating against an open area in the grout, leaks are inevitable. The toilet seal should also be checked annually.
D. SAFETY TIPS FOR FIREPLACE USE
Local fire departments encourage the following common sense guidelines:
- Before you light your fireplace for the first time, particularly in a house that is new to you, be sure your chimney is operational. If you’re not sure, have it inspected by a professional.
- Always open the damper before starting a fire and leave it open while the fire is burning or embers are still hot.
- Pre-heat your chimney by holding two or three lit pages of rolled up newspaper in the damper region for 10 to 15 seconds.
- Never try to build a large fire in a fireplace that is new to you. Start with one or two small logs and add more logs if desired once the fire is burning adequately.
- Burn only hardwood – fruit trees (cherry, apple, etc.) hickory oak or maple. All wood should be seasoned for one year. Do not burn soft woods as they are loaded with tars and resins that can cause a chimney fire. Use commercial fireplace logs sparingly. It is a good rule of thumb not to burn pine, fir, treated wood or trash.
- Always use a metal grate to support the fire and allow ashes to build up one or two inches below. Ashes will create a bed of hot embers that will reflect back on the wood.
- Never throw Christmas wreaths, fancy wrapping paper or pizza boxes into the fire. The impact can create a surge of fire that will leap out or up and cause a chimney fire.
- When burning a fire, try to keep the wood close to the rear wall but not against it. An air space should be left on all sides of wood.
- Never skimp on kindling when building a fire. You need a small amount of paper to set off the kindling, but you need a large amount of kindling to achieve a good fire.
- Always keep the fireplace screen closed while a fire is burning.
- When stacking wood for fireplace use, it should always be stacked to provide air circulation. Place in a hoop or on a pallet and stack the wood away from the building.
- The damper must be closed when the fire is out and embers are cold. This will prevent heat loss from the home.
- A fireplace receiving regular use should be inspected and cleaned annually.
E. PREPARING HOMES FOR WINTER
- Be sure to shut off and drain all outside spigots.
- If your home is left unoccupied with the water on, please maintain adequate heat to prevent pipes from freezing. This is especially true if you are on vacation, while back in New Jersey, the temperature hovers around zero. It is helpful to leave doors between rooms open, as well as doors to cabinets and closets that house pipes, so the interior air can circulate freely. It is also suggested that a faucet be left open to drip slowly – this will prevent your pipes from freezing.
- If vacating your home for the season, it is recommended that it be winterized to protect plumbing from freezing. This involves shutting off your home’s main water valve, draining the pipes and water heater (turn off the gas to the heater, too) and the toilets and dishwasher as well as leaving faucets open, and pouring some antifreeze into waste traps and toilet bowls. A plumber can perform this service for you.
- Whether winterized or not, homes must keep a low setting of heat on 60 degrees since the water main for a building can pass through each unit in that building. Either set your heat to a reasonable temperature, while you are away or winterize your home. Burst pipes caused by lack of heat are not the responsibility of the association. It is each homeowner’s responsibility to maintain their heat to prevent such occurrences.
F. GOING ON A TRIP? – SNOWBIRDS
If you are planning to be away from your home for longer than a couple of days, we recommend that you arrange for someone to have a key to your home so that it can be checked regularly – once a week is a good idea. That way, any problems that develop – water leaks, burst pipes, heating system malfunction, pilot light out, etc. – will be discovered as quickly as possible and the damage will be minimized.
Do not turn your heat off! Even if you don’t expect to be away during the coldest part of the winter, unexpected cold spells do occur. Leaving your heat on, with the thermostat turned to a low setting of 60 degrees, will help avoid frozen pipes and the resultant water damage.
If you are going to be away for the winter, we recommend having the plumbing winterized. The management company can give you some suggestions for contractors who can perform this.
G. IN CASE OF A PIPE BREAK OR FLOODING
- Know where your home’s shut-off valve is located. (Most homes can turn off all their water with a valve located under the kitchen sink).
- Contact neighbors who might be the source of the leak or those who might be affected by the leak. Call management.
- If the problem stems from your plumbing, call a plumber.
- Remove contents from the area of flooding.
- Mop up (or wet vac) water on the floor.
- If there is water in the ceiling, pierce a nail hole through the sheetrock to allow the water to escape into a bucket placed below. (To prevent splashing, tack a piece of string next to the hole long enough to reach the bucket; if done properly, the water should “ride” down the string).
Riverbend Snow Removal Service
November 2008
For the benefit of new residents in the community, below is an explanation of the snow removal services that have been contracted by the Board of Trustees for your community. Please note that the contractor is not responsible for clearing snow (digging out cars) from around vehicles that are parked in the court parking spaces. In addition, at the discretion of the contractor, a parking space may not be cleared out if a parked vehicle is in the adjacent space. The contractor does not want to be responsible for damage to a neighbor’s car. For the most effective service to each court, the court should choose a “Court Captain”. The Captain’s responsibility is to alert all neighbors in the court to move their vehicles out of the courts, at the same time, so that the contractor can perform the snow removal in the most effective way.
PLEASE REMEMBER:
- Not to clean the snow off your car, and dump it back on to the cleared streets after the contractor has cleared your court. This is for the safety and well being of the residents in your court.
- Move your vehicles when your court is being cleared.
- No parking will be permitted on Riverbend Drive, by the Township of North Brunswick during a snowstorm. Vehicles normally parked on Riverbend Drive, which is a Township road, can be parked on the playing fields across from the community on Schmidt Lane. Once the Township has cleared Riverbend Drive, you may re-park your vehicle on Riverbend Drive.
Monthly Payment Process / 2009 Census Form
November, 2008
re: MONTHLY PAYMENT PROCESS
Dear Homeowner:
Enclosed is your 2009 budget and coupon book with address labels located in the front of the book for your convenience. Please be advised that our monthly assessment fee has remained unchanged at $185.00. Please ensure that your monthly fee payment is mailed directly to our bank’s lock box as follows:
Riverbend Townhouse Owners Association
P. 0. Box 23103
Newark, NJ 07189
Please note that if your check is sent to the North Brunswick office, as a courtesy, we will forward it to the lock box for processing, however, this will result in added processing time.
By no later than the first of each month, you should mail your check, made payable to Riverbend Townhouse Owners Association enclosing the applicable month’s coupon. Please ensure that your unit address is clearly indicated on the check so that appropriate credit can be applied to your account.
Please note that if your payment is not received by the 15th of the month, or if any balances remain outstanding on the 15th of the month, a $15.00 late fee will be assessed to your account.
For those homeowners who have elected electronic funds transfer (EFT) for their monthly fee payments, Executive Property Management will automatically adjust your fees if applicable. Please retain your books in case you choose to revert back to the manual payment method or you sell your home in the upcoming year. For those homeowners who pay their bills on-line, you must have your on-line service place your full account number, as it appears on the top of your coupon, on each check remitted to ensure that proper credit is applied to your account.
If you are in need of additional information, please feel free to contact Executive Property Management with any questions you may have relating to the administration, operation and management of our community.
Very truly yours,
Board of Trustees
Riverbend Townhouse Owner’s Association
(See over for Budget)
Administrator’s note:
In rendering this information for the Web, the coupon book is not included. Not mentioned in this notice (but included in the packet) was the 2009 Census Form.
Board Election Proxy Due
| 15 December 2008 | ||
| 4:00 pm |
http://riverbend.timeoff.org/wp-content/uploads/2008/11/20081118_official_proxy.pdf
Recycling
| 21 February 2008 | ||
| 8:00 am | to | 10:00 am |
| 6 March 2008 | ||
| 8:00 am | to | 10:00 am |
| 20 March 2008 | ||
| 8:00 am | to | 10:00 am |
| 3 April 2008 | ||
| 8:00 am | to | 10:00 am |
| 17 April 2008 | ||
| 8:00 am | to | 10:00 am |
| 1 May 2008 | ||
| 8:00 am | to | 10:00 am |
| 15 May 2008 | ||
| 8:00 am | to | 10:00 am |
| 29 May 2008 | ||
| 8:00 am | to | 10:00 am |
| 12 June 2008 | ||
| 8:00 am | to | 10:00 am |
| 26 June 2008 | ||
| 8:00 am | to | 10:00 am |
| 10 July 2008 | ||
| 8:00 am | to | 10:00 am |
| 24 July 2008 | ||
| 8:00 am | to | 10:00 am |
| 7 August 2008 | ||
| 8:00 am | to | 10:00 am |
| 21 August 2008 | ||
| 8:00 am | to | 10:00 am |
| 4 September 2008 | ||
| 8:00 am | to | 10:00 am |
| 18 September 2008 | ||
| 8:00 am | to | 10:00 am |
| 2 October 2008 | ||
| 8:00 am | to | 10:00 am |
| 16 October 2008 | ||
| 8:00 am | to | 10:00 am |
| 30 October 2008 | ||
| 8:00 am | to | 10:00 am |
| 13 November 2008 | ||
| 8:00 am | to | 10:00 am |
| 29 November 2008 | ||
| 8:00 am | to | 10:00 am |
| 11 December 2008 | ||
| 8:00 am | to | 10:00 am |
| 26 December 2008 | ||
| 8:00 am | to | 10:00 am |
There is a recycling pickup today.
The pickups of plastic, glass, newspapers, and cardboard usually occur between 8 AM and 10 AM on alternating Thursdays. See the North Brunswick Township site for the full schedule. Riverbend is in Zone 3.
Please note that the recycling pickups near the Thanksgiving and Christmas holidays have been adjusted to accommodate the holidays. The reminders here have been updated to reflect the changes.
As of October 2007, North Brunswick’s recycling materials were picked up by Central Jersey Waste and Recycling, Inc. of Trenton, NJ. You can reach them at 609-656-4200.
Learn more about Middlesex County’s Solid Waste Management programs, including the schedule for Household Hazardous Waste Days.
Please be a responsible citizen and recycle!
Hosting donated by…
