Report Street Light Outages to BGE

At least one of the Long Brick Row parking lot lights is out. This has been reported to BGE, who maintains the lights. If you spot a light that is out, you can report it at:

http://www.bge.com/portal/site/bge/menuitem.3080ba6f2d4561a8142eb573025166a0/

This link will also be placed in the Info/Links section of the website for future reference.

Christmas tree collection begins Jan 11

The county will collect Christmas trees for recycling for two weeks, beginning Jan. 11.

Residents should set out bare trees (no decorations or tree stands) at the curb for collection.

County collectors will pick up trees in standard recycling trucks and take them to facilities to be chipped as mulch.

Residents may also drop off trees at recycling facilities beginning Dec. 26 at:

• Western Acceptance Facility, off of the 4500 block of Hollins Ferry Road, Halethorpe, Monday through Saturday, 7 a.m. to 4 p.m.

For more information, call 410-887-2000 or go to http://www.baltimorecountymd.gov/recycling.

Happy Holidays!

Snow removal and parking expenses - questions and answers

To the Oella HOA:

There have recently been questions raised by many residents regarding the expenses for snow removal in the community. At the most recent HOA meeting, there were also specific inquiries regarding the allocation of parking assessments towards operating and capital expenses.

Currently, the parking assessment is levied on those residents who park in spaces or use right of way areas owned by the HOA in order to gain access to a public road. Recently, the HOA conducted a reserve study that was requested (and required) in order to determine the HOA's future liabilities for property and assets that it owns. The study determined our total replacement costs for all structures at $366,613, with paving and curbing being a significant portion (approximately 40%) of the total expense. There are also other expenses (such as concrete curbing) that are tied to these common areas.

We have recently contacted our HOA's attorneys to help us answer the following questions:
1) How does the HOA properly allocate the current parking assessment between operating (i.e. snow removal) and capital (reserve allocation) expenses? IS there a legal requirement? (Currently, the IRS does not allow capital allocations to pay for operating expenses.)
2) Should common assessment funds be used to pay for area-specific expenses when a separate assessment is made?
3) What percentage should the parking assessment be of the total assessment?

For all of these questions, we have asked for guidance by looking at both legal requirements and similar communities in our area.

Unfortunately, for a long time the community did not allocate enough funds to cover the future expenses that are associated with the property that the HOA owns and maintains. Recently, dues were raised 10% (including parking assessments) in order to help defray these future expenses. Hopefully, with guidance from our attorneys, appropriate and fair steps will be taken in the near future to protect our property from falling into disrepair while appropriately allocating the expenses associated with such maintenance.

We will update the community on this issue as we have more information.

Scott Hall
Treasurer, Oella HOA

Recycling Cancelled Dec 21-26

Baltimore County has canceled recycling collection from Dec. 21 to Dec. 26.

Residents are asked to hold their recyclables until the next scheduled collection.

Trash will be collected when conditions permit. Residents should place trash out the night before scheduled pickup, and leave it there until collection occurs.

For more information, go to www.baltimorecountymd.gov/recycling and click on “Inclement Weather Policy” or call 410-887-2000.

Please don't sled in the roadway

Our plow guy had a lot of trouble getting up part of Pleasant Hill Rd. (Reservoir Hill area) this weekend. The snow became packed down from people sledding on the roadway. He has been trying for days to treat the affected area. For safety and so the plow can get traction, please refrain from sledding on the unplowed roadways.

Snow!

Our snow removal service will be out to take care of the Oella HOA after they do a nursing home parking lot. They will be out today and possibly again tomorrow. Multiple clearings may be necessary because the equipment can run into trouble if the snow gets too deep. Please be patient while they make the rounds.

If you have an emergency, please call 911. The roads are in bad shape.

If you have an elderly neighbor, please check on him or her to see if they need anything.

Stay safe and enjoy our winter wonderland! Feel free to send photos to the webmaster for posting on our website.

October Minutes and November Financials posted

October 2009 Meeting Minutes here:

http://www.oellahoa.com/minutes.htm

November 2009 Financials here:

http://www.oellahoa.com/treas_rpt.htm

December Second Sunday Market in Ellicott City--This Sunday!!

The last Second Sunday market of the year will occur this Sunday in the parking lot behind the old post office and Tongue Row off of Main Street. The market opens at 10am. This month's market will feature holiday greens, exotic produce, locally-produced meats, gifts, jams, jellies, snacks, and baked goods.

Baltimore County begins single stream recycling Feb 1

No more sorting & storing. The county will send out a guide to the new recycling program next month. In addition to mixed recyclables, they will begin accepting more types of materials.

Oella HOA Meeting Agenda – December 14, 2009

1. Call to Order – 7:00pm

2. Resident hearing re: ARC decision/appeal

3. November Meeting Minutes – Discuss/Revise/Approve

4. Treasurer’s Report – Scott
a. Audit
b. Tax status - update

5. ARC Update – Marcia
a. Volunteers for 2010

6. Guidelines Committee – update on status

7. HOA Landscaping & Common Areas –
a. Update on master plan development
b. Invasive vines and eco-goats estimate

8. Parking Committee – Anne, Amanda & Marcia
a. Ordering and distribution of 2010 parking stickers

9. Communications
a. ACM annual letter
b. Website/blog update: new format, e-mail notifications, e-voting

10. Board Action Items from Management Report

11. Old Business
a. Charles James Circle retaining wall/property survey
b. Recordation of Millrace Trail easement. Pending due to budget constraints.
c. Grading / Storm water run-off issue behind Short Brick Row below Pleasant Hill
d. Preventative maintenance of asphalt, such as some sealing up on Pleasant Hill.
e. Spring Street retaining wall issue.

12. New Business
a. Election of Officers for 2010
b. 2010 Nominating Committee
c. Communications
i. ACM annual letter
ii. Website/blog update

13. Questions, comments and/or accolades from residents.

14. Move to Adjourn

Cabin at Banneker Park in the news

The new cabin built at Banneker Park has again made the news. View the article in the Catonsville Times by going to the address below:

http://www.explorebaltimorecounty.com/community/103263/open-invitation/

December board meeting moved up one week due to holidays

Dec 14, 7pm, Westchester Center board room

OHOA Site Changes

Many changes were made to the site over the last week or so. These are:

1) New Fall/Winter gallery under "Photos" nav. link
2) New Calendar and News and Announcements pages under "Oella News and Events" nav. link
3) New RSS page explaining how to subscribe to receive updates via RSS feed or email
4) Updated bio. information for OHOA Board members under "Info/Links" nav. link, "Board of Directors" page
5) Moved links from old OHOA blog to "General Information and Useful Links" page under "Info/Links" nav. link
6) Updated Highlights box to show new posts from "OHOA News and Announcements" page
7) Updated nav. links across all pages

Enjoy!

OHOA News and Announcements Launch

OHOA News and Announcements page created. Working on linking into main OHOA site.