The Town of South Hadley will hold a forum at 10:00am on Saturday, February 8, 2020 at Town Hall Auditorium to provide information to help inform citizen understanding of issues and challenges. South Hadley, along with other communities, is facing significant changes in the recycling market which may result in increases of as much as 60% in communities across the Commonwealth. At the same time the Town’s municipal trash hauler contract with Republic ends on June 30, 2020. As the present rate schedule and Green bag program will likely need adjustment, all residents are invited to attend the program to learn more about the concerns and provide input on how best to structure the system to create a fair, cost-effective, and multi-year strategy for meeting these challenges.
Rep. Dan Carey Office Hours in South Hadley on Feb. 8
State Rep. Dan Carey, who represents South Hadley in the 2nd Hampshire District, will hold February Office Hours from 9:30 to 10:30am on Saturday, February 8 at at the South Hadley Public Library, located at 2 Canal Street.
Changes Coming to Highway Exit Numbers
A planned MassDOT project will convert all freeway exit numbers from a sequential to a milepost-based number system consistent with Federal Highway Administration requirements. Construction is scheduled to begin in late Summer 2020 and will affect exit numbers on our nearby highways I-90 and I-90; exits on I-291 and I-391, however, will not change as these are shorter routes. MassPike Exit 5 for for Route 33/Chicopee will be changed to Exit 49. For project details, visit www.NewMassExits.com.
FAC Owners Forum
The Financial Advisory Committee conducted an Owners Forum on September 22, which was attended by 22 people representing 19 units. The most recent reserve study in 2015 was based on IRS depreciation schedules rather than industry asset life estimates, and the FAC is hopeful that a new reserve study will be conducted in 2020. Information was also shared about the 2019 budget and reserve fund. The meeting concluded with a brainstorming session to identify and prioritize needs.
Items identified by participants, in order of preference, were:
–Increase annual contributions to the reserve fund
–Keep condo fee increases to no more than 5% for the next 3 years
–Create gathering area(s) in common space
–More exterior lighting in dark areas
–Replace older wooden (brown) decks
–Improve handicapped access with curb cuts to sidewalks
–New reserve study
–Roof replacements, units 6-9
–Explore solar panels/renewable energy for owners
–Maintenance schedule published in advance
–Improve landscaping, trim pear trees
–Make website more useful and user-friendly
–Yearly evaluation of management company
Two items were noted for which owners may be responsible:
–Bay window replacement
–Clean outside skylights
Automated Condo Fee Payments
Automated Condo Fee Payments
A direct withdrawal option for condo fee payments is now available, with fees processed on the 10th of the month. Contact NAI Plotkin to request a sign-up form.
Parking Reminders
Overnight street parking is not permitted at any time; owners and their guests must park vehicles in designated parking spaces, driveways, garages, or visitor spaces. As specified in the Master Deed, only two vehicles per unit may be parked at Shadowbrook, and this includes units with their own driveways. Units with two car garages and private driveways that do not intersect with another drive may apply for permission to park a third vehicle in the driveway; contact NAI Plotkin for a Vehicle Request Form. Please see the Shadowbrook Rules and Regulations for additional details about parking.
Landscape Advisory Committee
At an initial meeting in September the newly formed group learned about past landscape committee activity at Shadowbrook and decided on a mission statement, which the Board of Trustees endorsed at their September meeting. Suggested tasks may include: taking an inventory of plantings and environmental conditions throughout the complex, providing guidelines for owner participation in landscaping tasks, advising the Board on landscaping issues, and developing a policy for owner-sponsored plantings. Committee membership is open to all owners.