Condo Master Insurance Deductible

As all residents were notified at the 2005 Annual Meeting, in the Winter Newsletter, and by specific mailing, the Courtyard's new master insurance deductible is now $10,000 for all water-related claims. The net effect is that if there is a loss to property covered under the master policy, the homeowner will now be responsible for all damages up to the new deductible. We can't stress strongly enough that homeowners should check with their insurance agent/carrier and should increase their homeowner's insurance coverage to cover the new deductible.

Automatic Condo Fee Withdrawals

Effective January 1, 2006, automatic condo fee withdrawals (from your bank account) are again available. Contact Tracy Reitchel in Accounts Receivable at The Dartmouth Group (781-275-3133) if interested.

Snow Removal and Winter Parking

As a reminder to new and existing residents of the Courtyard, here is how the snow removal procedure works.

Objective: to provide a systematic process for removal of vehicles from parking areas to allow snow removal of roadways and parking areas in an efficient and safe manner.

• It is the responsibility of all owners/residents to move or arrange to have moved their vehicle (s) when called upon to do so by the snow removal contractor. This may be interpreted as when the snow removal contractor is on site removing snow, even when you don't hear their horn, and even on weekends and holidays! As a rule of thumb, the contractor will start working on parking spaces very close to the end of a storm.

• Failure to move a vehicle (s) when notified or to have made arrangements for its removal will result in the removal of the vehicle (s) by a tow truck at the owner's expense/and or fines.

• Owner/residents who will be absent from the complex must inform the Management Company of their arrangement to have vehicle (s) removed prior to their departure.

Snow Removal Procedure:

• During each storm and prior to 6:00AM, the snow removal contractor will commence plowing of roadways and parking areas when accumulation is between 2"-3". The contractor will clear these areas to the greatest extent possible to keep roadways accessible until the storm passes.

• After the storm has ended, parking lots, driveways and walkways will be cleared to their full width generally between 8AM and 4PM.

• The contractor will sound a horn alerting residents that they are on the property and advising residents to move their vehicles for cleanup.

• Vehicle (s) need to be moved in the parking lots as follows:

• Parking area adjacent to Appleton and Franklin Buildings (by the Elks Lodge).

• Parking area between Devonshire and Exeter Buildings (center road area).

• Parking areas in front of the Clubhouse and Baxter Buildings (front entrance area).

• Parking areas by Greenwood and Hawthorne (rear and right rear side of complex).

RESIDENTS SHOULD CLEAR OFF ALL SNOW FROM THEIR VEHICLE(S) BEFORE MOVING THE VEHICLE(S).

If an owner/resident has guests, please inform them that there is ample parking available around all of the buildings on the complex. PLEASE DO NOT ALLOW THEM TO PARK IN NO PARKING ZONES on the complex, but inform them of all the free spaces made available for guest parking.  Please remind children not to throw snow in cleared areas, such as sidewalks, and parking and roadways.

Residents are asked not to direct snow removal personnel. If you are experiencing any problems with the snow removal job, please contact Nancy at The Dartmouth Group at 781-275-3133.

If you are planning on leaving the property for an extended amount of time and your vehicle will be left on the property, a long term parking area is available and by the dumpster near H Building. Please follow the procedure for long term parking outlined in the Owner Handbook (or call Nancy for more information).

We would like to remind all residents that the shoveling of your deck is a unit owner responsibility and we recommend it is done with a plastic shovel within 24 hours of a storm ending.

The weight that builds from each snowfall is tremendous, may weaken the deck supports which subsequently causes the decks to require structural maintenance, and contributes to the property's ice dam problem. The snow melting off of decks also contributes to ice buildup on the entry ways and walkways below, which is a slip/fall safety hazard!

Finally, we would like to remind you that a typical condition of New England winters is that the weather changes very quickly. Temperatures can rise and fall quickly, causing sudden icy conditions to develop. All residents and guests are strongly advised that they have a responsibility to use extreme caution at all times when walking on any of the walks and parking lots within the property during the winter season. The Courtyard Condominium Association, its Board of Trustees and The Dartmouth Group will not be held liable for injuries that occur as a result of weather conditions.

Going Away During the Winter?

Follow the precautions outlined in the unit owner handbook when going away for any extended period:

If a unit will be vacant for over 24 hours:

• DO NOT TURN OFF HEAT - LEAVE AT 55 DEGREE SETTING

• Close main shut off valve

• Open all water faucets to prevent freezing pipes

• Close washing machine valves

If leaving for an extended period:

• Have a knowledgeable plumber winterize the unit, including adding anti-freeze to toilet and sink traps

• Do not shut off electricity

• If possible, have someone check on the unit periodically

• Make sure the association (through The Dartmouth Group) has a copy of your unit key. This is especially important if you know it's been changed since the original key was issued.

• Make sure there is an emergency contact info listed for you on your emergency contact form, hopefully someone that can come to your unit's aid and make decisions in the event of a problem.

Hopefully by being mindful of a few simple things we can prevent the type of losses that hurt our association financially, cause our insurance policy to be jeopardized or cancelled, and most importantly cause stress and grief to our homeowners.

New Recycling Regulations

Effective January, 2006, the Town of Chelmsford has enacteda regulation such that if any recyclable material is found inside dumpsters, the trash removal contractor is not allowed to empty the dumpsters, and the Association may be subject to fines. As you can imagine, this could quickly become a serious and expensive issue for all residents. Every resident received this notice from both The Courtyard as well as from the Town of Chelmsford. It is imperative that all residents comply and recycle all appropriate recyclables.

Regardless of the new regulation, recycling makes financial and environmental sense. Removing solid waste costs the town and all its residents more than ten times what removal of recycling costs.

For more information, please contact the Town of Chelmsford Office of Recycling and Solid Waste at 978-250-5203.

Common Area Emergency Calls

After-hours emergency calls are sometimes necessary. It is important to understand that the Courtyard Condominium Association is only responsible for addressing common area concerns. Sometimes, the after hours emergency calls that TDG receives and responds to are not common area emergencies but rather the unit owner's responsibility. From time to time, it cannot be determined when the call is received whether it is a "common area" or "unit owner" responsibility. So, please be aware that if you place a call to TDG for emergency assistance and the problem reported is not an Association responsibility and is determined to be the responsibility of the individual unit owner, that owner will be charged back for the cost of the emergency service call and repair.

New Homeowner Benefit

The Courtyard has recently become affiliated with the RTN Federal Credit Union, allowing homeowners to now join the credit union.  There are many advantages of credit union membership, including better rates and lower fees than most banks, as credit unions are non-profit.  For more information, go to http://www.rtn.org

Management

Our managing company is The Dartmouth Group.

Homeowners should contact Olivia Evans at The Dartmouth Group for any of the following types of issues:

Olivia Evans, Property Assistant   781-533-7214
E-mail: oevans@thedartmouthgroup.com

Nancy Mandino, Property Manager   781-533-7217
E-mail: nmandino@thedartmouthgroup.com

All official requests must be in writing, but simple questions/queries may be made by telephone or email

The Dartmouth Group, Inc.
3 Preston Court Suite 3
Bedford, MA 01730
Phone: (781) 275-3133
Fax: (781) 275-5842

Safety and Security

Due to the recent run of theft and vandalism in the clubhouse:

• The Post Office will no longer leave packages in the clubhouse. Residents must now retrieve their packages at the Chelmsford Post Office in accordance with the Post Office notice.

• Security cameras have now been installed. Homeowners and/or residents and/or their guests will be fined, held responsible for reparations, and/or prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law for damage/vandalism caused by homeowners/residents, their children and/or their guests!

Several children have been seen playing on and near the weightlifting equipment in the clubhouse.  This has especially been true in the morning when waiting for school buses.  Please remind your children that the weightlifting equipment is not to be played on, and that they should wait for their school buses outside.  The clubhouse is not a playground.  Several children have already caused damage to the new paint job, costing all of us additional money to repair.  Most importantly, though, we don't want to see any of our community get hurt. 

Reminders

SMOKING: There is no smoking in the common hallways or in the clubhouse. Anyone found smoking in those areas will be subject to fines.

PET OWNERS: Animals, regardless of size, must be leashed at all times and must be under their guardian's complete control for the safety of all! Leashes cannot be attached in any way that would allow the animal out onto the common area unattended. Pets must be led off the common property to relieve themselves. If an accident occurs on the grass or any landscaped area, its guardian is responsible to clean up the mess immediately or be subject to fining. Let's be considerate to our neighbors.

ACCESS TO UTILITY ROOMS: Homeowners, cable TV or telephone contractors completing work for individual homeowners must contact The Dartmouth Group and give at least a 24-hour advance notice for access to these areas.

COMMON HALLWAY CLEANLINESS: Trash bags, water bottles, etc. must not be placed in common hallways for any period of time. Please deliver bags directly from your unit to the dumpster. A little courtesy goes a long way!

SPEED: The speed limit in the parking lot is 10 MPH. Please keep speeds down for the safety of everyone!

Condominium Documents

MEETING MINUTES

Recent Courtyard Condominium Board of Trustees Meeting Minutes

RULES AND REGULATIONS

MASTER DEED

Thanks to Don Desfosse for this page

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