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MEMO TO: Board of Directors FROM: Michael J. Sibio, Community Manager DATE: January
16, 2010 RE: JANUARY
MANAGER’S REPORT January marks another new beginning for our community but
unfortunately some of the same challenges that we faced in 2009 continued into
the new year. We were pleased to
announce late in December that two arrests were made in connection with the
burglaries that occurred during the year, thanks to the sound investigative
work of Patrol Officer Dan Sanchez, and we were optimistic that those arrests
would lead to the end of the burglaries for good. I’m sorry to say that in mid-January we
received a report of two new burglaries which were immediately turned over to
PA State Police at Blooming Grove. We
continue to actively pursue those involved in these crimes and we will not stop
until we bring an end to these burglaries. We also
faced budgetary challeges in 2009 and given the current state of the economy we
expect to face similar challenges this year.
Because of the success of our efforts last year, we were able to
complete the year with a balanced budget in spite of the fact that revenues
fell well below projections. Again, we
anticipate lower revenue and we plan to follow a similar blueprint to ensure
that we end the year with a balanced budget. While we
are working hard to manage our budgets each department is working hard to
provide the highest levels of member services.
The following are examples of the accomplishment of each department
during the last month. ADMINISTRATION Barcode
Sticker Affixing in Inclement Weather – Residents should be reminded
that HFCA staff cannot affix barcode stickers in inclement weather (snow, ice,
below freezing conditions) because the vehicle’s window must be completely dry
and at a certain temperature for the barcode to stick to the glass. If in doubt as to whether barcodes are being
issued, please call ahead to the Association Office at 570/775-4200, Ext. 0. HFCA
Bill Payments – Payments made to HFCA may be placed
in the “HFCA Drop Box” located in the aisle to the far right when entering the
Mail Room. Mail in the drop box is
picked up daily by 10:30 a.m. In
addition, there is a mail slot in the front door of the Administration
Office. Residents are reminded to
include the invoice with their payment in order to ensure proper account
posting. Hemlock News
Coloring Contest – There were more than 20
submissions for the coloring contest that appeared in the December Hemlock News. A winner was awarded a prize in each of three
age groups. The picture was created by Cultural Arts Director Amy Strapec. The names of the winners appeared in the
January issue of Hemlock News and a photo of the winners will be in the
February issue. HFCA Management thanks
all of those “artists” who submitted an entry. BLOOMING GROVE TOWNSHIP The 2010 Township budget was adopted with a 1.5 mil increase in
Township taxes. Attorney Whitmer
conducted swearing in of Hemlock Farms members Helen Ann Yale for a six-year
term as Supervisor and James Pellechia
as Auditor. The Supervisors presented
the final Fire Tax checks - $45,960 each to Blooming Grove Volunteer Fire
Company and Hemlock Farms Volunteer Fire & Rescue Company and $10,000 to
Tafton Fire Department. The Supervisors
approved requests for waivers of the Township’s Subdivision and Land
Development Ordinance from the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania Department of
Transportation for the Maintenance Facility to be built on a fourteen-acre
parcel on Pike County Blvd. and Route 739.
However, the Supervisors denied their request for a waiver of the
Environmental Impact Statement as required under the Township’s Zoning
Ordinance. During residents’ time, a
question was asked about a bar opening on Route 739 at or near the Traders
Mart. No formal application has been
made to the Township. The Supervisors
were asked if they heard anything further about the land swap with the Business
Park property. The Supervisors have not
heard anything and nothing has come to them. BUILDING DEPARTMENT Building
Activity – For December, one new home permit was issued in Hemlock Farms,
compared to none issued in December last year.
Our totals for the two years were five in ’09 and eight in ’08. For the month we issued three
addition/alteration permits while in the same month last year we issued
five. For the year we issued twenty five
versus thirty-five last year. COMMUNITY CONSERVATION Forest Management – Five homeowners were assisted with Tree Removal Applications. The Director of Community Conservation appeared as a witness for the HFCA during an appeal of a Tree Code Violation. Four property owners were assisted with questions about tree removals. Seventy-eight trees were removed under the HFCA Hazard Tree Removal Contract. Twenty-nine of these trees were on twenty-eight private lots and the owners were mailed bills. Wildlife Management – USDA has completed deer removal operations for the 2009-10 year. Three surveys were performed and all removals occurred in three nights. Twenty-eight carcasses were delivered to the processor for distribution to food banks. About 840 pounds of venison will be distributed to families for the winter dinner table. When reports of nuisance feral cats are received from members, HFCA hires a state-licensed trapper to remove these nuisance animals from the community. Ten feral cats were removed during 2009 and taken to a local animal shelter for adoption. Source Water Protection (SWP) – The Educational Subcommittee of our SWP Steering Committee met once in December to discuss educational efforts for 2010. Outreach was engaged for the full committee meeting in January. Lake Management – Cattails along the Little Camp shoreline were replaced with turtlehead, blue vervain, yellow iris, blue iris, and pickerelweed. These colorful flowering plants will improve the aesthetic scene at this well-used facility, allow easier access for fishing lines over the shoreline vegetation, and decrease the accumulation of organic matter in this small pond. The blue tubes that you may have noticed protect the new planting. The year-end Lake Manager’s Report was submitted. Invasive Species - HFCA will not treat for Gypsy Moths this spring. HFCA will monitor the occurrence of larvae in the spring. If the spring larval population is greater than expected, a formal “larval count” will be done to assess the need for treatment and members will be informed of treatment needs. The Gypsy Moth Risk Assessment Report, that documents the results of the egg mass count done in the fall, is available at the community’s Library, website, and Administration Office. Members with concerns can contact the Director of Community Conservation. Education - The 2010 nature events will be sponsored by the Hemlock Farms Conservancy and preparation for advertising has begun for nine events. PUBLIC WORKS Building Maintenance – Aside from handling numerous work orders, the staff accomplished
the following projects: interior
painting of the Clubhouse Art Room, Pottery Room, hallways, Clubhouse Manager's
office, and stairways; the pool pak was serviced for the month; new carpeting
and tiles were installed in various areas of the Clubhouse by Village Carpet
and the crew had to move furniture and remove/reinstall some bathroom fixtures in
order to accommodate some of the tile work. The 739
and Forest Drive gate needed a great deal of attention this month due to
excessive use and breakdowns; a new sign was created for the Public Works building
directing visitors to the rear of the building; air conditioner unit covers
were installed at facilities while other units had to be removed from the
Administration Office and the Public Works Building for winter storage. To accommodate office space changes, new
computer and electrical wiring was installed at the Annex and the
Administration Office and the crew addressed numerous ice and snow concerns. Roads & Grounds – More than 199 service orders were handled in addition to routine
sign maintenance and installation of
reflectors and delineators. Staff
installed holiday lights at gatehouses,
rewired wreaths, pushed up and emptied bags of leaves, cleaned leaves/debris
out of ditches and culvert pipes, filled shoulder ruts, filled pot holes with
cold patch, blew debris off of intersections and sealed some road cracks. They prepared for snow by installing plows and
getting equipment ready, mixing anti-skid, making salt brine, and using it to pre-treat
the roads. After each snow, the trucks
and equipment had to be cleaned, the snow mounds at intersections had to be
knocked down and the loader and back hoe were used to help clean up. The ice
skating rink was shoveled and staff was called in on 18 occasions during the
month to address snow related concerns. Heavy
shelving was moved from the Association Office to the Mail Room to accommodate
more space for residents parcels. The crew picked up garbage/recycling from
facilities, cleaned up trash after animal spills, litter picked along the
roads, and pushed down the co-mingle/metal/and bulk trash containers. The crew
picked up and disposed of two turkeys and one deer. Water Company – In December, the crew completed 124 service orders and monitored
wells daily. Five leaks were found and there
were four turnoffs because of the leaks. One blow-off valve on the community side and
one curb valve were dug up and replaced, two fire hydrants were rebuilt, and one
hydrant was replaced in accordance with the HFCA hydrant replacement project. One main valve box was replaced, four blast
sites were monitored, one service line was inspected, and the Water Company crew
assisted the Public Works crew in preparing the ice rink. Many hours were spent assisting the road crew
with snow and ice events. Stormwater Management – On December 12, 2009, at the HFCA Board of Directors meeting, HFCA
Public Works staff presented their reasons/parameters to select an engineering
firm (CMX Engineering) to supply engineering services for the Stormwater
Management design of all of Hemlock Farms. The Board then requested that
representatives of CMX give a presentation and answer questions at the January
Board meeting. CMX was contacted by the Public Works staff and will address the
Board at the January meeting. Following that meeting, the Hemlock Farms Board
of Directors will (if they deem so) authorize CMX Engineering to proceed with
the design and permit acquisition of the Stormwater Management Project. Clubhouse Siding/Window Replacement – All close-out documents were
received and Hemlock Farms closed out this project. Bath Houses/Site Upgrades – On December 14, 2009, proposals
for the conceptual and final designs for these projects were received from 11
architectural/engineering firms. The Hemlock Farms Public Works staff and ad
hoc Bathhouse Facility committee started reviewing these proposals. At the meeting on January 16, 2010 with
Hemlock Farms Public Works staff and the ad hoc committee, the status of these
proposals will be reviewed. PUBLIC SAFETY – BURGLARY ARRESTS! – Well, regardless of what holiday we all celebrate during the holiday season, everyone in Hemlock Farms got a present on Christmas Day and we can all thank Patrol Officer First Class Danilo Sanchez. On Friday, December 25, 2009, Public Safety responded to a burglary, and Officer Sanchez uncovered physical evidence that quickly led to the arrest of 20-year-old Robert Dobinson of Hemlock Farms. Dobinson was charged by PA State Trooper Sandra VanLuvender with three (3) Counts of Burglary (1st degree Felonies); three (3) Counts of Criminal Trespass (3rd degree Felonies); and four (4) Misdemeanor charges. He was committed to the Pike County Jail in lieu of $25,000 bail. On December 29, 2009, a Preliminary Hearing was to be held at District Court 60-3-04, but Dobinson waived his right to a hearing, and all charges were bound over to the Pike County Court of Common Pleas. Dobinson was remanded back to the Pike County Jail in lieu of bail. The State Police, with the cooperation of Public Safety, continued their investigation into other burglaries that have occurred in the community and, on December 28, 2009, 23-year-old Richard Randolph Hennessy of Lords Valley, a former Hemlock Farms resident, was charged by Trooper VanLuvender with one (1) Count of Burglary (1st degree Felony); one (1) Count of Criminal Conspiracy to Commit Burglary (1st degree Felony); and three (3) Misdemeanor charges, including a charge of Possession of Drug Paraphernalia. Hennessy was committed to the Pike County Jail in lieu of $10,000 bail. He has a Preliminary Hearing scheduled for January 12, 2010, in District Court 60-3-02. The investigation is continuing; there are additional persons of interest, and additional arrests are expected. Further reports will be issued when information becomes available. RECREATION Clubhouse Maintenance – The Clubhouse Indoor Pool area, Fitness
Center and locker rooms will be closed Sunday April 11 through Sunday April
25. Maintenance work is scheduled for these days
along with locker replacements, resurfacing of the indoor pool and Pool Filter
room repair. Fitness Center Schedule Changed – As of January 4 the Fitness Center will be
open on Saturdays from 8:00 a.m. - 8:00 p.m. and on Sundays from 8:00 a.m. – 5:00
p.m. through the winter months. Recreation Pamphlet – The Recreation Department has developed a
Recreation pamphlet which will be included in the January water billing to
inform members of upcoming programs and
changes. Seasonal Job Applications – Applications for seasonal staff positions are coming in. They are being reviewed and interviews are
being setup where needed. Winter Programs – The Afterschool Workout Program, Krafts with
Kelly and Gymnastic class continue this month along with the return of
Yoga. A “Learn to Explore” program begins
February 2 for 3-7 yr. olds. This class
coincides with our scheduled exercise classes to assist parents who would like
to participate in these classes or utilize the pool or Fitness Center. The cost is $25 per child for once a
week. Winter Special Events – An Ice Skating Social and Teen Dance is scheduled for Saturday, February
13 at 7:00 p.m. at the Conference Center.
Everyone can skate outside and
warm up inside with cookies and Hot Chocolate.
All 7th through 12th graders can also attend the
dance inside the Conference Center at a cost of $4.00 per person. Café Night – Sat., February 20 – A group of four talented musicians called
“Fantasia Project” will perform cover songs of rock n roll bands from the 50’s
to today. Wear your dancing shoes! This
Café Night will begin at 8:00 p.m. and go to 10:00 p.m. Doors open at 7:30 p.m. NYC Bus Trips – Spend
the day on your own in the Big
Apple! See a show, enjoy shopping, museums, etc. Bus departs Hemlock Farms at
7:30 a.m. and arrives in the Theatre District at approximately 10:00 a.m. FOR
APRIL, MAY, NOVEMBER and DECEMBER the bus leaves NYC at 5:30 p.m. and
arrives back in Hemlock at approximately 7:30 p.m. The fee is TBA. For
June, July, August, September and October the bus will leave NYC at 7:30
p.m. and arrive back in Hemlock approximately 9:30 p.m. The fee
is $28.00 per person for the longer trips. The deadline to sign up is two weeks before
departure dates. No refunds will be given
after the deadline date. The Clubhouse Cafe – The Café is serving early bird dinners on
Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays beginning at 4:00 p.m. Again we are trying to
do more with less as we position ourselves to have a balanced budget at year
end. We appreciate all our members who
pay their annual dues bill on time year after year. Their effort to meet their obligation makes
our community the great place it is by allowing us to provide such a high level
of service to all members. Shared/ManagersReport/2010ManagersReport/JanuaryManagersReport |