The cleaning of the ponds is finished and hopefully the smallest muck bag will be able to be removed this season.  The renting of the piece of equipment on tracks is a tremendous help at removing the muck from the bags, as compared to last year’s effort with the bobcat.  Much less grass and turf will be torn up with this tractor-like vehicle.

The badge scanner hardware and software is functioning and our Security Department has produced photo, proximity type badges, and those badges were then taken down to the StoneyBrook pool and successfully opened the gates/doors. So, we have a working system at last, with a little more continuous connection time needed.  A different modem is being installed that is a little less sensitive to phone line noise, and then the StoneyBrook / Cambridge residents will be notified when to come to the security office for their new badges.  Once that process starts, the changeovers at the remaining neighborhood facilities will be started.

The Finance Committee has finished the Six-Year Plan and the Operational Budgets, and they are being distributed at the upcoming meeting for review.  The Board will vote on the Budget at the November Meeting.  Many long and tedious hours were spent in the budgeting effort, and a fiduciarily sound and adequate budget has been agreed upon.

Last month, Golf Maintenance personnel repaired the storm-damaged fence sections at the golf maintenance building. Our own Maintenance Department, although down one person and a pool person for most of August and early September, have been expending efforts this month on such items as getting our pools shut down, expanding drain issues in both the Taylor area of Covered Bridge and some StoneyBrook/Cambridge areas, raising drains, correcting outages of big lights around the community, and doing touch up painting.  A new pool liner will be voted upon at the September Umbrella Board Meeting, and the chosen vendor will have the work completed prior to the 2008 pool season. Additionally, I’d like to welcome Tazz Anderson to our maintenance department.  I’m sure he will bring much needed help and relief to our short-handed crew of Jason and Matt.

As far as our Landscaping efforts, broadleaf spraying, weed control and fertilization are currently underway.  Additionally, the entire property has been sheared, and Brickman is currently doing pruning of deadwood.  Brad and his crew are still taking inventory of arbor vitae damage from early summer and working on those areas.  Also, a walkway has been built around the StoneyBrook/Cambridge pool, and stone work and improvements were done to the Hidden Hills and Cabana Pool walkways and surroundings.

Much work is being done by the Landscaping Department to keep the area looking great. Many times, rotted and half–to-totally dead bushes and arbor vitae have to be removed and/or replaced with other greenery.  Sometimes this is upsetting to those homes impacted by these changes, but these changes must be made to keep the area healthy and safe.

Our CRF Manager and others are working on design and pricing alternatives to be presented in October for a billboard sign replacement for the Route 120 billboard, which is currently a worn-out eyesore.  We are also looking forward to Ernie Garner’s music and North Shore Catering’s food to help us celebrate OKTOBERFEST on October 12th at the CRF.  Be there, or be square. A good time is to be had.

Lastly, I extend my sincere condolences to Board Member Todd Campbell on the passing of his brother Rodney.

Be healthy and keep safe as we enter the Fall season!

Respectfully submitted,

Bob Marcus, CMCA, AMS Community Manager