East Hills HOA 2024 Annual Meeting and Board Elections; Monday November 25, Colonie Library, 6 pm

Dear East Hills resident,

 

Meeting Details

Monday, November 25th 2024

from 6:00 - 7:00 PM

Colonie Library Sedman Rm - 629 Albany Shaker Rd, Loudonville, NY 12211

 

This year the East Hills HOA Annual meeting will be held Monday November 25, 6 pm,  at the Colonie Library (see details below) and we cordially invite you to attend! This is an opportunity to meet board members and neighbors, review HOA finances, learn about improvements/projects that have been completed during the year or that are being considered for the upcoming year, ask questions or raise issues that you might have.

This year, all board positions are up for election and we urge you to nominate candidates or volunteer yourself to run for a position. A list of positions up for election this year is provided below. Many positions require only a few hours per month, and provide an opportunity for you to participate in maintaining East Hills as a beautiful and desirable place to live. Board positions are for a two-year term. Without volunteers, we would need to hire a management company, which would easily double our yearly dues. Also, in a new policy, annual dues will be waived for returning and new board members for the duration of their terms.

To nominate someone or place your own name to run, please complete the form HERE by Friday November 22 2024.

Positions up for election: 

President. 
            Candidates:    Mark Ross, Bob Van Amburgh  (current Co-presidents)

Secretary.
            Candidates:    Rick Schrade (current Secretary, retiring in April 2025, when position will be     available)

Treasurer. 
            Candidates:  Randy McFarlane (current Treasurer)

Board Member, Communications and publicity
            Candidates:  Sridhar Kothagudla  (current board member)

Board Member, Covenants
            Candidates:   Eileen Buonome  (current board member)

Board Member:       Architectural committee
            Candidates:   John Palladino (current board member).

For each position, we can provide a document that describes the position’s responsibilities and an approximate monthly time commitment. Contact a board member to receive a copy.

Thank you and see you at the meeting!  (Please let a board member know if you plan to attend so that we will know how many participants we need to accommodate).

             East Hills Homeowners Association Board member contact information:

Mark Ross:                            518-783-7384           mer3121@nycap.rr.com

Bob Van Amburgh:              518-782-5485           rvanamburgh@nycap.rr.com

Rick Schrade:                       518-618-6120           rickschrade@gmail.com

Randy McFarlane:               518-368-4324           nn55996@yahoo.com

Sridhar Kothagundla:          248-506-5030           skothagundla@gmail.com

Eileen Buonome:                 518-275-9000           ebuonome@cbpp.com

John Palladino:                    518-783-1275           ehhoa2@gmail.com

Thank you for your donation

HOA Street Parking Restrictions

Homeowner associations (HOAs) can't usually enforce parking restrictions on public streets because the local government has jurisdiction over them.

https://ecode360.com/10401830#10402070 (3) Off-street parking.

EHHOA GARAGE SALE HAS BEEN CANCELED

Due to lack of interest and volunteers, this year's EHHOA GARAGE SALE HAS BEEN CANCELED.

Don't Poop and Run! Clear Up After Your Dog!

I am sorry to be writing on such an unpleasant subject, but on behalf of the board of the East Hills Homeowners Association, we need to address the topic of dog waste in a few common areas around East Hills.

We have received several complaints from residents and our grounds contractor has been unable to mow in places, until the grass has been cleared of large amounts of dog waste.

Section (2) of the East Hills covenants states that:  

"(c) Each Owner shall be responsible at all times for cleaning up and removing all solid excrement located within the Development after his pet relieves itself and for appropriately disposing of aid excrement using the sanitary refuse containers located on the Owner's property. Failure to clean waste material from a pet shall be deemed a nuisance."

Signs have been placed in a few areas, asking residents to clear up after their dogs (although some have apparently been removed). But these things are always caused by an unthinking minority, because we know that most East Hills dog owners are conscientious and pick up after their dogs, but this is becoming a nuisance.

The actions of an unthinking minority are imposing a cost upon the HOA, and by default the residents of the whole neighborhood, because we are now required to pay for dog waste removal, so that the grass can be cut.

If you are a dog owner in this area, please can we encourage you to ensure that you are removing your dog waste in a timely manner. If, on the other hand, you are aware of anyone who you feel may not be removing their dog waste, we would be grateful if you could bring this to our attention, so that we can deal with the matter in the appropriate way.

Once again, I am sorry to have had to raise this issue with you, and we know that most dog owners do the right thing, but I will be grateful for your help and cooperation in finding a solution to this problem. Please feel free to contact me in confidence, if you have any questions.

easthillsblogmaster@gmail.com

"MAKING A CLEAN CUT": CUTTING & TIDYING YOUR LAWN IN EAST HILLS

Some lawns in our community are not being maintained properly and have become an eyesore. The Covenants require that homeowners fertilize, control weeds, and mow regularly.  If not, the board may have your lawn treated and mowed at the owner’s expense

If you are presently not a member of the EHHA Blog sign up and stay up to date on the activities of East Hills.

As a board, one of the things that we are often required to do is oversee the covenants that relate to the cutting and tidying of lawns in the neighborhood.  Article IV of the Protective Covenants, Section 1, (a), states that the: “Owner shall maintain all grassed areas of their Homesite which shall be fertilized, trimmed and weeded and other unsightly growth, and in such fashion to ensure that no clippings, leaves, or debris shall be blown onto adjoining properties and into the roadway.” You can view the Protective Covenants online at: http://easthillsloudonville.blogspot.com/p/east-hills-covenant-documents.html 

Enforcing this particular covenant can often lead to accusations that the HOA is being punitive or acting as 'nosey neighbors', but this could not be further from the truth.  Owners purchase a property in an HOA area in full knowledge that they will be subject to certain rules and requirments that do not exist in non-HOA neighborhoods.  As a resident, you have a right to expect that your neighbors are adhering to the same standards that you are.  The upkeep of the neighborhood should conform to a standard that protects the investment in our properties and ensures that the area is well-kept and visually pleasing to residents and visitors alike.

Members of the board do make regular rounds of the neighbrohood, but we also receive messages from residents, if they feel that a lawn has not been cut.  Our first task as a board is always to establish that the resident is OK and to see whether they need help and assistance.  They may have been unable to keep up their lawn, perhaps because of illness or some other family emergency and so we will offer whatever assistance we can.

If, however, a lawn remains uncut and the resident has failed to respond to visits, calls, or emails, then we are required to step in and take direct action to uphold the covenants.  As a last resort, we will bring in a contractor to get the lawn cut and we will invoice the homeowner for the cost, together with a $50 adminstrative fee to cover the incovenience of taking this action.  But this is absolutely the last step, when all other avenues have not led to a satisfactory outcome!

We know that the majority of our residents do a good job of looking after their lawns.  We also know that sometimes it is too wet or issues with a contractor can sometimes cause a lawn to get longer than usual, so we are pragmatic in the way that we enforce this specific covenant. But we do take seriously our role to ensure that the neighborhood continues to provide a pleasing and well-kept environment for everyone to enjoy the neighborhood.

There is an updated list of lawn care contractors that advertise their services as covering the Loudonville area, which you can find on the East Hills Homeowners Association blog here: https://easthillsloudonville.blogspot.com/p/lawn-care-contractors-covering.html

If you have any questions about this, or any aspect of the work of the HOA board, please do not hesitate to contact me at: easthillsblogmaster@gmail.com

REMEMBER!! The Deadline for the Payment of the HOA Dues is approaching

Dear East Hills Homeowners:

This is just a friendly reminder that HOA dues of $260 are payable by February 15, 2024.  If paid later than this (postmarked) please include the late fee and any applicable interest (see the schedule below).

 To those who have already sent in their payment, many thanks!

 Please call or email if you have any questions. 

Best regards,

Randy McFarlane
Treasurer, East Hills HOA
518-368-4324

Make checks payable to: East Hills Homeowners Association, 30 Callaway Circle Loudonville, NY 12211

Schedule of fines and sanctions for late payment of dues.

Amount due by February 15, 2024:    $260.00     

Amount if received (postmarked) after Feb 15 and before Mar 15:    $260+ $50 late fee = $310

Interest on amount due will begin accruing at the rate of 3% per month past Mar 15.

Payment between:

Mar 15 and April 15:   $260+ $50 + $8 interest = $318

April 15 and May 15:   $260 + $50 + $16 interest = $326

May 15 and June 15:  $260 + $50 + $24 interest = $334

 After June 15, 2024 a letter will be sent to the homeowner informing him/her that a lien will be placed on the property with the County if payment is not received by June 30, 2024. The following costs will be incurred by the homeowner to have the lien removed:

            Dues/late fees/interest:                            $334

            County filing fee:                                      $30

            Administrative/legal fee for filing:             $300

            Total:                                                        $664

 

East Hills Home Owners Annual Meeting - NOVEMBER 28, 2023

East Hills Grand Garage Sale on Saturday, July 15, 2023

SIGN UP For the EHHOA Garage Sale will be held on Saturday, July 15 2023 from 8:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. (rain or shine).

If you are planning to participate, please sign up HERE by Tuesday July 11 2023.

Each year many households in the neighborhood participate and the sale generates a lot of traffic in East Hills.  So hit your basement, closets, kid's rooms, and garage and see what treasures you might have to sell.

The East Hills Homeowners Association makes it easier for you by handling the advertising and signage.  You will be given a small sign for your front yard. You are free to supplement this with your own signs if you wish. The HOA will place signs at selected intersections so buyers don't miss any participating households.  You will be provided with a supply of maps to pass out to buyers so they can plan their route.  We also provide paper maps to help buyers find the sales.  A list of homes participating in the garage sale will be posted shortly before the sale on the EHHOA website. The list will be updated on Tuesday July 12 based upon signups as of that date.

If you have any questions or have difficulty with the sign-up form, please Contact

Eileen Buonome  @ 518//275-9000.
Tommie Paladino  @ 518/783-1275 
Evelyn McFarlane  @ 518/368-4324

We will need a few volunteers to put up and take down signs the day of the sale, to distribute maps and to handle other miscellaneous chores.  If you can help, please indicate this on the sign-up form. If you are needed, you will be contacted to let you know what you will be asked to do.

***** GETTING READY FOR A GARAGE SALE  *****
Below are some basic hints and tips for preparing for the sale.  You probably already know most of these things (because many of you participate nearly every year) but this information can be used as a checklist as you prepare:
NOW

• Go through your basement, closets, kitchen drawers, bookshelves, tools and kids' toys for items to sell. Put them into boxes or an area set aside for this purpose until you're ready to price them.  Go through clothing pockets.
• Start saving grocery bags (for your customers to take away their purchases) and newspaper (if needed to wrap fragile items)
• Find tables and/or clothing racks to display your items
• Set up boxes for items like CDs and books
• Find a friend or two to run the sale with you
• Wash or clean everything you're selling
• Get colored price stickers and tag every item with a price. Be realistic about how much you ask; remember that untagged items are less likely to sell.
• Get poster board for items that are all priced the same (for example: paperbacks $1)
• Find a box or other container in which to keep the money organized (fanny packs are also an option)

A DAY OR TWO BEFORE THE SALE

• Set up your tables and display your items attractively, if selling from the garage. Keep fragile items away from small hands' reach
• If you're selling anything electrical, have an extension cord ready so buyers can test things
• Consider hanging old sheets from the garage walls to cover items you don't intend to display for sale
• If you're selling something of higher value, consider taping an ad on the item showing its cost elsewhere
• Be prepared with plenty of change (you'll be amazed how many dollar bills and quarters you'll need, especially if selling lower-priced items)
• Decide who will be in charge of the money box; make sure they know to pull larger bills out and put that extra money inside the house every so often.

THE DAY OF THE SALE

• Open the garage door on time, early if you wish...but not late
• Put some more attractive or interesting items in the driveway to draw lookers in
• Always greet those who come to the sale
• Consider having a pitcher of water and cups available (it's likely to be hot out)
• Don't take personal checks unless you're willing to take the risk of a bad check
• Decide if you want to offer a steep discount on certain items after, say 1 p.m.
• Keep the family pets indoors
• Perhaps this is obvious, but don't let strangers into your home

REMINDER
If you are planning to participate in the garage sale, please sign up HERE by Tuesday July 11th.  Have fun selling!

Late fee now applies for HOA Dues

Thank you to all the homeowners who got their 2023 dues in on time!

If you're one of the homeowners who forgot to pay, please remit $260 before February 28. After that date, additional penalties will apply.

If you have any questions, please email HOA Treasurer Randy McFarlaneat: nn55996@yahoo.com

Please make your check payable to East Hills Homeowners Association and mail to:

EHHOA Treasurer

30 Callaway Circle

Loudonville, NY 12211