Announcements

Question 3.: What communication tool do you find most
useful?

Summary Answer:   We
appreciate your feedback and will continue to respond to emails within 24
hours. Please note that as part of their communication protocol, the
Association does not monitor the Morgandale Neighbors Facebook page. As a
result, many questions and comments are addressed with inaccurate
information. These questions can be
easily addressed by attending our monthly Council meetings or by emailing Jill
or Marilyn directly. Transparency remains very important to the Council and
Management, and we strive to effectively communicate with Residents to ensure
we continue to create a positive and unified community.

Question
4.: Have you participated
in any of the following?

Question
5.: What types of
community events or activities would you like to see in the future?

Summary Answers: This was an open-ended question with no
rating. Below are some suggestions from Residents:

Exercise
Classes: If you or you know of
someone that would be willing to volunteer to organize an exercise class,
please contact Management at [email protected].

Helping
Hands for Seniors: A ‘Helping
Hand’ Committee was established in 2020. However, since Residents did not take
advantage of it, the Committee was dissolved. The Association has the paperwork
in place should a volunteer come forward to run this Committee.

Clean-Up
Day: The Recycling & Environmental Committee
has a Clean-Up Day once a year and requests volunteers. However, the Association would like to
establish a community wide Clean-Up Day for all Residents to get together
within their court to pick up trash, one day per year, and make it a fun
event. The Association will be asking
for volunteers to serve as ‘Captains’ for their Court. 

Block
Parties: Block parties are
permitted and must be organized by the Residents in the court. Please contact Management at [email protected] to gain
approval prior to scheduling the block party. 

Yard
Sales: A survey will be
conducted to ask for volunteers to organize yard sales within their own courts.

The
Social Engagement & Wellness Committee is working tirelessly on
upcoming social events based on the feedback they received from their recent
survey. To date, they have established a crochet group and have some exciting
ideas for the Fall.

Question
6: Do you feel a sense of
community within the Morgandale Condominium Association:

Summary
Answer: Again, we cannot monitor the negative postings on
the Morgandale Neighbors Facebook page, as it is not an Association
communication tool. We urge Residents to contact Management or attend the
monthly meetings with their questions and concerns so that we can work together
to help resolve any issues. 

Question
7: How satisfied are you
with the current amenities?

Summary
Answers:

Walking
Path: The walking path was
recently replaced, and we hope everyone enjoys this updated amenity. The Association
considered extending the walking path but decided to focus on upgrading and
maintaining the current common areas in accordance with the Reserve Study.

Tennis
Courts: The lower tennis
court is being used more now than ever due to the pickleball net. 

Swimming
Pool:
The Association recently sent a survey to the community regarding lifeguards
and the option to 'Swim at Your Own Risk.' The Council is working hard on a
resolution and will communicate their next course of action within the next
couple of months.

Question
8: Are there any
improvements you would like to see?

Summary
Answers: This was
an open-ended question with no rating. Below are some suggestions from Residents:

Paving: The roads within the courts will be paved
over the next four years.

Recycling: The
Association considered adding another recycling bin; however, the cost would be
an additional $6,000 per year. If Residents flattened their boxes, the bins
would not overflow. Placing recycling bins at each dumpster enclosure would be
very expensive.

Solar
Panels: Solar panels are
permitted on the single homes with prior approval.

Speeding: The
Association purchased a digital speed sign that monitors speeding. This will be installed on Morgandale Drive in
the near future. 

Shutter
Painting: The Association paints
or replaces shutters each year, with a five-year rotation. 

Trash
Toters: J.P. Mascaro and Sons
will be replacing 112 toters with new brown toters. This replacement is scheduled for the end of
July.

Question
9: How satisfied are you
with the maintenance and repair services provided by the In-House Maintenance
Staff?

Summary
Answer: We like
the results of this question because our In-House Maintenance Staff works
incredibly hard for your community.

Snow
Removal: Our community does not
have a snow removal contractor with a full fleet of trucks like some other
communities. We have three full-time maintenance staff members, who, along with
a few shovelers, clear the snow for 32 courts, Morgandale Drive, the entrances,
and the walkways. This process can take a few days to complete. If we were to
hire a contractor for snow removal, your condominium fee would increase by
approximately $15 per month.

For your
convenience, there is ice melt in a Rubbermaid container at the Clubhouse for
everyone to use. Please remember to leave the buckets behind.

Question
10:  How satisfied are you
with Management?

Summary
Answer: Thank you
for the positive responses.

Question
11: How satisfied are you
with the landscaping?

Summary
Answers: 

Tree
Maintenance and Plantings: The Association budgets $10,000 for new
tree plantings and $30,000 for tree pruning and necessary removals. Trees are
removed if they are hazardous to people, buildings, or vehicles. We must
carefully consider where to plant new trees, reviewing the area and the size
and type of tree before approval. In some years, if unexpected operating expenses
create a deficit, the Council may decide not to plant new trees. However, this
year, the Association will likely proceed with new tree plantings.

Seeding: The
Association primarily seeds in the Fall, which is optimal for grass growth.
Occasionally, we may seed in the Spring, in which case we need your help with
watering. Some lawns are very small, making it challenging to maintain grass
due to large mowing machinery and nearby sidewalks.

Stockton
and Jefferson Courts: The issue with these courts is that the trees
are too large for the small front lawns, leading to problems with surface roots
and inadequate grass coverage. The Council for Morgandale will inspect the
trees and front lawns in these courts and send out a survey to Stockton and
Jefferson Courts.

Question
12: How satisfied are you
with the financial matters within the Morgandale Condominium Association?

Summary
Answers:

Condo
Fees: The Association is not immune to inflation. Replacement
costs increased for repairs and building materials due to inflation and labor
shortages. For this reason, our Reserve
Specialist is requiring an $8.00 per month increase in condominium fees, for
future capital improvements, for 2025 and 2026. In addition, our insurance premium is affected by our Homeowner
insurance claims, which is one of the reasons your Council enacted the
Homeowner inspections. Despite this, the Morgandale condominium fees are among
the lowest in the area. We encourage you to attend the monthly Council Meetings
to hear our treasurer, Gary Cassel, provide a detailed financial report each
month.

50th
Anniversary: The expenses for the 50th Anniversary
celebration were covered by donations from our contractors, at no cost to the
Association.

Question
13: As a result of
insurance claims and to ensure the safety of Residents, the Association enacted
Resolution Number 32/34 – Homeowner Submittals. This resolution requires Homeowners
to have specific components of their home inspected every one to two years, as
well as before new leases and resales. While these requirements may be
burdensome, do you agree that the Association acted in the best interest of the
homeowners?

Summary
Answer: Management is pleased to report that the Association has not
had any insurance claim payouts so far this year. This positive outcome is
largely due to your cooperation with the required inspections and the increased
deductible. The efforts of Homeowners in maintaining their homes and ensuring
they are safe and sound have played a significant role in this achievement. We
are encouraged that this lack of claims will be considered when the insurance
renews in May. Thank you to all the Homeowners who have complied for your
continued diligence and commitment to the community's well-being.

Question
14: Do you feel the other
existing Rules and Regulations are fair and reasonable? 

Summary
Answers:

Rule
Enforcement: We adhere
to a strict policy of fairness and impartiality when it comes to enforcing
community guidelines. Violation letters are issued to all who breach these
guidelines, regardless of their status, position, or relationship within the
community. We do not play favorites or discriminate, and we treat all Residents
with equal respect and fairness. If it appears that a neighbor isn't receiving
a violation letter despite visible issues, it doesn't mean they aren't being
addressed. Some Residents may choose to pay fines rather than remedy the
situation. The Association will be conducting a survey regarding the new rule
regarding ball playing in the pool.

Holiday
Decorations: For Halloween, the Association is now allowing
decorations to be put up starting on October 1st, instead of ten days before
the holiday.

Question
15: The Association will
be paving the roads over the next four years. Are there any other long-term projects or changes you think the
Morgandale Condominium Association should consider?

Summary
Answers: This was an open-ended question with no rating. Below are some suggestions from Residents:

Privacy
Fences: The Association is in the process of bidding out the
replacement of the privacy fences throughout the community.

Community
Garden: A survey will be sent out to the community regarding a
potential Community Garden and its location.

Power
Washing: Each year, the Association agreed to include additional
courts in the power washing project.

Gym:
Installing a gym would cost several million dollars, significantly increasing
the monthly condominium fee. Additionally, given the community's 50-year age,
ongoing improvements are needed for our current buildings and grounds.

Dog Park: The
Association has been strongly advised by its attorney not to install a dog park
within the community, primarily due to liability concerns and a significant increase
in insurance coverages. We encourage Residents to take advantage of the many
local dog parks.

Question
16: Are you a current
electric vehicle owner?

Question
17: If not, are you
considering purchasing an electric vehicle in the future?

Question
18: Do you
have any other comments you would like to share with us?

Summary
Answers: This was an open-ended question with no
rating. Below are some suggestions from Residents:

Unsupervised
Children: Many Residents have expressed concerns about the safety of
unsupervised children riding their bikes in the streets and in between parked
vehicles in the courts without regard to the traffic around them.

HOA vs.
Condo Associations: Morgandale is a Condominium Association, not a
Homeowners Association (HOA). It’s important to understand that HOA and
condominiums are not directly comparable. Both HOA and Condominium Associations
manage and maintain common areas and amenities within a residential community,
but they govern different types of property. In an HOA, Homeowners own both the
land and the structures on it, and the HOA is responsible for managing common
areas such as entrances, common area grass, and any amenities. In contrast, a
Condominium Association manages properties where unit owners own their
individual units and share ownership of common areas, including the exterior of
buildings, roofs, concrete walkways, roads, sewer systems, amenities, and
landscaping. As a result, condominium fees are higher than HOA fees due to the
broader scope of responsibilities and shared ownership of the property.

In
Closing:

Please
know that we are committed to providing exceptional service to our Residents,
and your feedback is an important part of that process. Your suggestions and
comments help us to better understand your needs and preferences, and to create
a more welcoming and inclusive community for all.

Sincerely,

The Council for Morgandale
Condominium Association

Tim
Cooney, President                               Marianne
Natali, Vice President

Gary
Cassel, Treasurer                               Caren
Roach, 2^nd Vice President

Cory
Anderson, Secretary