Dear Condo 1 Residents:
We hope you are secure at home practicing safe distancing, washing your hands often, and covering your coughs and sneezes. In this new environment, communication presents a new challenge. Since the Gazette cannot be printed, and many residents do not have access to a computer or other electronic device to allow them to reach our new website, we have to depend on letters and telephone calls.
This crisis has forced us to work remotely, only going into the office occasionally to pick up mail and work orders. Our bookkeeper is working from home, also coming in every few days to pick up checks and other materials. For now, our office hours will be Monday through Thursday, from 10 am to 3 pm, closed Friday. You can call the office using 631-736-0166 during those hours.
Needless to say, working this way has not been easy, and we can make mistakes. An example is the fertilizer treatment. Notification went out on the website, was posted at the club house and yellow flags were put up by the landscaper. We should have sent out a phone blast, and next time we will be sure to do that.
Consequently your Condo 1 Board will send a letter periodically until we get back to “normal.” This way we can update you on our progress and post some reminders. It will also be posted on our website. If possible please sign up for the website: www.brhomeowners.com where, in between letters, we will post updates in the Condo 1 section.
Our security company, Katta Protective Service, has electronically issued important information regarding fraud during this pandemic. Unfortunately the file is too large to include in this mailing but we will post it on the website. We encourage those of you who have computer/tablet access to share the information with friends and neighbors who do not have that access. That would be much appreciated.
What follows are some updates on work that is being done now or will be done soon.
LANDSCAPING: Our new landscaper has started spring cleanup and it went well. Many residents told us how pleased they are with the work. Once we started the maintenance we realized the landscaper was not aware they needed to blow off the patios weekly. We met with them last week and they agreed to begin doing patios starting May 13, 2020. Please read the enclosed guidelines from the landscaper.
CEMENT: With the weather getting warmer, we will begin to repair or replace cement as needed.
SPRINKLER SYSTEM: We have hired a new company this year and expect the sprinklers to be turned on sometime in mid to late May.
WORK ORDERS: We continue to try and keep up with work order requests. We meet with the Maintenance Dept. every 2 weeks to review open work orders. Since the offices are still closed, we have left work order forms outside the club house. Please use them instead of calling or emailing us. The forms give us a much better tracking system. All three boards were planning to add to the maintenance staff this year, but the pandemic interrupted our plans. At this point the hiring of additional staff is on hold.
Now that we’ve given you an update on our work, here are a few things we’d like from you.
SMOKING IN YOUR UNIT: As many of us are home now and spending more time in our homes, smoking in your unit is causing the smoke to filter into your neighbors units. Since the weather is nice, can you please smoke on your patio so the smoke does not filter into your neighbors’ units.
NOISE: Many people are working from home and kids are getting home schooled. Please keep the volume down on your music and TV’s. Courtesy goes a long way.
BEHAVIOR: Most of the phone calls and emails we receive are professional and friendly. However, some are downright nasty and condescending. Those of us who volunteer to serve on the Condo Board, and the woman who covers our office and records, deserve to be treated with respect and in the same professional manner that you wish to be treated. We work very hard to meet all of your needs not only during this trying time, but all the time. We will ALWAYS be respectful when talking to you. Please give us the same courtesy.
We sincerely hope that by the next letter we will have received encouraging news from our government to ease the stress we feel from the pandemic. All of us want to go back to our normal lives although what was normal may be different when we finally get there. In the meantime, just know that your Condo 1 Board will do all they can to keep us safe and comfortable. We hope we can count on all of you to help us get there.
Sincerely,
Condo 1 Board of Managers
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