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COMMUNITY UPDATE: June, 2024

6/24/2024

ANNOUNCEMENTS:
Minutes from the June 18, 2024 HOA Board meeting have been posted to the website.
Our pool has opened for another successful season. Thanks to all Board members who
contributed to the opening, and a special thanks to Chris Ramey who spent several
hours powerwashing the decks, and Chad Milliken who assembled new pool furniture.
We truly appreciate our resident volunteers helping to maintain our community!
Call to Action: When I was invited to run for the Board I expected a policy making
group. Once elected, I quickly realized that the purpose of The St. Martin’s By The Bay
HOA Board of DIrectors is to serve as a facilities management company! Our small
community can not afford to hire out this service. Since our bylaws strictly prohibit
compensation of any kind for this work, HOA Board members volunteer their time and
expertise to maintain our community; from managing trash removal, boat slip/yard
rentals, septic, well maintenance, gardens, communication, and security. We do this
work in service to our community, and also because we view these efforts as an
extension of our duties as property owners to help maintain overall property values. We
urge all residents to join us in big and small ways according to your time and skills.
Board terms will be up next February for 6 members. We are looking for at least one
new Board member to replace Janie Stopford; preferably a single family, permanent
resident who will help us maintain a balanced board. If you are a resident who is willing
to contribute your time and energy to helping maintain and run our community, please
consider joining us. If you have any ideas or want further information, feel free to reach
out to any Board member!

Resident Volunteers: If time does not permit you to commit to Board work, please
consider becoming a Resident Volunteer…. This could be an ongoing project or a
simple one-time task. Every effort helps and is most appreciated. Current volunteers are
Jeff Stopford (oversaw the legally required Reserve Study, maintains community
gardens), Jolene Killinger (maintains community gardens, helps with elections,
oversees the pool), Bill Killinger (volunteers with County Water project and helps with
elections), Robin Custead and Betty Young (serve on the social committee), Pat
Costantino (advises on Architectural committee, assists with gardening), Chris Ramey
(helps with annual pool set up and power washes), Chad Milikan (does maintenance
odds and ends), Bill Smith, Phil Yakim, and Michael Gooch (volunteer to control
Phragmite growth at the waterfront).
As you can see it truly takes a village, and we urge you to join us in this important work.
There is always much to do!

ARCHITECTURAL REVIEW COMMITTEE: Curb Appeal continues to be our focus.
Property inspections were conducted again in May and the committee will issue letters
to several owners with recommendations for upkeep and violations that will need
immediate attention. These repairs will help maintain our overall property values and
sense of community well being.
The well pump house has been painted a new coastal color, and plans are underway to
clean it out in order to improve the curb appeal of the waterfront.
We are enjoying the efforts of last fall’s phragmite removal with improved waterfront and
views. This will be an ongoing effort to keep the invasive species at bay in order to
promote the healthy growth of the natural vegetation.

BOAT DOCK/BOATYARD: Craig Costantino
Repairs to the dock and boardwalk were completed in April.
Reminder that boat slip rentals are assigned on an annual basis according to the needs of the group. The HOA reserves the right to assign slips. No slip is guaranteed to a renter beyond the rental year. Boat yard rental space is reserved for residents only or any non-resident who may rent a boat slip. We will not be renting boat storage space to outsiders.
Boat yard storage fees: Only half of our owners have paid for boat yard storage. Keith will contact those who have not paid. Next year boat yard storage will be added onto the annual dues form.

COMMUNICATION:
Links to Board meetings will continue to be posted to the website. Community updates
will summarize Board notes for those unable to attend.

BURN PILE:
Please remember that only shrub and brush cuttings may be dumped. No trash or
treated lumber allowed. These items may prevent us from obtaining a burn permit in
the Fall.

LAWNCARE :
We continue to work to improve the gardens around our community. Special thanks to
Jeff Stopford and Jolene Killinger for their efforts on the Pool and townhouse gardens
respectively. Looking for volunteers to help weed and maintain the garden of Parking
Lot A. The additional parking spaces along the road were recently repaired.

DRIVEWAY, DUMPSTERS:
Dumpster fees are part of our annual dues. Only residents may dump trash. Please
remember to break down large boxes and no furniture. Items placed beside the
dumpster will not be taken.

WATER SUPPLY/ COMMUNITY SEPTIC:
Marina Drive single home septic pumping is in progress. Town homes are scheduled for
their annual septic pumping on August 6th. Please DO NOT PARK near units 16 and 40
during this time.
In March, Sharp repaired the filter/softeners at a cost of $3,000 + with a goal of fewer
interruptions over the summer months. The system seems to have improved and we are
hopeful that the upcoming holiday season will prove uneventful. Several Board
members met with a representative from Sharp to develop a plan to improve the
drainage of the pump house. Sharp will also install a storage cabinet to make the
interior a more suitable work environment. The exterior has been weeded, mulched,
power washed, and painted. These actions will improve the overall appearance and
function of the pump house.

SUNSHINE/SOCIAL COMMITTEE
Our next scheduled event will be a Sunset Happy Hour on July 20th. Bring your favorite
beverage and snack and join us at the dock at sunset!

Resolution to Wetlands Tree Management:
The HOA is accountable to the MDE to enforce its laws on all HOA property. We will
strictly enforce regulations of the MD Department of Natural Resources which state that
trees and shrubs may not be removed, but can be pruned and limbed up to improve a
view. Pruning must be done with hand tools (includes hand operated chainsaws or
weed whackers ) to no more than 25% of the living canopy and lower branch
removal is limited to the lower 1/3 height of the tree.

Anyone wanting a tree or shrub trimmed in the waterfront or wetlands MUST FIRST
SUBMIT A REQUEST to the HOA Board at [email protected]. All requests to
trim trees/shrubs on HOA property will be conducted by the HOA representatives with
costs to be incurred by the resident who makes the request. Failure to follow these
guidelines may result in a $500 fine from the HOA as well as additional fines from MDE.
Our next scheduled HOA Board meeting will be Tuesday, August, 20, 2024, with a link to the meeting to be posted on the website.
Here’s to a wonderful, relaxing summer season,

On behalf of the St. Martin’s By The Bay HOA Board of Directors,
Lynne Partridge, Chair

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