Here is a short report on the BuidlingLink event we had recently.

Please be sure your telephone contact information is correct in BuildingLink because your life, your family, and pets may depend on this (more details read below).

On Saturday, March 14, Robert Garcia of BuildingLink spoke to residents about enhanced features on the system and answered the questions of users. He addressed many of the key features of BuildingLink, and was pleasantly surprised to see how robust and well-developed our website is.  He was particularly impressed by our Library, which has 196 documents loaded, and our Pet Park, which contains the ECA’s House Rules regarding pets.

In order to fully implement BuildingLink, the following activities are planned.  All need input and support from residents:

1.     Test of the Emergency Broadcast System.  This system sends emergency alerts to all residents’ homes and/or cell numbers.  Examples of such alerts might be for false fire alarms, elevator outages, water shutdowns, and the like.

The alerts can be sent simultaneously to all residents, or, depending on the nature of the alert, can be confined to those on specific floors, tiers, or Towers. 

In order to test the Emergency Broadcast System, it is imperative that all residents (regardless of whether they use a computer or not) have their phone numbers accurately listed in BuildingLink.  If you do not use a computer, see the Concierge or go to the Management Office for assistance.  If you use BuildingLink, simply log on and complete your profile. (You may choose to keep your profile private or public at this time as well.)  Tests of the Emergency Broadcast System will be announced.

2.     The Bulletin Board is now loaded in BuildingLink and up-to-date.  If you do not have a computer, you may request a printed copy of the Bulletin Board at the Concierge Desk.  This is very convenient for all of our residents, because you no longer need to scramble for pen and paper if you see an item of interest on the Bulletin Board.  The printed copy is yours to take home, pore over, and use.

3.     Pet Registration.  Please make it a point to register your pets in the Pet Park, and load their adorable photos there.  The Pet Park enables pet owners to create and participate in pet-specific forums. If you do NOT have a computer, you may bring your information to the concierge desk or the office for loading.

4.     WebCam.  BuildingLink encourages its buildings to have photos for service providers who will enter residents’ homes. These would include: care givers, housekeepers, contractors, dog walkers, and those working in your apartment. This extra precaution allows the Concierge to recognize those you have authorized to pick up your key, receive a parking pass, pick up packages, or gain access to your apartment.  It is particularly helpful for any new person at the Concierge Desk, or someone filling in temporarily there.  Photos taken by the WebCam can be viewed ONLY by the Concierge and no one else.  Your neighbors cannot view the photos. Pictures which appear on profiles in the public directory are those uploaded by individual residents specifically to share in that forum.

Summary of ECA Board Meeting February 24, 2015

Board Present: Steven Schattman, Sharon Bobb, Patricia Batey, Jim Jones, John McNerney, Alfred Muller, Jim Vuko

Others Present: ECA General Manager Terry Lee, Legum & Norman Regional Manager James Santos. 

Highlights of the Meeting

ECA Treasurer reported that we have started drawing against our line of credit. The cold weather has saved us interest.

ECA General Manager will issue a revised schedule for window installation. Because of the time lost, the contractor will bring on extra crews and there may be some Saturday work which will not include demolition noise or window replacement. Window installation through the 7^th floor in the 19^th tier is next up for completion.

Claims against the ECA master insurance policy rising in 2015 due to sewage backup problems caused by "exploding toilets."

BuildingLInk will give a presentation Saturday, March 17, 2015 at 10 AM. This is for users already familiar with basic navigation of the BuildingLink system. ECA president urges everyone to upload a photo of themselves to promote community awareness. For example, you might then be able to learn people’s names by seeing their photosl Volunteers are needed. Call Pat Batey.

Board agreed to revew the Denzel contract.

Board agreed to purchase new device to bring winter cold air if a unit resident wants air conditioning in . This is more energy efficient.

Based on recommendation from the budget committee, the draft audit report has been accepted and sent back to the auditors for completion.

Noise from water pump continues. The problem is over one year running.

Committee Reports

Fitness: a new treadmill will be purchased to replace an old one.

Participation Committee continues to work on a campaign to update the ECA Bylaws starting with the initiative to lower the number of votes required to change ECA bylaws. Survey summary showed a surprising 85% indicating they would vote for the bylaw initiative. A separate proxy for the bylaw change will have its own proxy. The proxy will arrive and be distributed in several weeks. Volunteers are needed. Contact Jim Vuko.

Making a Difference Committee—on March 25 from 5-7, the committee will collect professional clothing to help financially disadvantage to get jobs. If possible, please bring clothing on hangers.

Comments from Floor

Praise was extended to ECA weekday mornings life guard Mohammed Ali for making sure the pool is opened 6-9 AM Mon-Fri.

Praise was extended to Early Kelly, ECA engineer for 23 years of service and to remind people he will retire in a year or do.

Bylaws Update Initiative Needs Your Support

Please  Help Update Our ECA Bylaws

The Board of Directors has launched a Bylaws Update Initiative which seeks to lower the number of votes required to change Elizabeth Condominium Association Bylaws from 75% to two-thirds of ECA members.  In order to achieve this goal, 75% of ECA members must vote to approve this change at the May 2015 Annual Meeting. 

Why This Change Is Important

The current limitation makes it difficult for our Board to respond in a timely fashion to challenges facing our community.  A 75% majority vote requires extraordinary effort and expense to achieve, especially where a sizeable number of the apartments are not owner-occupied.  Today 101 or 28.7% of Elizabeth apartments are being rented.  The proposed update is in line with Maryland condominium law and the vast majority of condominiums in our state.  Maryland law states that bylaws may be amended by the affirmative vote of two-thirds (2/3) of unit owners unless a higher percentage is required in the Bylaws.  Two-thirds is a super majority and is sufficient to prevent a small number of homeowners from changing bylaws and forcing their will on the rest of the community.  The proposed update will allow for somewhat greater flexibility in making changes in the operation of the Association, when appropriate.

We Need Your Help

A great deal of manpower will be needed to get the 75% of votes required to pass this update.  If you would like to help you just reply to this email and someone will contact you.

Please tell your friends.  Thank you!

James Vuko, Participation Committee Chair / jvuko@conference.com / 301-913-5934

Summary of ECA Board Meeting January 27, 2015

Board Present: Steven Schattman, Sharon Bobb, Patricia Batey, John McNerney, Alfred Muller, Jim Vuko

Absent: Jim Jones

Others Present: ECA General Manager Terry Lee, Legum & Norman Regional Manager James Santos, and Ken Kosteva, Wiss, Janney, Elstner Associates, Inc. (he answered questions from audience.)

Highlights of the Meeting

Energy tax credits were renewed but we did not prepare our certification, according to ECA Treasurer John McNerney. Jim Santos answered this and said it would have cost more than we could have saved to complete certification. Our windows are not energy star rated but they exceed the star rating standards.

Balcony demolition on the 6^th tier exceeded noise levels experienced with other tiers. Demolition continues in 4^th and 6^th tiers but these are the last tiers.

Window fasteners issue requiring large expense.  For some months, the  outside building renovation team has been aware of window fasteners (nails) that may be weathering badly. Terry Lee presented a change order to the Board without the Board having been informed about this problem at the time the issue surfaced. The Board tabled decision on this issue to allow adequate time to research the problem.

Approval and funding to write documentation related to environmental safety granted.

Quality Air scheduling of HVAC replacement has been disrupted because shutting down water in a tier has been curtailed due to the cold weather. They are  working on a new schedule.

A $100,000 insurance claim was filed for the recent sewage backup problems.

No candidate has been vetted for assistant engineer. The hope is to identify a qualified military veteran.

BuildingLInk presence in lobby. A large screen will be mounted in the mail corridor as an aid for residents to determine whether they have any packages at the front desk. While a public discussion was held at the Design Committee meeting, the decision for where the screen would be placed was mostly determined by Board members who also were not interested in poling ECA residents relative to the use of BuidlingLink. At this stage, BuildLink will provide good administrative support for accurate package delivery. It is unclear how useful the BuildingLink screen mounted in the mail corridor will be since there is no immediate access to the front desk for package pickup.

Participation Committee is kicking off a campaign to update the ECA Bylaws starting with the initiate to lower the number of votes required to change ECA bylaws. Volunteers are needed. Contact Jim Vuko, Jackie Lapidus, or Jean Umiker-Sebeok.

Social Committee – is planning a meet and greet for new residents some time in late February. In April the plan is for wine tasting party, similar to the one held last year.

Making a Difference Committee—will collect professional clothing to help financially disadvantage to get jobs.

Noise from water pump continues. Resident asked for public assess to Mendoza. The problem is over one year running.

Issue of second-hand smoke discussed. Suggestions included making the Elizabeth a smoke-free building but grandfathering in current smokers.

Summary of ECA Board Meeting November 18, 2014

Board Present: Steven Schattman, Sharon Bobb, Patricia Batey, Jim Jones, John McNerney, Alfred Muller, Jim Vuko

Others Present: ECA General Manager Terry Lee, Legum & Norman Regional Manager James Santos, representatives from Quality Air & consultant on asbestos abatement

Highlights of the Meeting

HVAC

New problem: asbestos in the drywall compound. To correct this problem before in wall HVAC can be installed, test needs to be conducted ($25). If there is asbestos (high likelihood there is), the area will have to be contained and repaired. This will cost about $200-$300 per standing unit and take a day’s time.

Many people buying HVAC units from Quality Air expressed discontent with the color of the grills on their in wall units (brushed aluminum). At first QA said they could do nothing to change the product but further discussion yielded effort on part of QA to look into correcting the issue.

It was suggested that some HVACs could have thermostats and valves replaced to extend the life of the existing HVAC. Owners need to contact company of their choice to evaluate their HVAC. Quality Air is one possible company for the work.

Question brought up about the quality of air filter used in the HVAC. QA said they use the highest quality (Merv 8)

WATER PUMP NOISE: Expectation is noise from water pump will be fixed by installation of new holding tanks.

Board passed motion to change bylaw majority vote from 75% to 66.66%. Volunteers needed to help with this effort.

Building Links  system suppose to aid in package delivery process but not in time for the full holiday package load at front desk. Expect system up in mid December.

Hartman Design contract just signed.

Parking regulations enforcement still an issue.

Social Committee –Holiday party December 14 (7-9 pm)

Making a Difference—successful hat and scarf sale (almost $800 received in sales) to fund Holiday box filling for homeless.

Dec 6 – wrap and stuff boxes for contribution to homeless.

Summary HIghlights of ECA Board Meeting October 28, 2014

Board Present: Steven Schattman, Sharon Bobb, Patricia Batey, Jim Jones, John McNerney, Alfred Muller, Jim Vuko

Others Present: ECA General Manager Terry Lee, Legum & Norman Regional Manager JamesSantos

President’s Report:

We lost our neighbor Maurice Trebach. He did the original research on our window project. He was a board member and a Village council member.

Complaints about the windows. Pat Batey shadows the contractors. Management is overseeing them but also the building. Major cause of the complaints is the building itself. A lot of corners were cut and some of that original shoddy work is coming to light now.

Treasurer:

Energy tax credits expired in 2013 and are not available at this time. If Congress acts on this, the Association will be notified.

Management Report:

Problem with window installation in Tier 11: Muller suggests that if any aesthetic changes are to be made in the building renovation projects, the entire Board should decide them. Tier 11 had problems on lower levels. Muller is asking that door handles be treated as they were originally. It affects furniture. In this case, there will be 2 months to reorder the doors that did not fit since no measurements was taken on the lower floors of tier 11. Batey said putting all the door handles on same side gave us a discount. Santos will investigate.

Noise from water pump now being discussed with Mendoza. Lee can hear the noise at the lobby level as well as certain occupants of floor 3.

Building Links (computer system) loading Association member info. Will be available first to general managers to test.

Parking regulations enforcement still an issue.

Design Committee—east hallway discussion available as minutes in management office. Committee wants to purchase a bench for Library area. Recommend that Hartman proposal be accepted.

Making a Difference—big success for linen collection.

Nov 13 & 14 – handmade hats/scarves sale and show

Nov 21—prebox party. Kids decorate the boxes.

Dec 6 – wrap and stuff boxes for contribution to homeless.

New Business:

Hartman Design requested an addendum to the contract. No extra money. Muller and Bobb urge proceeding since we have good oversight with Peg Downeys head of the Design Committee. Jim Santos praises Phyllis Hartman and that certainly she will keep to the budget she is handed. She is a professional. Motion passes with 5 in favor, 1 opposed, 1 abstention.

Keylink system for Key Control—

Need better key control. This motion was defeated earlier. Schattman not convinced this is best answer. Batey says she has looked at other system and others are more expensive and do the same the thing. Schattman worried that keylink does not track who goes into an apartment. Muller says this is not in the budget. It is $13K. Muller says this is out of order according to Robert’s Rules. Motion passes 6 to 1.

Assistant Engineer to live in house.

Controversial – many association members want the assistant engineer to be an ECA hire. Santos says we need a 21^st century approach where info is shared. We do not want a Jimmy Keating who had institutional memory. Motion passes 4 to 3.