Community News

Recent events and announcements of interest to our community (newest announcements at the top of the page)

Community Notes

An issue was raised at the recent Board of Directors' meeting regarding some problems with traffic rules within the community.  The problem is that some cars in the community are ignoring the speed limits and/or not coming to a complete stop at the stop signs.  We have asked the town for additional traffic enforcement in the community.  This issue has been addressed in the past with additional enforcement and the vast majority of the violators were community residents.

Election Completed

The Summit Ridge Election was completed on August 13, 2008.  Dan Dore was reelected to the board for a two year term.  Bill Kroshl accepted nomination to another term and was also reelected for a two year term.

The Board of Directors now consists of Dan Dore, Dick Heiger and Bill Kroshl.  The board will meet in the near future to elect directors to specific offices.

Election Continued

Our election had to be continued to the next meeting (August 13 2008) because there were insufficient votes cast to constitute a quorum.

Results of Summit Ridge Survey on Recreational Facilities

Recently a survey was taken about residents desires for additional recreation facilities on a specific parcel of land in Summit Ridge.  We received 62 responses to our survey.  Four households sent in two responses, which were combined in the totals reflected below:

 Note that households were allowed to vote for multiple uses.

Summit Ridge Important Meeting Notice

The State Police Will Be Attending Our HOA Meeting on Wednesday - April 9, 2008 at 7:00  pm.  The meeting will be held at the Mount Airy Volunteer Fire Co.
 

All Homeowners Are Invited for an Open Dialogue on Crime in Mount Airy and Our Community.  Please email the secretary (secretary-treasurer@summitridge-mountairymd.com) by 3/31/08 for a commitment to attend this important meeting.

If we receive less than 10 responses by 3/31/08, we will cancel the State Police from our normal meeting agenda.

Summit Ridge Picnic scheduled for October 21, 2007

The picnic was held for Oct 21. 

New Park Opens

Carroll County government officials allowed the board to construct a small park at this site in Summit Ridge, near the intersection of Scotch Heather and Summer Sweet Lane, overlooking the mountains near the entrance to Summit Ridge.  As you can see, we have a table and some benches so that when you are taking your walk you can rest a few minutes and enjoy the scenery.

A special thank you to the volunteers who constructed the park and seating.

Jim Joyce
Pat Rockinberg
John Grillo
Dan Dore
Jim Perry

Here is another view from the sidewalk near the park:  it is one of most scenic spots in our community:

Dick Heiger elected as new director

The election was continued until August 8, 2007.  At that time Mr. Dick Heiger was elected to a two year term as a director.  After the election, the board of directors met in executive session to determine officers for the next year.  The new positions are as follows:

President:  Dan Dore

Vice President:  Dick Heiger

Secretary - Treasurer:  Bill Kroshl

Dick Heiger appointed as interim director

When the election in June had an insufficient turnout to constitute a quorum, the remaining directors had to appoint an interim director to serve in Pat Rockingberg's place until a valid election occurs.  Mr. Dick Heiger was appointed, and has accepted this position.  Many thanks to Dick for stepping forward and agreeing to help the community!

Pat Rockinberg completes second term as director

Pat has completed two terms as a Director, serving as Vice President of the HOA for the last four years.  During that time he was instrumental in resolving many outstanding community issue with the town of Mt Airy and with the developer, helping to ensure that the developer met required obligations.  He also has been a tireless worker in organizing the McGruff house program and the annual picnic each fall.  Our community has been enriched by his service and effort over the last few years. 

Pat, thanks for everything you have done.  We all appreciate your efforts.

Insufficient turnout in June means second election required

We did not have a sufficient number of votes cast for a valid election on June 13, 2007.  This means that another election must be called.  Current plans are to hold this election in August.  More details will be available by mail soon. 

Annual Election to be Held on June 13, 2007

On June 13 there will be an election to elect one member to the board of directors.  Details will be mailed to all homeowners in the next few weeks.  Watch the mail for details.

Annual Picnic Held on October 29, 2006

The picnic was held on October 29th, and everyone there had a very good time.  There were activities for every age, including a moonbounce, pumpkin painting, volleyball, and lots of meeting with friends and neighbors.   I also some teenagers tossing a football around as well.  The food was excellent. The mayor managed to find some time in his busy schedule to come out and join us.

Many thanks to Pat Rockinberg and Carol Quinn, who did the majority of the planning and organizing.  Thanks to all those who helped in the various events and activities.

From the Board of Director's Meeting held on October 11, 2006

Picnic:

Plans for the picnic are well underway.  Many thanks to Carol Quinn and Pat Rockinberg who have put in many long hours of planning and hard work.  More volunteers to help at the picnic are still needed.  Please contact either Carol Quinn or Pat Rockinberg. 

The picnic will be held on October 29, 2006 from 1:30 to 4:30 pm.  A copy of the flyer for the picnic, as well as a mail in or drop registration form, is available on this website. 

Annual Dues:

The mailing for the annual homeowner association dues will be sent out by the management company in late November or Early December. 

Pools:

The issue of above ground pools was brought up.  According to our covenants, above ground pools are discouraged.  They should be decked in must be approved by the architecture review committee.  Homeowners are reminded that Carroll County considers ANY POOL which is deeper than 24 inches as a pool which requires a permit.   A clarification on this will be included in the next HOA mailing.

Parking of trailers:

The issue from the annual meeting was brought up again.  The town ordinances do not allow trailers to be parked on the streets, and our covenants do not allow for them to be parked on the property:  they must be kept in garages.  This will be an item that will be  included in the next HOA mailing and be reviewed during the next neighborhood walk through.

From the annual meeting held on August 9, 2006

Election:

The annual meeting of the members of the association was reconvened on August 9, 2006 at the Mt Airy Volunteer Fireman's hall.  We did not have a quorum at the meeting convened in June 2006, so the meeting was continued to this date.  According to the bylaws, whatever turnout occurs at this second meeting is considered a sufficient quorum.  Ballots from the June and August meetings were counted for the director's election (but no household was counted twice). 

Bill Kroshl and Dan Dore were elected as directors of the association for two year terms, expiring in June 2008.  After the meeting the directors met and voted to leave the office assignments unchanged.

There was a general discussion of how to increase participation at elections.  Besides the obvious benefit of give more people a voice in the running of the association, if we could make our quorum requirements on the first ballot it would eliminate the need (and expense) of the continued meeting and election.  One suggestion was to provide a stamped return envelope for the ballot / proxy.  Another was to have the option of online voting.  The latter choice might require a change in the covenants.  We will investigate.

Picnic:

Carol Quinn has agreed to plan the picnic for this year.  Of those households who expressed an opinion they were overwhelmingly in favor of moving the picnic from the weekend before school starts to sometime in the fall when the weather is cooler.  Carol is now working on the exact date.  Volunteers are needed to help plan and run the picnic this year.  If you are interested in helping please contact Carol Quinn at cquinn3@marykay.com.

Parking:

An observation was made concerning the parking of campers and camping trailers. Article 4, section 14 of the covenants states the following:

"No commercial vehicles, camp trucks, ... trailers, vans (except a van having a passenger car license and with no exterior commercial lettering), boats, buses, campers, recreational vehicles, tractors, junked or unlicensed passenger vehicles or any other vehicles, other than private passenger vehicles in regular operation, shall be parked regularly on any road within the property or on any lot unless garaged."  It should also be noted that the town of Mt Airy has recently adopted some new regulations regarding the parking of trailers on the streets.  Essentially, trailers, campers, etc, are not supposed to parked on the street or on the property (except for the garage). 

Older, but still valid items of news:

Snow Removal

Just as a reminder: according to Mount Airy town ordinances snow must be removed from sidewalks. This is the responsibility of the homeowner. This is especially important for areas near school bus stops. You cooperation is appreciated.

The applicable ordinance is quoted here:

§ 85-4.1. Sidewalk snow removal. [Added 6-7-2004 by Ord. No. 2004-3]
Owners and occupants of premises fronting upon any street with paved sidewalks shall remove snow and ice from the traveled portions of the sidewalk to a width of at least 30 inches within 24 hours after any precipitation event producing such snow or ice shall end. For purposes of this section, the term "sidewalk" shall refer to that paved portion of a street between the curbline, or the lateral lines of a roadway where there is no curb, and the adjacent property line, intended for the use of pedestrians. Violations of this section shall be deemed a municipal infraction punishable by a fine of $25 for the first offense and $50 for each subsequent offense. Each day on which the sidewalk shall not be cleared as required shall constitute a separate municipal infraction.

During the last snow season I heard directly from both the Mayor and Council President that these ordinances are being enforced.