Buckingham Greene Maintenance Corporation

Winter, 2004 Newsletter

Dec 30, 2004

Happy Holidays
We wish everyone a very happy holiday season, as well as a joyous and healthy new year. Once again, much was accomplished within our little community of Buckingham Greene. Following is a quick recap of some of the highlights.

Community Meeting Held
Community members met at the Brandywine Hundred Library on September 30th to discuss several topics of interest within our development.

The meeting began with a guest speaker (Norman Spector) from the Office of Community Governing. Mr. Spector brought numerous brochures and information regarding county and community information for those in attendance. Secondly, the following issues of concern to the community were addressed:

Board Elections: There were no candidates for any Board of Director positions within the Buckingham Greene Maintenance Corporation. The current Board was voted to remain as is with Paul Zoppi as President, Rich McCann and Tom Tryon as Vice Presidents, Alan Herring as Treasurer, and Shelli McGrory as Secretary.

For the various Committees within the development, the following individuals volunteered to participate:

Architectural Review:
Rich McCann (Chair), Cindy Agresta, Charlie Diggins, Mauro Panzera, and Loren Kahlbaugh
Social Committee:
Blair Nolan, Rita McCann, and Lani Gibson
Landscape Committee:
Lani Gibson and Patrick McGrory

No one volunteered to participate with the Community News Committee. Anyone who did not attend the meeting and would like to help out, please contact any member of the Board of Directors. We are not asking for a lot of time. Simply giving one hour of your time per month can have a profound impact on our community. Let?’s all chip in to help make Buckingham Greene the best development in New Castle County.

Next, Jane Caton offered information regarding B&C Consulting; a firm that manages maintenance organizations in the area. The purpose of this company is to relieve the homeowners of the tasks that are typically handled by the Board of Directors and other volunteers; such as architectural review, getting bids for lawn and ground services and snow removal, the billing and collection of the annual assessment, etc. They would be a third party who could deal with some of the difficult situations that can occur in homeowner associations. We do not have information regarding the fees for this service. However, Mr. Spector did not feel that it was necessary for a community of our size (only 50 homeowners), especially since we do have a complete Board of Directors who are willing to take on these tasks. The homeowners at the meeting voted not to pursue getting additional information from this firm.

Regarding the annual assessment, the community members at the previous homeowners meeting in March voted to continue with the liability insurance for the Maintenance Corporation. While the cost for this type of insurance has increased significantly in recent years, community members felt it was important to retain our general liability insurance. Without this insurance, the ongoing lawsuit with Arden would have cost us approximately $75,000 in legal expenses over the past seven years. We are currently paying $1,279 annually for the insurance coverage. Whether we should continue with the liability insurance was discussed (as it is a significant part of the budget), and it was voted that we should continue with the coverage.

The Arden lawsuit was the next topic on the agenda. Chancellor Noble came out to look at the area in question. He does not feel he has enough information to make a decision and may want to have an evaluation made by an independent architectural firm. Stay tuned for more details soon.

There were two dead trees in the community that have since been removed. The position of one of the trees was near homes and the street along Weilers Bend, and could have potentially caused significant damage if it fell. The other tree was in the wooded area in between the homes in the cul-de-sac and the homes along the creek area of Weilers Bend. Numerous estimates to cut down the trees were received. To prevent damage to both property and people, it was voted on to have the trees cut down but not remove them (to keep the costs down). The lowest estimate we received to simply cut the trees up and leave them in the woods was $600. We did not have this money allocated in the 2004 budget. Hopefully, it will be a mild winter and we won?’t have too much snow removal, enabling the Board to use some of the money allotted for that to be put towards removing the trees.

The construction on the new homes in the community has begun ?– included in the packets handed out at the meeting were floor plans for the homes. If you did not attend the meeting and would like to see the plans, contact Paul for a copy.

There have been several sightings of foxes within the development, predominantly around the wooded area. Several neighbors have seen the foxes clearly and have determined that it appears to have mange (an illness). Paul has contacted the state and they will not come out to do anything unless the foxes are rabid. He has also spoken to some animal experts who do not feel that they pose any danger. If you see the fox, please do not do anything to provoke it. Be sure to pass that information on to the children in your home.

The Community Directory needs to be updated. If anyone would like to volunteer, contact Paul or Shelli.

In addition, a suggestion was made to start a ?“Preferred Vendor?” list within the community. This list would be comprised of people and/or businesses that may have done work for you or your home that you would be able to recommend to the community. Plumbers, painters, electricians, etc. are some examples, as well as personal work ?– computers, etc. If anyone would like to volunteer to get the list started, or if you have someone that you would like to recommend to be added to any such list, please contact Paul or Shelli.

Deed Restrictions: Of the six changes that were proposed to the existing deed restrictions, all but one ?– section 1, private residences - received enough votes from the households to be changed. There are 55 lots ?– we need a 2/3 approval ?– 37 households to make a change. The one that did not get enough votes received 36 votes. We will now need to go door to door with the changes to be signed and notarized for every household. Jimmy Jarrell, a notary, and Lorraine Christensen volunteered to take on this task. If anyone else would like to help, please let Paul know.

Wayne Smith, our local representative, was on hand to discuss numerous issues. One topic was an easier way to get county deed restrictions enforced. Wayne has been working to get a form created that can be filled out and given to Chancery Court without actually having to go to court. The Court is apparently willing to accept this proposal, but needs more manpower to be able to implement. This would certainly make the process significantly easier.

The final topic of discussion was airport traffic patterns. This has been an ongoing problem that needs all of our support to change. The more phone calls that our representatives receive, the more aware they will be that it is a major concern to residents in north Wilmington. Here are the names and numbers to contact:

U.S. Senator Joe Biden phone: 302-573-6345
1105 N. Market Street fax: 302-573-6351
Suite 2000
Wilmington, DE 19801-1233

U.S. Senator Tom Carper phone: 302-573-6291
1 Christina Center Suite 102L-1
Wilmington, DE 19801

Congressman Mike Castle phone: 302-428-1902
201 N. Walnut Street Suite 107
Wilmington, DE 19801-3970

Please call, fax, or write to let your opinions be known. The more people speak out, the greater the chance we have of making a difference.

Please let Paul or Shelli know if you would like copies of the handouts that were available at the meeting if you were unable to attend. Some of the information included deed restrictions, our budget, the new homes being built in the neighborhood, frequently used phone numbers from the Office of Community Governing, information about air traffic, etc.

Hope to see everyone at our next community meeting in February/March. More details to follow soon.

Procedures for applying for Architectural Review Committee Approval
Are you planning on adding to your deck, putting up a fence, doing an addition? If you are, please keep in mind that any exterior building additions, change in exterior walls, color changes, changes in grade of lot, installation of fences or decks, or other exterior construction improvements require written approval from the Maintenance Corporation. This written approval is in accordance with the Declaration of Restrictions dated August 4th, 1994. Plans and specifications, with illustrations, showing the nature, kind, shape, color, height, materials and proposed location should be submitted to the Architectural Review Committee for review and approval. The following are the procedures for securing approval:

1) Submit plans directly to the Architectural Review Committee Chair (Rich McCann at 75 Weilers Bend).
2) Plans must be submitted no later than 2 months prior to any proposed alteration in order to provide ample review time.
3) The Committee will review the plans and approve, disapprove, or recommend modifications in writing within 60 days (The Committee will do its best to turn plans around as quickly as possible, however).
4) No modifications should be made until the signed plans are returned.
5) If you want some verbal advice, input, or discussion prior to submitting plans, please feel free to contact Rich McCann (529-7554) or Paul Zoppi (529-7760).

While this review and approval process may seem cumbersome, it is important to remember that what affects one property in the development affects us all. Perhaps more importantly, if the Maintenance Corporation needs to enforce non-compliant alterations, this must me done through the court system, and court costs will be borne by the Corporation which can impact each member?’s annual assessment. If we are all patient and respectful of each other?’s property, we shouldn?’t have any problems with deed restrictions. Thank you for your support and cooperation.

Buckingham Greene Website
Did you know that Buckingham Greene has its own community website? It?’s true, and you can access the Buckingham Greene Maintenance Corporation website at:
www.neighborhoodlink.com/wilmington-de/bgca.
The website can also be accessed by going to
www.neighborhoodlink.com, and entering 19810 in the zip code field. Buckingham Greene will be one of the community websites to choose from. New Castle County has entered into an agreement with Neighborhood Link to offer this free service to civic/homeowner organizations within the area.

There is lots of good information for members of the community to review. There is a calendar of events, contact information, previous newsletters and much more, all in an effort to help the residents of Buckingham Greene stay abreast of what?’s going on in our neighborhood and the surrounding community in general. Please take a tour and let us know if you have any feedback. Comments/suggestions can be sent to Paul Zoppi at pzoppi109@cs.com. In addition, there is an interactive area (?“Talk About It?”), which lists all the discussion postings within the community. Feel free to take advantage of this forum to post any messages/questions you may have.

Holiday Social
In October, over thirty residents got together for our second ever ?“Adults Night Out Holiday Social?”. The event was held at Kid Shelleen?’s in Wilmington and was a tremendous success. The food was good, but the people were even better. Everyone enjoyed having a chance to get reacquainted with some of their neighbors. Ann and Charlie Diggins won the third annual Buckingham Greene Trivia Contest. Special thanks goes to Tammy Zoppi, Lani Gibson, Blair Nowland and Rita McCann for helping to make this wonderful event take place. Keep an eye out for more fun events in the New Year.

Buckingham Greene Trivia
We had our annual Buckingham Greene Trivia Contest at the ?“Adults Social?” in an effort to determine who knew the most about the neighborhood. As previously mentioned, Ann and Charlie Diggins won with a very impressive score of 8 out of 10 correct answers. How well can you do? If you are up to the challenge, see how many questions you can answer (correct responses can be found on the Buckingham Greene website at www.neighborhoodlink.com/wilmington-de/bgca). Good luck!

1) Who is our newest resident ?– moving into Buckingham Greene in the summer of 2004?

2) Who has two daughters named Juliana and Victoria?

3) How many streetlights are there in Buckingham Greene (15, 20, 25)?

4) Who has a dog named Gabby?

5) Which resident owns and operates a flooring company?

6) Who is the builder doing the construction on the recently sold lots along Weilers Bend?

7) Which resident works as a financial advisor for Citizens Bank?

8) What is the name of the woods that separates our community from Arden (hint: these woods were the main topic of discussion during the litigation with Arden)?

9) How many tenths of miles are there of streets in Buckingham Greene ?– including all of Weilers Bend and Scotts Way (.3, .4, .5)?

10) Which two (2) Buckingham Greene couples were married during 2003?

Halloween Parade
In October, the Social Committee also helped organize the community Halloween parade. Children and adults participated by coming dressed in their favorite costumes. Everyone had a great time, and there were plenty of treats to go around for all. Thank you to the entire Social Committee (especially Blair Nowland and Rita McCann) for organizing the parade. We look forward to more fun events in the near future.

Announcements
Dave and Beth Lubin recently brought home a new addition to the Buckingham Greene community. Madison Elle Lubin was born November 19th, weighing 7 pounds 4 ounces and was 20 and ?¼ inches long. Mom, Dad, big brothers Parker and Owen, and baby Madison are all doing well. Congratulations to the entire Lubin family.

Don?’t forget, if you have anything you would like to announce to your fellow neighbors (i.e., birth announcements, anniversaries, birthdays, business advertising) please contact Paul Zoppi at 109 Scotts Way (feel free to email Paul with the specifics at pzoppi109@cs.com.) Thank you.

Upcoming Local Events
First Night Wilmington (Dec 31st 4-10pm) Family-oriented nonalcoholic celebration. Theme "Winter Wonderland" includes ice skating rink. Other entertainment includes performers, continuous shorts at Theatre N, exhibit of works by Ed Loper and students at the Community Services galleries. In and around Rodney Square, 11th and Market streets, Wilmington.
?• Admission: One button $7, two $10, 11 and younger free, available At Happy Harry's. Call 576-3095 for more information.

Community Directory
Keep an eye out for a memo regarding the updating of our community directory. We hope to send out an updated version in early 2005. You will be asked to update your directory information if applicable. The directory has gone a long way in helping all of us get to know each other just a little bit better. Again, more details coming soon.

About Curbside Recycling?…
The most anticipated addition to Delaware?’s recycling efforts has arrived! The Delaware Solid Waste Authority (DSWA) has implemented a new curbside pick-up program for New Castle County homeowners for a nominal fee. The program offers curbside pick-up of many recyclable commodities including newspapers, magazines, junk mail, cardboard, plastic bottles and bags, aluminum and steel cans, brown, green and clear glass and even yard waste. Participating residents (this is a residential service only, no commercial pick-up is available) will be billed semi-annually at $6 per month ($9 including yard waste). A specially marked bin, and material-specific, clearly marked bags will be provided. The items will be picked up weekly on a fixed schedule to be determined by DSWA.

As part of DSWA?’s ?“Partners in Recycling?” initiative, many local trash haulers are offering discounts to residents who sign up for this new recycling program. The discounts vary by hauler, so contact your trash hauler to see if they are a DSWA partner, as well as the amount of your discount if applicable.

Any questions regarding the DSWA program should be directed to the Citizens?’ Response Line at 1-800-404-7080. You can also visit the DSWA website at www.dswa.com. We hope to have someone from the DSWA office to speak at our next community meeting.

Tip of the Month
Have you been having problems with your car or truck recently? Does your vehicle sound like it is in need of a tune-up? If so, give Adam Friday a call at 302-293-5352 (he can also be reached via email at ajf81579@aol.com) for a complimentary estimate. From simple oil changes to the most serious transmission problems, Adam guarantees complete customer satisfaction. He is ASE and GM Certified and will be happy to assist you with your automotive service and/or repair needs.

Contact us with Ideas
If you have anything you would like to see published in our next quarterly newsletter, please drop off a note at 109 Scotts Way, or send an email to pzoppi109@cs.com. Your input and feedback is greatly appreciated. As always, we are looking for volunteers to help with putting the newsletter together on a quarterly basis. It doesn?’t have to take up a lot of your time, and it should be a lot of fun. Please feel free to contact any of the Board Members if you are interested in participating.

The next community meeting will be held in late February or early March. More details to follow soon.

Happy New Year!