Island gate financial highlights

With the first four months of 2012 wrapped up, the board thought it would highlight some financial events of the first third of the year.

We signed up with a new liability insurance company, Chubb and kept the cost the same as last year vs. an $8,000 increase from our former agent State Farm.  In addition we increased insurance coverage in some areas.  We also paid the bill for the entire year upfront saving us from finance charges of about $1,000

We signed up with a new landscaping company saving money and increasing services from last year.   

We increased our contribution to our deferred savings accounts

We got totally lucky and didn’t spend a dime on snow removal

We took about 2/3 of the snow amount budgeted and bought new pool furniture

We have a CD from Smith Barney coming due in early May and are looking to find a bank to pay us decent interest rates, with the closing of the CD we will not have any more funds on deposit at Smith Barney, this will save us about $450 in fees per year.

We will discuss this and other financial highlights and have detailed financials available at the community meeting on May 26^th.  We will also be glad to answer any questions you may have that evening.  In addition, if you have any question at any time please feel free to contact the treasurer at edwardfortunato@gmail.com and he would be happy to discuss any questions you may have. 

Fountains in the ponds

If you notice the fountains turning off in the evening there is nothing wrong with the system.  The board took a look at the amount of money we were spending on electricity for the fountains and found we could save hundreds of dollars a month by turning the pumps off at night.  The purpose of the fountains is to keep the water in the ponds from getting stagnant.  Running them 12 hours a day instead of 24 will easily keep the water from stagnating and save us a bundle.  If you have any questions or concerns feel free to contact us.    

Pool Furniture

If you took a look at the pool area recently you may have seen some cardboard covered, plastic wrapped items by the pool.  The board was able to purchase new furniture for the pool area since we didn’t spend any money on snow removal this winter.  The board purchased 35 lounge chairs and 30 upright chairs we also purchased 5 new tables and 10 new umbrellas and some new umbrella stands.  To prepare for the new furniture we had the pool area pressure washed and the area looks great.  We also began to remove the wrapping on the furniture over the weekend and start to set it up.  The board thinks it looks great.  We hope you do too, if you don’t let us know, get involved, the more we hear from our neighbors the better the community will be.  Over the next few weeks the pool will be opened and cleaned and prepared for an early opening May 19^th.  We hope everyone is looking forward to a great summer season. 

Reminder; Please clean up after your dog

It should be instinctive, but many in our community do not always clean up after their dogs.  This is not only the community’s rule but the law in our town, pick up after your dog.  Please note, whether you are an owner, tenant, friend, or visitor everyone is obligated to clean up.  So, no matter the size of the mess or how bad the weather is please make sure that you clean up after your pet. 

NOTICE

There are NO

Garage sales, Moving sales or sales of any kind permitted in our community.  Fines for breaking this rule easily exceed any profits you can make. 

Fortunately there is a flea market just off the premesis if you want to sell some items

Thanks for your cooperation

The pool

One of the things that makes our community unique and valuable is the pool. As summer approaches the pool becomes the focal point of our community. Traditionally the pool opens Memorial Day weekend. This year we are going to open it the weekend before, lets us know what you think.  The pool is then open on weekends until late June where it's opened daily until Labor Day. After Labor Day it's opened on weekends until mid-September. The time of operation is 9am to 8 pm. The pool is also heated on chilly days for our comfort.

As a community member your input is crucial regarding the pool's operation and condition. As such we all have the opportunity to be part of the pool committee. Look for the list of pool rules too. Following them will allow the community to have a safe and enjoyable pool season.

Thanks as always for your input and support

Looking for pool committee volunteers for 2012

Given last year’s pool committee’s success we are having another pool committee this year.  And we are again looking for volunteers to be part of the pool committee.  Pool committee members are people who look after the pool area, they close the umbrellas in the evening, check on the condition of the bathrooms, prune the flowers in the pool area, basically contribute to making the pool area even nicer than it is now.  They are also asked to communicate to Association Advisors or the board any issues they see at the pool.  Time commitment is minimal, only a few minutes per visit and you can volunteer when it is convenient for you.  Being on the pool committee is a great way to help the community, meet your neighbors and make our pool even better. If you are interested please drop an email to edward.fortunato@exeloncorp.com or tell a board member  Thanks in advance for your participation and thanks for helping to make Island Gate great. 

POOL RULES FOR 2012

As pool season approaches we wanted to remind the community of our 2012 POOL RULES, although similar to 2011 we ask that you review them again to be familiar with them.  They will be displayed prominently around the pool area but we wanted to share them with you long before the pool is operational.  Please follow the rules, they will be strictly enforced this season   
If you have any questions feel free to contact a board member or AA

 Island Gate Pool Rules for 2012

Neighbors here are the pool rules for the upcoming pool season.  Please follow them and take them seriously.  Please treat the pool as you would your own and be courteous to others.

ü  There is NO LIFEGUARD on duty, pool use is at your own risk

ü Police or Emergency Medical Service Phone number 911

ü  Questions or concerns please call Association Advisors 732-294-8882

ü  All Federal, State and local laws in addition to the following shall be observed by residents and their guests using the pool.

ü  Use of this pool is restricted to residents who are in good standing and tenants whose landlords are in good standing with the Island Gate Homeowners Association.  Persons without access cards or whose cards do not work are not allowed access to the pool.  Please do not allow admittance to the pool. 

ü  A maximum of 6 people may use the pool at any time from each property unit

ü  Children Under 16 years of age must  have adult supervision

ü  No personal parties shall be held at the pool

ü  No grills or delivery of food is permitted at the pool

ü  Glass containers are prohibited in the pool area

ü  No diving or jumping into the pool

ü  No running or rough play in the pool area

ü  Any person showing evidence of any communicable skin disease, sore or inflamed eyes, cold, nasal or ear discharges, or any other communicable disease is denied admission to the pool area

ü  Any person with excessive sunburn, open blisters, cuts, or bandages shall be denied admission to the pool.

ü  Do not enter the water if you are experiencing or recovering from diarrhea or have had any signs or symptoms of a gastrointestinal (stomach) disease in the past seven days.

ü  All people in diapers must wear plastic pants with snug fitting elastic waist and leg bands. Do not wash out soiled diapers in the bathing water.

ü  Children should be encouraged to use the restroom before entering the water. Immediately report any "accidents" you observe in the bathing waters to Association Advisors. 

ü  No animals, except for service animals, shall be allowed in any parts of the swimming pool area, dressing rooms, or other parts of the pool area.

ü  All persons must shower before entering the water.

ü  No one is allowed in the pool area during severe weather, heavy rain, or when thunder or lightning can be seen or heard.   

ü  Persons suspected of being under the influence of drugs or alcohol are prohibited from entering the pool area.

ü  Conduct which endangers the safety and comfort of others shall be prohibited.  Noodles or Personal Flotation Devices may only be used if not creating a nuisance for others.  Aggressive behavior will not be tolerated.

ü  All personal belongings, trash, band-aids, and personal effects shall be removed or put in the proper trash receptacles immediately. Island Gate recycles.  Leave no trace you were at the pool.

ü  Island Gate Homeowners Association Inc., board of trustees reserves the right to close the pool at any time.

ü  Violations of these rules will result in the revocation of your pool privileges.  All property owners and tenants will be held responsible for the behavior

ü NO SMOKING AT THE POOL

Pushing summer ahead

Given the warmer than normal conditions along with lack of precipitation over the last few months we are going to start sprinkling in the next couple of weeks.  We are thinking that it’s a good idea to start a little earlier in an effort to have the lawns and landscaping looking the best it can.  So don’t be surprised to see the sprinklers go on over the next little while. 
As always if you have any questions or concerns please contact AA or a board member.

Thanks

PS the pool opens in about 1 month

  

Island Gate clean up day a big success

A small but hard working group braved the chilly, wet weather on Saturday to make the Island Gate clean up day a big success. A surprising amount of trash was taken from the property, making the place look even better, work was done in the pool area, the last of the pool furniture was purchased and our old stuff was taken away. Overall, a hugely productive day and a great success for Island Gate. Special thanks go out to our neighbors who took time to pitch in. Stay tuned for a planting day later this spring.