Amanda M. Lauer
My husband and I discovered Oella in December 2004 and moved to Long Brick Row in March 2005. I am a native of Pennsylvania, but moved to Maryland in 2000 to attend graduate school. I am currently working as a postdoctoral researcher at the Johns Hopkins School of Medicine. I’ve been involved with the board on and off since 2006. I had to resign my previous position due to overwhelming personal and professional responsibilities that did not afford much energy for HOA issues. Things have since quieted down, and I was appointed earlier this year to fill a vacated board position, which expires at the end of this year.
My role as a board member has taken many forms, as I tend to take on odd jobs that no one else wants. Currently, I manage the HOA website and blog, and I am overseeing the landscaping. I am working to secure grants and develop a long-term plan for beautification of our common areas. My current passion is to rid the common areas of the invasive species that are taking over (if you see some nut with loppers furiously whacking at the vines, that is probably me). I have also been working on weeding, adding plants, and general beautification in several common areas since I moved to Oella. My philosophy is that gardens and forests filled with low-maintenance native and non-invasive species enhance our quality of life, improve the watershed and habitat, and improve our property values.
Note: nominees will be accepted from the floor at the annual meeting (Dec 8 2008 7pm Westchester Center)
Saturday, November 29, 2008
Wednesday, November 26, 2008
Blood Drive at Westchester Center
The Red Cross is having a blood drive at the Westchester Community Center on Friday November 28, 2008 from 11am to 3pm. Please consider making a donation if you can. You can make an appointment by calling 1-800-Give-Life (1-800-448-3543). Walk-ins are also welcome.
Kudos to those Oella residents who are generous enough to donate blood!
Kudos to those Oella residents who are generous enough to donate blood!
Proxy voting procedure clarification
If you cannot attend the annual meeting, you may submit the proxy form that came in the mail with the annual meeting notice. By submitting the form, you are authorizing the designated person to vote for you (in your absence) at the meeting. This is not a ballot. Ballots will be distributed at the meeting. This is so that any nominees from the floor may be included in the ballot. You may, of course, offer your voting preference to the designated proxy, but that person will be the one to fill out the ballot.
As of today, we only have one nominee for the expiring position (originally Richard Gambrill, now filled by Amanda Lauer). The list of nominees will be posted shortly. I'm just waiting to see if anybody else pops up from the nominating committee. As usual, we may have some last minute nominees from the floor who pop up at the meeting.
As of today, we only have one nominee for the expiring position (originally Richard Gambrill, now filled by Amanda Lauer). The list of nominees will be posted shortly. I'm just waiting to see if anybody else pops up from the nominating committee. As usual, we may have some last minute nominees from the floor who pop up at the meeting.
Monday, November 24, 2008
Another Oella home featured in the Baltimore Sun
Apparently we really love to live in Oella! We've had many Oella homes featured in the paper. Click on the link above to read the latest.
Friday, November 21, 2008
Mill Race Trail Parking
Apparently word about our fabulous mill race trail has gotten out, because there seems to be an upswing in non-HOA members' use. It has even appeared on several hiking/biking blogs! The association pays to insure and maintain the trail (that's your money!), but it is not insured for use by non-HOA members. Some non-HOA members have even been parking in residents' assigned spaces behind Long Brick Row.
Please remember that their is no parking available at the entrance to the mill race trail behind Long Brick Row or on Race Rd. The parking behind Long Brick Row is for Long Brick Row residents and their guests. There is a major parking crunch, so please be courteous and do not take up residents' spaces. The small parking pad on Race Rd. belongs to the homeowners on Race Rd.
Please remember that their is no parking available at the entrance to the mill race trail behind Long Brick Row or on Race Rd. The parking behind Long Brick Row is for Long Brick Row residents and their guests. There is a major parking crunch, so please be courteous and do not take up residents' spaces. The small parking pad on Race Rd. belongs to the homeowners on Race Rd.
Tuesday, November 18, 2008
Annual meeting notices sent on Saturday
The annual meeting notices and proxies went out on Saturday, so each address should receive one this week. If you do not, please contact the board (board@oellahoa.com).
Please remember to send your proxy with someone, give it to a board member, or send it to the P.O. Box (see www.oellahoa.com) if you cannot attend the meeting. The HOA must have votes from 25% of the membership to reach a quorum to pass a budget and hold board elections. There was a great turnout last year, but in years past there have been some near misses.
Remember that the meeting is a great time to meet neighbors and discuss important neighborhood issues. Dec 8,2008 7pm Westchester Center.
Please remember to send your proxy with someone, give it to a board member, or send it to the P.O. Box (see www.oellahoa.com) if you cannot attend the meeting. The HOA must have votes from 25% of the membership to reach a quorum to pass a budget and hold board elections. There was a great turnout last year, but in years past there have been some near misses.
Remember that the meeting is a great time to meet neighbors and discuss important neighborhood issues. Dec 8,2008 7pm Westchester Center.
Thursday, November 13, 2008
Feedback on HOA Website requested
Your feedback is needed on the HOA website & blog. Please answer any or all of the following questions by posting a comment:
1) How often do you visit www.oellahoa.com? How often do you visit this blog?
2) Is the information on the website and blog useful? What other information that does not appear on the website or blog would be helpful to you?
3) Would you be more inclined to use the website www.oellahoa.com if the features were upgraded (online dues payments, neighborhood directory, online ARC request processing, etc.)?
Thanks for your input!
1) How often do you visit www.oellahoa.com? How often do you visit this blog?
2) Is the information on the website and blog useful? What other information that does not appear on the website or blog would be helpful to you?
3) Would you be more inclined to use the website www.oellahoa.com if the features were upgraded (online dues payments, neighborhood directory, online ARC request processing, etc.)?
Thanks for your input!
Tuesday, November 11, 2008
Nov 12 Board Meeting Agenda
1. Call to Order – 7:00pm
2. Introduce American Community Management representative.
3. September Minutes – Discuss/Revise/Approve as needed
4. Treasurer’s Report – Scott
1. Delinquency report
5. ARC Update – Scott
1. Choose next ARC member for ’09 1st quarter.
6. HOA Landscaping & Common Areas – Amanda
1. Leaf removal & mulch freshening.
2. River edge trimming.
7. Mill Liaison – Anne, Marcia & Steve
1. SMC as “associate” members of HOA? – No further progress at this time.
2. Trail connection – Basic proposal sent by SA to SMC by email.
8. Parking Committee – Anne, Amanda & Marcia
9. Old Business
1. ARC task force – Steve
i. ARC Policies, Procedures & Guidelines – Discuss what Toni has compiled.
2. Parking hangar implementation.
3. Drainage at Lillies Lane speed bump.
4. Recordation of Millrace Trail easement. Steve
5. CCR / ARC Transition – Discuss Transfer Agreement DRAFT document.
10. New Business
1. No Trespassing / HOA owners only signs on Millrace Trail.
2. Get quotes on new internet provider for more storage capacity.
3. Parking reserves
11. Questions & comments from residents.
12. Establish date of next meeting.
13. Adjourn.
2. Introduce American Community Management representative.
3. September Minutes – Discuss/Revise/Approve as needed
4. Treasurer’s Report – Scott
1. Delinquency report
5. ARC Update – Scott
1. Choose next ARC member for ’09 1st quarter.
6. HOA Landscaping & Common Areas – Amanda
1. Leaf removal & mulch freshening.
2. River edge trimming.
7. Mill Liaison – Anne, Marcia & Steve
1. SMC as “associate” members of HOA? – No further progress at this time.
2. Trail connection – Basic proposal sent by SA to SMC by email.
8. Parking Committee – Anne, Amanda & Marcia
9. Old Business
1. ARC task force – Steve
i. ARC Policies, Procedures & Guidelines – Discuss what Toni has compiled.
2. Parking hangar implementation.
3. Drainage at Lillies Lane speed bump.
4. Recordation of Millrace Trail easement. Steve
5. CCR / ARC Transition – Discuss Transfer Agreement DRAFT document.
10. New Business
1. No Trespassing / HOA owners only signs on Millrace Trail.
2. Get quotes on new internet provider for more storage capacity.
3. Parking reserves
11. Questions & comments from residents.
12. Establish date of next meeting.
13. Adjourn.
Thursday, November 06, 2008
Community input meeting for proposed condos on Thisle Rd.
The board received the following notice:
Hello,
I would like to notify everyone that there is an upcoming Community Input Meeting on a proposed Planned Unit Development (PUD) on Thistle Road (just south of Demitri's) for 80 condominium units. Details below, this information is also listed on the County Website (click on link above).
Community Input Meetings - Patapsco Overlook PUD
Location: 1st Council District
Sub location: Saint Mark's Parrish Center (next to bell tower), 30 Melvin Avenue, Baltimore MD 21228
Date/Time: 11/12/2008 7:00 PM - 11/12/2008 8:00 PM
Description:
PDM# 01-557 Proposal: 80 Condominiums
Contact: Colleen Kelly 410-887-3321
This plan will remove one single family dwelling and replace it with 80 condo units next to Patapsco Valley State Park. Please spread the word to other community organizations and interested parties. The community input meeting will be an important forum to voice any concerns regarding traffic flow, safety, environmental concerns, etc. If you can, please get involved. Thank you for your time.
Hello,
I would like to notify everyone that there is an upcoming Community Input Meeting on a proposed Planned Unit Development (PUD) on Thistle Road (just south of Demitri's) for 80 condominium units. Details below, this information is also listed on the County Website (click on link above).
Community Input Meetings - Patapsco Overlook PUD
Location: 1st Council District
Sub location: Saint Mark's Parrish Center (next to bell tower), 30 Melvin Avenue, Baltimore MD 21228
Date/Time: 11/12/2008 7:00 PM - 11/12/2008 8:00 PM
Description:
PDM# 01-557 Proposal: 80 Condominiums
Contact: Colleen Kelly 410-887-3321
This plan will remove one single family dwelling and replace it with 80 condo units next to Patapsco Valley State Park. Please spread the word to other community organizations and interested parties. The community input meeting will be an important forum to voice any concerns regarding traffic flow, safety, environmental concerns, etc. If you can, please get involved. Thank you for your time.
Tuesday, November 04, 2008
Election Fever...Board electons
On this election day, the blogger would like to inform the community that the annual meeting of members and board elections will be held on December 8 at 7pm in the Westchester Center (official notice will appear in the mail soon). Please don't throw out the official proxy ballot that will be enclosed in the mailings!
The board is still accepting nominations for board candidates. A list of candidates & their bios will appear on the blog closer to election time. Nominees from the floor will also be accepted after the meeting.
The board is also looking for volunteers to serve on the nominating committee. Duties include identifying nominees and counting votes.
If you are interested in running for election or helping on the nominating committee, please contact board@oellahoa.com.
The board is still accepting nominations for board candidates. A list of candidates & their bios will appear on the blog closer to election time. Nominees from the floor will also be accepted after the meeting.
The board is also looking for volunteers to serve on the nominating committee. Duties include identifying nominees and counting votes.
If you are interested in running for election or helping on the nominating committee, please contact board@oellahoa.com.
Monday, November 03, 2008
Free flu shot clinic
Haven't gotten to the doctor for a flu shot?
St. Agnes Hospital is sponsoring a free drive-through flu shot clinic on Nov 15th 9am-1pm on Lot 3 of the Catonsville CCBC campus (800 South Rolling Road). You must register and be at least 18 years of age. Call 1-866-690-9355 to register.
St. Agnes Hospital is sponsoring a free drive-through flu shot clinic on Nov 15th 9am-1pm on Lot 3 of the Catonsville CCBC campus (800 South Rolling Road). You must register and be at least 18 years of age. Call 1-866-690-9355 to register.
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