Olde Mill Village Crier

Volume 38,  Number  2  /  February 2008

President's Message
    The next VOMCA meeting is on Wedneday, February 6, 2008, at 7:00 p.m. The meeting will be at the Old Mill Senior High School, Room A-269. All homeowners are welcome to attend. There will be a board meeting after the general meeting.
   I hope everyone has a happy new year. There are only a couple of things to advise the community. VOMCA received final approval for our grant from with the Maryland Transportation Department. We will receive $ 46,000 to repave the road and parking area at Barlowe Field / Olde Mill Swim Club. We received a report for a broken water line at the pool. Rick Behringer had the county come out and shut the water off. The broken pipe is our responsibility and is located between the county main and the pool. With the colder weather upon us, remember to check your water pipes and shut off all lines that feed the outdoor water faucets and bring in the garden hoses.
   I spoke with Brenda Reiber from the County Executives office. As of this date, Snyder Homes has not submitted any formal plans to the county. We will keep the community updated on the process of the 55+ development they plan to build in the area east of Olde Mill. I have not received any feedback from them regarding meeting with our association.
   We are looking for volunteers for the Spring Egg Hunt we do for the children in the Olde Mill area. If anyone would like to take the lead for this project, please contact me at tastag@verizon.net. 
   As of January 22, 2008, we have 94 homes and 189 members that have joined VOMCA for 2008. If you would like to join, please go to the VOMCA website and either fill out the application or use PayPpal to pay your 2008 $15.00 dues. We need the support of the Olde Mill residents for issues that we will be facing in the near future.
   At our January meeting the Olde Mill Swim Club requested a revision to the pool budget. They submitted their request and the VOMCA/Swim Club budget was approved by the general membership. I also would also like to note that VOMCA submitted a check to FOOM for the amount of $2,000.00. This money will go towards new playground equipment at Barlowe Field. FOOM also paid to have the current playground area mulched by Evergreen Gene’s. I would like to thank the FOOM members for their donation for the upkeep and purchases of the new playground equipment.
   We have noticed that some vehicles have been parking after hours down at the OMSC/Barlowe Field lot. There has been some discussion regarding using this area for parking and the board will meet to discuss this. I want everyone to know that when parking on the lot down there; please try to refrain from parking on the grass during the off season. I also want to let individuals know that VOMCA will not be responsible for any damages to vehicles due to vandalism. We discourage overnight parking at the OMSC due to problems that have occurred in the past. If you must park there you do so at your own risk.
   I hope everyone keeps warm and stays safe! Remember to look out for your neighbors and report all suspicious activity to the police by calling 911.
   --Tom Stag, President

Jan. 2, 2008, VOMCA Meeting Minutes

   Mike Hardman of the Eagle Scouts Troop 975 offered to replace the Barlowe Field Sign and add a flower garden around it as part of his Eagle Scout project.  He will do his own fundraising. He will submit a proposal/draft of the plan by e-mail for VOMCA’s board approval first. He will also work with the board to get direction on how VOMCA would like to the project to look. VOMCA members voted and approved the project.
Membership:
   There are currently 189 members and 94 families who have joined VOMCA in 2008.
Pool:
   Don Owens:  A letter will be mailed in January 2008 to all 2007 current Pool Members offering a $25.00 rebate on their 2008 membership for referring a new member/family to join the OMSC pool in 2008.
   The pool committee is looking for someone to manage fundraising for the Pool.
   Pool Bonds (Certificates) and Pool Annual Dues will be going up in 2008. The new fees are as follows:
      Pool Bonds - $350.00
      2008 Annual Pool Dues - $300.00
   The water main to the Pool broke in Barlowe Field on 1/1/08.  The Pool will be responsible financially for the repair and for the lost water.  The pool board is still in need of quotes to repair the line.  A decision may be made to replace the line vs. a repair.
Treasurer’s Report:
   Rick Behringer reported a balance of $1694.88 in the checking account and $9245.96 in the savings account.  $2,000 still to be donated to FOOM for playground improvements.
Vice President Report:
   Rick Behringer: No report given from VP.  Rick later suggested during the meeting that he will ask the paving contractor to give him a quote on how much it would cost to pave the basketball court. 
President Report:
   Tom Stag introduced Brenda Reiber with the County Executive County Office to report the following:  VOMCA owns and is responsible for Barlowe Field.  All other open spaces in the Old Mill area are not owned or the responsibility of VOMCA.  The county does not own them either.  They can not sell them but they do hold them “in trust”.  They could and would turn the open space land over to the community if we choose but then we would be responsible for them financially, which VOMCA is not is the position to do.
   Williamstown has some open spaces that were not turned over “in trust”.  The Builder (Utz) still owns the land and offered to sell to one current owner but no final decision or agreement was ever made.
New Business:
   Tom Stag:  Tom reported that there is apprx. 91 acres available in the area behind the homes located on the south side of Old Mill Blvd. (near Pond Ct., Ahearn Rd, and Mimico South) that is proposed for development.  There will be one way in and one way out.  The entrance will be located at the corner of Oakwood Road and Old Mill Rd.  There will be approx. 360 town homes, along with other types of homes.  The Builder wants to move the current road on record to allow a new area for possible commercial building and an assisted living building which would enter directly onto Old Mill Rd.  This area is located behind Pond Ct.
   A correction to the Pool Budget was needed for 2008.  Insurance was incorrectly reported as $1464.00.  The correct amount is $3100.00.  The overall proposed 2008 VOMCA budget has been updated to $110,550.
   Bernie Quarrick was thanked for all his years of work on the Village Crier.  Bernie has continued to assist with the newly introduced internet version of the VOMCA Crier in January 2008. Bernie suggested adding the www.VOMCA.org website to the meeting sign.
   A discussing was started about having sponsors pay to be on the website and for revising the look of the website.  A suggestion was made to add a “History of Old Mill” button to the website that will highlight the changes to the community over the years.
   Brenda Reiber introduced the “1st Annual Community Association Connections Day” to be held on February 9 (snow date: March 1).  The February 9 meeting will be held at the Village of Waugh Chapel Community Room from 10am-2pm.  A second meeting will also be held on March 8 from 10am-2pm at the Anne Arundel Community College.  The purpose of the event is to:  Network, Learn and Share with other area Community Associations. 
FOOM Report:
   Mike Hakulin, Jr:  $245.00 was raised at the most recent fundraiser.  Two obstacle course plans were introduced for the playground area.  The location would be where the original swing set on the playground is currently located.
The first quote was for a total of $12,494.00 (10 pieces of equipment.  The second quote was for $14,550.00 (only 3 pieces of equipment). The cost would include installation, shipping and maintenance.
   Rick Behringer suggested that we call Pam Biedle with Nationwide Insurance to get a quote of possible insurance increase for new proposed equipment.
   FOOM account balance reported as $7265.00, which includes the $2,000 that VOMCA still needs to donate.
FOOM recently purchased new swings for old swing set. A quote was received from Evergreen Gene’s for $1500.00 to refresh the mulch in the playground area.

 VOMCA Board Meeting notes:
   A vote was taken and approved to have Don Owens continue to represent the OMSC Pool as the Pool Director and VOMCA Board chairperson.
   Rick asked for names of winners for the Christmas Lighting Contest so that checks can be written.  A suggestion was made to ask the winners to attend the next VOMCA meeting to collect their winners checks.
   --Respectfully submitted, Charlene Stammer Connery, Secretary

Friends of Olde Mill Say Thanks
    Some of you have noticed that the playground has received new mulch and some corrective grading. Evergreen Gene's has put a black ground cover under the woodchips in an effort to eliminate the onset of weeds and grass. The cost of the mulching was $1700 due to a winter application.
   We would like to thank VOMCA for voting to donate $2000 to our efforts to improve the playground.
   We would also like to thank all of the residents of Olde Mill who responded to our letter in the December 2007 Village Crier and reached into their pockets to donate $270 so far. This was the first time that we had tried a letter to raise funds for this long-term project. It gave us a chance to explain who FOOM is, what our mission is, and how long it has taken to achieve the progress we have made.
   We appreciate the generosity of each contributor and hope that you will continue to support this effort in the coming months. We will keep you posted as to events in which the community can participate.
   If anyone has any knowledge of where to apply for a grant or for a large corporate donation to a community, please contact Mike Hakulin, Jr. at 410-987-1239 or email me at mikehakulin@aol.com.
   --Mike Hakulin, Jr., President of FOOM

MEMBERSHIP --92 FAMILIES OUT OF 1300 –Let’s Get Joining 

 --Sarah Hakulin, VOMCA Membership Officer

Old Cell Phones Collected For Troops
   The Millersville Branch of The Washington Savings Bank in Northway Shopping Center is a drop- off location for “Cell Phones for Soldiers.” Visit the following website for information on claiming a deduction and what happens to the donated phones. It’s a good way to recycle unneeded cell phones:   http://www.cellphonesforsoldiers.com/index.html

Change In Maryland Tax Law To Affect You 
   Effective October 1, 2007, a new law enacted by the 2007 session of the Maryland General Assembly requires all homeowners to make a one-time application in order to be eligible to receive or continue receiving the Homestead Tax Credit. The Homestead Tax Credit law limits each year the amount of assessment increase on which an eligible resident homeowner actually pays County, Municipal and State property taxes. The application is required to insure that all property owners receive the credit on the one property used as their principal residence and not on properties used for other purposes, such as a rental or vacation home.
   In order to submit a Homestead Tax Credit Eligibility Application through this website you must have been issued, from the Maryland State Department of Assessments and Taxation, an application form containing your Real Property Account Number and an Access Number. You will be required to enter the Account and Access Numbers as part of the
submission process.
   You may call 410-767-2165 or 1-866-650-8783 to request an application form if you did not receive one with your assessment. Information is also available online:
Maryland Assessments and Taxation Website: https://sdathtc.resiusa.org/homestead/ (Application)

    See the following link for more information:
http://www.dat.state.md.us/sdatweb/Homestead_app.htm (Most Commonly Asked Questions)

   NOTE: Property owners who use the property as their principal residence will receive an assessment notice containing a Homestead Tax Credit Application for the first time this year beginning January 1, 2008. This one-time application must be submitted in order to insure that the credit is granted only on eligible properties and not on properties that are rented or used as vacation homes. The applications can be filed online on the Department’s website or by mailing the paper form
in the postage-paid envelope included in the assessment notice. Homeowners not reassessed until 2009 or 2010 can wait until then to submit a Homestead Tax Credit application.