20March2010
Latest News
March 20, 2010: We have been looking at information on lawn chemicals — pesticides, herbicides, and chemical fertilizers — none of which are actually needed to maintain a healthy lawn, and most of which are quite dangerous and damaging to the environment. For a remarkable and disturbing documentary, I recommend A Chemical Reaction, which tells the story of Dr. Joan Irwin, who spent more than six years documenting the adverse health effects of lawn chemicals and persuading her town and her neighbors to ban them completely in Hudson, Quebec. Paul Tukey, a former TruGreen/ChemLawn distributor turned organic lawn care advocate, has created SafeLawns.org, whose mission is to create a coalition of non- and for-profit organizations committed to educating society about the benefits of environmentally responsible lawn care and gardening, and effecting a quantum change in consumer and industry behavior.
One of our nearby neighbors, Joe Speeney of Hamilton Woods, who is now the chair of Bernards Township’s Environmental Commission, persuaded the township to migrate all of the public parks and recreation areas to organic maintenance in 2009, and is now urging everyone in our community to abandon the most dangerous chemicals and embrace a healthier, cheaper, and more sustainable approach to landscaping and lawn care. If you’re interested in learning more about this, you may wish to check out the Bernards Township Environmental Commission page on organic lawn care, and let us know if you’d like our neighborhood to become part of this growing movement.
February 12, 2010: I’m posting a PDF of the presentation we received from Jan Graff of Big Old Trees, LLC, and Wanda Knapik of My Local Garden, LLC at our meeting last Monday. It’s here: Graff-KnapikProposal8Feb10 (right-click to download). More information on this initiative to follow.
February 11, 2010: Our site was hacked today, which I only noticed after the server went down and I was re-checking to make sure it was running. The apparent intruder has now been removed, along with the offending code, and the administrative passwords changed, but if you experience any problems with the site please email me at jcloud@libertyridge.org – thanks.
December 15, 2009: Two members of the Board of Trustees met with the management company representative on December 14 to discuss a variety of issues on the agenda for 2010. The Board wishes all residents a happy holiday season, and looks forward to continuing its work to enhance the neighborhood, protect homeowner values, and increase community engagement in 2010. Residents’ input is always welcome.
The 2010 meeting schedule is posted here.
December 7, 2009: The Board of Trustees, after reviewing our current year’s expenditures, next year’s budget, and the reserve requirements for repaving the courts and other future obligations, has concluded that there is no alternative to raising the monthly maintenance fees in order to avoid a substantial deficit. Here are copies of the documents recently mailed to all residents:
LRNAFeeIncreaseLetter12-9-09
LRNABudget2010-9Dec09
Almost all of the cost increases are associated with the snow removal – which cost the Association in excess of $50,000 last year – and with the increased landscaping costs associated with the transfer of responsibilities from the Hills Highlands Master Association to the LRNA for properties that previously were thought to belong to the HHMA.
Careful review of the legal documents has shown that two properties adjacent to Liberty Ridge – the detention basin on Honeyman Road, and the common area along Liberty Ridge Road between Honeyman and Watchung Drive – are owned by the Liberty Ridge Neighborhood Association. The Board is currently considering options for minimizing the maintenance costs associated with these areas, and welcomes homeowner input.
The snow removal contract is also up for renewal in 2010, and will be discussed at an upcoming meeting in order to issue a new RFQ for this work. Read the rest of this entry »
Posted by Admin under: News.
