COMMITTEE MEMBERS: Please see the “Committees and Liaisons” section of this web-site. All members of the Committee would welcome calls or e-mails from owners and residents, who have questions about the covenants or ideas for the Committee.
RULES AND REGULATIONS: Please see the “Governing Documents, Declaration of Covenants” section of this web-site. Of particular importance are the following:
Any exterior change requires prior approval. Approval is subject to a Change Request Form, which you can find on this Web-site. It should be submitted to Holly Gerace of the Covenants Committee or to any other member, if more convenient. It will be responded to as soon as possible.
It is the responsibility of every owner to maintain his/her property in a manner that enhances the overall look and appeal of the Cloisters. This is not a preference but an Association requirement pursuant to our governing documents. If covenants are violated and you receive a letter to that effect, it must be responded to, otherwise legal due process will be commenced. Many of our homes currently require repair and/or painting, which must await the more moderate spring weather. Those items are in addition to both regular maintenance, which includes keeping gutters clean, keeping gates and garage doors in working order, and to proper etiquette with regard to garbage cans and window treatments, as examples. A list of vendors can be accessed on at the “Service/Repair Contractors List” section of this web-site, which should help with repairs and general maintenance. We will be communicating seasonal checklists as a helpful tool for homeowners, beginning with this spring.
Each home has two private areas to park (the garage and the pad or driveway to the garage. The 16 spaces available along Winfield Lane are for occasional use only, and the resident's medallion must be displayed when used. Regular use could result in ticketing and towing. This rule is not intended to be punitive, but to enable those with unexpected need to be able to accommodate a guest, a service provider or an emergency.
PROCEDURES FOR WINTER STORMS: The recent snow storm has made us realize that the Cloisters does not have an overall community plan for winter storms or for other emergencies. The Board will be working on the development of an overall emergency plan that will be consistent with the District of Columbia plan for Georgetown. In the meantime, we have come up with an interim plan for snow storms. The general guidelines will be as follows.
The community will be divided into a number of geographic groupings, with each having a telephone tree. One person will be the lead for each area and will communicate to the board if there are problems and/or to convey information. Initially the tree leaders will be members of the Board, the Landscape Committee and the Covenants Committee. It is anticipated that these telephone tree groups will develop over time into closer community/good neighbor relationships.
Basis rules will be communicated soon for implementation when required. These will include removing all vehicles from Winfield Lane as soon as a large snow is predicted. Plowing is very difficult when the Lane is not clear of vehicles. Further, snow will not be plowed onto a private parking pad if it is clearly occupied by a vehicle. Reservoir Road is not a Snow Emergency Route, so cars can be parked at certain places along that route. The outgoing side allows free (no zone sticker) parking except during commutation hours, and the incoming side allows zone sticker parking except for commutation hours. Both sides are generally free on weekends and holidays.
If power is lost within the community, the neighborhood groups should keep alert to any problem an individual neighbor might have.
Garbage should not be put out if there is a snow emergency declared, as there will not be pickup service until the next regular pickup day after the emergency is over.
PLANNING FOR SPRING CLEAN-UP: Very soon we will post a checklist of maintenance items for owners and residents to consider in anticipation of spring. The Covenants Committee is joining with the Landscape Committee to sponsor a Spring Clean Up and Garden Day, during which we will anticipate arranging some of the following: bring some workmen and vendors to the Cloisters to do odd jobs, bring high ladders, offer power washing on a sign-up basis, offer maintenance and gardening tips, and quote roof and/or window replacements. This will take place on Saturday, March 29th. Most activities will be communicated from a staging area in the 36th Street extension.