Troubles with the Fire Alarm System: February 14, 2015

This week has been a frustrating week, Last Saturday, February 14, a pump failure for the sprinkler system failed causing a general evacuation alarm. Without getting into details, the pump that maintains pressure in the sprinkler pipe line was replaced two weeks ago and only one week later, it is on the blink again.

Currently, we are waiting for the alarm system company to return with the parts.  The recent cold snap has had all of the service companies on the road all day.  No one seems able to break away, Pipes are bursting everywhere on the peninsula. (We are in no known danger of pipe freeze.)

Please understand that our fire alarm is working. all of the sprinklers on all floors are ready and will respond to a fire if needed.  If a fire occurs anywhere in the building, the sensors will sound a general evacuation alarm.

The problem is with the sprinkler system in the attic space above the fourth floor.  The smoke sensors and sprinkler heads in the attic will trigger an evacuation alarm if a fire occurs; but, the pipeline in the attic is normally dry. Normally, the system should open the water valve automatically to charge the attic system.. Until repairs are completed, charging will need to be done manually.

A team has been assembled to maintain a 24 hour "Fire Watch" for the fourth floor. Every hour, someone walks the fourth floor making observations. Right now four residents are on the "Watch",
(saving you some money.)

The beeping sound in the entrance foyer is a "supervisory" alarm. This is a diagnostic alarm and will continue to "beep" until the system is back to 100%.

We expect to be back to normal by week's end.  Trust, that management has explored multiple options to resolve this problem.

This web site will report when the system is back to normal.

Comments? send them to mc900@comcast.net

How cold is it?

If you're not in Cambridge today, the photo below tells you how it feels.

This is the first time this year that the creek has frozen. 

What you can't see in the 20-25 knot NW winds 

that have been persistently blowing for two days.

Chill factor?  feels like this..

Water Heater: More information on how it works.

Information on our water heaters:
This is a story about your water heater and how it works.

Let's start with the main water shut-off. Do you know where yours is located? Look in you utility room. You should see a square access cover a near eye level. If you pull on it, the shut-off valve is revealed. Knowing where it is and how to close the valve could save you hundreds of dollars of water damage.

To shut off all of the water to your unit, turn it perpendicular to the pipe. The one below is shown OPEN.















Our next stop is the water heater. the water heater does two jobs. It supplies hot water to your spigots and also recirculates water to a heating unit located in your utility room.

Your heating unit is a hot water fan-coil unit located in the duct-work in the utility room. Fan-coil means exactly that. A fan blows air across the hot water coils and forces it through the ducts to your room registers. The same fan also blows air across another coil used for air conditioning in summer.

The water heater in your closet heats the water and maintains the tank temperature all year long. The water temperature can be adjusted but it really only affects the recirculated water that flows to the fan-coil unit. Gas is used to heat the water.

On the tank, you will see the recirculate inlet and outlet connection on the right hand side.

On the top you will find the cold-water inlet and hot-water outlet. SHut valves can be used in summer to prevent hot water going to the heater coil.

A high pressure relief valve is located on the front. Its job is to prevent the tank from erupting in case of a control malfunction. The plastic pipe leads the water down to a catch pan that is expected to minimize flooding in the event of a malfunction. NEVER stopper the relief pipe.

The temperature of hot water in the recirculating tank can be adjusted from the front control display. (OK, ask somebody if you're not sure that you know what you're doing.)

(This will not make your spigot water hotter. I'll get to that later.)

Find the operator manual. read it. .......

Now that you have read the manual, check the current setting. Press, both the "HOTTER" and "COLDER" at the same time, now you can adjust the RECIRCULATING WATER TEMPERATURE. Chances are you do not need to change it. Unless you are unhappy with your heater's response, you should not touch it.  You can lower the setting in summer. Please note, that it need not be higher than A. Someone in the building had it adjusted it to "C" and the heater popped its high pressure relief valve. Water. water, everywhere.

Recirculating water temperature control: It controls water that goes to the heater and the holding tank.














The hot water temperature for you spigots is controlled by MIXING VALVE above the water
heater.
 Since the water exiting the heater is too hot for skin contact, it is mixed with cold water. On one side cold water enters. On the other side, hot water enters from the water heater. The water that exits the mixing value is delivered to your spigots, shower heads, and washing machine. In most municipalities these safety mixing valves are required by code.

The spigot water temperature can be adjusted by turning the knob on the valve. Any adjustment should be made in small increments. This device is meant to prevent burns. Once again, read the manual.






HOT = Copper left

COLD = Copper Right

Hot Tap Water = Bottom to plastic pipe






Expansion Tank

This is the weakest link in the system.  This is a simple and inexpensive device. It purpose is to accommodate the expansion of the water and trapped air in the recirculating water lines.  Why it leaks after several years speaks to the quality of the tank's lining.  The tanks is easily replaced. Screw it off, screw on a new one.

This is mine,  Good for another two years, I hope.

Safety Concerns with Natural Gas:

Lastly, remember that we are burning gas all year long for hot water and heat in the winter. Gas is safe if all of the equipment is in proper working order. Your heater is equipped with a flame-safeguard control that will shut-off the gas is the flame is lost.



Go one step further, get a Carbon-Monoxide Gas Detector. Locate it nearby the water heater closet. Many people are asphyxiated by malfunctioning gas furnaces every year.

Best Regards, Uncle George



Send you letters to mc900@comcast.net

When will yours fail? The clock is ticking!

Below are photos of expansion tanks that were replaced after springing leaks.

Just this past week, the owner of Unit 104 had no heat.  Why? Because a slow leak from their expansion tank was dripping on the electronics atop the main tank. These folks were lucky.
They only had to replace their heater.  The complication is that the installed A.O. Smith Promax heaters have been discontinued. No replacement parts are available.  Cost? about $3000

On a previous failure, a leaky expansion tank caused damage to the owner's unit and the units below. Guess who was liable?  Yes, the unit owner with the leak.

In July, 2012, replacement service was offered. Not everybody took advantage.  The cost was under $200.  Talk about an ounce of prevention! 

Mid Shore Plumbing has provided pictures of expansion tanks they removed previously. You will see from the photos that these tanks could have burst at anytime. This is even more of a reason for each and every owner to replace theirs. It was also recommended that these tanks be replaced every four years as a precautionary measure.
For replacement, contact Mid Shore Plumbing directly at 410/228-9003. They will not be available until February 23, 2015; but, you can leave a message.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Do not take this advice lightly.  A penny today can save a dollar(s) tomorrow............................

This is mine. I believe that it is good until 2016. 

Tick...tick..tock...Drip...drip....drop

Send your comments to mc900@comcast.net

Cambridge: City Manager Debate wears on.....................

CAMBRIDGE CITY MANAGER INITIATIVE

CURRENT STATUS

as of February 7, 2015

• ·        Mid December - the commissioners on a 4-1 vote pass the charter changes and transition ordinance.
• ·        Under Maryland law, those who disagree with that law change have until January 26^th to obtain signatures of 20% of the registered voters in the city seeking a referendum.
• ·        On the evening of January 26^th, a petition was presented at the city council meeting seeking such a referendum.
• ·        As a result the city manager implementation process is on hold pending a number of things.
• ·        The Petition was sent to the Dorchester Board of Elections for review.
• ·        The Board of  Elections has declined at this point to participate in the certification process and has returned the petition to the City of Cambridge
• ·        What will happen next has not yet been decided by the commissioners.
• ·        If the petitions are certified in some way, city council will need to determine the language that will be used for the referendum and will also set a date for a vote on the referendum.
• ·        The options for a vote would be either within 40-60 days of the petition being approved and the ballot language being set or at the next general election in June 2016 (over a year from now).
• ·        Those who presented the petition asked to have the ability to observe the certification process.

See this link to better understand the City Manager model for city government.

https://www.youtube.com/city manager

Comments? Questions? >>>mc900@comcast.net 

Residents Committee: Volunteer Needed: 3rd Floor

Many thanks to the board for organizing a Residents Committee.

The purpose was to welcome new residents, both tenants and owners, to our building by supplying them information about the

• building, 
• condo rules, 
• parking policy, 
• pet policy, 
• Sentry Management, 
• condo government, 
• and emergency contacts.

Full-time residents were approached to volunteer to support this committee. One person per floor was the plan.

Unfortunately, due to a insensitive handwritten comment next to one of the names listed on the elevator notice, one of the committee members felt compelled to resign.

We are now in need of a replacement to service the third floor.  "Renters" and "Owners" are encouraged to volunteer.
Can you help? Contact a board member or email mc900@comcast.net 

Send your comments to mc900@comcast.net

Homeless Homeowners: Can it happen at 900 Marshy Cove?

Condo Owners,

If some one had the power to sell you a home then force you to sell it back to them for less than you paid them, would you consider it ethical? moral? LEGAL? 

Welcome to Florida. Many other states have similar laws.

Florida Condo Law is similar to Maryland State Law.

 

Florida Condo Takeovers

 Click here for video.

The couple in the video are long time friends of ours.

I am surprised that more has not been on the news about this situation.

Regards, George B

comments? stories? send them to mc900@comcast.net

Quick summary of the Master Association Meeting, January 31, 2015

To accommodate board member schedules, this meeting was rescheduled to January 31.
Seven seats from seven sub-associations are on the board.

The Beazer representative did not attend: (two votes). This was expected.

Of the remaining qualified votes only three attended.

Since four board members are required for a quorum, voting was not possible.

• 700 Cattail  (48) – represented
• 900 Marshy (48) - represented
• TH 1 (34) - Absent
• TH 2 (16) - Absent
• TH 3 (13) - represented
• TH 4 (N/A) – empty lot. (Beazer) Absent
• TH 5 (10) – (Beazer) not turned over.  Represented by non-voting owner.
• Marina owners are represented through their respective sub-associations

Without a quorum, no vote could be taken. Officers were neither nominated nor elected.

The attending board reviewed the agenda items and developed consensus opinions for the itemized actions requiring approval.  Sentry Management will seek approval electronically by email.

Issues discussed

• Pool Furniture
• Pool and Clubhouse repairs
• Landscaping improvements and maintenance
• Snow removal
• Street lights maintenance and LED upgrades
• Gate motor operator repairs
• Financial Status 
• Becht's Reserve Study
• Beazer's financial obligations to the reserve deficit 
• Sentry Contract Renewal dates

Specific actions will be included in the meeting minutes and management reports.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Personal note: As a representative of the 48 owners at 900 Marshy Cove, I was very disappointed with absence of TH1  and TH2.  This was the first meeting where we owners had controlling votes at the Master Association Board. The discussion at the table was productive, but our inability to move on the issues was quite frustrating.

Much more work is ahead,  George B. 

send your comments and questions to mc900@comcast.net 

2015 Deep Harbour Master Meeting Schedule (DHMA)

2015 MASTER MEETING SCHEDULE

January 31, 2015 at 12:30 P.M.

March 21, 2015 at 9:00 A.M.

May 2, 2015 at 12:30 P.M.

July 11, 2015 at 12:30 P.M.

October 3, 2015 at 10:00 A.M.

December 12, 2015 at 10:00 A.M.

2015 Meeting Schedule subject to change.

View of Cambridge Creek from 900 Marshy Cove.

Here's another way to look at our taxes.

Tax Rates are listed from lowest to highest.
Where is your unit in comparison with your neighbors?
Rates differ by $825.

Click Here for the Dorchester Tax Information Web site'

HOW IS PROPERTY ASSESSED? 

Dorchester County Tax Department:
Call 410-228-3380 or visit their website at www.dat.state.md.us
The Cambridge Area will be reassessed for January 1, 2017

Unit No.	Tax 2014	Resident?	Design
203	$2,092	P-res	Chesapeake
403	$2,174	Non	Chesapeake
303	$2,186	Non	Chesapeake
103	$2,199	P-res	Chesapeake
201	$2,199	Non	Arundel
212	$2,199	P-res	Arundel
410	$2,206	P-res	Chesapeake
101	$2,211	P-res	Arundel
112	$2,211	P-res	Arundel
202	$2,211	Non	Bayside
211	$2,211	Non	Bayside
102	$2,233	Non	Bayside
111	$2,233	Non	Bayside
311	$2,517	P-res	Bayside
301	$2,537	Non	Arundel
312	$2,537	Non	Arundel
302	$2,549	Non	Bayside
401	$2,647	Non	Arundel
412	$2,647	P-res	Arundel
402	$2,672	Non	Bayside
411	$2,672	Non	Bayside
304	$2,776	P-res	Easton
404	$2,776	Non	Easton
305	$2,778	Non	Dorchester
104	$2,788	Non	Easton
204	$2,788	Non	Easton
306	$2,788	P-res	Dorchester
307	$2,788	Non	Dorchester
308	$2,788	Non	Dorchester
405	$2,788	Non	Dorchester
406	$2,788	Non	Dorchester
407	$2,788	Non	Dorchester
408	$2,788	P-res	Dorchester
105	$2,801	P-res	Dorchester
106	$2,801	Non	Dorchester
107	$2,801	Non	Dorchester
108	$2,801	Non	Dorchester
205	$2,801	P-res	Dorchester
206	$2,801	Non	Dorchester
207	$2,801	P-res	Dorchester
208	$2,801	P-res	Dorchester
110	$2,828	Non	Chesapeake
210	$2,828	Non	Chesapeake
310	$2,878	Non	Chesapeake
409	$2,914	Non	Easton
109	$2,924	Non	Easton
209	$2,927	Non	Easton
309	$2,927	Non	Easton

HOW IS PROPERTY ASSESSED?

All real property (real estate) in Dorchester County is subject to taxation, except that which is specifically exempt. Each property is assessed every three years at 100% of market value by the State Department of Assessments and Taxation (SDAT). Should you wish to discuss your assessment in more detail, or have a question regarding the assessment appeals process, please call SDAT at 410-228-3380 or visit their website at www.dat.state.md.us

WHEN WILL MY PROPERTY BE ASSESSED NEXT?

Each residential property in Dorchester is re-assessed once every three years.  Please click here to view the residential reassessment area map maintained by the State Department of Assessments and Taxation.