Baker square NEWS

Cobblestone Newsletter Summer 2023

by | Jul 13, 2023 | News
In this issue

In the community

  • Important information from the Board of Trustees
  • Committee reports
  • April 2023 financial snapshot
  • Project updates
  • Don’t forget
  • Do you have a homeowners insurance policy?

In the neighborhood

  • Events and more
Your contacts
In the community
Important information from the Board of Trustees

Annual Meeting and patio reception
Wednesday, June 28, 2023, 6:30 p.m.

Called by the Board of Trustees in accordance with Baker Square Condominium governing documents, the Annual Meeting will be held in the Park Mill Function Room with registration of owners beginning at 6:00 p.m. The agenda includes a business meeting and the election of three members to the Board of Trustees for three-year terms. (See Meet and Greet below for more information on the candidates). To keep the meeting running efficiently, owners are asked to submit questions to the Management Company by Thursday, June 15.

A quorum, which is 51 percent of the beneficial interest in the Condominium, must be met to elect the Trustees. Proxies count toward the quorum, so please submit a proxy ballot if you can’t attend the meeting. (Please note that Judy Vreeland who is listed on the proxy has withdrawn).

Following the meeting, there will be a reception on the riverside patio, weather permitting. John Paul Kaminga from Craft and Cru in Milton Lower Mills will serve beer and wine with light refreshments provided by the Condominium.

Candidates Meet and Greet
Wednesday, June 21, 7:00 p.m.

Hosted by the Community Engagement Committee (CEC), a Meet and Greet will take place in the Park Mill Function Room. This is an opportunity to ask questions and hear from the six owners who are seeking election to the Board of Trustees. The candidates are Mary Beth Alger (WM303), Janet Baker (B205), Kyle Birchall (B508), Laura Gleason (F609), Paul McGrath (F202), and Tom Tanury (WM301).

Reserve Study
An update to the 2018 reserve study is underway. A long-range budget planning tool, the reserve study identifies the maintenance and replacement needs of the condominium’s common assets and the status of the reserve fund, and presents an equitable funding plan to address the anticipated major expenditures. Baker Square also uses the reserve study to plan the line of credit expenses and repayment schedule. When completed, the reserve study will be available to unit owners.

Quarterly open meetings
Quarterly open meetings that were postponed during the pandemic will resume. Following the Annual Meeting, the next open meeting will be in October.

Finance Committee
The Board is looking for three to five community members with financial expertise to serve on a newly created advisory Finance Committee. The committee will review and analyze the financials and make recommendations to help ensure Baker Square remains fiscally strong, with adequate reserves to complete capital improvements and quality of life enhancements. If you would like to participate, email your areas of expertise and any other relevant information to  [email protected] or submit a hard copy to the Management Office by 5:00 p.m., Friday, June 16.

Committee reports  

Community Engagement Committee (CEC)

In a very short time, the CEC has done much to boost engagement at Baker Square. Spearheaded by Ann Seligsohn, the Good Vibes and Good Music get-together featuring the Conscious Reggae Band was a booming success. Residents enjoyed dancing and relaxing to the rhythm while enjoying food courtesy of Steel and Rye, thanks to the efforts of Carlos Vargas.


Coordinated by Claire Hughes, many residents enjoyed an in-depth historical and architectural tour of the complex led by historian and writer Anthony Sammarco. They heard the incredible story of how the founders started the company in 1765, the history of the various buildings that were integral to the production of Baker Chocolate, and how its closure in the 1960’s led to the revitalization of the buildings for condos and apartments in the 1980’s through the early 2000s.

Claire also organized the opportunity to visit the studio and home of one of Dorchester’s premier artists, Vincent Crotty, on June 3. Other recent events sponsored by the CEC included a piano recital by Water Mill resident Chris Walter and participation in the clean-up of Dorchester Lower Mills.

In addition to the Candidates’ Meet and Greet, the CEC is planning a Blue Grass Concert by Dorchester’s Royer Family Band, on Friday, August 11, from 7:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. on the patio. Be sure to save the date!

To promote an active community, the CEC is committed to planning special events and welcomes your ideas for speakers, events, field trips, and so on. Please contact committee member, Claire Hughes with suggestions, to offer your expertise, or express interest in joining the committee.

Landscape Committee

Winter took a huge toll on the landscaping along the cobblestones and on Adams Street and the Board and the Landscaping Committee are working to refill the bare spaces. Volunteers planted over 250 bareroot ferns and groundcovers in the first week of June.These will start popping up throughout June to fill some of the empty space. Planning to replace colorful perennials is underway. In the meantime, Linda Lundblad kindly purchased and planted pink impatiens to give us color through the summer. It’s important to note all plantings must be approved by the Landscaping Committee, which is a subcommittee of the Board.

The herb planter on the patio was filled by Bill and Linda Braun, with plants grown by their son. It’s just beginning to fill out, but soon we’ll be able to snip parsley, sage, rosemary, and thyme, along with mint, dill, tarragon, and oregano.

Committee members are Mary Beth Alger, Matthew Booth, Sarah Brooks, Barbara Conwell, Peter Finn, Linda Lundblad, Heidi Lyne, Ann Seligsohn, Cristina Todesco, and Jacoba van Schaik.

Editors note: Both committees are doing outstanding work to improve life at Baker Square. When you see a member, take the time to thank them.
  

April 2023 financial snapshot

For the complete financial statements visit the owner portal. Click on the image for a more readable view.
Project updates

Forbes fire panel
A review and preventative maintenance program were completed in May on the smoke control system that connects to the fire panel. This system ensures that smoke is removed from the building and stairwells in the event of an evacuation for fire. We are hopeful that this review is the final step for the permit to be released for the Forbes fire panel replacement.

Park Mill elevator
The Park Mill elevator is scheduled for modernization within the next one to two years. This involves replacing all mechanical components,  A meeting will soon be scheduled with the Park Mill owners to discuss the project.

After a recent issue, the elevator buttons were replaced and no additional issues have been reported.

Automated external defibrillator
The Board received a request to install an AED (automated external defibrillator) at Baker Square, which was approved and purchased. When it is installed outside of the pool and gym, training will be offered on its use.

Window washing
Baker Square has scheduled a group window washing effort. Fish Window Washing will be onsite Tuesday, June 20 through Friday, June 23 to wash the windows of participating units that can be accessed with a lift. The cost is $80 per unit plus $25 per window. Please notify the Management office if you would like to participate. This project and fee structure is based on a minimum participation of residents and if the minimum participation is not reached the project may be postponed or the fee may be increased. Payments can be made by check made out to Baker Square condominium or through ClickPay.

ClickPay
ClickPay is an online portal for owners to use to make condo fee payments, set up automatic payments, update banking information, and make one-time payments. If you have not already done so and would like to set up an account, please contact the Management office for instructions and your account number.

Don’t let strangers into your building
For everyone’s safety and to prevent package theft, do not grant building access to anyone who is not a resident. While it may be uncomfortable to deny entry, we have had a spate of package thefts. Even if you are expecting a delivery, getting a confirmation before buzzing someone in is more important than ever. The automatic doors close slowly, please remember to make sure the door is closed after entering or exiting the building.

Cast your Amendment & Improvement votes 
If you have not voted, please submit your Amendment and Improvement votes to the Management Office. Since the outcome of the votes is predicated on the beneficial interest of the entire community, choosing not to vote is essentially a no vote. The proposals affect the quality of life, potential resale value, and financial vitality of Baker Square, and your vote matters.

Paint disposal
To dispose of latex paint in the trash, it must be completely dry. To dry small amounts, remove the lid and let the paint air dry. For larger amounts, mix it with kitty litter, sawdust, or paint hardener. Oil based paint, stains, and varnishes are hazardous waste and cannot be disposed of at Baker Square. The City of Boston hosts five Hazardous Waste drop-off days each year. Additionally, the Public Works Department hosts Saturday paint swap shops once a month from May through August for surplus paint, stains, and varnishes. Residents can drop off or pick up paint materials for free and also drop off used motor oil.

Patio Wi-Fi
We hope residents have been enjoying the patio this spring. The patio is equipped with WI-FI. The WI-FI network is Baker Square Condominium and the password is Bakersquare.

Book Club
Open to all residents, the book club meets in-person and virtually with monthly selections alternating between fiction and non-fiction. Next month’s selection is The Road to Unfreedom by Timothy Snyder, a stunning chronicle of the rise of authoritarianism from Russia to Europe and America. The discussion will be hosted by Bill and Linda Braun, B604 on Sunday, July 9, at 7:00 p.m.

Google Voice
Owners who created a Google Voice account to use more than one phone number for the intercom system, may receive an email request to verify their information. It’s important to respond. If you don’t verify the information, the account will remain active, but calls will not be forwarded.
Do you have a homeowners insurance policy?
It’s recommended that every homeowner have an H06 or homeowners insurance policy. Baker Square’s insurance agent, Hub International, prepared an information sheet to assist homeowners when researching a policy. This is offered as a courtesy and unit owners are under no obligation to purchase this or any other service through HUB International. Owners who have a policy should take the time to review it with their personal insurance agent, to confirm that the coverage is adequate and aligns with the master policy.
In the neighborhood
Events and more

Ashmont Hill Chamber Music announces 2023-2024 season 
The Ashmont Hill Chamber Music presents concerts of world-class chamber music in the acoustically beautiful venue of Peabody Hall of All Saints’ Church in Dorchester. And the artistic director of this marvelous program is our neighbor, Mary Beth Alger. Check out the upcoming season.

Milton Music Fest and Fireworks
June 24 & 25– featuring live music, great food, activities for all ages, and amazing fireworks at Governor Hutchinson’s Field, Milton. For details.

Milton Farmers Market
The Farmers Market at Wharf Park, Milton Village, just off Adams Street opened June 1 and will be open every Thursday from 1:00 p.m.- 6:00 p.m. through October 12.

Daily Table opens in the Loop at Mattapan Station
A non-profit grocery market, the Daily Table offers a selection of fresh produce, meat and dairy, and other grocery staples at affordable prices. It’s well worth checking out.