Baker square NEWS

Cobblestone Newsletter Fall 2024

by | Oct 7, 2024 | Community, News

 
In this issue

In the community

  • Project updates
  • Important reminders
  • Staff news
  • Committee reports
  • Other happenings

In the neighborhood

  • Events and more

Your contacts
In the community

Project updates

EV Charging Stations
The infrastructure for the EV charging stations is being completed by the Eversource Make-Ready program. Baker Square is currently in the “pre-approved” status in the Eversource EV portal and we are waiting for the site agreement to be signed and Eversource engineers to sign off on the plan. Once this is complete, Baker Square will receive a work order number to track the installation date. We acknowledge the timeline is slower than we hoped, but we are dependent on the primary funders of the project, Eversource and MassEVIP. Inovis Energy, the consultant engaged for the project, is actively working to expedite the project.

Baker Mill Rooftop Unit
We have received three proposals for the Baker Mill rooftop unit replacement project. The Board is currently reviewing the proposals and we expect to award the contract within the next few days. When a contractor is selected, the contracts will be reviewed and executed. Both units in the Baker Mill building are scheduled to be replaced. Once ordered, the materials have an estimated 6-week lead time and the project will take about two weeks to complete. It’s expected to be completed before the end of the year. We’re working closely with the mechanical engineer to efficiently coordinate the many vendors involved, including crane operators, roofers, HVAC, sheet metal, and fire alarm technicians.

Park Mill Elevator
We are currently obtaining dates from Atlantic Elevator to host an open meeting at Baker Square this fall to discuss the Park Mill elevator modernization project. We will be sharing the meeting specifics shortly.

Baker Mill Boiler & Hot Water Tank Project
The Baker Mill hot water tank and boilers are scheduled to be replaced. The Board and Management, working closely with Mechanical Engineer Michael Moses, put the project out for bid this summer and four bids were received. The project was awarded to Duggan Mechanical. The next step will be for the contract to be reviewed and executed. The materials have an expected 10-week lead time, and we plan to commence the project in spring 2025, weather permitting. The project is expected to take approximately two months to complete.

Continued updates on website
The Board and Management plan to provide monthly updates via the Baker Square website Owner Page to reflect ongoing and upcoming scheduled maintenance.  Please contact the management office if you need your password sent to you.
Important reminders

 Open meeting
The next open meeting of the Board of Trustees is scheduled for Wednesday, October 30 at 6:30 p.m.  and will be held in the Park Mill Function Room.

No smoking
Remember that smoking is not permitted anywhere on the property, including the patio.

Flood policy

Effective July 1, 2024, FEMA‘s (Federal Emergency Management Agency) flood maps now include the Park Mill and Forbes buildings joining Baker Mill, Water Mill, and Carriage House in the high-hazard flood zone. New and old zones. The Board of Trustees, together with Barkan Management and with the assistance of the Trust’s insurance agent, Hub International, has secured additional flood coverage for Park Mill and Forbes. Each building now has an additional flood policy:
Baker Mill
Carriage House
Forbes
Park Mill
Water Mill

Heat pump maintenance and survey

Maintenance

Each unit owner is responsible for having a professional maintenance service performed on all heat pumps within their unit. The manufacturer recommends that this be completed at least twice per year – a cooling checkup in the spring, and a heating maintenance service call in the fall. We encourage all units to complete the maintenance and review the heat pump service checklist with your technician.

There was a lengthy discussion on heat pumps at the annual meeting regarding the costs of maintenance, the consequences of failure to properly maintain units, and the benefits of coordinating maintenance service. Two owners, on a volunteer basis, have been working to coordinate service within the building with two vendors that are offering discounted rates. If you would like to learn more:

  • Forbes and Park Mill residents, contact Mary Carbonara,  [email protected], 617-899-4231
  • Baker Mill, Carriage House, and Watermill residents, contact Michael McNeil, [email protected], 714-270-4256

Survey

To better understand the issues owners experience with heat pumps and to formulate a plan for improvements, a survey has been distributed on behalf of the Heat Pump Maintenance Committee to both owners and renters. The surveys will be open until 5:00 p.m. on Monday, October 14. Your response is important –this is a critical issue that affects everyone living in Baker Square and we need your feedback. If you did not receive the survey, please contact the management office.
Staff news

Property Manager hours
Over the next few months, Meghan Grzybinski will be working in the Baker Square Management Office Tuesdays through Fridays and working remotely on Mondays. Please note that while working remotely, the Property Manager can be contacted by phone at 617-296-2287 or email  [email protected].

Baker Square cleaning staff
Baker Square’s cleaning vendor, Commercial Cleaning Service has assigned a new cleaner, Juan, to fill the full-time cleaning position at Baker Square. Juan works closely with the management and maintenance teams and our part-time cleaner, Felix. If you haven’t already done so, please join us in welcoming Juan!

Committee reports

Community Engagement Committee (CEC)

Many thanks to Bobin Nicholson and his band, the Conscious Reggae Band, and to Vargas and Vargas for sponsoring the September concert on the patio, which was enjoyed by all!

We’ve been asked for more concerts, but we operate with a limited budget. If you are interested in sponsoring all or a part of future musical events, please contact us. Also, we need volunteers to help clean up after events. Please take some time to help following future events.

Upcoming events

Discussion with Ian Cooke, executive director Neponset River Watershed Association

Wednesday, October 9, Park Mill Community Room 7:00 p.m.- 9:00 p.m.
(click on image for more information)

Learn more about the Neponset River Superfund activities.


Halloween pumpkin display – October 31

Put your pumpkins out on October 31 at 5:00 p.m. and please retrieve then
by 10:00 p.m. Details to follow.


Buffet supper Madre Osteria, 88 Wharf

Tuesday, November 19, 6:00 p.m.
$25.00 per person
RSVP required –  [email protected]
Details to follow

Holiday cake decorating class

Saturday, November 23, 12:00 p.m.- 2:00 p.m.

Yum! Our new resident cake decorator, Meisha Nguyen, will make you the star of your holiday dinner! Meisha will provide the cake and tools to decorate a holiday cake to impress your guests.

Watch for details about registering…the class will have a limited number of participants!

Holiday stroll at BSC

Sunday, December 15, 4:00 p.m. – 6:00 p.m.

Last year’s stroll was a wonderful success and the committee is seeking volunteers to open their condo doors and share the holiday spirit with neighbors. The stroll will be open to only Baker Square residents and their guests. Please contact Claire Hughes if you’d like to participate.

Winter chili gathering and football

Sunday, January 26, 2025, 5:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.
Chili potluck in Park Mill Community Room. Details to follow.

–Submitted by Sarah Brooks and Claire Hughes

Landscape Committee

BSC Annual Bulb Days coming soon! October 19th (rain date 20th) is set for general planting along the drive and October 26th (rain date 27th) will be a day to plant scilla on the Forbes lawn. We will be asking for volunteers for those weekends. Join us!

For those who don’t know it, scilla (otherwise known as squill) provides a blue shimmer over a lawn for a month or so in the early spring. Ours will be planted in a curving ribbon diagonally across the Forbes lawn. The picture to the left is from Yard and Garden, and Iowa State University Extension and Outreach. Ours will not be a vast field, like in the picture, but only a ribbon-like stream across the lawn.

– Submitted by Heidi Lynne and Barbara Conwell

Heat Pump Committee

Following the annual meeting, a small committee of residents from Forbes and Board member, Matthew Booth, have been meeting to determine the best practices for heat pump preventive maintenance (PM). Meetings have been held with Barkan Facilities Director, Yazid Brahimi and a well-regarded HVAC vendor to better understand the technical aspects and challenges of heat pump maintenance, including how the systems differ in the buildings.

Currently, volunteers are working to coordinate maintenance by vertical stack (see Important reminders above). The Committee urges residents to respond to the heat pump survey and plans educational meetings with condo unit owners and renters to share information and continue coordination of the best practice for heat pump PM for the Spring 2025 maintenance cycle. Stay tuned for meeting invitations.

– Submitted by Mary Carbonara

Other happenings

Baker Square Book Club 
Sunday, October 20, 7:00 p.m.
Hosted by Dagmar Pollex, PM101
In-person or virtual

All are welcome to discuss Timothy Snyder’s new book, On Freedom, in which he argues freedom is the great American commitment, but we have lost sight of what it means. Light refreshments served. For a virtual link, contact Barbara Conwell.Join the composting programReduce waste! Protect the climate! Create green jobs!  Join the Baker Square composting program. A group of households contracts independently with Bootstrap Compost for weekly pick-up of our food waste, plant waste, and other compostable items such as take-out containers, paper towels, and cardboard egg cartons. Each household pays an annual modest fee. Contact Sarah Brooks or Heidi Lyne for more information.
In the neighborhood

Events and more

Lower Mills Merchant Association Holiday Stroll
Save the date – November 30

Our neighbor and business community liaison, Carlos Vargas, reports that the Lower Mills Merchant Association annual Holiday Stroll will be on Saturday, November 30 (small business Saturday). Mark your calendars to support our neighborhood merchants.

Ashmont Hill Chamber Music Series

Artistic Director (our own) Mary Beth Alger brings us another extraordinary season of music at the Parish of All Saints. Check out the website for upcoming events.

Dot Jazz Series

Also, at the Parish of All Saints, the Dot Jazz https://www.mandorlamusic.netseries is swinging again, featuring local, regional, and national jazz artists. Don’t miss the Afro-European Brazilian sounds of bandolim player Ian Coury and cellist Catherine Bent on October 10  at 7:30 p.m. With your concert ticket, favorite local Italian restaurant, Via Cannuccia, is offering a 10 percent discount on your dinner. Reserve your table now!

Dorchester Lower Mills Civic Association

After a two-month summer hiatus, our civic association is back in action, with meetings on the third Tuesday of each month. Annual membership dues of $10.00 give you voting rights on important community decisions, including many real estate development projects. See and hear our BPD Community Officers from our Districts B-3 and C-11 and our elected city and state representatives or their neighborhood liaisons. The first meeting of the new season was held on September 17 and featured an excellent architectural-design presentation of  1159-1161 Washington Street, Dorchester, currently the site of Spukies ‘n Pizza.

City of Boston Zero Waste Days

Boston holds drop-off days for household hazardous materials and certain waste ban items throughout the year. Pop-up Zero Waste Days are scheduled for October, November, December.

Commemorating the 50th anniversary of busing in Boston

The Boston Desegregation & Busing Initiative (BDBI) is dedicated to examining, learning from, and charting a path forward from the tumultuous era of desegregation in the Boston Public Schools.
Events are happening now to help us learn and remember this painful local history and to repair our city. Of note is local activist Lew Finfer’s walking tour of Dorchester and Mattapan’s BBURG atrocities.
When: Saturday, October 19, 10:00 a.m.
Where: Meet in front of Family Hardware Store, 1106 Blue Hill Avenue, Dorchester, two blocks north of the intersection of Blue Hill Avenue and Morton Street.
For more information and to register, scroll to this event on the BDBI events page or contact Mary Carbonara, F501, [email protected], 617-899-4231.

Thank you to Mary Carbonara for her contributions to this section.
Your Contacts

Trustees
Laura Gleason, Chair, F609, [email protected] 
Leslie Giddings, Secretary, F111, [email protected]
Mary Beth Alger, WM303, [email protected]
Matthew Booth, B306, [email protected]
Kyle Brichall, B508, [email protected]
Michael Ouellet, F108, [email protected]t
Tom Tanury, WM301, [email protected]

Condo Management Office 
Park Mill, to right of the entrance
Meghan Grzybinski, Baker Square Condo Association, 617-296-2287, [email protected]
https://barkancompanies.securecafe.com/residentservices/baker-square/userlogin.aspx
After Hours Barkan Emergency Contact Number : 1-800-570-9145
Boston Police 617-343-4911 (quicker than 911)
State Police 617-698-5840 (for state property: park, boat ramp, bike path)

If you have information you would like included in future newsletters please contact Mary Weafer, [email protected]
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Baker Square Condominium
1241 -1255 Adams Street
Dorchester, MA 02124

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