In this issue
In the community
- From the Board of Trustees and Management
- Project updates
- Special holiday notes
- Save BIG this winter with lower heat pump rates
- Important reminders
- What’s happening?
- Thank you
In the neighborhood
- Support our local businesses
- Holiday events
- January events
Your contacts
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From the Board of Trustees and Management
2026 Budget
Condo fees: After careful review, the Board of Trustees approved  the 2026 budget for the Baker Square Condominium Trust. The budget includes an 11.26% increase in condominium fees.
Supplemental fees: To reduce the Trust’s line of credit and support upcoming capital replacements, the Board has approved a supplemental fee totaling $500,000, effective January 1, 2026. Your share is determined by the percentage beneficial interest for the unit as outlined in the Condominium’s Declaration of Trust and Master Deed. Residents may pay this fee in full or in nine equal installments from January 1 to September 1, 2026.
The Board will also make a $50,000 one-time payment toward the line of credit using the snow reserve account. After evaluating all available options, the Board determined that this supplemental fee is the most responsible alternative to further increasing monthly condo fees.
Owners are advised to keep records of supplemental fees for possible future individual accounting needs.
A copy of the budget and letter detailing the 2026 fees was mailed to all owners and the budget is available on the owner’s portal. Please contact the management office if you didn’t receive it.
Updating your condo fee payments
If you use AutoPay:
- Important: If you intend to pay the supplemental fee in one lump sum, please notify management so that the payment is appropriately applied.
- If you have AutoPay set up through eCheck/ACH, your monthly condominium fee will be paid automatically on the date you chose. The supplemental fee will default to nine installments unless you pay the fee in a lump sum.
- If you use the fixed amount option, you must cancel the existing payment and set up a new AutoPay with the updated fee amount (or select the “total balance option”). If you want to pay the supplemental fee in installments, set up a second “fixed amount” payment for the supplemental fee or update your fixed payment to include the supplemental fee amount.
- To cancel the old payment: Log in to your account, go to Pay Assessments → Manage AutoPay → Cancel AutoPay.
- To create a new payment, select Add AutoPay and follow the prompts to enter your updated payment information.
- If you already selected the “Assessment Balance” option, no action is required as your new fee and supplemental fee will be updated automatically. The 2026 condo fee and 1/9 of the supplemental fee will be pulled each month.
If you use bank bill-pay:
- Update your payment amount and include your account number.
- Set up installment payments or a lump sum payment for the supplemental fee.
New coupon booklets will be mailed to owners who do not use AutoPay through CINC Systems.
Open meeting schedule
Future open meetings are posted on the calendar on the Baker Square condos website and are scheduled for:
- Wednesday, January 28, 2026, 6:30 p.m.
- Wednesday, April 29, 2026, 6:30 p.m.
- Annual Meeting, Wednesday, June 24, 2026, 6:30 p.m.
Residents are encouraged to submit questions and topics in advance to management.
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| Project updates
Park Mill elevator
Construction is on schedule to finish this week. Once complete, state and city inspections will be scheduled. Thank you for your patience and cooperation throughout this project.
Forbes fire alarm panel
A programming issue with the new fire panel required the installation of a new module. The parts have arrived and are being programmed offsite. Final testing and inspection are expected to be completed the first quarter of 2026.
EV charging station
Phase 1 of the EV charging installation is complete. We are awaiting the construction schedule for Phase 2, which requires involvement from Eversource and their contractors. In the meantime, the parking spaces near the new equipment are open to all visitors. The Board is also preparing rules and regulations for EV station use.Upcoming project: Forbes garage ventilation system
As identified in the Kipcon reserve study, an upgrade to the Forbes garage ventilation system is scheduled for 2026. This is part of the life safety systems of the building. The Board and management have been working with a building engineer through the bidding process and expect to select a contractor soon. More details will be shared in the coming weeks. |
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Special holiday notes
Christmas tree collection
Let’s be neat! Either bag trees before bringing them through the building or vacuum any fallen needles in the elevator and hallways. Tree pickup will be from December 29, 2025 – January 9, 2026, and trees must be free of lights and ornaments.
Wreaths
Holiday wreaths may be displayed from the Friday after Thanksgiving through January 6, 2026.
Visitor & handicapped parking
Please remind guests to use designated visitor spaces; parking in another resident’s spot may result in towing. Visitor parking is limited to three (3) consecutive nights and no more than five (5) total nights in 30 days. Longer stays require alternate arrangements.
Handicapped spaces are reserved only for residents and guests with valid placards or license plates.
Package deliveries
Delivery volume increases significantly during the holidays. Please provide clear delivery instructions to your delivery drivers, track and promptly pick up packages, and break down boxes before placing them in your building’s main compactor room.
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Save BIG this winter with lower heat pump rates
Save $$$$ on your winter heating bill with Eversource’s reduced heat pump rate
From November 1, 2025 to April 30, 2026, customers who enroll in Eversource’s heat pump program will get a significantly reduced rate on the transmission and delivery portions of their bill. Eversource estimates that the typical bill will be reduced by 23 percent!
It’s easy to apply. Mary Carbonara has put together a helpful step-by-step guide to walk you through the process. She’s also happy to assist if you’d like support completing the form. Contact Mary at mcarbonara123@gmail.com or 617-899-4231.
All Baker Square homeowners are eligible for this reduced winter rate, so apply soon and the discount will appear on your next bill.
2025 Heat Pump Reports
The retrospective reports for the 2025 discounted heat pump preventive maintenance service performed by A. Hohmann for building group orders are now available on the Baker Square Condos website. You can find these reports by navigating to the Owners pages, the Maintenance section, or by searching the website using the tag heat pump or heat pumps.
Many thanks to Tom Tanury for posting these reports.
–submitted by Mary Carbonara
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Community Engagement Committee
Thanks to everyone for generous donations to the Thanksgiving food drive. With very little notice, our community pulled together to aid Action for Boston Community Development (ABCD) with Thanksgiving meals, in this time of heightened food insecurity.
Annual holiday toy drive – December 5–10
Donation boxes will be in the lobby for our annual ABCD toy  drive, which benefits children ages 0–12 from income-eligible families. Please remember – toys must be NEW, UNWRAPPED, and not imitate weapons or violence.
This year ABCD has a special request for gift cards for older kids. To ensure that every recipient receives the same type and value of gift, ABCD asks that gift cards be:
- VISA or Mastercard (flexible and easy to use)
- $25
- Unwrapped
Place gift cards in a sealed envelope, clearly marked ABCD Toy Drive, and deliver to the Management Office or contact Sarah Brooks (781-367-4135) or Mary Weafer (617-774-8380) for a secure drop-off.
Volunteers needed!
We’d love your help:
- Thursday, December 4, 10 a.m.– noon — decorating the toy boxes
- Thursday, December 11, 10 a.m.– noon — packing toys and delivering them to ABCD
Place: Park Mill Community Room
If you can volunteer, please contact Sarah Brooks. It’s a fun and meaningful way to give back!
Upcoming events
Presentation by Andrew Seligsohn, President of Public Agenda —TBA. Hear about their work to strengthen and sustain a democracy that works for everyone.
Super Bowl on the Big Screen & Potluck — Sunday, February 8, 2026 at the Park Mill Movie Theater. Bring a snack to share and enjoy the game together!
Annual BSC Book Drive to benefit More Than Words, a youth job training nonprofit —TBA.
Academy Awards on the Big Screen & Potluck — Sunday, March 15, 2026. Join us for award-night fun!
Presentation by John Harrell, Volunteer & Education Program Manager at Friends of the Blue Hills — learn about local trails, volunteer opportunities, and ways to enjoy this wonderful resource. Date to TBA.
Fire Safety presented by the Boston Fire Department – TBA.
Ongoing Movie Nights at Park Mill — want to get movie updates? Email BakerSquareMovieClub@pm.me to join the list.
For updates on events, check “calendar” on the owner’s section of bakersquarecondos.com.
Got ideas?
The CEC welcomes your ideas – for events, activities, and speakers. Email Claire Hughes.
– submitted by CEC – Laura Gleason – Board Rep., Sarah Brooks, Claire Hughes, Koni Ross-Johnson, Dagmar Pollex, Ann Seligsohn, Sharon Siwiec, Tom Tanury – Board Rep., Carlos Vargas
Landscape Committee
The spring bulbs are planted and compost spread.  Many thanks to those who helped! The Landscape Committee is now hibernating until April.
– submitted by Heidi Lyne
Book Club
Ho sted by Mary Weafer, Forbes 606, Sunday, January 25, 2026, 7:00 p.m. All are welcome to discuss The Women by Kristin Hannah, a historical fiction novel about deep friendships and bold patriotism, set against the backdrop of the Vietnam War. Light refreshments served. In-person or Zoom. (email for link) |
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 Editor’s note:
Many thanks to Sarah Brooks, Mary Carbonara, Barbara Conwell, Heidi Lyne, and Carlos Vargas for their regular contributions to Cobblestone News. |
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neighborhood — and they depend on community support to stay strong.
