In this issue
In the community
- From the Board of Trustees and Management
- Project updates
- Avoid costly damage and save on heat pump maintenance
- Recycling right: the most common “do not recycle” items in our bins
- Important reminders
- What’s happening?
In the neighborhood
- Events
- On-going activities
- Neighborhood news
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From the Board of Trustees and Management
Board meetings
The Board of Trustees meets every month except August. There are four open meetings, typically in October, January, April, and the Annual Meeting in June. Save the dates for the upcoming open meetings:
- Wednesday, April 29, 2026, 6:30 p.m.
- Annual Meeting, Wednesday, June 24, 2026, 6:30 p.m.
Three trustee seats will be open for election at the Annual Meeting.
Residents are welcome to submit agenda topics for any board meeting. To do so, please submit a letter addressed to the Board to the Management Office. Your letter will be included in the next monthly meeting package.
Landscape contract renewed
Based on the Landscape Committee’s recommendation, the Board has awarded the landscape contract to John’s Landscaping again for the upcoming season.
Unit access/wellness checks
The Board and Management are not authorized to complete wellness checks. If a wellness check is needed, it must be requested through the Boston Police Department. During business hours, Management can assist by granting building access to local authorities. Unit owners should consider sharing a copy of their keys with a trusted neighbor or a local family member or friend to assist with such matters.
Construction project approval process
Owners undertaking any construction project over $10,000, or any work that requires access to or modification of common systems or common areas (regardless of cost), must submit a construction package for approval by the Board. A common cause of project approval delays is the contractor failing to meet insurance requirements. To avoid delays, owners should confirm that their contractors meet the requirements before signing a contract.
Management is happy to review the contractor’s insurance to confirm it meets the required coverage.
Reserve study
The Board is beginning to review proposals to update the 2023 Kipcon reserve study.
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| Project updates
Forbes fire alarm panel
All device programming and troubleshooting has been completed for the Forbes fire alarm project. Carpentry repairs will be finished within the next few weeks, including any unit repairs missed during the initial carpentry visit. We are waiting for confirmation from the fire department on the requirements for transitioning from the old system to the new system in preparation for the final inspection. One final testing of the smoke control system will also be conducted.
EV charging station
With the warmer weather and snow mostly gone we expect Eversource to schedule phase 2 of the EV charging station installations soon. Residents will be notified once a date is confirmed. The work will require a power shutdown to the Water Mill building. Once the charging stations are operating, the AmpUp software will be installed. Residents can download the app (click on QR code to save) now to become familiar with it.
Forbes garage ventilation
At the recent March business meeting, the Board selected Duggan Mechanical for the Forbes garage ventilation project.
Masonry
Management met with several masonry vendors to determine the best plan to complete the identified masonry projects around the property in 2026. We expect these projects to be completed by the end of Q3.
Window cleaning
We are contacting Fish Window Cleaning for potential window washing dates for this spring/summer. Window washing is an owner expense in accordance with the Declaration of Trust, Section 5.2. We will share more details when they become available. |
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Avoid costly water damage and save on heat pump maintenance
Schedule your spring heat pump maintenance now
There have been several incidents where unmaintained heat pumps caused condensate pans to overflow, resulting in significant water damage to the unit and the units below. Because condensate drains are connected through the building risers, a problem in one unit can quickly affect others. Regular spring maintenance helps prevent these issues.
Under our condominium bylaws, heat pump maintenance is the responsibility of each homeowner, and neither the property management company nor the Trustees arrange service. To make maintenance easier and more affordable, homeowners have organized group service appointments with A. Hohmann at a discounted rate.
Discount service dates
- April 6–10: Forbes
- April 13–17: Baker Mill, Watermill, Park Mill
Cost: $89 per heat pump (regularly $235)
Signup deadline: Friday, March 13
How to sign up
Forbes homeowners: Contact your stack captain. If you are unsure who that is, contact Mary Carbonara at mcarbonara123@gmail.com or 617-899-4231.
Park Mill, Baker Mill, Carriage House, and Watermill: Contact Mary Carbonara at mcarbonara123@gmail.com or 617-899-4231.– submitted by Mary Carbonara
– graphic by Matthew Booth
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| Recycling right: the most common “do not recycle” items in our bin
Our consistently full recycling bins are a great sign—Baker Square residents clearly care about reducing waste. Thank you! Recycling rules, however, can be confusing. They vary by city and recycling facility, and guidelines frequently change as processing capabilities evolve.
To help keep Baker Square’s recycling program effective, avoid contamination, and prevent damaging equipment, here are the commonly misplaced items in our bins that are NOT accepted in Boston’s recycling program:
- Plastic bag
- Prescription bottle
- Milk, juice, or soup carton
- Metal hanger
- Napkins and paper towels
- Styrofoam
- Black plastic takeout containers
Not sure about an item? Boston makes it easy to check. Visit:
https://www.boston.gov/departments/public-works/recycling-boston and type the item into the search tool to learn how to recycle or dispose of it properly.
 Thanks to Tom Tanury and Sarah Brooks, an even easier option is the QR code that will be posted in the recycling areas. Use the directory feature to look up how to dispose of specific items (click on QR code to save).
If you’d like to learn more, last year our neighbor Dottie Pitt prepared an excellent overview of how Baker Square could move closer to net-zero waste. It’s a thoughtful and practical resource—well worth a look.
– submitted by Sarah Brooks |
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Gym and pool etiquette
When using the gym and pool areas, please be mindful of your neighbors. A few simple courtesies help keep these spaces pleasant for everyone:
- Do not drop weights. The vibrations can be heard throughout the Park Mill building.
- Clean up after yourself. All equipment should be wiped down after use.
- Take your pool toys and bathing suits with you when coming and going from the pool.
- Tone it down. Wear headphones while listening to music, podcasts, etc. Do not have loud music playing.
- Avoid talking on the phone. If necessary, take the call outside of the facility.
City of Boston dog licenses
All City of Boston dog licenses will expire on March 31, 2026. Our regulations require all dog owners to provide the Condominium with proof of a current City of Boston dog license. If you have not already done so, please submit a copy to the Management Office.
Pet regulations: please clean up after your pets
Pet owners are responsible for always cleaning up after their pets and should  use the designated pet areas whenever possible. If your pet has an accident indoors, please clean it up promptly.
Recently, there have been several incidents where pet waste has not been cleaned up, both indoors and outdoors. Please remember that the front lawn and the parking lot islands are not designated pet relief areas.
Thank you for helping keep our community clean, safe, and enjoyable for everyone.
Mail: please check your address
Mail that is missing a unit number or has an incomplete address often ends up in the wrong mailbox. Please take the time to correct any improperly addressed mail.
Visitor parking
Visitor parking is for guests of residents or those contracted to provide services to the condominium. Overnight guests must have a valid visitor parking permit visible and hung from the vehicle’s rearview mirror. With a visitor parking permit, parking is limited to three (3) consecutive nights in any thirty-day period. Owners and residents are not permitted to utilize visitor parking and may be subject to fines and/or towing.
Snow removal
After several winters with minimal snowfall, this season presented challenges. Thank you for your cooperation! Here are a few things to keep in mind for future snow events:
- If possible, clean your car and parking space while plows are on site. You can push snow from your vehicle onto the road so the plow can take it to the back of the property. This avoids snow being left in your neighbor’s spaces.
- When parking spaces are unavailable during the snow events, please park carefully and avoid blocking access to other spaces.
Key fobs
Key fobs are the primary tool for navigating the building and amenity spaces, but they also help keep the property secure.
- If you lose or misplace your fob, report it to Management. They can deactivate it, making it useless to anyone who finds it.
- Sometimes fobs can fail. The internal circuit board can crack or the antenna coil snap, if dropped. “Keychain stress” can cause internal solder points to break or moisture can seep in and corrode the internal electronics.
- Fobs are available for purchase at $25 each.
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Community Engagement Committee
Upcoming events
All events take place in the Park Mill Function Room
Fire Safety, Thursday, March 12 | 5:00–6:00 p.m.
LT Henry Perkins of BFD Fire Safety Division will present practical steps to reduce fire hazards in your home. Did you know the department offers free bed-shaker alarms for residents who are deaf or hard of hearing? The program will include helpful prevention tips, safety guidance, and time for questions.
Oscars Night Potluck (and Ping Pong!), Sunday, March 15 | 5:30 p.m.
Lights, camera, action! Join your neighbors for an Oscars Night Potluck. Bring a dish to share and enjoy an evening of Hollywood glamour, good food, and great company.
Ongoing Movie Nights
A relaxing way to enjoy a cinema experience right here at Baker Square. There are three movie nights this month: March 17, March 25, and March 31. Email to join the list and receive notifications. Everyone is welcome to attend and suggest films.
Friends of the Blue Hills, Thursday, March 19 | 7:00–8:30 p.m.
Learn about the remarkable Blue Hills Reservation and how you can get involved. John Harrell, Volunteer and Education Program Manager, and Jen Klein, Executive Director of Friends of the Blue Hills, will share ways to enjoy this wonderful natural resource and to volunteer.
Craft Night, Thursday, March 26 | 7:00–9:00 p.m.
Bring your creativity and join neighbors for a relaxed evening of crafting and conversation.
A community comes to life because of you
What makes Baker Square special isn’t just the buildings—it’s the people who show up, lend a hand, share a laugh, and make time to connect with neighbors. Thank you for helping create that spirit of community.
Here are some of the things we’ve done together recently:
- Ran a Holiday Toy Drive for ABCD and a Book Drive for More
 Than Words. Both were very successful – thank you!
- Heard a thoughtful presentation by Andrew Seligsohn of the nonprofit Public Agenda (a follow-up event is being planned)
- Turned a disappointing Super Bowl into a fun evening simply by being there
- Viewed a series of best picture Oscar nominees, hosted by the Movie Club
- Restarted Craft Nights
For updates on events, check the CEC Calendar in the owners’ section of bakersquarecondos.com or the posting outside the Park Mill Function Room.
We welcome your suggestions. Email claire.a.hughes@gmail.com or speak to a committee member. Laura Gleason, Tom Tanury – Board Reps., Sarah Brooks, Claire Hughes, Koni Ross-Johnson, Dagmar Pollex, Ann Seligsohn, Sharon Siwiec, Carlos Vargas.
Book Club
 Sunday, March 29, 7:00 p.m., Baker Mill 603
Home of Sharon Siwiec and Don Foxworthy
All are welcome to join a discussion of This Is Happiness by Niall Williams, an enchanting novel about love, friendship, and coming of age in a rural Irish village in 1958. Light refreshments are served.
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