A ‘Rules Review Committee’ of owners proposes overdue updates

Preview of proposed updates to the By-Laws available: To maintain transparency with the members of the homeowners’ Association, below you will find a PDF file containing a copy of the updates to the By-Laws being proposed by the ad hoc Rules Review Committee, which the board established to review the current By-Laws. The Rules Review Committee comprised of eight homeowners proposes that these changes as presented be submitted to the full membership of the Association for a vote as required under the By-laws at either the Annual Membership Meeting in August or a Special Meeting of the Full Membership. This preview version shows updated language highlighted in gray; however, an official ballot (probably sent via US Mail) will allow Association members to approve or reject the different segments of the By-Laws being updated.

This diagram clarifies the important connections and ranking among our Association’s governing documents. 

Board established the ad hoc Rules Review Committee: In establishing a Rule Review Committee, the board wanted to engage more homeowners from our community and to solicit the thinking and insights of the members, who represent the foundational core of the Association, so the board established an ad hoc Rules Review Committee of Sandy Brae owners and charged it with two tasks: First, the board asked the owners to conduct a careful and extensive review of the Association’s Rules and Regulations.  Second, the board asked these owners to complete a comprehensive examination of Association’s By-Laws.  

Committee’s 1st goal was to review and update the ‘Rules and Regulations’ to recommend ways to make them more pertinent to the community: The committee’s first goal was to determine whether any Rules and Regulations should be updated, revised, changed, or removed.  In April, the committee finished its recommended updates and changes for the Rules and Regulations, which detail the procedures for operating the Association.  The By-Laws state that the board shall vote to adopt Rules and Regulations; nevertheless, the Board wanted the insights of some owners to help the board make decisions about the Rules and Regulations. As soon as the board considers and approves or revises the selected updates and changes, the board will make copies available for all members.  

Committee’s 2nd goal was to review and update the ‘By-Laws’ to make them more pertinent to the community: The committee’s second goal was to determine whether any By-Laws should be updated, revised, changed, or removed.  In May, the committee finished its proposed amendments to update and change the By-Laws. The committee proposed the updates to the membership in order to help the Association function more effectively and efficiently. Distinct from the Rules and Regulations, which the board can approve by a majority vote of the directors, amendments to the Association’s By-Laws can only be approved by a majority vote of Association members at either the Annual Meeting of the Full Association or at a Special Meeting of the Full Association.  So, you’ll want to review the preview copy below and then be looking for copies of the proposed By-Law amendments to review prior to your voting either submitting your amendment ballot in person or by submitting an absentee amendment ballot by mail. 

Saturday, July 15, 2023 – 9:00am to 3:00pm

A group of our good neighbors invite you to participate in a Sandy Brae Meadows community-wide garage sale. The Garage Sale Organizers will be posting signs along on Route 519 and Boone avenue. Plus, a local sponsor will be placing advertisements with local area newspapers and other outlets. The organizers notified the township police of the garage sale date and parking will be permitted on only one side of the street during the event.

So, mark the date on the calendar, grab a folding table, and start adding some price tickets to those items you’ve been meaning to clear out. The organizers want you to know you can keep your table open for the entire time, or sleep in and open up at 10:00am. Or, close up shop early. Of course, you can simply skip setting up a table and just grab your wallet, walk around the neighborhood to greet some neighbors you haven’t met yet, and pick up a few treasures. More information to follow in the Sandy Brae Newsletter and via an email announcement.

Organizers: Kathy & Ralph Larouere (216) and Carolyn & Keith Ramsey (150)

Carolyn Ramsey, a neighbor on Sandy Brae Drive offers up some fun suggestions for our community.

Let the board know what you think of this post by clicking on the “Leave a Reply” link above. If people are interested, interesting things could happen!

Community Garage Sale – We rented a patio home in a community before moving to Sandy Brae. They held a garage sale and it was great! They advertised in the local PennySaver and on the “Nextdoor app.” We were able to sell a lot of stuff rather than throw things away, plus we got to meet and visit with our neighbors that we wouldn’t normally see.

Block Party – We could close off one block at the top of Sandy Brae between Boone Avenue and the top of Brae Glen. It would give us a level area for the party and cars can still enter the community from Bruce Drive and drive around the main circle of the community. We could have an online sign up sheet for people to volunteer to bring food. Everyone could bring either a case of water or soda.

Glow in the dark Easter Egg Hunt (weather permitting) – Oriental Trading Company has glow in the dark eggs. You could hand out glow sticks on a string or lanyard for people to wear for safety. Designate a common area of the community to have the hunt. Maybe have the Welcome Committee hide the eggs. If it is a colder night you could offer hot chocolate, coffee and tea. People could volunteer to bring snacks. Maybe set up those things in a “home base” which could be someone’s garage.

Community movie night (weather permitting) – This could be set up in the triangle of common grassy area below unit 136. Place a blow-up screen at the bottom of the hill or find a way to hang up a white sheet. The hill is sloped perfectly for theater seating. Residents can bring a blanket to sit on. People can bring their own popcorn, snacks and drinks.

Bonfire night – While walking in the community I noticed a fire ring in a grassy area between two townhouse units. We could advertise a bonfire night and have people bring lawn chairs or blankets to one of the common grassy areas. People could bring their own drinks and snacks. Maybe even roast some marshmallows, too!

Ice Cream or Kona Ice Truck night – People could relax on a lawn chair with neighbors and enjoy a cool treat on a common grassy area on a warm summer evening.

Waste Management changed North Strabane’s scheduled recycling pickup weeks, starting with the week of January 23, 2023. In the recycling schedule attached below, which some residents may have received in the US Mail, you’ll notice that residents still have to place recycling trash containers at the curb every other Thursday for a Friday pickup; however, the actual weeks Waste Management collects recycling changed, and the new pickup dates have been highlighted in green. Regular trash continues to be collected every Friday, but some residents noticed that the pickup times might be earlier during the day on some weeks. So, placing containers at curbside on Thursdays might become more important with earlier pickups. The Waste Management calendar below also shows holidays highlighted in blue, which delays trash and recycling pickups until Saturday.

The PDF copy of the recycling calendar can be downloaded and printed.