The Sidewalk to No Where debate has generated some comments and concerns on both sides of the project--yea and nea. But, I still can't help but ponder why we even have to have this debate on this blog--or why we even need this blog. All this discussion and analysis should be occurring within the structure organized and responsible for guiding this community: the PA Chautauqua.
Several years ago, I discovered the New York Chautauqua, who's website can be found at:
http://chautauqua.squarespace.com/about-chautauqua/
Granted, they have more resources than the PA Chautauqua--but there is no excuse why our Board is not posting more details, meeting minutes, committee compositions, contact info, etc at our website. They even post their homeowners association material with what seems to be complete transparency, when compared to us. So, you can even find their rules, meeting dates, etc. right online, at:
http://www.cpoa.ws/webhelp/cpoa.htm
Now, a quick look at their manual, and you find statements like:
"The Chautauqua Property Owners Association serves as a communication link between the property owners and the administration, advocating for the interests and needs of the owners, and, in turn, conveying to the owners the concerns of the Institution."
and, in comparison, here is how they would start to approach this whole safety, sidewalk to Princeton issue:
"Chautauqua was created as a walking community long before the advent of the automobile. Its streets are narrow, not designed for cars. Its lots are small with little or no space for parking cars.
When cars began to appear, it was understood they would be parked outside the fence. Today, cars, trucks, bicycles and golf carts appear everywhere often in violation of existing regulations. This creates three concerns: primarily safety, loss of ambiance and a loss of beauty.
The community would be safer for all community members, including young children and the elderly, the ambiance and quality of life would be enhanced, and beauty could be restored and preserved if all Chautauquans followed the driving and parking rules.
Chautauqua has always prided itself on being a walking community where pedestrians have the right of way. Bicycles are the preferred form of vehicular transportation and even bicycles must follow all of the N.Y. state laws which apply to automobiles.
Driving a car on the grounds is a privilege intended only for the necessities of loading or unloading baggage or other essentials. (Special provisions with a doctor’s certificate are made for the handicapped). The car driving privilege is intended for you to go directly from the entry gate designated on your pass to your place of residence to unload your groceries or other goods and then to return directly to the parking space assigned. The driving privilege is not intended for driving to:
The post office to pick up mail or a newspaper,
The Cinema,
The Plaza for a little shopping, or
To pick up or visit a friend, or to make such a visit a preliminary to a shopping trip off the grounds.
Please designate a meeting place at your exit gate.
The Institution has provided free busses and trams to take people from almost anywhere on the grounds to the major places of program or activity in a very efficient way. This shuttle service is reevaluated and improved every year.
Limited use of commercial vehicles is also an essential need for which special
provision is made. A property owner who schedules all but immediate need deliveries before or after the season is being a good neighbor and making a difference in the atmosphere of the community.
Parking of cars on the grounds is permitted only in the specifically designated parking place indicated on the parking permit issued to a ticket holder. This is usually a private home or an Institution lot.
If each resident makes the effort to adhere to these rules, although sometimes a bit
inconvenient, Chautauqua will truly be a pedestrian community and the unparalleled beauty and ambience of an atmosphere without cars and trucks will be our legacy to future generations."
A legacy for future generations--what a concept! I suppose that means that we can't just let ourselves deteriorate into just another subdivision...
It seems as if many of us here really want the subdivision amenities and aren't willing to make the sacrifices necessary to keep the unique and tranquil character of the Chautauqua. That is a tragedy, and it is unfair to those of us who chose to own property in the Chautauqua simply for that professed unique character. While you may have had that 30 years ago--you certainly are losing it rapidly now. So, its deceptive to maintain and solicit that that character still remains or will be protected.
Tuesday, November 3, 2009
Monday, November 2, 2009
Historic Preservation: Windows
We have, right under our noses here in Mt. Gretna, a great source of information on caring for our older homes. The City of Lancaster publishes a series of concise, yet very helpful, brochures on various aspects older homes, from painting to masonry to windows. Here, I will share with you a taste of the information from the "Caring for Wood Windows" brochure.
The author starts by reminding us that a home's windows and trim add significantly to a homes value, yet are often shortchanged by thoses with other motives. For example, window maufacturers benefit only when you replace your home's windows, rather than do routine maintenance or repairs.
The brochure then debunks several misconceptions. First, older materials are much more durable than modern materials--older windows, if properly maintained, can last hundreds of years. Modern windows, on the other hand, don't last any where close to that long, no matter how much you do to maintain them. Oh, the vinyl is around forever, but not the functioning window--the vinyl breaks down and distorts with exposure to the elements and there is no way to fix the "broken" element of the vinyl. The entire window has to be replaced. Second, roofs, walls, floors, and chimneys are the primary source of energy loss (80%), as opposed to windows (20%). And, of that 20%, the energy is lost because of unfilled gaps around the window, rather than through the window itself.
The tips that they give include:
1. Routine inspection of panes, glazing, paint, frame, etc.
2. Timely repair or replacement of the individual parts that need attention.
3. Use of proper splicing techniques or materials (like the Dutchman technique or wood epoxy)
4. Replacement only as a last resort and with same dimensions, design, and material of the original window.
5. Avoid contractors that do not have experience or a desire to save existing windows.
I can tell you from experience--we have hands on experience with all 5 tips, that that last one is really the toughest tip of all to follow. On one 100 year old house that we rehabbed, we had no choice but to replace the deteriorated windows in a bay. To preserve the historic/architectural details of the house, we had to order custom windows with a wood finish. Even though the manufacturer came out to measure the opening, he still sent us standard sized windows that would have required that we actually take the frame of the bay apart to install the windows that he sent, which were an inch too short in one dimension and an inch too long in the other dimension. Of course the manufacturer told us that he would give us a "rebate" and that his installers could certainly get these windows to fit if we let them do it. Thank goodness that we had time to let him come to the correct decision, and never stopped insisting that he deliver the custom sized windows that we ordered and paid for. Lots of times, it just doesn't work out that way, and you are stuck with what they decide you want.
Just write Lancaster and request the brochures, at:
City of Lancaster
120 North Duke Street
POBox 1599
Lancaster, PA 17608-1599
The author starts by reminding us that a home's windows and trim add significantly to a homes value, yet are often shortchanged by thoses with other motives. For example, window maufacturers benefit only when you replace your home's windows, rather than do routine maintenance or repairs.
The brochure then debunks several misconceptions. First, older materials are much more durable than modern materials--older windows, if properly maintained, can last hundreds of years. Modern windows, on the other hand, don't last any where close to that long, no matter how much you do to maintain them. Oh, the vinyl is around forever, but not the functioning window--the vinyl breaks down and distorts with exposure to the elements and there is no way to fix the "broken" element of the vinyl. The entire window has to be replaced. Second, roofs, walls, floors, and chimneys are the primary source of energy loss (80%), as opposed to windows (20%). And, of that 20%, the energy is lost because of unfilled gaps around the window, rather than through the window itself.
The tips that they give include:
1. Routine inspection of panes, glazing, paint, frame, etc.
2. Timely repair or replacement of the individual parts that need attention.
3. Use of proper splicing techniques or materials (like the Dutchman technique or wood epoxy)
4. Replacement only as a last resort and with same dimensions, design, and material of the original window.
5. Avoid contractors that do not have experience or a desire to save existing windows.
I can tell you from experience--we have hands on experience with all 5 tips, that that last one is really the toughest tip of all to follow. On one 100 year old house that we rehabbed, we had no choice but to replace the deteriorated windows in a bay. To preserve the historic/architectural details of the house, we had to order custom windows with a wood finish. Even though the manufacturer came out to measure the opening, he still sent us standard sized windows that would have required that we actually take the frame of the bay apart to install the windows that he sent, which were an inch too short in one dimension and an inch too long in the other dimension. Of course the manufacturer told us that he would give us a "rebate" and that his installers could certainly get these windows to fit if we let them do it. Thank goodness that we had time to let him come to the correct decision, and never stopped insisting that he deliver the custom sized windows that we ordered and paid for. Lots of times, it just doesn't work out that way, and you are stuck with what they decide you want.
Just write Lancaster and request the brochures, at:
City of Lancaster
120 North Duke Street
POBox 1599
Lancaster, PA 17608-1599
Sunday, November 1, 2009
Kathy Snavely and moral and financial bankruptcy
With great humor I read this email conversation that I had earlier this year with Kathy Snavely.
Her comments are in black, and my responses to her comments are in blue.
Even she, as far back as March of this year, can't shake the Mt. Gretna Myopia and see the reality of what kind of community the Chautauqua Board and the Borough Council have created for us and for themselves.
The best line from her is the p.s. (having the smallest Boro in the state). EXACTLY--listen, I am making these bumber stickers that say "3/87/170" That means: 3.2 miles of paved road, 87 acres of land, and 170 registered voters. Yet we have a public works crew, a fleet of public works machinery, vehicles, and equipment, pension plans and obligations that our grandchildren will be paying on, police service contracts that add no policing value to the community and automatically increase at 6% a year, 2 administrative boards, and a summer programs schedule that often attracts more of the coordinator's groupies than real audience members.
I met a guy the other day who said he was on the board in a neighboring town, where he dropped two staff, lowered taxes, and still closed his budget while also giving out raises. He was quick to say "just file bankruptcy." While I was laughing at the impossibility of our boro council thoroughly considering ALL possibilities, let alone this one, he jumped right in and said "I bet you even have a police contract. Bankruptcy will get you out of that contract, too." I said, "well, I don't see how it can hurt our credit rating." To which he replied, "Well, at least you ought to let two staff go and dump the police contract. That oughtta about make up for your $50,000 deficit, right?" Right. Who does the boro serve, anyway? Me or our employees...?
Anyway, the conversation between Snavely and I is posted at this link:
http://docs.google.com/Doc?docid=0AZATkbVJQ0FiZGZzMnd4Y2tfNGNoODd2NGhn&hl=en
And, for those of you who have been following the inside scoop, where Snavely has recently admitted to me, in writing, that she has been reporting my conversations to police, politicians, etc, note my explicit request to keep our conversation confidential, to which she agreed later in the conversation. Please also note who, of the two of us keeps trying to divert from my real concern--which is the deteriorating quality of life here, by mischaracterizing my concerns as much more specific than they really are.
Somebody's gonna be doin' some 'splainin'.... I only hope that we get back to part where some of the humor comes back into the dialogue...
Her comments are in black, and my responses to her comments are in blue.
Even she, as far back as March of this year, can't shake the Mt. Gretna Myopia and see the reality of what kind of community the Chautauqua Board and the Borough Council have created for us and for themselves.
The best line from her is the p.s. (having the smallest Boro in the state). EXACTLY--listen, I am making these bumber stickers that say "3/87/170" That means: 3.2 miles of paved road, 87 acres of land, and 170 registered voters. Yet we have a public works crew, a fleet of public works machinery, vehicles, and equipment, pension plans and obligations that our grandchildren will be paying on, police service contracts that add no policing value to the community and automatically increase at 6% a year, 2 administrative boards, and a summer programs schedule that often attracts more of the coordinator's groupies than real audience members.
I met a guy the other day who said he was on the board in a neighboring town, where he dropped two staff, lowered taxes, and still closed his budget while also giving out raises. He was quick to say "just file bankruptcy." While I was laughing at the impossibility of our boro council thoroughly considering ALL possibilities, let alone this one, he jumped right in and said "I bet you even have a police contract. Bankruptcy will get you out of that contract, too." I said, "well, I don't see how it can hurt our credit rating." To which he replied, "Well, at least you ought to let two staff go and dump the police contract. That oughtta about make up for your $50,000 deficit, right?" Right. Who does the boro serve, anyway? Me or our employees...?
Anyway, the conversation between Snavely and I is posted at this link:
http://docs.google.com/Doc?docid=0AZATkbVJQ0FiZGZzMnd4Y2tfNGNoODd2NGhn&hl=en
And, for those of you who have been following the inside scoop, where Snavely has recently admitted to me, in writing, that she has been reporting my conversations to police, politicians, etc, note my explicit request to keep our conversation confidential, to which she agreed later in the conversation. Please also note who, of the two of us keeps trying to divert from my real concern--which is the deteriorating quality of life here, by mischaracterizing my concerns as much more specific than they really are.
Somebody's gonna be doin' some 'splainin'.... I only hope that we get back to part where some of the humor comes back into the dialogue...
PA Chautauqua By Laws
L. Bell provided me with this copy of the PA Chautauqua By Laws.
You can see it at this website:
http://picasaweb.google.com/viragogretna
A link to them is also posted in the Our Community Links List at the bottom of this blog page.
You can see it at this website:
http://picasaweb.google.com/viragogretna
A link to them is also posted in the Our Community Links List at the bottom of this blog page.
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