Winthrop Chambers Condo Association

Update: Several people smelled gas recently in the building and National Grid came and fixed a leaking gas meter in 241. We also had them test 235 and 229 and they were fine.

In the event of another emergency, please call the appropriate department directly and then let one of the trustees know as soon as possible. See phone numbers below.

Winthrop Police Department – 911 or 617-846-1212
Winthrop Fire Department – 617-846-3474
National Grid (electric and gas) – 800-233-5325
Plumbing and Heating (emergency only) – Streeter Plumbing 617-846-4117

For all maintenance issues that may relate to common areas of the building, please contact one of the trustees first. Thank you.

Sincerely,
Trustees of Winthrop Chambers Condo Association

For those of you who need to update your mortgage lender with the current flood insurance certificate, please use the linked document below.

Winthrop Chambers Flood Certificate 2011

Only if a problem arises should you call our flood insurance agent: Welsch and Parker at (617) 846-0731. For all other forms of insurance issues, please contact our new agent Nikopoulos Insurance Agency at 978-456-9700 x-11. You can also reach by email: charlie@nikinsurance.com.

The Trustees have been receiving numerous complaints from unit owners regarding the same 3 vehicles always parking in the dumpster area for long periods of time and overnight.

All 3 vehicles belong to unit owners in building 229.

This area is a drop off and pick up only and if this continues we will reluctantly have to put the chain back up. Not only has this hindered other owners from using the area but on many occasions our contractors have either not been able to pull up or pull out when they come to service our buildings. This driveway is a benefit to everyone.

Thank you in advance for your cooperation.

The Trustees

TO: Condominium Owners of Winthrop Chambers

FROM: Trustees

SUBJECT: Condo Fees and Penalties

It has come to our attention as a board that many of our owners are running late on their payments and penalty fees. As a result, our subsequent payments to our vendors are also in jeopardy of being delayed more than we’d like. While we are confident that we can avoid an assessment to catch up with our recent one-time expenses; it will be necessary to collect our dues on a timely basis to ensure this.

As a result, the board has decided to raise the penalty for late payment from $25 to $50, starting on August 15th. All checks must be postmarked no later than the 15th of the respective month, or placed in the black drop box located in the foyer of Building #241 by the 15th no later than 8:00 P.M. Please be advised there will be no exception to this rule. If the check is not in the box by 8:00 P.M. it will receive a late status and the $50 fee will apply.

Our hope is to discourage future late fees and bring the association back into a debt free situation.

Please know that we will also be enforcing these dues and penalties through legal recourse if necessary. This means that we will send a letter of late payment after 60 days of incident, and then file for a lean against the owners property after 90 days from the date. This will apply to the monthly condo fee and/or applicable late fees, both independently and collectively. Owners who are currently in arrears of either a condo fee or late fee can expect to receive said letter on any fee due from the date it was incurred if 60 days have past by August 15th, 2011. Past due late fees incurred before the 15th will remain at the rate of $25, and after the 15th will be increased to $50. Also, please be advised that any money received currently will be applied to the first month the payment was due, and not applied to the current month, until your account is brought up to zero balance owed. Late fees will accrue independently from the monthly condo fee and payment will be applied the same manner as the monthly condo fee described above.

While we do not want to incur further hardships on our owners, these measures will help us ensure that we avoid an even harsher assessment to pay for the recent roof and wall repairs. If we can run on our projected collection and payment plan, we feel we can again be in a debt free situation by the end of fall.

If you have any questions please feel free to contact one of the trustees.

Sincerely,

Trustees of Winthrop Chambers

Side Wall: We have been anxious to get the scaffolding down, and it is almost done but Life House construction still needs to power wash and seal the wall. So next week is the anticipated time of removal.

Sea Wall: The sea wall is in need of repair and there is still some discussion as to whether or not it is the town’s property or ours. We are having a surveyor coming today (June 9, 2011) to officially determine who’s responsibility it is.

Landscaping: We have hired a firm to clean up the front of the building. They will be cutting back the bushes and shaping them, and will be getting 6 new pots (2 for each building) and planting flowers in them. He is also planting colorful “grass” type plants that bloom from spring until the fall…purple, red and a deep yellow. They will be leaving the ground cover as it prevents weeds and maintenance.

Bank Statements: All the bank statements through January of 2011 have been uploaded to the web site. You can find them under “Updates”.

If there is anything else that needs to be done, please let us know.

Important Notice: We incurred damage to the roof above 229 as a result of the storms last week (June 1, 2011). Our insurance adjuster and our insurance agent looked at the damage yesterday morning, and our roofer is coming tomorrow to begin repairs. We will keep you updated of any additional news regarding this matter.

Bank Statements March 2010 to January 2011

Please be aware that someone attempted to break in to several 241 units. This occurred today at roughly 6:00pm. The police were notified immediately and we are working to change the outdoor locks. But in the meantime please make sure to lock the doors.

Dear Ms. Ligotti:

It has been brought to our attention by businesses in the Crystal Cove commercial district that residents of the Winthrop Chambers condominium complex have resumed their habit of parking in the Town municipal lot at the corner of Shirley Street and Washington Avenue.

Winthrop by-laws state there is a two-hour limit in effect from 7:00 am to 5:00 pm, punishable by a $75 fine.  We have been informed by the Town there is no record of an agreement exempting condo residents of the two-hour time restriction in the municipal lot.

As such, the Winthrop Chamber of Commerce is respectfully requesting you inform all residents of the Winthrop Chambers to refrain from parking in the 10 spaces closest to Washington Avenue, keeping those spots available for the customers of the businesses in that district.  This consideration to the area businesses would be appreciated.  If residents were to park further down in the lot (closer to the water’s edge) there would not be any complaints.  This extra 30-seconds of walking distance does not seem unreasonable.

However, if residents of the Winthrop Chambers continue to hinder the economic activity of this commercial district by occupying customer parking spaces for extended periods, our organization must act.

Thank you,

Winthrop Chamber of Commerce, Inc.

Charlies son’s service is at Cagianos on Friday 9am-11am than a mass at St Johns in Winthrop.