Comments

• On the article PHOTO: Former Flower Stand Now Houses Furniture

  Janet Leister

  3:34 pm on Wednesday, February 13, 2013

  She actually has skirted the county codes/laws. I have been in contact with AACo zoning and they cited her and won. She was to vacate the property and remove all the debris, junk, etc. However, she appealed it and the appeal process allows her enough time to start back up again in the spring/summer, when she will be cited again by zoning and the whole thing starts over again. She will appeal the next citation, as well. It is a merry-go-round of her getting around the system. It just goes on and on and there is nothing (so they say) the county can do about it. It's like trying to evict a squatter! AACo needs to man up and set some rules/codes/laws in stone that will stop this sort of thing. It is awful to look at, especially for anyone coming into AACo from elsewhere. You don't see this kind of thing on the side of the road in Montgomery Co or Northern VA. It's appalling and an eyesore that gives Severna Park a black eye. Get rid of it!

  Reply

• On the Blog Post Have Homeowner's Associations Outlived Their Usefulness?

  Janet Leister

  1:43 pm on Tuesday, October 9, 2012

  With regard to a comment above,HOAs are not mandated by county code.They are instituted when a community is first built by the developer/builder, and most developed from the 1970's to the present are mandatory and subject to the Maryland HOA Act. Homeowners elect a Board of Directors comprised of fellow owners.This Board has a fiduciary responsibility to collect assessments, set an annual budget, hire contractors, pay bills, maintain the common areas and enforce the covenants of the HOA. HOAs are required by law to be disclosed to a potential buyer at the time of contract and it is the responsibility of sellers and realtors to make this disclosure.This is mandated by state law. Upon signing paperwork at settlement, owners agree to abide by the HOA documents. If the Board elected has a 'live and let live' attitude, then the community will show this attitude in unkempt and run down common areas, individual homes in need of maintenance and upkeep, and eventual falling property values. If the Board elected accepts the responsibility entrusted to them, and has the ability to communicate with their fellow neighbors, they will maintain the common areas and enforce the governing documents, adding to increased property values and quality of life in their community. HOA documents, and a caring, active, communicative, responsible Board of Directors make for better community life.HOAs have not outlived their usefulness; only lax Board members have, and if this applies,should be replaced.

  Reply