Administrator of the Month: May 2012

Congratulations Gail NeSmith on your award as Administrator of the Month for May 2012!  You were nominated by the entire staff in the Timonium office for your hard work and dedication filling in for Nancy at Coldspring!!  Good job, Gail!

We're Moving!

We are excited to announce that our Columbia office will be relocating on or about August 1, 2012. Our new office location will be 7484 Candlewood Road, Hanover, MD 21076.  We looked for the right office location for our expanding business in the Baltimore/Washington marketplace. Hanover offers great access and is still just a few minutes from downtown Columbia. ACM’s new offices will be just 8 miles east on Rt 100 from the Red Branch office and not far from Arundel Mills. The new location gives us room for expansion, more parking, a larger training facility and conference room, improved Internet/and data access and lot storage for our maintenance equipment.

We anticipate to be fully operational within 48 hours of the move date. Our emergency maintenance service will be available to owners without interruption. We will make telephone and internet access our first priority. Our Timonium office is not affected by the move and that staff will assist wherever possible.

We look forward to our move to Anne Arundel County and hope that you will visit us soon. We will continue to keep you informed of our progress over the next month.

Heat Wave Burns the East Coast

Article by American Red Cross:

Record high temperatures are sweeping several states again this week, making heat safety a priority. To keep yourself and your family safe, follow these precautions:

• Stay hydrated. Drink plenty of fluids, even if you do not feel thirsty. Avoid drinks with caffeine or alcohol. Eat small meals and eat more often.
• Wear loose-fitting, lightweight, light-colored clothing. Avoid dark colors because they absorb the sun’s rays.
• Slow down, stay indoors and avoid strenuous exercise during the hottest part of the day. Postpone outdoor games and activities.
• Take frequent breaks if you must work outdoors, and use a buddy system when working in excessive heat.
• Check on family, friends and neighbors who do not have air conditioning, who spend much of their time alone or who are more likely to be affected by the heat.
• Never leave children or pets alone in enclosed vehicles. Check on your animals frequently to ensure that they are not suffering from the heat.

For more information, please visit the American Red Cross website: http://www.redcross.org/

Local Event: Howard County Summer Concerts

Howard County is the place for summer concerts! Visit Centennial Park South on Wednesdays from 7:00 - 8:30 p.m. to be part of Sunset Serenades, a great event for family and friends. Howard County Recreation and Parks also presents Traveling Bands, being featured across the county at various locations.

To learn more about these events, visit http://countyofhowardmd.us/summerconcerts.htm.

ACM Columbia Office Hours Update

ACM's Columbia office will be closed to the public at 3:00 p.m. on Fridays until further notice. Should you have an emergency, please contact our Columbia office at (410) 997-7767 and follow the prompts for emergency services. Thank you for your understanding.

ACM Employee Bowing Event!

ACM employees participated in a bowling event Friday, June 15, 2012 at AMF Westview Lanes. Prizes were awarded to the person with the highest score, the person with the lowest score and the team with the most spirit! The Pinball Wizards (picture above) won the prize for the team with the most spirit. Thank you to everyone who was able to join us for bowling, snacks and great company!

Happy Father's Day!

ACM wishes all the dads out there a Happy Father's Day! We hope you enjoy your weekend!

ACM Offices Close at 1:30 p.m. Friday, June 15, 2012

ACM's offices will be closed to the public at 1:30 p.m. on Friday, June 15, 2012. Should you have an emergency, please call (410) 997-7767 and follow the prompts for emergency services. Thank you for your understanding!

Press Release: Prince George’s County Will Sponsor a Free Document Shredding Event



For more information, contact:

Carol Terry

Public Information Officer

Prince George’s County

Department of Environmental Resources

(301) 883-5961

 

Prince George’s County Will Sponsor a Free Document Shredding Event

 

County residents are encouraged to safely dispose of their personal documents at the
Document Shredding Event on June 16, 2012

 

LARGO, MD – The Prince George’s County Department of Environmental Resources (DER) invites County citizens and residents to participate in a free Document Shredding Event on Saturday, June 16, 2012, from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Gwynn Park High School located at 13800 Brandywine Road in Brandywine.  Residents may bring up to five tall kitchen bags or five archive boxes filled with documents to be shredded by mobile trucks from Eco-Shred, LLC and then recycled.

 

“Identity theft is one of the fastest growing crimes in the United States, and document shredding is one of the most important ways the public can protect their identity,” said DER Director Samuel E. Wynkoop, Jr.  “I encourage County citizens and residents to take advantage of this opportunity to safely dispose of their sensitive, confidential documents.” 

 

For more information on the Document Shredding Event or other recycling initiatives, call DER’s Recycling Section at (301) 883-5045.

 

ACM Senior Staff Member Participates in Program About FHA

On May 23, 2012, Hazel Wilkinson, Vice President of Client and Administrative Services, participated in a program held with the Howard County Housing Authority, the Community Associations Institute, Chesapeake Chapter, local realtors and attorneys specializing in community association law to discuss the impact of Federal Housing Authority (FHA) regulations regarding financing for common interest communities. In 2009, FHA discontinued the practice of allowing “spot” approvals for financing on an individual basis. The common interest community must now be FHA Certified before anyone can obtain FHA financing. Unfortunately, FHA regulations state that no more than fifteen percent (15%) of the membership in a community can be thirty (30) days or more delinquent. Additionally, no more than fifty percent (50%) of the units in the community can be rentals. It is these two (2) criteria that are creating an issue for many associations and hindering their ability to become FHA Certified. Due to the recession and the economy, many community associations have experienced a dramatic increase in delinquent assessments. Boards of Directors and Management Companies are generally unable to foreclose since in most cases there is more than one (1) mortgage and no equity in the property. Additionally, even though judgments are obtained against delinquent owners, there is no guaranty the association will recognize payment. The situation is also forcing many to make the decision to rent the unit rather than sell it in today’s market. The community association finds itself, through no fault of its own, in a situation where there are owners that are unable to pay assessments or unable sell the unit to an entire segment of the market.

As a result of these programs, the group will be appealing to FHA in hopes of having the criteria put on temporary hold until community associations have the opportunity to recover from the economic hardship created by the unrealistic financing terms owners accepted to purchase properties during the inflated housing boom. Unless the associations are able to do so, they will not be able to obtain the FHA approval.