FAQ

The management of the Association is the responsibility of the Board of Directors that is elected by Owners. Some of the most important responsibilities of the Board of Directors include: taking necessary action to ensure the safety of Owners; interpreting the By-Laws and providing for their enforcement; assuring the sufficiency of funds to maintain common assets in good condition; assessing members for the funds that are needed for the operation of the Association; properly handling all funds; ensuring the conduct of an annual audit of financial statements and its distribution to Owners; and providing for maintenance services for all Homeowners and common property.

Extensive maintenance services are provided for Owners’ homes throughout the year.

Landscaping services are extensive and include:

• Spring and Fall cleanup, lawn care, power raking, edging, 4-season lawn care including reseeding.
• Multiple treatments of fertilizer and weed control are applied to lawns throughout the growing season. Lime, grub control, and insect control are applied to lawns as needed.
• All planting beds are cultivated in the Spring and weed-retarding chemicals are applied along with the application of mulch.
• Shrubs and trees are inspected annually and treated for insects or disease. Applications of fertilizer for shrubs and evergreens are applied in the Spring and Fall.
• Mosquito dunks are placed in waterways several times during the Spring, Summer and Fall to retard the population of mosquitoes.
• An arborist conducts several inspections each year of all trees and provides recommendations for pruning or tree removal. Tree and stump removal on private property is the responsibility of the homeowner.
• Trees are pruned annually as part of a three-year cycle that covers all of Talcott.
•  Every Summer shrubs and small trees (up to 10’) are pruned.
• In the Fall, leaves are blown bi-weekly, and the lawns are prepared for the Winter.
• Cul-de-sacs, driveways, and walkways are plowed at any time the snow reaches a depth of 1” or more and de-icing treatments are applied after all snow or ice events.
• All vendors who provide services are committed to two goals: insuring the safety of individual homeowners and the maintenance of the beauty of Talcott Woods.

The primary amenity is a beautifully designed and landscaped pool that is available only to Owners and their guests. A lifeguard, hired for the season, is on duty daily. The rules for the operation of the pool are published on the Talcott website (www.talcottwoods.org).

At the Annual Meeting of the Association the Board of Directors presents a budget for the costs of landscaping, including tree and pond maintenance; snow removal; pool maintenance and operations; and capital improvements. Also included are the costs for insurance, audit fees and miscellaneous expenses. The Owners vote on the budget and quarterly dues are determined based upon the budget. Dues are billed and collected quarterly by the Treasurer.

Assessments are charged as needed when unexpected, unbudgeted expenses occur.

The minutes of the Annual Meeting of the Association and the annual budget are posted on the website.

The By-Laws of the Association provide basic information about the structure, responsibilities, and authority of the Board of Directors. These By-Laws are posted on the website: www.talcottwoods.org

• Any Owner may become a member of the Board of Directors. Owners elect members of the Board of Directors at the Annual Meeting of the Association.
• There are seven members of the Board of Directors including 3 officers as set forth in the By-Laws: the President, Treasurer, and Secretary. These officers are elected by the members of the Board of Directors at the first meeting of the Board following the Annual Meeting of the Association.

There are eight Committees of the Association:

• Architectural
• Maintenance
• Finance, Budget and Audit
• Pool
• Long-Range Planning
• Welcoming
• Communications and Website
• Nominating

These committees manage key responsibilities of the Association and Owners who are not members of the Board may be appointed as members.

Are there any special rights and restrictions associated with home ownership in Talcott Woods?

• Yes. The Declaration was part of the public offering of Talcott Woods and remains in effect.
• Among others, two very important rights are conveyed to each Owner in Talcott Woods. The first is membership and voting rights in Talcott Woods Owners Association, Inc. The second is a right and easement of enjoyment in Association property and facilities subject to the rules and regulations of the Association.

Yes. In order to preserve the character and beauty of the community, the Architecture Committee must approve all changes to the exterior appearance of homes in Talcott Woods.

The Declaration “ is intended to preserve the amenities and the first class residential character of the Development.” They include restrictions on the manner in which the property may be used. These include restrictions to: the use of buildings, exterior construction, maintenance, advertising, animals, trailer and boat storage, refuse deposits, noxious or offensive activities, commercial or professional activity on property, storage of machinery and repair of vehicles.

“No building, structure, alteration, addition or improvement of any character including repainting, staining or otherwise affecting color, other than interior alterations not affecting the external appearance of a building or structure shall be constructed upon any portion of the property unless and until a plan of such construction shall have been approved by the Architecture Committee as to quality of workmanship and materials, harmony of external design with surrounding structures, location, with respect to topography and finished grade elevation, the effect of the construction on the outlook from surrounding property and all the other factors which will, in their opinion, affect the desirability or suitability of the construction.”

The Website is a valuable communications vehicle. It provides an easy way to send emails to the attention of Board Members and Committee Chairs to get answers to questions you may have.

The Website is a repository of information that may be useful to you. Copies of meeting minutes, the annual budget of the Association, Architecture Guidelines, pool rules, Audited Financial Statements, By-Laws and Covenants and Restrictions can be viewed or downloaded from the Website.

Visit the Talcott Website and if you have suggestions for making this site more useful to you, send your suggestion to the Chair of the Website and Communications Committee.

You can expect notices announcing date and purpose of Association meetings, date for chemical applications to lawns, tree inspection and spraying, date of tree pruning, pool opening, closing pool party, changes to pool rules, and issues of special importance to the community such as costs related to storm cleanup. All notices are sent by email.