NO SMOKING REMINDER

 
( image courtesy of http://www.mydoorsign.com/)

In 2013, the Norman Street Condo Association, with the majority support of the building unit owners,  amended the master deed to create a smoke free building. This means that there is NO SMOKING allowed anywhere in the building, including inside the units. 
Violations of this amendment will result in fines, the same as would be incurred for the breaking of any other condo regulations. If you have questions, please contact Markwood Management at 781-639-4080 or e-mail them at markwoodmgt@hotmail.com.

Increase in Rules Violation Fees

The Board of Trustees recently voted to adopt an amendment to the condo bylaws that increases the fines for violations of those bylaws.
This measure has been formally adopted into the Master Deed and By-Laws recorded with the Essex County South District Registry of Deeds.
This was done to bring us up to par with other Markwood Management building bylaws as well as give the board a more effective tool for the management of violations.

"In addition to any and all other remedies available to the Board for violations, the Board may assess fines, attorneys' fees, and expenses incurred by the ssociation against the Unit Owners for violations of the provisions of M.G.L. c. 183A (the Condominium Act"), the Master Deed, By-Laws, or Rules and Regulations, as follows:
1st Offense: Notice of a fine up to $100
2nd Offense: Fine of up to   $200
3rd Offense: Fine of up to   $300
Each day that a violation continues after notice shall be considered a separate violation. Fines may be enforced against the Unit Owner(s) involved as common expenses. If any expense is incurred by the Board as a result of the failure and/or misconduct of either a Unit Owner  or such Unit Owner's family members, tenants, guests, or invitees, then the Board may assess all such expenses against the subject Unit Owner and such assessment shall be both the subject Unit Owner's personal obligation and a lien against Unit Owner's Unit, enforceable and collectable as a common expense charge."

2013 ANNUAL MEETING

The 2013 annual meeting of the 24 Norman Street Condominium Trust will be held onTuesday, January 22, 2013 at 6:00 P.M. in the Heritage Room of the Heritgae Plaza Condominium at 10 Norman Street (next door lower level) Salem, Massachusetts.
You should have received a packet in the mail recently containing the agenda , proxy form, budget and the 2012 annual meeting minutes. If you have not received this please contact Markwood Management. The agenda will include a review of the 2012 Annual Meeting Minutes, presentation of the finances, old business, new business and the election of trustees.
If you are an owner or tenant please make every effort to attend this meeting.

New Tenant Welcome Sheet

Markwood has developed a New Tenant Welcome Sheet that contains useful information for people just moving into the building including contact information for Markwood Management and it's trustees, as well as some basic condo rules and policies. A version PDF can be downloaded by clicking  here.

About NOISE

A reminder of what the 24 Norman Street Rules and Regulations actually have to say about making noise, especially in the evening:

4. No Residential Unit Owner shall make or permit any noxious or offensive activity or disturbing noises in the Units or do or permit anything to be done therein which will interfere with the rights, comfort or convenience of other Unit Owners.
No Resdential Unit Owner shall play upon or suffer to be played upon any musical instrument or permit to be operated a phonograph or a radio or television loud speaker or other such device in such unit between the hours of midnight and the following nine o'clock a.m. , if the same shall disturb or annoy other occupants of the Units, and in no event, shall any Residential Unit Owner practice or suffer to be practiced either vocal or instrumental music for more than two hours in any day between the hours of six o'clock p.m. and the following nine o'clock a.m. No Residential unit Owner shall give vocal or instrumental instruction at any time.

Basics for Living at 24 Norman Street

We have a fair number of tenants renting or subletting units at 24 Norman Street, and therefore a pretty high turn-over rate, so it is sometimes beneficial to post some Norman Street basics.
As a trustee, I hear the complaints about building issues. Here are three common issues that come up again and again. If you pay attention to these issues and the solutions, you will avoid 99% of the difficulties associated with living in a compact, 39-unit building.

1. Excessive noise
This is the biggest complaint among owners and tenants in the building. The condo rules state no excessive noise between 9 pm and 9 am. That could mean anything from loud TVs and music to loud talking. Please note: Because of the age of the building and the way it was converted into condos, there is not much sound buffering between floors. In most cases, the ceiling of one unit directly abuts the floor of the unit above it. Sound carries very easily between units, more than you may be aware of, especially if you live on the 2nd or 3rd floor. Also, because of the layout of the lofts, most unit's sleeping areas are directly below the entry and bathroom of the unit above it. This also amplifies the effect.  
Solution: Be quiet between 9 pm and 9 am.
Curtail any loud activities. If you cannot avoid activity during that time, do your best to keep it as quiet as possible. People can hear you. If you are not quiet, and your neighbor lodges a complaint with Markwood Management, the owner of the unit may be fined until the situation is corrected.

2. Parking
This is the second biggest complaint from owners and tenants in the building. Besides griping about the restrictions and general lack of on-street parking, the next biggest issue is the misuse of the side drop-off area on the north-east side of the building. It is intended as a drop-off area for residents loading and unloading from their cars. It is not intended as an auxiliary parking lot, or as a personal work area. It is for short-term use. If you are parking your vehicle there for more than 30 minutes, you are abusing the privilege.
Solution: Don't park your vehicle in the side lot for more than 30 minutes
If you park there any longer than that, your vehicle may be towed at your expense.

3. Building Maintenance
Last, but not least, is building maintenance. This is a broad category which covers everything in the common areas of the building, the hallways, entryways, laundry room, roof, dumpsters, drop-off area and grounds and includes activities such as painting, landscaping, carpeting, cleaning.
Many complaints about maintenace have to do with the quality, appearance and even the smell of the property.
Some people have a tendency to treat anything outside of their individual unit as a kind of dumping ground for anything from shoes and unwanted household items to cigarette butts and trash. Random acts of vandalism have also been known to occur.
The common areas are just that, common areas, held in common trust by every owner in the building. We pay for its maintenance, which means when you abuse the common areas, you are taking money out of your neighbor's pocket. 
Solution: Don't use the common areas as your personal trash bin/smoking lounge/anger management tool.
Abuse of or vandalism of the common areas may mean fines and/or prosecution.

Courtesy, respect and consideration go a long way.

Condo Rules and Regulations

We had a request from tenant Curt Shulz to post the 24 Norman Street Condo Rules and Regulations. Since we often discuss the condo rules (and the breaking thereof) we thought it might be a good idea. Curt has created a link here to a site where you can download a PDF version of the official condo rules.
Now if you have any questions about what is allowed and what is not, you can read them for yourself.
If there is any other document that you would like to see posted, such as the master deed, please let us know and we will do our best to get it posted. (Thank you Curt for the link)