POPLAR HILL ASSOCIATION

Treasurer’s Report (Louise)

 

Election of Board Members

Re-Elected to new two-year terms

· Jay Newman, Neil McAslan, Louise Ramm, Andy Frake, Eileen D’Andrea

 

· New board member elected (two-year term) Cristina Nigro

 

Remaining (In 2nd year of two-year terms)

· Sue Joslow, Idalis Bicknell, Harry Quigley, Katherine Lundy

 

Updates provided by Elected Officials

· Councilman Isaac “Yitzy” Schleifer

· Delegate Sandy Rosenberg

· Delegate Malcolm Ruff

 

Community Issues Updated - Jay

 

Clarks Hill/Lower Poplar Hill Water Reliability

· Water out 6 times in 6 years. (3 times in last 9 months)

· Will meet with senior DPW officials to seek a plan to improve ongoing situation.

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Plans to Develop Land at Northern & Falls (Above Shell Station & Apartment Building)

· Appears groups opposing original plan to build another high-rise, high-density apartment building have been successful.

· Several community group heads (including) myself negotiated a much smaller assisted living project with commitment to leave 12 acres as wooded preserve. Met last week with new development group – moving ahead…awaiting city permits.

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BGE Gas Main/Service Line Replacement (lower Poplar Hill Rd. & Clarks Hill)

· Original Plan was 2024…. now pushed off to back half 2025

 

Public/Private Roads Dispute w/ City

Jay Provided History of dispute.

· Dispute involves: All roads EXCEPT Bellemore…

· City has for decades provided maintenance & paving on roads as part of city services

· When there have been issues in the past – the associations have always been able to work something out with past administrations to get at least most severe areas repaired.

· Since Scott Administration – taken the stand that roads are private, and they will not continue to pave and do major repairs.

· City position – Roads are private owned by residents….

· Association Position – Roads are public, and the city should continue to maintain as they have for 50+ years. Association hired expert and former attorney who concluded there is legal support for our position that roads are publicly owned

Status:

· After countless hours, meetings, e mails, calls we have basically hit a wall with current administration in resolving this dispute

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· Options to think about:

Do Nothing 

Part of PHR & Clarks currently is very bad shape.

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Waycrest, Winding, Harriton, Bryn Mawr we got paved by BGE through a complicated agreement with the past city administration that also got the city to pave Bellemore.

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However, all these roads will continue to deteriorate over time.

 

Set Up a Road Maintenance Association

· Homeowners would contribute several probably several thousand dollars a year to build up reserve for road maintenance.

· Only thing the city has offered is $50k of paving now (which will cover only a very small area of road) – if resident permanently give up any claims of ownership.

 

 

Sue the city (litigation)

· Attorneys would argue that roads have been fully open to the public for 50+ years and the city has performed paving & maintenance for 50+ years and therefore they are city roads.

(Would cite previous state court rulings involving disputes in other counties to support that claim)

· City would argue they have a local ordinance that allows them to work on private roads at their discretion under “police powers” to make them safe for travel

· Litigation is Expense but appears to be only way to resolve the issue.

· Have talked to (2) law firms who specialize in real estate law in Baltimore City. Estimates for litigation are around $100k. (Depending on level of homeowner participation – wed probably be

Looking at 3 to 4k per home on impacted streets.

 

Think about – loop back with everybody later in year to gauge level of interest.