1. Are the fifteen current MPOA sponsored Community Events sufficient to fulfill community spirit? Do you believe there should be more, fewer, or different types of events? Please elaborate.

I believe that the number of events we hold is about the right number but what is more important to me than a specific number of events, is that we offer events that continue to make our community a standout from those communities around us.  The goal of being a standout is to preserve the value of our properties.

2. What are your views and suggestions to enhance community safety in Montclair?

Security is a fundamental component of having a safe community.  I believe our community’s security will be enhanced by providing a community atmosphere where we know our neighbors and we collectively look out for each other’s properties.  Elements of creating this atmosphere are 1) offering community events that attract a large cross section of our residents, 2) maintaining property values with adherence to our covenant rules and 3) having property owners that take pride in their properties in order to attract future homeowners with similar values. 

3. What are your views regarding current covenant enforcement procedures, are they adequate and effective?  

I believe that covenant enforcement is adequate and effective.  I believe we need to be consistent in our enforcement procedures.

4. What are your ideas to keep Montclair competitive with other communities?

I addressed part of the answer in #2 above but an additional focus is ensure that the schools serving this community are of high quality.   This is an area that would not immediately seem to be within the span of control of a Home Owners Board but maintaining a good working relationship with local government officials does provide a means to leverage opportunities to ensure our schools get the attention we want/need to keep our community an desirable place to live.

5. In your opinion, what major issues do you see facing Montclair, and how would you address them?

Covenant enforcement is key to keeping our community curbside appeal high.  This will help us maintain our property values.

1. Are the fifteen current MPOA sponsored Community Events sufficient to fulfill community spirit? Do you believe there should be more, fewer, or different types of events? Please elaborate.

The Community Events Committee does a great job of providing a variety of events that appeal to the different demographic groups residing in Montclair. Our events are what make our community unique and set us apart from the neighboring communities. The events should be reviewed annually to determine their popularity and feasibility, and adjusted as necessary. I am in favor of including both resident volunteer driven events, such Montclair Day and Oktoberfest, and sponsored events, which are offered with no additional budget funding.

2. What are your views and suggestions to enhance community safety in Montclair?

Working in conjunction with the MPOA Safety & Security Committee, encourage and support the formation of additional Neighborhood Watch groups, as they have been proven to reduce crime. I would continue our employment of off-duty PWC police officers. Having police patrol areas determined to be more vulnerable to crime will be a deterrent. The off-duty police have the ability to arrest, write tickets and question suspect persons which a private patrol can not provide.

3. What are your views regarding current covenant enforcement procedures, are they adequate and effective?

People buy homes in Montclair because the like the look of the area.  Covenants and compliant neighbors ensure that our neighborhood stays aesthetically pleasing and property values remain high. We have an obligation to all homeowners to make sure that the covenants are enforced in a fair and consistent manner. I believe we can improve our customer service approach to covenants enforcement.  The “friendly reminder” door hangers that were implemented were a step in the right direction. I think we can to do more to assist those residents that are issued a covenants violation to come to a resolution.

4. What are your ideas to keep Montclair competitive with other communities?

If we expect to stay competitive with the newer neighborhoods, we need to stay vigilant in our upkeep of our common areas.  The first thing perspective home buyers see when they enter Montclair is Waterway Drive and our landscaping. It is important that we maintain the money in the budget to adequately fund the upkeep of the Waterway medians. I am pleased that we have been able to keep our assessments at the same level for the last couple of years without having to reduce services through financially sound budgeting, keeping MPOA competitive with newer neighborhoods with higher HOA dues.

5. In your opinion, what major issues do you see facing Montclair, and how would you address them?

Montclair is an aging community. As stated above, if we expect to stay competitive with the newer neighborhoods we need to stay vigilant in our upkeep of our common areas and covenants enforcement. Our lake is one of our most valuable assets and we need to ensure that it is protected and stays healthy.  Cultivating good working relationships with outside agencies to ensure that our interest are protected is necessary.

1. Are the fifteen current MPOA sponsored Community Events sufficient to fulfill community spirit? Do you believe there should be more, fewer, or different types of events? Please elaborate.

The events are a special part of the total living experience in Montclair. Our events are known and coveted outside the community. I would like to see more Adult and Teen Beach parties, an annual date picked for all the neighborhoods in Montclair to hold Block Parties, encourage clubs such as cards, knitting, board games, etc. I think the dates of these events should be promoted a month before the event.

2. What are your views and suggestions to enhance community safety in Montclair?

I moved to Montclair in 1991 when we had our own security. If anyone called, one of the security people would investigate, and you had interaction with a person. I think PWC Police Department is doing a terrific job deterring crime and vandalism. I would like to see more community participation with encouragement of Neighborhood Watch. The Island Homeowners (66 homes) has had NW for over twenty years there have been very few incidents. I would like to see a system in place for lake security especially during the warmer months perhaps coordinated by lakefront homeowners.

3. What are your views regarding current covenant enforcement procedures, are they adequate and effective?

Our covenants volunteers are constantly trying to do a better job of communicating with the residents, especially in the last year. I believe these changes have made living with covenants easier to understand. More consistency with respect to inspections, write-ups and follow ups should be applied. I suggest a community volunteer who could be advocate for the homeowner when a conflict arises between the committee and the homeowner. More information should be passed on the residents about the importance of having covenants. We have a choice to look like Montclair or a community with cars parked in the front yard.

4. What are your ideas to keep Montclair competitive with other communities?

Many residents in Northern Virginia aren’t aware that there is a lake community in Prince William, we are a secret. Perhaps we could negotiate with Montclair Country Club so the residents could use their facilities, such as the golfing and tennis courts and that could be part of our amenities.  Ensure that Covenants are enforced and our properties are in the best condition they can be. Clean up our common areas. There are many fallen trees that make it look unsightly.  Our residents would cut up the fallen trees and take it for fire wood. This would also curtail crime.

5. In your opinion, what major issues do you see facing Montclair, and how would you address them?

Home prices are the biggest issue. Keeping our aging properties in tip-top shape is important. Speeding on Waterway makes it difficult for traffic on cross streets to merge, request more patrols during evening rush hour.  Lack of volunteerism means less community involvement and stagnation of community activities. Homeowners might have more time to participate in meetings on weekends and encourage participation. More involvement and negotiation with the county to ensure less run-off entering the lake from other communities and projects above Montclair. We need more testing of the lake to ensure high quality of cleanliness, especially for our children’s well-being.

1.  Are the fifteen current MPOA sponsored Community Events sufficient to fulfill community spirit?  Do you believe there should be more, fewer, or different types of events?  Please elaborate.

Events are often the first thing people mention about living in Montclair.  With that in mind, I think the number of events is probably about right.  Some are larger and better attended than others.  We might need to look at the cost to benefit of some of the less well attended events and consider changing or rearranging them.

2.  What are your views and suggestions to enhance community safety in Montclair?

Despite a recent rash of reported criminal events, I believe Montclair is a very safe community as several of the recent events did not even involved Montclair residents.  We currently contract with off duty county police officers to patrol Montclair and I think this has done a lot to enhance the community’s security.  While I support continuing this relationship, I believe that encouraging and enhancing community watch efforts will result in the most effective safety and security program we could have.  As vigilant neighbors, we are the best opportunity to spot, report, and deter crime in our own neighborhood. 

3. What are your views regarding current covenant enforcement procedures, are they adequate and effective?

Montclair is the first community I have lived in that had covenants to enforce and I was not happy about that facet when I moved here. However, I have grown to understand that the covenants are in place to enhance and protect our property values.  While asking permission to make changes is not fun, it is also not too difficult.  Covenants enforcement is not easy and requires exercise of good judgment.  Montclair does a good job of balancing the rights of individual owners against the needs of their neighbors and the community. 

4.  What are your ideas to keep Montclair competitive with other communities?

I believe that Montclair is competitive with the other communities in the area.  For many of the reasons listed above (events, security, appeal enhanced by covenants).  In the past few years, common area landscaping has been a priority.  Enhancing the common area clearly enhances the overall community appeal.  I believe we need to continue to invest in areas such as the median strip along Waterway and the Blue Star memorial near the MPOA office.  There are other areas that I would like to see updated, such as Hockersmith Park and several smaller areas throughout the community.

5. In your opinion, what major issues do you see facing Montclair, and how would you address them?

The biggest issue facing Montclair right now is property values that have declined and speculative property purchasers who have walked away from their responsibilities.  Montclair has a fair number of homes in foreclosure.  We need to do everything possible ensure that these properties do not languish without owners.  By enforcing the covenants on all owners, including banks that temporarily own the foreclosures, we can uphold Montclair’s appeal to perspective owners.  There are a lot of jobs moving into the area with government realignment.  Montclair is in a great position to attract many of the employees who will fill those jobs.