President’s Update

By Phil Schrock, Board President

On Monday September 6 we celebrate Labor Day, an official federal holiday that recognizes and honors the American labor movement and the many contributions and achievements of the U.S. workforce. It also marks the unofficial end of summer and the start of the back-to-school season.

I hope you’ve had the opportunity to take advantage of Watergate’s outdoor pool and enjoyed all the other outdoor amenities here as well. If not, there’s still time: Weather permitting, we plan to keep the outdoor pool open two weekends beyond Labor Day: September 11-12 and September 18-19. Let’s thank all who have worked so hard to make the outdoor pool the great amenity it is: Management, the Recreation Committee, and our outstanding lifeguard crew!

Topics of Note

Recent editions of the Wheel have highlighted several topof-mind subjects, ranging from infrastructure to budget, roles and responsibilities of committees, the Board of Directors, volunteerism, and problems we encounter with Amazon (and other) package delivery services. This issue, Board member and Election Committee Chair Butch Hodges provides us with an update on electronic voting. Please read it. You may recall that last month, General Manager Tom Curry wrote a timely Wheel article about Watergate’s Repair and Maintenance Strategy. In it he remarked that the Association aims to make sure we have done – and continue to do – everything we can to ensure our buildings are well maintained, safe and secure. In July the Board tasked our General Manager with the responsibility to research, identify and recommend qualified firms with industryleading structural engineering expertise to conduct building integrity/condition assessments of Watergate’s highrise buildings. A report to the Board of Directors is expected at its October meeting, with a recommendation on how to proceed on this front.

Speaking of the General Manager, by now you have likely heard that Tom Curry has resigned to take a new job near his home in New Jersey. On behalf of the Association and Board of Directors I want to thank him for all the improvements he has made to Watergate over the past six years. Good luck in your new position, Tom!

New Business

Here are some other important announcements I’d like to highlight:

FY2022 Budget. At its August 31 Board meeting the Board of Directors approved the FY2022 budget. The Board, along with members of the Budget Committee and Management, worked diligently to ensure daily operations and maintenance are sufficiently funded, infrastructure projects continue, and adequate monies are maintained in our reserve accounts. The FY2022 budget reflects a modest assessment increase – less than 1.4% – despite the recent inflation spikes we have seen in the general economy. Anticipate receiving notification of the new budget and your new unit assessment in the mail within the next few days.

The Outdoor Pool will be open a few weekends after Labor Day, so plan to enjoy it prior to it closing for the season!

New Board Member. I’m pleased to announce that the Board appointed Gregory Wade to the Board of Directors to fill a vacancy. Congratulations Greg, and welcome as a member of the Board! We look forward to the new talent you bring to the Board.

Infrastructure Liaison. The Board also appointed Joe Vecchio as Board liaison to the Infrastructure Committee. The Infrastructure Committee is integral to the process of assessing community maintenance concerns and making recommendations regarding moving those concerns to action.

Committees and Volunteers. You likely have previously seen or heard me call attention to Watergate’s numerous committees, their members, and other volunteers. Their participation is vital to our community’s governance and everyday life.

One of the three committees mandated in our bylaws is the Covenants Committee. This committee consists of five dedicated resident unit owners appointed by the Board. They act as an Agent of the Association, meaning they are granted the authority to act on behalf of the Association, the Board and unit owners. I often refer to them as silent volunteers because much of what they do is “below the radar” and thus not generally recognized. Month after month, year after year, they perform yeoman’s work for the Association. They review and approve Architectural Change Requests on behalf of the Board, handle complaints and violations, and on occasion even interpret our Association Rules and Regulations. I take this opportunity to acknowledge their dedication, professionalism and willingness to serve all of us. Thank you, Covenants Committee members, past and present!

Watergate’s committees and volunteers bring great talent and ideas to the forefront. I encourage you to consider serving on one or more of our various committees. Explore them all and see which would benefit most from your talents. Watergate can only become better for it, and you can take pride in knowing you’re contributing to its reputation as a premier condominium community!

The Association aims to make sure we have done – and continue to do – everything we can to ensure our buildings are well maintained, safe and secure.