WATERS EDGE FLASH 

March 2026

News & Updates

Community Upkeep:

• Scott Schaffer (5637) has been creating the FLASH for many years and recently has received replies that the FLASH is rendering very strangely in certain email services and browsers. He is currently trying to re-code the FLASH so that it reads better in all email services and browsers. If this FLASH renders unreadable, like the text is super tiny or that the sentences go on in one long line, please reply to just him and let him know what you're seeing.

• Architectural Inspections: Annual exterior inspections will be taking place soon. If you have any items that you were cited for last year, please try to get that work completed soon.

• Mosquito, Tick, and Lanternfly Control: The Board has approved a mosquito control company, On The Fly, to spray for mosquitos every 3 weeks for the duration of the summer. If you see a small camouflage tube on the ground labeled "TICK Control" please just ignore or kick under a nearby bush if it's in your way. We started this process late last summer, after being inundated with mosquitos and many complaints from residents. We are starting now in the hopes that everyone will be able to enjoy our lovely outdoors for all of the nice weather.

• BGE Parking Lot Lighting Project: HPM received word that installation of the new parking lights should begin on March 31, but neighboring communities that have gone through this process report that BGE could come at any time, without warning to do work. So please take this date with a grain of salt. If you do see work regarding street lights in the community, please go ahead and move your cars accordingly. If we get any heads up, we will promptly let the community know.

  • There has been some movement for the new lights. Every light post has been marked with a white ribbon marker for removal. Also, the ground has been marked for the proper utility lines. Again, please don't presume BGE will give us any heads-up before they start work.

• Landscaping: We will be ooking to try to improve some more of the landscaping similar to what we did in front of 5621 and 5692 at the appropriate seasonal time. Keep an eye out for more info on that as we work out the details.

• Trash/Recycling Etiquette: Please remember to collect your empty trash and recycling containers after the pick-up has been made. We've received complaints that some containers stay out for days before being collected by the resident.

• Looking to do work to the exterior of your home? APPLY! Please be sure to apply to the Board for any work to be done to the exterior of your home. Even if it is a small job, please be sure to submit an application. The link to the application is further down this email. We typically have a very quick turn-around. If you are unsure if you need to apply, please reach out to a Board member or contact HPM.

Community Affairs

The next Board Meeting will be the Annual Membership Meeting that will take place Thursday April 23, 2026 at 6:30pm at Historic Oakland Mansion in the Town Center Room (basement level).

• This year the Maryland legislature has required that housing associations use an independent third party to handle elections. The primary method of elections will now be electronic ballots. You should have received an email with instructions from "watersedgecommunity@ivotehoa.com" to whatever email address you have on file with HPM. Please contact HPM (contact info at the bottom of this email) if you have any concern about which email address you have on file. The voting website is https://watersedgecommunity.ivotehoa.com/register if you do not receive the voting email.

• The voting email HAS gone out as of the writing of this FLASH.

• If you do not wish to vote electronically, a voting proxy sheet has been mailed with the notice of the Annual Meeting. This mailer has already gone out and you should have received it as of the writing of this FLASH.

Annual Meeting Agenda Highlights:

• Approval of the 2025 Annual Meeting

• Review the 2025 Association Activities and 2026 Goals

• Resident Speak Out

• Nomination and Election to the Board of Directors (voting done electronically)

Community Affairs:.

New Architecture:

• No applications submitted

Home Sales:

• No new home sales

Reminders

Architectural Applications

• HPM has provided The Board with a convenient flowchart to explain when a Water’s Edge Architecture Application and when a Town Center Architecture Application is needed. 

• You can find the forms and guidelines here: https://www.watersedgecommunity.org/architectural-guidelines

Community/Property Safety

• Practice the 4 L’s: Lock doors (home and auto), Light your house, Listen and Lookout

• Refrain from keeping expensive items in cars.

• ALWAYS alert police to suspicious activity. 

Communicating with the Board

• If you’d like to communicate with the Board, simply Reply (not Reply All), to this email.

• Additionally, you can contact HPM, and your message will get relayed to the Board.

• Additionally, you can come to a Board meeting and participate in Resident Speakout. 

Trash/Recycling/Composting

• Trash, recycling, and composting containers should not be visible from the parking areas.  They must be behind a privacy fence or in the rear of the house.

• Recycling materials must be put out using one of the blue receptacles or paper bags.  The county will no longer collect recyclables in plastic bags.

• If the recycling or trash collectors miss materials, please contact the county at 410-313-6444.

• Link to the Howard County Bureau of Environmental Services https://www.howardcountymd.gov/Departments/Public-Works/Bureau-Of-Environmental-Services

Power Outages

• In the event of a power outage in your home or with one of the parking lot lights, please notify BGE via BGE.com or call 1-800-685-0123.  The more reports, the more likely we are to receive expedient service.

Electric Vehicle Charging Stations

• All instructions and information regarding the EV chargers are located on our community website here: https://www.watersedgecommunity.org/e-vehicle-chargers