Willoughby Leadership Council

The following officers were elected at the April 2 organizational meeting:

President: Hydi Miller
Vice President: Richard Pennekamp
Treasurer: David Sayian
Secretary: Nancy Gordon
Assistant Secretary/Treasurer: David Churchill

Hydi Miller	32.9%	465 votes
David Churchill	30.8	439
David Sayian	26.6	375
Nancy Gordon	25.1	365
Richard Pennekamp	24.6	363
Kenneth Niles	23.8	340
Charles Ostrofsky	22.4	321
Maureen Lorenzetti	20.8	292

Hydi, David, and David were elected to two-year terms, Nancy and Richard were elected to serve for one year.

The Commission on Common Ownership Communities of Montgomery County, a regulatory agency finds that there were too many irregularities in the Willoughby’s March 2018 election for the results to be valid.

“The Panel concludes that the original election process was not conducted in accordance with generally accepted standards and must be set aside.”

The Panel orders the Willoughby to:

“conduct another election for two members of the board for two-year terms in September, but not later than the end of October if such delay is necessary “

With the results of the election vacated, the board and officers that supervised the flawed election remains in effect.

You may download the full decision and order by clicking here.

Comparative Amenities Analysis for Condominium Buildings in Friendship Village*

Amenities/Services	The Willoughby	The Carlton	4620 N. Park	The Elizabeth
*Condo Fee (2BD/2BA)	$971-$1024	$1094-$1274	$1045-$1090+	$1123-$1238+
Laundry in Units	No	Yes	Yes	Yes
Pool Guest Passes	Free reusable passes (by condo unit size) $3-$5 extra passes	4 Free Reusable Passes	$3/per guest/1 day	4 Free Reusable Passes
Food/Beverages at Pool	Only Water	Any Beverage Except Alcohol	Only Water	Only Water
Terrace/Gardens	Roof Top Open Until 11:00 pm	No Specific Hours	8pm Because it is on the Ground Level Near Condos	Don’t Have One
Food/Beverages at Terrace	Not Allowed Without Permission	Both are Allowed	Both are Allowed	Doesn’t Apply
Key Lock-Out Weekends/After Hours	$20 if you pay right away $30 if you ask for a bill	FREE	FREE	FREE
Party Room Rental	$125 Fee(Room) $500 Refundable	$75 Fee (Room) $200 Refundable	$65 Fee (Room) $165 Refundable	$75 Fee (Room) $75 Refundable

*Analysis is based on 2-bedroom, 2-bathroom condos with similar square footage and building floor levels. Condo fee amounts reflect an AVERAGE of similar units. For Willoughby, it includes the 2.7% increase as of March 1, 2018.

Prepared by Christy Russo in February 2018

Wednesday, October 4, 7:00pm, Party Room

The Village of Friendship Heights’ Land-Use Attorney, Norman Knopf, will be here to present the following:

• Explain the zoning change the developer has applied for
• Outline the approval process through the county
• Provide suggestions on how residents can best make their voices heard
• Answer any questions you may have

An outline of the planned development: 100 New Condos Could Land on Lawn Next to Friendship Heights Office Building

RSH Development LLC is planning to build a 175,000 sq. ft building on open space in Parcel 4, the lot across the street.  One potential plans calls for a 180ft highrise to house luxury condominiums which would block or dominate the view of all of the North-facing units.

Click here to see the three proposed development ideas

The existing Friendship Heights Sector Plan calls for this property to maintain the existing building size and to preserve open space.  The following is a petition which asks our village council to support the sector plan and retention of the property for open space: Please Print and Sign this Petition

Even if our local council takes a stand to oppose the project, Montgomery County’s County Council have the ultimate authority to approve or deny the project. In the past, council members have voted to support plans of the developers who helped them get elected.  Please join the Willoughby Leadership Council for updates and to stay informed in the fight.

Hydi Miller‘s next donation drive will be held on the weekend of April 1-2, 2017 – perfect timing for those of us who will be doing spring cleaning.  The Montgomery County Thrift Store takes almost everything, from toys, electronics (like your old computer and printer), small appliances, pots and pans, clothing, shoes, and underwear, even rugs and paintings, as long as its in good condition.  If you have a question about what you can donate, contact Hydi Miller.

She will personally take all the donations to the shop in Bethesda and provide tax receipts to those who so desire.  This is being publicized through the ResidentsofWilloughby listserv and the Friendship Heights Neighbors Network but anybody who hears of this is welcome to make a donation.

Drop off any donations to Hydi at 1412 South in the Willoughby.

After gathering the most votes of any candidate, Hydi Miller heads to the Willoughby board to represent the many residents who supported our platform!

Results:
32% Hydi Miller (Elected to 2-Year Term)
30% Richard Pennekamp (Elected to 2-Year Term)
30% David Sayian (Elected to 2-Year Term)
27% Charles Ostrofsky (Elected to 1-Year Term)
26% David Churchill
26% Eniko Basa
25% Pierre Glover
25% Christy Russo

In no particular order, these are the items that Hydi Miller has pledged to fight for your behalf:

Quality of life issues. Improving customer service, encouraging better utilization of shared amenities, and helping to build a positive community for all residents:

1. Keeping the rooftop deck open until 11 PM.
2. Changing the pool pass regulations.
3. Installing Wi-Fi for the entire rooftop floor (including the gym, the pool area, the library, and the deck), and for the Party Room.
4. Fixing or replacing broken gym equipment.
5. Opening of the various courtyards throughout the building for use by residents.
6. Reducing the rental costs for the Party Room.
7. Opening up the Party Room for more Willoughby Community events.
8. Negotiating volume discounts for appliances, convectors, tile and flooring shops, various fixtures, and cable/internet providers.
9. Allowing owners to purchase and use individual washers and ventless dryers in each units.

Good governance, improved communications, and transparency. Modernizing communications channels, reducing printing and distribution costs, and collecting feedback to ensure the best decisions are made:

1. Removing the 20 minute limit for questions and/or comments that was recently imposed on owners in attendance at Board meetings.
2. Proposing monthly Board office hours, which I would gladly volunteer for.
3. Providing updates at Board meetings on items that were brought up by residents at past meetings at which time the response was “we’ll look in to and get back to you”.  This would be an effective way to close the circle of communication and track progress or resolution of suggestions.
4. Holding Board meetings at 7 or 7:30 PM
5. Posting a yearly schedule of all Board meetings in each mail room.
6. A call for committee volunteers.
7. The formulation of a new Communications Committee.
8. A reassessment of Committee Chair assignments.
9. The re-formation and re-activation of a Buildings and Grounds Committee. Some of the items they would be tasked with is a study on window replacement, and using electricity more efficiency throughout the building.
10. A new committee to look into ways to better serve disabled residents.
11. A customer-service style survey of all owners to find out what is working, what could be improved, what amenities are important to the most owners, etc.  The new Communications Committee could be tasked with devising the various methods so that the most people are included in this survey.
12. Adding email communication options and text alerts for those that want them.
13. Make finalized contracts available for all owners to review.
14. Having some Management Office hours on the weekend.
15. Supporting a proposed ByLaws amendment regarding Term Limits for Board members.
16. Reducing wasteful expenditures so that the Willoughby can keep condo fees reasonable and increases limited.

 

Recently the Willoughby Board sent out a letter indicating that board candidate Hydi Miller has requested owner email addresses, and attempted to scare owners into removing their information from the owner database.

The email addresses were requested for the sole purpose of facilitating communication regarding the upcoming Board election, in accordance with Maryland law.  Personal information will not be used for any other reason, would be secure, and recipients could opt-out at any time.

The Willoughby Leadership Council team simply wants to communicate with owners in a more concise and efficient manner.  

Email communication is less intrusively than cold calling or knocking on doors.

Our platform, calls for modernizing the Willoughby’s communications system in a way that gives more options and control to residents.

Our team condemns the wording and tone of the letter which seems to be a thinly veiled attempt of the board to influence the election.  If the current board members were truly concerned about owner privacy, why would they name Hydi and send her address to everyone?

If you have any questions about the request for owner emails, please contact Hydi Miller.