Since 2012, we have had an arrangement with Chester Valley Deer Management Association, who were recommended to us by Radnor Township Police and include members of the Radnor Police, among others. We have done this to cooperate with the Township to reduce deer overpopulation and the safety and nuisance problems it presents. They work with Cornerstone Association and other Homeowner Associations as well. The township deer control effort and the findings which led to it are described our website at http://foxfields.net/?p=36 . They were commended by Radnor Township for their efforts, http://www.radnor.com/DocumentCenter/View/5653 , and are one of two associations authorized by Tredyffrin Township as well, http://www.tredyffrin.org/services/police/departments/animal-control/deer-management.

Their crossbow activity is, for safety reasons, limited to deer stands in the area by Ithan Creek (arrows are aimed down vertically from a deer stand rather than horizontally) and not in the Open Space near homes, although they might have one or two men walk in the Open Space along Meadowbrook Run (without bows) to drive the deer toward Ithan Creek. They donate the venison from deer they cull to food banks. In 2018-2019 year, they culled five deer from our herd, about average for the past several years.

Archery hunting season in 2019-2020 is from 9/21 – 11/29, and again from 12/26 – 1/25. Hunting hours are from one half hour before sunrise to one half hour before sunset. To access the Open Space, they typically park in the cul de sacs of Misty Hollow Court and Country View Drive. Hunting by any one other than CVDMA is prohibited on Fox Fields Open Space. Both Radnor and Haverford Township police departments will have lists of the CVDMA authorized hunters.

The Annual Meeting of Fox Fields Association was held at the Haverford Township Community and Recreation Center at Haverford Reserve on May 13, 2019.

Apart from the five Board members who attended, the meeting was attended by the owners of 13 of the 133 lots in Fox Fields, or slightly less than 10% of the members.

Elections were held for two of the six Board of Directors positions. Rich Gale was re-elected and Evan Gold was elected. Dale Larrimore, who has served on the Board for a number of terms since the 1980’s decided not to seek re-election and we thank him for his long and valuable service. The election was competitive and we hope that Gene Thielmann, the third candidate will again run in 2020.

The 2020 Board of Directors therefore consists of:

Rich Gale
Lee Gerson
Evan Gold
Elaine Hessman
Ken Levin
Mary McElwee

A pdf of the PowerPoint presented at the meeting may be accessed by clicking here. It has been updated to include more specific wetlands mapping of which we became aware after the meeting, and a communication received from the Radnor Township engineer concerning permit requirements for the pedestrian bridge discussed below.

A principal topic of discussion and some controversy at the meeting was the discussion of the need for and potential cost of replacement of the pedestrian bridge over Meadowood Run near the pond. Skepticism was expressed by some present as to the rough order of magnitude estimates obtained from vendors contacted on behalf of the Board, the applicability of DEP permit requirements to the project and the extent of membership approval required to go forward with the project. As noted above, in an email exchange subsequent to the meeting, the Radnor Township Engineer confirmed that a PA DEP permit would be required for the project.

A committee was created to consider the pedestrian bridge replacement further, including alternative construction approaches. The following members present at the meeting volunteered to serve on the committee:

Mark Belitsky
Keith Bradburd
John Calnan
Tom Esposito
Mike Fell
Erin Gold
Ken Levin (as Board representative).

If I missed anyone, please let me know and I will add you to the committee. Also, if anyone not present at the meeting wishes to join the committee, please advise.

Also discussed was a possible regulation or rule pertaining to pet control on or adjacent to the Open Space. The sense of those present at the meeting was that a regulation should not be adopted by the Board, inter alia, because of difficulties of enforcement as a practical matter, but rather a recommendation should be sent by the Board to the membership. We will be sending a separate email on that topic.

The discussion of pet control led to a discussion of non-residents allowing their pets to roam free on the Open Space, particularly on the Haverford Township side. It was noted that the Haverford Township police have in the past been helpful in dealing with trespass matters reported to them. The board also agreed to post appropriate signage in this area.

The Fox Fields entrance signs at Mill/Radnor Road and Bryn Mawr Avenue were last refurbished eight years ago and are showing signs of wear. The signs will be refurbished by Woodmasters who have done excellent work for us for more than 30 years. We expect the work to be complete by the Spring.

Since 2012, we have had an arrangement with Chester Valley Deer Management Association, who were recommended to us by Radnor Township Police and include members of the Radnor Police, among others. We have done this to cooperate with the Township to reduce deer overpopulation and the safety and nuisance problems it presents. They work with Cornerstone Association as well. The township deer control effort and the findings which led to it are described our website at http://foxfields.net/?p=36 . They were commended by Radnor Township for their efforts, http://www.radnor.com/DocumentCenter/View/5653 , and are one of two associations authorized by Tredyffrin Township as well, http://www.tredyffrin.org/services/police/departments/animal-control/deer-management. Their crossbow activity is, for safety reasons, limited to deer stands in ravine area by Ithan Creek (arrows are aimed down vertically from a deer stand rather than horizontally) and not in the Open Space near homes, although they might have one or two men walk in the Open Space along Meadowbrook Run (without bows) to drive the deer toward the ravine. They donate the venison from deer they cull to food banks. This year, they culled five deer from our herd, about average for the past several years.

As those of you who attended may recall, at last year’s Annual Meeting in May, the Board committed to change its approach to maintenance of the area of the Open Space in the ravine area adjacent to Ithan Creek.

In any event, in late January 2019, our landscape contractor performed maintenance in the Open Space next to Ithan Creek and along the Blue Route noise barrier. Our contractor cleared a meadow area of approximately 3 acres using a skid loader and brush hog.  The workers also cleared brush adjacent to the entrance at Bryn Mawr Avenue, and behind homes above the ravine and adjacent to the noise barrier. The clearing continued along the barrier through Radnor and Haverford and behind the pines we planted when the Blue Route opened

The landscapers said that the cutting of invasive vines performed last year appeared to have been effective. (It will take a year or two for the dead vines to fall from the trees.) They cut additional vines this year. The clearing of the meadow area should make it easier to continue to monitor and remove invasive vines.

Our landscapers could not work in the meadow area close to Bryn Mawr Avenue because releases from a broken storm sewer pipe owned by the the Township or PennDot have saturated the ground in that area and caused ponding.  They are also unable to access the Blue Route side of Ithan Creek, where PennDOT’s poor maintenance makes invasive species a major problem.

We intend to demand that the Township repair the broken stormwater pipe. We believe it constitutes a public health hazard (mosquitoes infected with the West Nile Virus were found in that location last year) as well as an impediment to our maintenance efforts.

We plan to remove brush in this area once or twice each year.

While we do not recommend walking in the meadow area, the view of Ithan Creek from above the ravine is impressive.

A presentation showing conditions in this area before and after the work was performed, as well as the broken storm water pipe, can be accessed by clicking here.

The Annual Meeting of Fox Fields Association was held last night at the Haverford Township CREC.  The meeting was well attended.

Results of the election for three year terms to two of the six Board of Directors positions were announced.  Lee Gerson was re-elected and Mary McElwee was elected for the first time.  The voting was extremely close.  The Board plans to appoint Rich Gale, who received the next most votes, to complete the remaining one year of  Dan Twohig’s term when Dan and his family move to Boston this summer, and to involve Evan Gold, the next candidate, in its work over the coming year.

Therefore for the coming year, your Board will be:

Lee Gerson
Eileen Hessman
Dale Larrimore
Ken Levin
Mary McElwee
Dan Twohig (to be replaced by Rich Gale)

A PowerPoint which was presented at the meeting is available as a pdf on the “Documents” page of our website, www.foxfields.net.

This is a reminder of the annual meeting of the Fox Fields Association tonight from 7:00 – 8:30 PM (May 21, 2018) at the Haverford Township Community Recreation and Environmental Center (CREC) at the Haverford Reserve.

The Agenda is as follows:

• Fox Fields Open Space and Landscaping Overview
• Financial Discussion – Dues, Collections, Use of Funds
• Greenberg Settlement Update
• Pond Update
• Blue Route / Invasive Vine Removal Update
• Solar Equipment Guidelines
• Voting Results – Directors’ Election
• Paul Crotty Discussion –
  • Landscaper Start Times
  • Open Space Maintenance

We look forward to seeing you.

Annual Meeting and Elections

The Annual Meeting for Fox Fields Association will be held Monday May, 21, 2018, from 7:00 -8:30 PM, at the Haverford Township, Community Recreation & Environmental Center (CREC), 9000 Parkview Drive, in Haverford Reserve.

At the Meeting, we will discuss the management of the Open Space over the past year and projected for this year, including financial results and budgets, as well as other matters of interest.

This year we will be electing directors for two of the six director positions on the Board of Directors. The terms are for three years. Gail Furman’s and Lee Gerson’s current terms are ending. Gail, after many years of outstanding service to the community, is moving with Barry to be closer to her children and grandchildren. Lee is running for re-election. In addition, Mary McElwee, Rich Gale and Evan Gold are also running. Information about these excellent candidates is included with this mailing.

We will be initiating voting via ElectionBuddy.com later this month. We have found the electronic voting alternative substantially increases voter participation. Of course, paper ballots will be available on request, as will voting at the meeting for those who have not voted electronically or submitted a paper ballot. The owners of each lot have a single vote.

Dues Update

As those of you have attended our annual meetings are aware, the Board of Directors of Fox Fields takes pride in providing a high level of maintenance to our 48 acres of Open Space and entrances, while managing to control costs. Quality maintenance enhances our community’s property values and our ability to enjoy the Open Space. Realtors have told us our quality of maintenance is a plus for our community. Meanwhile, we have been able keep our dues well below those of comparable communities.

This year, after having held dues constant for seven years, the Board voted to raise our assessment by $50 to $425. We had mentioned an increase was likely at last year’s annual meeting. Partly, the increase is due to normal increases in landscaping and insurance costs. Also, we have, during this time, increased the Association’s liability insurance coverage, and, at the request of members of our community, more recently begun to address conditions at the pond and invasive vines in the areas west of the Blue Route. We have engaged a pond specialist to treat the water in the pond to control noxious plants and clarify the water (approx. $3,000 annually) and undertaken an invasive vine control effort (approximately $6,000 this winter).

The beneficial effect of pond water treatments was visible by the end of last summer. They should be a continuing annual cost for the forseeable future – much like our normal landscaping costs. In addition, as we assess the effect of this winter’s vine cutting, we expect our efforts in the areas adjacent to the Blue Route to be carried out over a number of years. This is an area with great natural beauty and addressing the health of the trees it contains should be of benefit to the overall community.

As the list below shows, even with the increase to $425, our assessment will still be below those of comparable communities as disclosed on Redfin or Zillow. All rates below are for 2016 or 2017, except as noted below:

Radnor Chase $500
Portledge $550
Cornerstone $675 (2018)
Trianon $775 (2018)
Laurier $1,000
Roundhill $1,000
Ravenscliff $1,250
Birches $1,300
Edenton $1,800 (2018)

Finally, we note that the March storms resulted in some unanticipated emergency tree work which exceeded any budget surplus from last year, further reinforcing the need for the increase in assessment.

A review of how your dues are spent is provided at the Annual Meeting. Last year’s presentation is available on our website.

Conclusion

We look forward to seeing you at the Annual Meeting and thank you for your support over the past year.

Board of Directors
Fox Fields Association, Inc.
Gail Furman
Lee Gerson
Eileen Hessman
Dale Larrimore
Ken Levin
Dan Twohig

The start time for our annual meeting has changed from 7:00 pm to 7:30 pm. The date remains May 16 and the location remains the Haverford Township Community Recreation and Environmental Center in the Haverford Reserve across from the ball fields.

As stated in the notice which went out with the dues invoices, our annual meeting will be held May 16 at 7:00 pm at the Haverford Township Community Recreation and Environmental Center, 9000 Parkview Drive, Haverford, PA 19041.  The Center is located across from the ball fields just beyond the Haverford Reserve and Athertyn. 

As usual, two of the six Board of Directors’ positions will be up for election this year.  I (Ken Levin) will be running for re-election, but Frank Wesner, after long and valuable service to the community, will not be running.  In response to the request in our Spring Update sent on April 10, 2017, Eileen Hessman, who lives on Countryview Drive, also submitted a petition to run for the Board. 

The biographies of the two candidates who have submitted petitions to run for the Board are as follows: 

We will be sending ballots via electionbuddy.com later today to solicit your votes for the Board election.  We request that you to submit your vote as soon as possible. 

We are utilizing electronic voting via electionbuddy.com so as to ensure broad participation in the voting by the entire membership. (Typically, only about 10 – 20 % of the membership attend our meetings in person and we recognize you have other commitments which may make attendance inconvenient.) 

To insure the integrity of the election, we can only send one ballot per lot.  If you do not receive a ballot from electionbuddy.com by Wednesday, May 10, 2017, please check whether your spouse or co-owner has received one.  Please also check your spam folder if you do not see the ballots in your inbox.  If you still cannot find a ballot, please contact us at info@foxfields.net. 

Board of Directors
Fox Fields Association, Inc.