New RA deck boat restrictions and letters to residents indicate misguided and inappropriate resources are being used by the RA
We the RA dues paying residents of Reston and primarily property owners on Lake Audubon, Lake Anne, and Lake Thoreau are being unjustly threatened to comply with inconsistent and unprofessional mandates from the RA. Decrepit, unsafe, unsightly, and frankly embarrassing boats sit at docks for years that should have been removed by the RA , yet responsible owners with safe, attractive, and well constructed boats are being threatened by the RA to cut an 1/2 inch off certain boats to comply with a "ordinance" that is unclear, inconsistent, unproven and perhaps unlawful. RA's leadership team and the RA President need to know that we don’t pay $700 a year to be harassed on insignificant issues. The RA’s time would be better spent picking up trash along our trails and spending our dues on more worthwhile efforts. The RA states that certain existing recreational activities such as pools and other venues may need to be cut for budgetary reasons. Yet we all watch Reston continue to expand and as it grows new property owners are each levied a $700 tax. Our demand is simple, use the RA's limited resources on what residents want, not what RA management deems in a closed meeting what must be an urgent issue to them, i.e. policing boats with rulers. Last summer I watched three RA employees go from boat to boat via their boat to measure each boat. Three employees on the RA payroll to do a one person job at best. Our wooden boats don't magically expand and contract each year more than an inch, why the annual measuring exercise year after year? The RA owes each and every owner of any boat on our lakes an apology! Join me in presenting this petition to the President of the RA and the RA Board and let them know we have had enough of this foolishness! . We all understand the RA's purpose is essentially to ensure our property values remain in line with the rest of the county and to provide recreational activities for Reston residents. We as residents fund the payroll for all of the RA employee team, and expect rational decisions on how they use their time and labor. Sending veiled threat legal letters to homeowners who are law abiding has this dues paying resident feeling short-changed.
Craig Gross
Lakewinds II.
Updates
February 27, 2020
The RA leadership clearly hoped we would stay quiet while they wasted our dues measuring boats instead of fixing our community. This momentum proves they cannot ignore us anymore while they mismanage our resources and threaten homeowners.
8 Comments
I wrote to the RA Board members. None of them thought it necessary to respond. Let us vote them out and vote in those who commit themselves to being responsive to the residents and not slavely follow staff dictats and not use common sense. Attend the candidates forum on Wednesday.
Well said Craig, this petty unjust policy is designed to penalize existing residents who just want to enjoy the lake - I moved in to my house just over two years ago and the RA were happy to allow my oversized boat to be “grandfathered” in - now all of a sudden they are telling me if I want to sell my house I will have to remove my boat from the lake. I knew the RA had a reputation for wasteful spending but this takes it to another level, surely there’s better ways to spend my $700 a year. It amazes me that they think that bullying respectable Reston residents into complying with ridiculous policies approved by a bunch of meddling bureaucrats is a good use of our annual fees. I really hope the RA listens to us and does the right thing.
So disappointed in the Reston Association and their models and changes. Not appreciated!
Well said, Mr. Gross. I too received the Violation Notice from RA and agree 100% with your statement. We have had a deck boat on Lake Audubon for at least 8 years, and before that another deck boat for more than 20 years. We paid our annual permanent mooring fee for as many years. My husband, Mike Norvell, served on the Lakes, Docks and Boats Committee in 2018/19 and helped write the regulations. Our deck boat is in full compliance with RA regulations. I expect an immediate withdrawal of the violation notice, a letter stipulating that my boat complies and an apology for this unwarranted intrusion. RA's mission statement says: To preserve and enhance the Reston community through outstanding leadership, service and stewardship of our resources. RA should lead, serve and steward our resources and desist in aggravating, insulting and harassing it's members.
This is an unfair and arbitrary misuse of authority and an extraordinary waste of time.
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Thanks for putting a voice to our thoughts!
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New RA deck boat restrictions and letters to residents indicate misguided and inappropriate resources are being used by the RA
We the RA dues paying residents of Reston and primarily property owners on Lake Audubon, Lake Anne, and Lake Thoreau are being unjustly threatened to comply with inconsistent and unprofessional mandates from the RA. Decrepit, unsafe, unsightly, and frankly embarrassing boats sit at docks for years that should have been removed by the RA , yet responsible owners with safe, attractive, and well constructed boats are being threatened by the RA to cut an 1/2 inch off certain boats to comply with a "ordinance" that is unclear, inconsistent, unproven and perhaps unlawful. RA's leadership team and the RA President need to know that we don’t pay $700 a year to be harassed on insignificant issues. The RA’s time would be better spent picking up trash along our trails and spending our dues on more worthwhile efforts. The RA states that certain existing recreational activities such as pools and other venues may need to be cut for budgetary reasons. Yet we all watch Reston continue to expand and as it grows new property owners are each levied a $700 tax. Our demand is simple, use the RA's limited resources on what residents want, not what RA management deems in a closed meeting what must be an urgent issue to them, i.e. policing boats with rulers. Last summer I watched three RA employees go from boat to boat via their boat to measure each boat. Three employees on the RA payroll to do a one person job at best. Our wooden boats don't magically expand and contract each year more than an inch, why the annual measuring exercise year after year? The RA owes each and every owner of any boat on our lakes an apology! Join me in presenting this petition to the President of the RA and the RA Board and let them know we have had enough of this foolishness! . We all understand the RA's purpose is essentially to ensure our property values remain in line with the rest of the county and to provide recreational activities for Reston residents. We as residents fund the payroll for all of the RA employee team, and expect rational decisions on how they use their time and labor. Sending veiled threat legal letters to homeowners who are law abiding has this dues paying resident feeling short-changed.
Craig Gross
Lakewinds II.
Updates
February 27, 2020
The RA leadership clearly hoped we would stay quiet while they wasted our dues measuring boats instead of fixing our community. This momentum proves they cannot ignore us anymore while they mismanage our resources and threaten homeowners.
8 Comments
Remove the boats not used for years and falling apart, leave the rest of us alone. What has happened to RA? Use some common sense... Thanks for doing this!
I wrote to the RA Board members. None of them thought it necessary to respond. Let us vote them out and vote in those who commit themselves to being responsive to the residents and not slavely follow staff dictats and not use common sense. Attend the candidates forum on Wednesday.
Well said Craig, this petty unjust policy is designed to penalize existing residents who just want to enjoy the lake - I moved in to my house just over two years ago and the RA were happy to allow my oversized boat to be “grandfathered” in - now all of a sudden they are telling me if I want to sell my house I will have to remove my boat from the lake. I knew the RA had a reputation for wasteful spending but this takes it to another level, surely there’s better ways to spend my $700 a year. It amazes me that they think that bullying respectable Reston residents into complying with ridiculous policies approved by a bunch of meddling bureaucrats is a good use of our annual fees. I really hope the RA listens to us and does the right thing.
So disappointed in the Reston Association and their models and changes. Not appreciated!
Well said, Mr. Gross. I too received the Violation Notice from RA and agree 100% with your statement. We have had a deck boat on Lake Audubon for at least 8 years, and before that another deck boat for more than 20 years. We paid our annual permanent mooring fee for as many years. My husband, Mike Norvell, served on the Lakes, Docks and Boats Committee in 2018/19 and helped write the regulations. Our deck boat is in full compliance with RA regulations. I expect an immediate withdrawal of the violation notice, a letter stipulating that my boat complies and an apology for this unwarranted intrusion. RA's mission statement says: To preserve and enhance the Reston community through outstanding leadership, service and stewardship of our resources. RA should lead, serve and steward our resources and desist in aggravating, insulting and harassing it's members.
This is an unfair and arbitrary misuse of authority and an extraordinary waste of time.
Thanks for putting this together.
Thanks for putting a voice to our thoughts!
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Remove the boats not used for years and falling apart, leave the rest of us alone. What has happened to RA? Use some common sense... Thanks for doing this!