C  O  M  M  U  N  I  T  Y

Resident/Owner Portal Parkside is pleased to announce a new resident portal powered by Enumerate Engage.  The portal allows residents to access secure links, download Board minutes, and view account history. Visit Engage to set up your account.

Latest News

• Police Officer Speaks to Parksiders

  POLICE OFFICER STACY BLOW SPEAKS TO PARKSIDERS ABOUT CRIME AND SAFETY TIPS An informative presentation to the community by Officer Stacy Blow was held in the South Clubhouse on January 21, 2026. Officer Blow is with the Montgomery County District 2 Police Department and has been a cop in our district for 12 years. The talk was sponsored by Parkside's Safety & Security Committee and approximately 35 people attended. Before the presentation began, Officer Blow and residents mingled and enjoyed pizza. Committee member Brenda Flory informed everyone about the committee's goal of increasing Building Reps at Parkside, and committee member Eileen DiLauro welcomed and introduced Officer Blow. Officer Blow provided practical information and tips to community members present. He began by stressing the importance of knowing your neighbors. He stated the Building Rep Program was a great way to formalize this, and to further encourage all residents to become aware of their surroundings, know their neighbors, and pay attention to details when reporting suspicious activity to the police. He stated most crime incidents at Parkside are related to automobiles – theft of car parts, items left in car, or of cars themselves, and second to that would be domestic disputes/assaults between people who know each other. Auto related crimes are prevalent across the county (likely across the state and country) and happen in spurts where certain neighborhoods are “hit” and then criminals move on to another area. Because of the marking program with catalytic converters, crime thefts of that item have decreased. Air bag, tire and wheel thefts are most prevalent, along with thefts from cars, often from those that are unlocked. Formal Neighborhood Watch Programs are declining due to lack of funding for training, and primarily due to risks to volunteers given the increase in criminals with weapons and other erratic behavior. Officer Blow stressed the importance of “See Something, Say Something,” by calling the non-emergency (or emergency line when warranted) and leaving it to the police to handle. He also explained the impossibility of officers doing rounds in all neighborhoods due to limited staff who are needed to respond to emergency calls, and to the large size of the district the police are covering. The police try to get rounds in high crime areas and even that is disrupted if there are other calls that typically require at least two, often three officers at minimum.   Highlight Points and Tips:  Neighborhood starts with knowing your neighbor – pay attention to surroundings. Suspicious behavior is anything that appears odd – call non-emergency police number. Put non-emergency number (301) 279-8000 in your contacts/cell phones; every call is logged in as an incident so it's important to call. Police can't be everywhere; there are limited officers covering our large district. Knowledge is power - get news out to residents. Communication is good via our monthly newsletter, with list-servs, office alerts and eblasts during month. Our neighborhood traffic pattern is one-way-in, one-way-out and there are systems (e.g., the Flock Safety system) that use license plate tag readers (where all residents would register their tags and cameras would watch tags at entrance). Most common crime is theft from vehicles — leave valuables at home, and don't have visible bags or any items in car; always lock your car. Most crimes are done in dark areas. The street line and most parking lots are well lit at Parkside; but some tree lines at Park are dark. Flood lights in parking lots are good when present (some lots don't have them). Air bags and tires/wheels most prevalent as spurt thefts. Our incidents tend to be mostly auto related. Some assault calls are generally domestic issues and deal with people that know each other. Put signs up at entrances (traffic and pedestrian) about cameras; they may not stop crime but are a good deterrent. Neighborhood watch programs — there was training offered in the past but no longer (parent program lost funding); there might be some online training available. It's recommended that neighbors just help by watching out for and reporting suspicious activity and try to make note of the description, details, etc., of those persons/vehicles for the police – but do not confront them. What to do about soliciting — can report to police (trespassing can only be implemented by management and only when it is warranted with strict criteria). See something, Say Something. Montgomery County Police Non-emergency line: (301) 279-8000 Summary article notes by Susan Pourian

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• Budget Process

  Budget Meeting   The Board of Directors will hold a public hearing to consider comments and suggestions for the proposed FY 2026/27 budget on Tuesday, February 3, 2026, at 7:00 p.m. in the South Clubhouse.   $~$~$~$~$~$~$~$~$~$   Budget Process   Parkside uses a zero-based budget, which means that expenses in all categories do not start from the expenses of the previous year but must be justified as cost-effective. Thus, when management prepares the first draft of the budget, it starts not with the previous year's budget but with what must be accomplished, and staff calculate what that will cost. The general goal is to maintain, preserve, and enhance our assets.   In preparing the first draft, management is guided by several legal documents. One is the Maryland Condominium Act, which sets forth requirements on preparation of the budget, time frame, and items to be included (e.g., income, utilities, administration, reserves). Another legal underpinning is the Association's bylaws (Article V, Section 2, “Preparation and Approval of Budget"). Other essential documents are the board resolutions on budgeting and assessments, personnel compensation, ongoing contracts, and investments. Together, these documents make it clear that management has an obligation to present an accurate account of the financial requirements to meet the goals of the community.   The first draft of the budget reflects not only the governing legal documents but also recommendations from staff, the committees, and members of the community. Thus, to some extent the first draft includes a wish list.   During December, a meeting is scheduled and at that time the first draft is discussed by the board, committee chairs, members of the Budget & Finance Committee, management, and Parkside's managing agent. The purpose of the meeting is to review, understand, and challenge everything in the draft budget. No decisions are made at this meeting. Instead, decisions on the budget and its revisions will be made at the regular monthly board meetings.   The specific schedule is as follows: At the December board meeting, the board decides on the changes it wants to make to the first draft, if any are warranted. Those changes are embodied in a second draft, which is sent to all owners in early January. On the first Tuesday in February the board holds a public hearing on the second draft; the purpose of the public hearing is to provide owners with an opportunity to present their views on the draft budget to the board. On the third Tuesday in February, at its regular monthly meeting, the board decides and approves the final version of the budget.   *  *  * The FY 2026-27 draft budget that was discussed on Tuesday, December 16, projected an increase in assessments of 10.04%. The explanation for the proposed increase is due to an expected 10% increase by WSSC, cost for materials, insurance costs, capital reserve contribution and tax expense.   While developing the budget, there are maintenance projects that are funded through the Capital Reserve Budget* and the following items have been identified as necessary Capital Reserve projects for the year:   Fuel oil tank replacement. Backflow preventors. Flat Roofs (317, 415) (400, 410). Deck Sealing Section V. Exterior Painting Phase II, III, IV. Parking Lot Overlay 1. Sidewalk replacement. Brick Pointing. Section V Hallway Painting. Retaining Wall Repairs. Community Garden Fencing. Swimming Pool Chairs. Carpet in South Clubhouse. Landscape Design Project. *The capital reserve section of the budget includes a schedule specifying the money needed and on hand to replace major components of the common elements (everything costing above $1,000, e.g., boilers, roofs, landscaping), so that when a major component must be replaced, the funds are available. For all 251 items listed in this section of the budget, the schedule identifies the item's remaining useful life, the cost to replace and the amount that must be contributed annually for the rest of the useful life so that at the end of that period, the full cost to replace is on hand. Every year, staff members certify the condition of each item and make a reasonable estimate of the item's remaining useful life and replacement cost.    Once the FY 2026-27 budget is approved by the Board of Directors coupon books will be ordered and mailed to all owners.  

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• January Board Meeting

  The Board of Directors will hold their monthly meeting on Tuesday, January 20th at 7:00 PM in the South Clubhouse.  The meeting will also be available on Zoom; residents can find the Zoom information on the Engage portal.

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