March 21st   Weekly e-Newsletter for the Village of Harper's Choice.
Your vote is important in determining who will make critical decisions for Harper's Choice and Columbia in the coming year. We need a quorum of 10 percent of Harper's Choice households (approximately 330 votes) to have a valid election. There are three Board of Director vacancies; the terms of office are two years for all vacancies. The candidates for the Harper's Choice Village Board are Ralph M. Paez, Lauren Ellse Avant, Brynn Runkle Conover, and Joel B. Hurewitz.

WHO MAY VOTE: Owners or renters in good standing with property in Harper's Choice may vote. Residents with an outstanding covenant violation are prohibited from voting. Check with the Covenant Advisor to make sure your property is in compliance with the Harper's Choice Covenants.
* Only one vote is permitted for each property.
* In the case of a rental property, both the owner and the tenant may cast a ballot.
* If you are voting at Kahler Hall on April 27, 2019, please bring your driver's license, BG&E bill, or something else to verify your Harper's Choice address.

TIME & LOCATION:
* Vote at KAHLER HALL between 9:00AM and 3:00PM on April 27, 2019.

Mail-In ABSENTEE BALLOTS: Mail-in absentee ballots will be mailed in the latest issue of the Harper's Choice Voice Newsletter in the first week of April. Please refer to the following guidelines for voting by mail-in absentee ballot:
* Valid only if completely filled out, including all information on the envelope.
* Due by 5:00 p.m. on April 26, 2019.

ELECTRONIC ABSENTEE BALLOTS: For the first time, we are offering the convenience of electronic absentee ballot voting. See your copy of the Harper's Choice Voice Newsletter for instructions on voting electronically.
Searching for Spring 2019

The Annual Searching For Spring Egg Hunt, co-sponsored by the Villages of Columbia, will be held on Saturday, April 6 from 10-11:30am at the  Columbia Sports Park in the Harper's Choice Village Center, located at 5453 Harper's Farm Road. No admittance permitted after 10:45am.
 
This event is especially planned for children ages 2-8. Tickets are required for this FREE event. They are available at  Kahler Hall and all village community centers while supplies last. Tickets are for Columbia lien-paying residents only.



RAIN GARDEN  MAINTENANCE SEMINAR


Columbia-Wide Clean-Up Day

CA announces Columbia-Wide Clean-Up Day, March 30
Volunteers needed to help clean up Open Space
Local residents needed to help restore and protect Columbia's waterways. Participate in a Columbia-Wide Clean Up Day, Saturday, March 26, from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. Harper's Choice volunteers will meet at the Swansfield Pool parking lot; 5659 Cedar Lane and will clean along the pathway from the pool to Harper's Farm Road, behind Green Dory Lane, Woodenhawk Circle and Grand Banks Road.
Individuals, groups, scouts and those wishing to earn community service hours are encouraged to sign up. Contact your village office at 410-730-0770. This event is hosted by the Columbia Association and the Villages of Columbia.
A Pretty and Polished Affair

Know someone who is in need of a FREE prom dress? Becca's Closet at Atholton High has over 700 prom dresses in need of a good home! "A Pretty and Polished Affair" will be held on March 30 at 9 a.m. This FREE event provides a full boutique experience for each young lady, regardless of their financial situation, including a personal shopper to help them with their dress and accessories, basic alterations, hair and makeup tips and the opportunity to win raffled prizes. Contact   [email protected] with questions.






Covenant Corner


HOWARD COUNTY ANIMAL CONTROL LAWS
All animal owners in Columbia are subject to the Howard County Animal Control Laws. Here are a few summarized requirements under Section 17.300 of the Howard County Animal Control Law:
* A pet must be on a leash and under control when not on an owner's property.
* Owners are responsible for removing pet defecation when off their own property.
* Owners must remove an accumulation of pet defecation from their property to prevent annoying odors and rodent infestation animal feces is a food source for rats. Residents who have concerns about animal behavior, or the care and control of animals, are urged to call Animal Control for more information at 410-313-2780.

Harper's Choice Real Estate 101


Q: We will be selling our house this summer and putting up new siding, windows, doors, etc. I know we need some kind of Village consent for these changes. Is it difficult to get approval?
A: The process is easier than you may think. Over 98 percent of all applications received are
approved. An Exterior Alteration Application is used to request approval for exterior changes; these forms are available at Kahler Hall or on our website. The Architectural Committee meets twice a month to discuss applications, on the 2nd and 4th Tuesday of each month. When submitting your form for approval, be sure to include all applicable items from the list on the front of the form, obtain neighbors signatures, and sign and date the form. Once submitted, the application will be reviewed and voted upon at the next meeting. There is no fee to apply.
Q: Our neighbor's house is being sold and they received a letter of non-compliance for their property
because the previous owners put up a shed without getting approval. Why is this now their responsibility to resolve?
A: The covenants run with the land, so violations of the covenants by a previous owner can affect a
current owner. Unfortunately, your neighbors likely did not ask for a "Letter of Compliance" when they purchased the home and now the unapproved alteration is not only a surprise, but becomes their issue to resolve. If the shed meets the current guidelines for exterior alterations and is in good physical condition, it is likely that approval can be granted after the fact. Have your neighbor contact the Village Covenant Advisor for more information.

Have you visited us on Facebook lately?
 
Please join us on Facebook for up-to-date information about what's happening in and around the Harper's Choice Community.

Architectural Committee Meetings

Please check the calendar on our website for the latest meeting dates.
 
Changes made to the exterior of homes in Harper's Choice require approval of the Village Architectural Committee (AC).
 
The AC will meet on Tuesday, March 26th at 7:30 PM to review applications. 

The deadline to submit applications for approval is two weeks prior to the next meeting date.
Village Board Meetings

The next meeting of the Village Board is scheduled for April 2nd  at 7 PM.   Approved Agendas and Meeting Minutes are/will be on our website. 
Keeping You Informed
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* Term expires 4/30/19
** Term expires 4/30/20

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