The meeting was announced a week prior in the WBCA Spring 2023 Newsletter.
The location was the Windybush Pool.
Board Members Present:
Kevin Leamy, Pres, Ron Schultz, VP, Karl Zipf. Sec, Brian Cuddy, Tres
Introductions: The meeting was called for at 6:30 and started at 6:40. The Board
Members introduced themselves and all have lived in Windybush for many years. The purpose of the meeting was to revitalize the WBCA and to update the Bylaws.
Bylaws: The current version of the bylaws date from the 1960s and is out of date. The
Board drafted a new version and copies were available at the meeting. Comments and corrections will be received to the draft version and the final version will be voted on at the September Community Meeting.
Windybush is defined by Old Windybush and Windybush along with the houses
on Silverside Road.
The WBCA Board of Directors consists of the four officers listed above and three
members at large. At the present there are no members at large but it is hoped that at least one Board position is filled by someone from Old Windybush.
The Board meets six times a year, and it is scheduled for the third Monday of the month in February, April, June, August, October and December.
There are no deed restrictions on file in either the county or the state. The only
restrictions on property are based on the New Castle County Code. Upon approval the new Bylaws will replace any and all previous Bylaws or deed restrictions.
WBCA Dues: The current dues are $25/year per household. Dues are payable now
and are received by Brian Cuddy at 108 Delview Dr. It is hoped that we will have online payment on the new website. During COVID dues were not collected, so many have forgotten we have them. The major costs to The WBCA are snow plowing and the two street lights. Presently about 100 pay dues which is little over 50% participation. Our fiscal year ends September 30.
The state owns 90% of the roads. The counties do not own or maintain them
The remaining 10% are municipalities like Wilmington or Dover or private communities such as Arden. DelDOT does not plow suburban roads in New Castle Co. They do in Ken and Sussex, but suburban roads are a low priority and may not get touched for 2-3 days in a major storm. Thus, to get our development plowed we contract it out. The state does reimburse WBCA for snows 4 inches or higher for plowing. We pay a flat fee for each pass through the neighborhood. Heavy snows often require multiple visits during the storm. Overall, our service is good and since Silverside Rd. is a DelDOT priority we generally are not snowed in.
Other expenses are the neighborhood sign at Silverside and Southwick and
printing. The latter it is expected to be primarily digital in a year or two. The
advertisement and signs for the May community yard sale are paid by the WBCA.
Speeding: Windybush is a neighborhood of children and dog walkers. There are no
sidewalks and we all must be aware of people and animals on the roads. Fortunately, it is a closed neighborhood so we do not have traffic cutting through to other destinations. Much of the problem appears not to be speeding but distracted drivers on the cell phones or simply not being courteous to non-vehicular traffic. It is often noted that the biggest offenders are delivery trucks and garbage trucks. With more purchases online, we are now seeing a constant stream of delivery vans on all hours of the day and weekends.
The posted speed limit is 25 mph. A few years ago, the state installed a speed
monitoring sign near Windybush Rd and Wynnwood. A speed study was done 2 years ago and the average speed was 18 mph. Windybush Rd is the only long straight section which would be prone to speeding. The other streets have enough curves and cars parked on them which slows traffic.
The topic of speedbumps was brought up and discussed. This is not the first
time and the topic has been raised on and off over the past three decades. Speed
bumps are not put near intersections or on curves. Speed bumps are on long straight roads where a car can build up speed. Windybush Rd would be the most likely candidate. Regardless what individuals or the community wants, those that live on the road which will be modified, must have two thirds of the households approve the installation of speed bumps for it to happen.
Residents who lived in neighborhoods that had speed bumps commented that
the bumps really do little to slow things down and there is a constant thumping noise as cars go over them. It is annoying in the summer when the windows are open.
An alternative to speed bumps is traffic calming measures. Several
neighborhoods have these zig-zags in the road. The DelDOT right of way is 25 feet
from the centerline and they have plenty of room to do this.
Communication: Besides knocking on the door and talking to one of the Board
Members we have two forms of electronic communication. With improved
communication we hope to improve the community and get better participation in dues payment.
Email: The address is windybushcivicassoc@gmail.com . The officers have access to this.
Website: www.WindybushCA.org This spring a website was set up as a way to
develop our community and to attract new families to the neighborhood. It is still
undergoing construction in various parts. Take a look and see what we have so far.
Eventually it will be a two tier system. First is for the general public which is what one
currently sees. Later there will be an invitation only page, accessible by dues paying
members. It will contain additional information such as police reports and very specific content which would be neighborhood only, such as a directory. By the year end we plan to have dues payment on line. Currently of the 183 homes we have 85 email addresses. In order to save printing costs communication will be digital with the newsletter and dues notice posted on the website. The current newsletter was
underwritten by Jeanne Gordy.
Common Areas: Windybush owns the wooded land bounded by Delview, Wynnwood and Chatham. The two lots on Chatham and the circle are uncertain ownership. Presentlythese areas are mowed by the people on the circle. There are also a few easements for the stormwater drains.
The footbridge connecting Old and New Windybush has uncertain ownership. It
might be part of the DelDOT right of way. The bridge probably dates from the 1960s.
The deck needs replacing as a minimum for all the planks appear to be the same age. The bridge is 40 feet long and since the bridge is 4 feet wide it does pass the minimum ADA rules of 3 foot width. Being flat, it passes the maximum grade of 1 inch per foot.
Kevin is investigating the ownership to the places on Chatham and the
footbridge. The latter for eventual repair or replacement.
New Castle Co. Police Report: We were unable to have an officer present tonight.
The report is based on the calls received just for our neighborhood. Their
recommendation is to lock up after 9PM, that is house, sheds and cars. Most stolen
cars are unlocked and often with keys inside. We cannot prevent solicitors and there is a handout available explaining the rules for the State of Delaware for door to door sales.
Questions and Suggestions from the Attendees:
Block Captains: We should have Block Captains. These can help distributing
newsletters and greet new families to the neighborhood. We should have a welcome package. This is a very stable neighborhood with only a few houses turning over each year. With the new website, Relators can give the information to prospective or new
home buyers.
Vacant Properties: There are three vacant homes in the neighborhood. Some have
been vacant for years. Kevin will bring this up to the County.
Wynnwood Dr: What is the status of the roads and water line on Wynnwood? The
water line is unknown and that is owned by Veolia. Paving is controlled by DelDOT.
DelDOT does not pave entire neighborhoods in a single season. The last time
Windybush was repaved they did one street a year and it took a decade. Repaving is based on a pavement distress level and traffic loading. Because Veolia tore up several streets with replacing the water line, it accelerated the schedule for repaving.
Dark Streets: We have only two street lights. One is at the entrance on Silverside and
Southwick and the other is in the middle of Delview. Many people have lamp posts near the street. We would encourage that they be left on at least until midnight. The other issue is people walking at night wearing dark clothes and not carrying a light. They are invisible until a car is almost upon them. At 20 mph one is going 30 feet per second and often dark clothing does not become visible until 50 feet. Headlights illuminate in the front and not to the side where pedestrians are.
Social Events: Windybush used to have a number of social events, especially for
children. The Pool still does the July 4 bike parade with fire engine. The Civic Association put on the annual Easter Egg Hunt, the Halloween Party and Santa’s visit.
COVID did nto help matters and we need to start bringing these back.
We do not have a Welcoming Committee. Block Captains would help get out the news and relieve some of the burden form the WBCA Board. It is all of this that made and will make Windybush a great family neighborhood.
WBCA Officers:
Kevin Leamy – 121 Delview Dr
Ron Schultz – 108 Chatham Pl.
Karl Zipf – 102 Delview Dr.
Brian Cuddy – 108 Delview Dr.
The Meeting was adjourned at 8:10.
Karl Zipf
Secretary WBCA
May 23, 2023
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