Frequently Asked Questions

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Why can't we park on the grass?
Just parking on the grass isn't the issue. Cars parked on the grass occasionally won't hurt it. The real problem is that there are sprinkler heads in the ground near the curb. Running over a sprinkler head will destroy it and then we have to replace it at significant cost. We're on a mission here to keep operating costs to a minimum.

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Why do I have to leave my garage light on from dusk to dawn?
Olde Canal Village was, unfortunately, built without street lights leaving us in the dark. There are a couple good reasons to light this place up at night. First we have the issue of not being able to see to walk on the sidewalk. The road is black and the sidewalks are black so it's hard, if not impossible to see when walking at night. Second, as advised by the Uxbridge Police Department there is no better deterrant to crime than a well lit house. We've already had a car stolen from here and others vandalized. We don't want that to happen again so the Trustee's have initiated a dusk to dawn policy to help keep this place safe.

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Can't I put my trash out in bags?
No, too many times, trash has blown out of the bags and in one instance, the bag itself went blowing around the neighborhood. The trash pickup people accept no responsibility for trash that gets scattered around. On days when you choose to recycle, put your recycle material in a recycle bin receptical. If you don't have a bin, contact Tom Fermi.

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Can the smoke/fire alarms go off even if there is no smoke or fire in the unit? What do I do?
First, when a smoke detector goes off, it is not the right time to be exploring to determine whether it's a true or false alarm. You should move to a safe place as quickly as possible. I would go to a neighbor's house (across the street) and call 911. Let the fire company determine if its real or not. But, yes, smoke alarms can go off even if there is no fire. The reason is that the detector can get dust inside that confuses the alarm and makes it think there is smoke in the area. When one of your smoke detectors detects smoke it sounds it's alarm and signals the other smoke detectors in the house to sound their alarms also. This is because we want the detector in your bedroom to go off when smoke is detected in the basement. When a detector detects smoke it blinks red. The unit with the blinking red light is the one that detected the smoke. Bugs can also get inside a fire/smoke detector and trigger a false alarm. Keeping a can of compressed air (like you'll find in stores that sell computers for cleaning keyboards) on hand will help to blow the dust out of the detector.

The smoke detectors in our units are all the same FireX Model #5000 except the garage one FireX Model # 5700 which is a heat sensing unit. If one fails they all go off, they are connected to the unit electrical system. If you hear a beep it requires a battery change. If you need help please contact the fire coordinator of your building or a Trustee. The battery is a 9 volt type that you should have on hand. Our community checks fire alarms once a year, which is required by our insurance carrier. You will be asked once a year to check that they work properly. Our building coordinators will provide you with information regarding this task. Should you require a smoke alarm we will provide this to you at the associations cost which is $15 for the unit one and $30 for the garage unit. We carry an inventory of the alarms in our clubhouse.

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Are all the smoke alarms in the house the same type?
THIS IS NO LONGER TRUE!!!The smoke detectors inside the house are all the same. Replace them, as required, with a FireX model# 5000. The one in the garage is different. The inside units detect smoke while the one in the garage detects heat in excess of 130o. If you need to replace the garage unit use a FireX model #5700 XXXX. If you buy one, keep the receipt and register the product because they are warrantied for a long time.

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Can I rent the clubhouse for personal parties? What are the parking restrictions for guests?
Yes you can rent the clubhouse (free after rebate) as long as you abide by the rules. You can find the rules published on the website or you can contact one of members of the Clubhouse Committee for a copy. You must put a $100 deposit down on the place and if the clubhouse is properly cleaned and there is no damage done, your deposit will be returned. The rules include a restriction on alcohol use and other things that the "Clubhouse Rules" explain. Guest should park in the parking spaces provided and if there is insufficient room, they may park on the street but NOT in the circle.

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What is the proper method to contact the Trustees if I have a problem with my unit?
For emergencies, call them or knock on a door. The "standard" preferred method for non-emergency situations is by means of a Trustee Communication Form. Copies are available on the clubhouse bulletin board. If you have access to the Internet, you can go to the OCV website and fill out a form online. The OCV website is www.oldecanalvillage.org. Go to the website and click on the big green button on the left of the screen. Everyone is asked to "please" use the form. It make things easier for the Trustees to manage and to assure you a prompt response. If you communicate a problem to one of the Trustees verbally, that request is likely to get forgotten. The written form (or the on-line interactive form) will go on the agenda for the next Trustee meeting.

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What do I need to do and who do I inform if I want to sell my unit via the OCV web site?
The OCV web site webmaster will put the information you provide on the web site and will make it accessible on the Internet. The webmaster assumes no responsibility for supplying that info but it is suggested you include a digital picture, address, phone, other contact information, description, asking price, and any other comments you'd like to add. The information you provide to the webmaster must be in electronic form by email or CD. If you don't have access to the Internet, call a Trustee for help getting your info to the webmaster. Send email to Webmaster@OldeCanalVillage.org

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Can I stain my own deck? What's the procedure?
Yes you can. Call Tom Fermi or Andy Habe. They have stain available in the clubhouse at no cost to you. Residents are encouraged to stain their own decks to help defray costs and keep Association fees down. You will need to clean your deck before applying stain. Wash with soap or deck cleaner, rinse and let dry before applying stain.

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Can I plant flowers in my front yard?
Yes flowers are permissible but only in mulch areas and at your cost. However the Trustees do not allow flowers around the pear trees.

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I would like to purchase a front storm door, what's the procedure?

There are only two approved storm doors allowed. The manufacturer is Larson and they can be purchased at Lowes.

Why can’t I park in the clubhouse parking lot?
“Residents and visitors are required to park in their respective driveways and/or garages. Visitor overflow can be accommodated in the clubhouse parking area unless the clubhouse is in use.” /DD>
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I have a window that has " fog or smoke" between the window panes. What can I do?
The smokey appearance is caused by a seal failure. The cloudiness is the result of a broken seal between the two layers of glass. The windows are "Silver Line" and the distributer is Horner Millwork. You need to call Ms. Lisa Beaulieu @ 508-235-4317 or 1-(800) 543-5403.
In addition to a smokey cloudiness you might also see streaks of a dark yellow color that look like the window was sprayed with a sprayer.

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I need to know about Radon in my basement. What can I do?
If you need to know if there's RADON in your house you need to have it checked. See the vendors list at web site for satisfactory qualified vendors to test.

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There's water dripping out one of my water heater valves
The valve you're talking about is more than likely the temp/pressure relief valve. Water is NOT supposed to come from that pipe if everything's normal. Call a plumber ASAP. If you're lucky, it will only be a defective valve. If your not lucky, then something more serious is wrong. Either way, you need to get a professional. The valve is supposed to protect you from serious damage if the water gets too hot producing steam and building up pressure inside the tank. An explosion is possible. Treat this seriously. If it's an electric heater, I think I'd cut the breaker. My breaker panel is in the basement and was labeled pretty well. Find the right breaker and flip it.

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I have a large item for trash pick up i.e. TV, Ref, outside grill what's the procedure?
You need to contact Tom Fermi and give him the details of the item(s). Tom will then will contact Waste Management for pick up which is usually Fridays. Tom will confirm with you the cost and date of pick up.(large items are around $50.00 smaller items $25.00) Items must be outside by 7:00 AM. Please do not call Waste Management! Upon receipt of the bill from WM we will advise you and ask that you submit a check for the amount to "Olde Canal Village Condominium Trust"

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Can I still use my fireplace if my power goes out?
Yes. The fireplace contains a thermocouple device that generates a small amount of current as long as the pilot light is lit. The pilot heats the thermocouple so the process continues sustaining itself. When the switch is thrown, that small amount of current is strong enough to cause a solenoid in the fireplace to open allowing gas to flow to the burner. Don't ask for the fan to run however. That's too much to ask.

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What is the deductibe amount on our major insurance policy
Our deductable is $2500 per incident. You should contact the Trustees when and if you have a claim. They will assist you in the proper ways to contact our major carrier and your personal insurance.

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Should I purchase additional insurance for my unit?
Yes you will need to purchase insurance for your personal items such as furniture, jewelry etc. Most insurance companies carry condo type insurance, as they are aware that communities like OCV have a master policy.

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What are the wires I see along the edge of the roof?
They are heat wires that prevent ice dams. Ice dams can cause water to enter your unit. Some residents have experienced unit damage and this is a type of protection while not 100% guarantee it is very effective. You will need to purchase the wire at your cost and the Association will install them for you. They plug into your outside electrical outlet and they can be purchased from Home Depot. Contact the Trustees if you interested.>
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Who do I contact for address labels to send in the monthly associations dues?
Labels are provided by our Treasurer, Marianne Williams or you can download them by selecting the Leslie St Jean yellow tab on our website. At your printer you will need to select under Page Handling/Page Scaling "NONE" from the drop down arrow. The system shows in blue "fit to printable page" this will not work.

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Does the Association supply Salt for our driveways and walkways?
Yes, while the contractor does salt driveways and walkways to a clean condition there are times when the temps increase above freezing the snow will melt on the sides of the walkway and driveways and refreezes the water during the evening hours. For these conditions we have a 20 gal barrel of ice melt for residents to use. The barrel is located in the parking area on the side of the clubhouse. You will need to bring your own container to fill.>
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Do I need to shovel snow off my deck?
We highly recommend that you shovel the snow off your deck if you have a wall that is attached to the deck. Snow up against the wall acts like a dam and as snow melts or weather turns to rain it could run down the wall and into your basement. Rain water coming down from the roof which cannot run into your frozen gutter will create more water, running down the wall and that is not a good thing. >
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What's a 6D certificate and why do I need one to sell or refinance my mortgage?
A 6D certificate is required by your lawyer as part of the closing. This just certifies that you do not have any outstanding debts on our books. Our Treasurer handles this transaction and requires at least two weeks advance notice. Some banks or loan institutions may require this if you are financing a car. The cost is $100 payable to Olde Canal Trust.>
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How do I get a smoke alarm?
If you need smoke alarms, they are available from the Association. We keep an inventory in the clubhouse. You will need to contact the Trustee in charge of smoke alarms (Romeo Berthiaume) and that person will assist you. Once you receive a replacement, you will be charged $15. for each indoor alarm and $30. for the garage alarm. Make checks payable to “Olde Canal Village Trust”.

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Do I need to have carbon monoxide detectors?
We highly recommend that you install detectors which just plug into a wall outlet. Detectors are required by Massachusetts law on every level of you unit that's habitable. The fire department can't make you put them in, but they can keep you from selling or remodeling you home. They need to be placed no more then 10 feet from all bedrooms. We also recommend one in your basement even if you do not use your basement as a family room. They are available at Wall Mart, Home Depot, & Lowes. If you need help call a Trustee or your fire coordinator.>
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Does the association have snow roof rakes to pull the snow off our roofs? ?
Yes. We have two rakes if you desire to rake any snow off your roof. Some people believe that it prevents ice dams. They are stored in the men's room of the clubhouse. It's your choice; we do not provide that service. Raking roofs helps prevent ice dams, which can lead to water entering your unit. If you cannot rake your roof and would like it raked call our maintenance man Wilson 774-287-44457 between the hours of 8 and 10 AM and he will rake it for a small fee.>
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Why do we have to pay the Trustees, I thought this was a volunteer job
Our Trustees are also the property managers. Many communities like ours hire Property Management Companies who charge for their services. Typical cost is around $25K a year. Our Trustees perform this for $8,640 a year. This keeps our monthly association fees down. Our Trustees are more dedicated to the village because they live here and are part owners of the entire village as you are. They are prompt and are very demanding of our contractors. They negotiate long term contracts and save the village an average of $20K a year not counting the savings of Property Management..>
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Why should we avoid parking on our roadways?
Residents are reminded that since our roads are relatively narrow, every effort should be made to park vehicles in their respective driveways and/or garages. If you should have a huge amount of visitors, please remind them that they are allowed to park in the roadway, providing that two of their vehicle wheels rest on the adjacent sidewalk area. As a last resort, visitors may use the clubhouse parking area providing that there are no functions going on in the clubhouse. It has been observed that some of our residents and/or visitors are parking on the roadway even when there is plenty of space in the driveways. This makes it very difficult for some of our residents to back out of their respective driveways. Out of common courtesy to our fellow residents and for the sake of public safety, your cooperation is most appreciated.
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