Common expenses which are covered by the Assessment fee include:

• Water, sewer and common electric
• Fire and Extended Liability Insurance
• Legal and Accounting Services
• Materials, supplies and labor necessary to paint, maintain, replace and repair the common elements
• Trash Collection and Common Pest Extermination
• Law and Tree Maintenance; Leaf Removal
• Snow Removal
• Reserve Funding
• Managing Agent’s Fee

See Collection of Assessments Policy.

See Insurance Information (2020) document and the Cross Fox Master Insurance Policy Coverage flier for a summary of the Cross Fox Master Insurance Policy for some suggestions.  To get proper coverage, contact an insurance agency that regularly issues insurance policies for condominiums. 

An amendment to the Maryland Condominium Act, passed during the 2020 session of the Maryland General Assembly, will take effect October 1, 2020. Currently, the association can charge up to $5,000 of the master policy deductible to the unit owner where damage originated. The new amendment will increase that cap to $10,000 of the deductible. Any additional deductible amount remains a common expense. The bill also clarifies that if the loss originates in a common element or outside of the unit – a storm, for example – that the association will be responsible for the deductible.

Helpful Tips –

1. Associations are still required to tell homeowners the amount of the deductible on the master policy on a yearly basis.
2. Unit owners should check their unit owner insurance policy to make sure the master policy deductible will be paid if assessed.

As your insurance policies renew, check to see if a higher deductible is worthwhile for the association to consider

See the Cross Fox Master Insurance Policy Information under Community

On June 15, 2022, The Board of Directors of Cross Fox Condominium held a Special Meeting regarding the cancellation of the YES Energy contract. The Board voted to cancel the contract with YES Energy. This means that effective immediately the cost of all gas usage will be a part of your monthly assessments. This means that owners will no longer receive a bill from Yes Energy Management for their gas consumption.

Cross Fox Condominiums will be paying the gas bill just like how the water bill, trash removal, lawn maintenance, etc. is paid.

The Board is currently reviewing the proposed draft 2022/23 Budget to determine the monthly assessments amounts which will now include the expense of gas. A draft budget will be sent to the owners by the end of August and an open budget meeting is scheduled for September 20th.

No. The monthly condominium assessment fee will be the same through November 1st. The 2022/23 monthly assessments will be determined at the September 20, 2022 meeting.

How an owner determines a tenant’s rent is completely between the owner and their tenant. The gas usage will be included in the condominium fee.

Owners that are delinquent on their gas bills for previous usage will remain responsible and will still need to pay all past due gas bills. Those delinquencies will be pursed as they have been in the past in accordance with the Collection Policy.

Each washer and dryer has a credit card reader. Residents can pay for laundry services either by credit card, debit card or a gift card that acts like a credit card.  A nice new feature of this system is that it has a web interface that allows tenants to determine if washers and/or dryers are available without having to visit the laundry room.  Tenants are also be able to request a text message or email notifying that when the washer or dryer cycle is complete.  The cost for the new equipment will be $1.25 per wash load and $1.25 per dryer cycle.  See New Laundry System for more information.

The machines in the laundry rooms are serviced by FMB.  If you have any problems with the machines (broken or lost money), contact FMB at 1-800-832-6193 or go online to service@fmblaundry.com to submit a service request.  You must have the machine ID (located on the machine) in order to report a problem.

On January 1, 2021, Cross Fox adopted a new set of Parking Rules and Regulation designating one assigned space per home for the exclusive use of that home.  Owners are issued a Tow Card for their assigned space and can have an unauthorized vehicle towed from their reserved space.  For more details see the Cross Fox Parking Rules and Regulations.

If you experience any of the above pests, call Economy Pest Control at 800-498-1166.  Cross Fox has a pest contract with Economy to take care of common household pests.  Your condo fees go towards this service.  See Pest Control Flier.  Note that this service does not cover termite inspection associated with the sale of a residence.  If you see termites, contact the Managing Agent.

A subcommittee recently investigated the cost and features of an Automated Entry Door Control System.  The cost was approximately $5,000 per garden unit building.  The Board was informed by their legal counsel that such a system, if implemented, would have to be implemented on all sixteen garden unit buildings.  The resulting costs were prohibitive.  The system is no longer under consideration.

Suspicious activity should always be reported to the Howard County Police either by calling 911 or the non-emergency number 410-313-3200 as appropriate for the circumstances.

An ice melt container will be under the stairs on the lowest level of the condominiums for your convenience in order for residents to treat the sidewalk and walking paths when snowy or icy conditions are present.  One salt melt container per townhouse group will also be available. The snow contractor will not start plowing until the snow stops falling or reaches a depth of at least 2”.   Snow events less than 2” are handled on a case by case basis.

Speed bumps are impractical during the winter when snow removal is required.  Also, people often speed between speed bumps even after they are installed thereby reducing their effectiveness.

Residents needing bulk trash removal must arrange for disposal at their own expense.  There are two options.  One is to take the trash to the Howard County Landfill.  The second is to arrange with the Cross Fox trash removal contractor, Whatever Services, LLC, at (410) 997-0147 or (410) 730-8014.  Please indicate that you are a Cross Fox resident. 

Howard County has an extensive list on where you can donate and/or dispose items.

CFLs contain small amounts of mercury and are therefore considered hazardous waste.  They can be disposed of at the Howard County Landfill as hazardous waste or some stores, such as Home Depot, may also accept them.

See Water Shut Off Procedures – Garden Unit or Water Shut Off Procedures – Townhouse for the respective procedure.  Note that Garden Unit water can now typically be turned off on Mondays or Tuesdays of any week with prior approval from CVI.  

Leaks from above are a disturbing problem.  They can originate from common pipes or from pipes/plumbing originating from the unit above.  Leaks from common pipes are often, but not always, associated with a constant flow of water.  Leaks from the unit above are often, but not always, associated with an intermittent water flow such as whenever daily shower use occurs. 

This noise is known as “water hammer”.  See Dealing with Water Hammer and Water Hammer for a good explanation of this problem and possible solutions.

You must meet certain guidelines in order to install a satellite dish at Cross Fox.  See Cross Fox Satellite Dish Policy. 

There are a number of restrictions for charcoal and propane gas grills according to the Howard County Fire Marshall.  See Barbecue Grill Public Safety Notice.

If you decide to sign up for FiOS, please emphasize to the installer that Cross Fox is partially pre-wired for FiOS and the installer must use the existing, outside cables to connect up to your unit. For Garden units, fiber optic cables run to the outside of each unit in a dark colored cable raceway running up the side of the building on the furnace room wall. For townhomes, an in-ground access panel provides for FiOS access that can then be run directly to the townhome. 

Some street lamp poles have a metal band with a number on the pole.  Those street lamps are maintained by BGE.  You may call BGE to report the outage or notify BGE though their website. For those lamp poles that do not have a metal bane with a number (these are usually located between and/or in back of townhomes for supplemental lighting), contact CVI to report the outage. 

The homeowner is responsible for the upkeep of smoke alarms and carbon monoxide detectors.  Contact the Office of the Fire Marshal at 410-313-6040 for more details.