Annual Report: The Year in Review

May 1, 2024– April 30, 2025

The River Hill Community Association (RHCA) Board of Directors (BOD) oversees the Association’s operations, establishes policies, and advocates on behalf of the community. The board ensures that the Association enhances the quality of life for owners and residents of the Village of River Hill.

During fiscal year 2025, Kevin Bruening served as board chair, assisted by Vice Chair Rob Mekelburg. Also serving were Moe Imran, Mark Combs and Balbir Lakhanpal. Eric Greenberg served as River Hill’s Columbia Council representative and ex officio board member. Day-to-day operations were managed by a paid leadership team.

Informing the Community

The Association’s offices are located at Claret Hall, 6020 Daybreak Circle, Clarksville, in the River Hill Village Center. Offices are open Monday through Thursday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., and Friday, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Claret Hall is also open during board meetings, committee meetings and special events. Staff are available during these times to respond to residents’
questions, concerns and requests.

A variety of information is available online, including Architectural Guidelines, Exterior Alteration Applications, Village of River Hill legal documents and The Villager newsletter. The Association uses multiple tools to communicate with residents, with The Villager being the most popular. The monthly newsletter is delivered by carriers who live in the community. FY25 carriers included Brayden Avrunin, Ari Berkowitz,
Benjamin Chen, Erica Chen, Isaac Chiang, Lucas Chiang, Eden Clemmer, Garrett Donnelly, Wendy Gu, Jonah Just, Ryan Hawthorne, Sophia Hu, Carson Li, Caris Luke, Sayyeed Mohammed, Nitesh Parikh, Sasha Patel, Samantha Smole, Sean Smole, Sydney Smole, Julia Windsor and Jack Zirkle.

The Association also maintains this website, a Twitter (now X) account (@RHCAClarksville), three Facebook pages (/RiverHillCommunityAssociation, /ClaretHallMD and /WatershedCommittee), and an Instagram account (@villageofriverhill). Residents are strongly encouraged to sign up for email blasts at www.villageofriverhill.org/subscribe.

Involving the Community

The Association continually seeks to involve and engage members of the community. Residents serve on the board, its committees and volunteer at special events throughout the year.

FY25 events and programs included:

  • Block party grants
  • CA Open Space Appreciation Luncheon
  • Flea market and villagewide yard sales
  • Haunted Hallow’s Eve (with River Hill merchants and Kimco Realty)
  • 25th Annual Independence Day Parade
  • Master Gardener seminars
  • Prepare for Success school supply donation site
  • Project Linus year-round collection site
  • River Hill Pool Party and National Night Out
  • Village Election Day
  • Visit with Santa, a sensory-friendly event

The Association rents space at the Meeting Room (next to the River Hill Swimming Pool) and Claret Hall. Columbia lien payers and nonprofits receive a 10% discount. The buildings are used for social events and meetings.

The Association is committed to involving residents of all ages. There was one Student Member of the Board of Directors, Barbara Lembas. RHCA continues to charter Boy Scout Troop 618, with Michael Cornell, a former Columbia Council representative and RHCA board member, serving as the chartering organization’s representative.

Throughout the year, the Association supported local organizations with in-kind and monetary donations to Boy Scout Troop 618, Swansfield PTA, River Hill High School PTSA, Luminus Network for New Americans and The Village in Howard.

Improving the Community

The Association works with residents, Howard County, Columbia Association and other organizations to benefit the community. These efforts include providing input on development projects and enforcing maintenance covenants and architectural guidelines. The board and Development Advisory Committee advocated for thoughtful, sustainable growth.

The Architectural Committee (AC) ensured the covenant process ran smoothly and updated guidelines to promote environmental sustainability. Committee members included Syed Ahmad, Kevin Bruening, Mark Combs, Kevin Daye, Jim Kirk, Moe Imran, Balbir Lakhanpal, Rob Mekelburg and Sarah Rohbin.

In FY25:

  • The AC reviewed 178 Exterior Alteration Applications and issued final decisions.
  • The Covenant Advisor processed 50 requests for Letters of Compliance.
  • The Association received 125 complaints, mostly regarding residential property maintenance. Complaints were referred to Columbia Association, Howard County Government, Kimco Realty or the Maryland State Highway Administration, as appropriate.
  • Most Exterior Alteration Applications involved tree removal, maintenance or material/color changes. Others included patios, decks and water remediation projects.
What Lies Ahead

FY25 marked the final year of a five-year management contract with Columbia Association. The contract allows RHCA to manage Claret Hall and the Meeting Room and retain rental revenue to fund village operations. It also defines the operational relationship between CA and the villages and outlines financial reporting requirements. The contract was renegotiated during FY25 for a new three-year term.

How Residents Can Help

Let the Association know what matters to you. Share your concerns and ideas with the board and staff. Participate in programs or volunteer. The doors of Claret Hall are open—we invite you to stop by and share your vision for the future of the Village.