Amston Lake District
Board of Directors Meeting Minutes
May 7th, 2008 7:00 P.M.
ALA Clubhouse, Woodacres Rd., Amston, Ct.
A. Roll Call of Officers and Directors
Present:
Dave O’Brien, President
Bill Witt, Director
Dave Arnold, Treasurer
Lynn Mika, Director
Mark Paul, Director
Ray DeCormier, Director
Margaret Roohr Rosati, Director Arrived: 7:20
Left: 9:55
Absent:
Dave Martin, Director/Clerk
Sherri-Ann Martin, Director
Also Present:
Reggie Miles, Lake Manager
Eileen Curtin, Tax Collector
Joanne Wool, Secretary
B. Call to Order
The meeting was called to order at 7:06 p.m. by Dave O’Brien, President
C. Recognition Of Guests
Shauna Howe-Baier, President ALIA 232 Deepwood Drive, Hebron
She presented budget proposal for ALIA’s heat & utilities costs to be put into the ALD 2008-09 Budget Proposal. Shauna also explained improvements and maintenance issues regarding the clubhouse. Increased costs of fuel this year major factor for increase.
Linsey Ray, 229 Deepwood Drive, Lebanon
She completed a biology project comparing the water quality of Amston Lake and Columbia Lake. She gave a copy of the report to the Board. She needed verification from Board that project was done and will receive that from Dave O’Brien. Dave also requested Mike Smith to place a summary of her report on our web site.
Mike Smith, 197 Deepwood Drive, Hebron
Mike will e-mail Linsey Ray and take care of placing information on line. He suggested an Announcement form be sent to all subscribers giving a summery of the weed meeting, May 3rd. A discussion group page for the web site was discussed. Concern was brought up regarding Announce Group members getting unsolicited e-mails. Mike Smith and Ray DeCormier assured the Board that the 150 Announce Group member’s e-mails were protected and only used by the ALD Board for official notifications. Further discussions will be done at a later date.
D. Approval of Minutes
An amendment was made by Dave Arnold, and seconded by Bill Witt, to correct the wording under C. Recognition of Guests, Carl Wool, second sentence .Delete “Lake Manager Replacement” and add “additional employees of the ALD Board to complete contracted tasks listed in ALD Budget”. Also under J. 1. Dam, eliminate the words “ quote” and “Karl Acimovic”, line 2. All were in favor except Margaret Roohr-Rosati, who abstained.
Motion to accept amended minutes was made by Ray DeCormier and seconded by Dave Arnold. All were in favor except Margaret Roohr-Rosati, who abstained.
E. Receive Clerk’s Report
No Report
F. Presentation of Correspondence and Communication
4/03 D. Arnold, Notes on Dam
4/03 D. Arnold, Board Terms
4/03 D. Arnold, Treasurer Notes & Tasks
4/03 D. Arnold, 08-09 Budget, Version #7
4/03 M. Paul, Ordnances Homeowner’s Manual
4/03 D. O”Brien, May 17th Arrangements
4/04 J. Wool , May 17th Annual Meeting
4/03 R. Blackmore, Problem with Line Items
4/04 P. Verrier, Traffic Study/Hillcrest
4/05 D. O’Brien, Reggie’s Budget Figures
4/05 J. Wool, Clerk Duties
4/06 R. Miles, Sign Vandalism/Police Report
4/05 D. Arnold, Reggie’s Budget Info
4/07 D. Arnold, Keystrokes
4/05 D. Arnold, Value of Healthy Lakes
4/05 Mike Smith/D. Arnold, Comments on Rivereast Letter
4/07 Board Members, Newsletter Submission
4/07 R. Miles/Blackmore/Horan’s, Duck Pond Sign
4/P. Verrier/Stanulanis, Grossman Plans
4/08 D. Arnold/Gibson, Dock Locations
4/07 D. Arnold, Dock Impl. Schedule
4/07 Eileen Curtin, Keystrokes
4/07 D. Arnold, Keystroke Office SVCS Agreement
4/08 J. Wool, Corrections to Minutes 4/08
4/08 D. Arnold, Corrections to Minutes 4/08
4/09 R. Miles, Postponing 4/12/08 Barley Meeting
4/09 D. Arnold/Wool, Gatekeeper & Boat Inspectors
4/09 M. Smith, Web Updates
4/10 D. O’Brien, Gilead School Rental
4/10 D. Arnold, Dock Rental Agreement
4/10 D. O’Brien, CHRO Nastasia Report
4/10 M. Smith, Web Updates
4/10 D. Arnold, Mail Re: Insurance
4/10 S. Martin, Camp Road Maintenance
4/10 M. Paul/D. Arnold, Legal Services
4/11 P. Chester, Site Walk, Next to 20 Deepwood
4/11 D. Martin, Annual Meeting Topics
4/11 M. Smith, Announce Group
4/12 J. Wool, Fertilizer Use
4/13 R. Miles, Manion Road
4/13 R. Miles, Main Dam Outflow
4/9 to 4/14 D. O’Brien/Gordon, Movie Shoot
4/12 D. Arnold, Annual Meeting
4/12 L. Mika, Annual Meeting
4/13 R. Miles, Amston Info
4/17 J. Wool, Amston Info
4/17 D. Arnold, CIRMA April Reports
4/15 M. Smith, Movie
4/15 R. Miles, Homeowners Manual Draft
4/16 D. O’Brien/Lenti, Amston Lake Questions
4/16 J. Wool, Amston Lake Info
4/16 D. O’Brien, 4/11/08 Letter to Hebron on Storm Drain Study
4/16 D. O’Brien/Arnold, Payment for Gilead School Rental
4/16 D. Arnold/DeCormier, Homeowners Manual Draft
4/16 J. Wool/O’Brien, Movie Shoot Cancelled
4/17 L. Mika, Use of ALD Property for Tricentennial
4/17 D. O’Brien/Arnold, Annual Meeting Agenda
4/17 S. Martin, Lebanon Street
4/17 S. Martin, 391 Deepwood
4/18 D. Arnold, CFL Meeting
4/19 D. Arnold, CHRO Response/Nastasia
4/19 D. Arnold, Ct. Dept Labor Notice
4/19 D. Arnold, Ct. Dept. Labor Unemployment Ins.
4/19 R. DeCormier, Define Activities
4/29 D. Arnold, May 3rd Meeting Agenda
4/30 R. Miles, May 3rd Meeting
4/30 D. Arnold, DEP Consult on Dam Repair
4/30 S. Martin, Questions for May 3rd Meeting
4/30 D. O’Brien, May 3rd Meeting
4/30 R. Blackmore, May 3rd Meeting & Hebron Herbicide Position Letter
4/30 S. Martin, May 3rd Meeting
5/01 K. Garvie, May 3rd Meeting
5/01 K. Garvie, Letter from Hebron
5/01 J. Fitzgibbons, May 3rd Meeting
5/02 A. Snell, May 3rd Meeting
5/02 K. Goncalves, May 3rd meeting & E-mails
5/02 B. Ritckoff, May 3rd Meeting
5/02 R. Miles, May 3rd Meeting
5/02 G. Horan, May 3rd Meeting
5/02 D. Gibson, May 3rd Meeting
5/02 A. Snell, Thanks Reggie & Laurie
5/02 S Forgue, E-mails & Message Board
5/02 D. O’Brien/Martin, Gatekeeper Ad
5/02 Dl Arnold, Gatekeeper Witnessed Contract
5/02 P. Verrier, May 3rd Meeting
5/02 R. Blackmore, May 3rd Meeting
5/02 P. Oliver, Lebanon Septic
5/03 S. Schuster, Lebanon Sewers
5/03 L. Mika, Act on Weed Management Solution
5/03 G. Hosking, Thanks
5/04 R. Miles April Lake Manager Report
5/04 D. O’Brien, Thanks Reggie
5/04 R. DeCormier, Re: Lake Management Report
5/05 L. Littlehale , Re: Lake Management Report
5/05 D. Arnold, 08-09 Budget, Version 8
5/07 D. Arnold, Dock Rental Agreement
5/07 C. Wool, Application & Bid for Gatekeepers Position
5/07 D. Arnold Certified Mail Receipt to pick up, Re: Nastasia
G. Receive President’s Report
Dave O’Brien thanked everyone concerned with the May 3rd weed meeting. Good questions were asked and answered. Excellent panel of experts were present. Now the Board will move forward to provide recommendations to the residents regarding the herbicide application.
H. Receive and act on Treasurer’s Report
Dave Arnold read the report. A contract for Bonnie Gibson for continued audit services was given to Dave O’Brien to sign by Dave Arnold. A Motion was made by Dave Arnold, and seconded by Bill Witt, to approve the performance of audit services by Bonnie Gibson for 2008-09. Motion passed unanimously. Motion was made to accept Treasurers Report by Bill Witt, and seconded by Mark Paul. Motion passed unanimously.
I. Tax Collectors Report
Tax Collectors report was read by Eileen Curtin. Over $3,000 in current and prior year taxes were collected by the 1st week of May. Sending a notification with the newsletter, stating residents who were delinquent in their tax payments would not received their passes until paid, worked out very well. By the Annual Meeting, Eileen predicts close to 90% of the taxes will be collected.
J. Receive Standing and Special Committee’s Reports
1. Dam - D. Arnold discussed a quick fix idea with Karl Acimovic for the main dam leak. If it works it could save 15-20 thousand dollars. Involves placing hydraulic cement in leak areas and if it diminishes the leak signifiently, then in the fall, sealing the back of the area.
An application needs to be submitted to the DEP for both the main dam and the duck pond leak for approval. Karl Acimovic will write this up. Plan could start in late summer if approved.
2. Storm Drains - D. O’Brien sent a thank you letter to the town of Hebron for their assistance with the storm drain study.
3. Lebanon Wastewater Study - No report
4. Drinking Water – No Report
5. Boats and Rafts - Dave Arnold spoke to Dennis Griswold. Dennis will check quantity of docks he has on hand and get back to Dave. Dave Arnold presented draft of slip rental agreement. Discussion followed. Motion to approve Dock Slip Rental Agreement was made by D. Arnold and seconded by Ray DeCormier. For: L. Mika, D. Arnold, Mark Paul. Against: Margaret Roohr Rosati, Abstained: Bill Witt, Ray DeCormier. Approved by majority. Nine applications for boat slips have been received so far per Lynn Mika. Motion made by Dave Arnold to allow four slips for handicapped residents providing proper documentation. Seconded by Ray DeCormier. All voted for, except Margaret Roohr Rosati who abstained. Amended to this motion requested by Ray DeCormier to add “distribution of docks will be done by a lottery system and there will be only one dock slip rental per family”. Motion to approved amended motion was made by Dave Arnold and seconded by Bill Witt. All voted for, except Mark Paul who abstained. Approved by majority.
6. Weeds - Mark Paul stated approval at May 3rd weed meeting to use herbicide at three locations on the lake. He will get together with Board members and review George Knoecklein’s recommendations to come up with a proposal to present to the residents. He hopes to have this completed sometime by the end of May or beginning of June.
7. Communications- Per Ray DeCormier, the Announce Group System is working very well. We need more resident e-mail addresses and will keep our marketing efforts strong to obtain more interest from residents.
K. Lake Management
Reggie Miles presented his written Lake Managers Report for April. The Lebanon roads are in need of repair. Discussion followed in which Bret from BSA recommended a special process mix with crushed blue stone with sharp edges, no sand. He stated this will harden into a more cement-like surface. With money restriction in this year’s budget, major repairs will have to carry over to next year, if residents approve. Reggie provided three bids for snow removal, in addition to BSA, for the Lebanon roads snow removal. Least expensive was BSA. Because of rising fuel and construction costs, BSA is requesting an increase in this year’s annual budget for 2008-09.
L. Act on Remaining Items of Agenda….
Old Business
1. Hebron Tricentennial Plan
Board approved June 7th event on Berglund Green and Main Beach.
2. Handicapped Parking
Board has previously approved cost for signs to be placed at reserved handicapped parking spots at both beach parking lots. When signs are made, Reggie will install.
3. Draft Budget for 2008-2009
Dave Arnold read and discussed the proposed draft budget for 2008-2009. Two changes in the proposed budget amounts were discussed and added. ALIA and BSA cost increases. Motion was made by Bill Witt to accept, as revised, the 2008-09 budget proposal to be presented to the residents at the annual meeting, May 17th. Vote was unanimous.
4. Board Positions for 2008-2009
Leaving the Board will be Bill Witt and Margaret Roohr Rosati. Dave Arnold stated he will stay on for a few months until he takes the Assistant Lake Manager’s position.
M. New Business
1. John Nastasia letter of 4/14/08
CHRO meeting of 4/12 results were favorable to the Board. Mr. Nastasia sent a follow-up letter requesting handicap access to a right-of way or a key to the boat launch cable. The board will discuss and send a response to him.
2. Dock Slip Arrangements
This was already covered under item J, number 5. Boats and Rafts.
3. Storm Water Control at Lollipop
The Board cannot proceed on this issue until easement is obtained from property owner. Then culverts can be purchased and installed. Dave O’Brien will contact Dave Martin to see if he has obtained an easement as yet.
4. Treasurer Position
Ray DeCormier will be taking over the Treasurer position Dave Arnold has held.
N. Prepare Agenda for Next Meeting
1. Boat Dock Lottery/Drawing
2. Lake Tasks
3. Ordinances
4. Fence (safety) on Main Dam
5. Approval for ALIA Sign Boards.
O. Adjournment
Mark Paul moved for adjournment and Bill Witt seconded. The motion was approved unanimously. The meeting adjourned at 10:05 pm.
Respectfully compiled by Joanne Wool, Secretary