Amston Lake District
Board of Directors Meeting Minutes
April 21st, 2010 7:00 p.m.
ALIA Clubhouse, 16 Wood Acres Road, Amston, 06231
A. Roll Call of Officers and Directors
Present: Mark Paul, VP, Ray DeCormier, Treasurer, Sherri-Ann Martin, Clerk, Scott Forgue, John Connor, Dave Moorcroft, Laurel Hennebury
Absent: Dave O’Brien, President, Dave Martin
B. Call to Order by Mark Paul, VP Presiding
7:08 pm
C. Recognition of Guests, Residents and Property Owners’ Petitions
Lorraine Long, 15 Meadow Brook Rd.
Dock on Meadow Brook Right of Way – 2 sections and ramp completely blocking ramp; K. Garvey has one too; Evan and Nina Fox are owners and could not get here – will get it out of here; will call to see if can move soon; if not done this weekend, we will have them moved; paddleboat full of water, boat blown off rack and full too – last year this produced mosquitoes – can someone empty please; Ray DeCormier to check ROWs
Janet Garrett – 14 Cove Road, Lebanon
New drainage problem on Cove Road – ruts in front of driveway; please check them
Brett Harlow, 403 Deepwood Drive, Lebanon
Appalled at Road Committee – did not ask Brett his opinion or recommendations; every drive way should have minimum 10” pipe for drainage; If Town of Lebanon gives building permit, then have right to build; why doesn’t town pay for dredging since it is their sand in the lake? Why dredged near Ray DeCormier’s property? There is a spring on Cove Rd., it is 2 ft wide and has 6 inches of water; Once we maintain 10” height level, issues will end; should be aggressively attacked; major water problems; Board should put $20,000 per year for 10 or 20 years in to roads; does not understand why no one on the Lebanon Roads Committee asked for his opinion.
(7:15 pm – John Connor arrived)
Rich Perkoski, 6 Deepwood Drive, Lebanon, Northeast Cove
He received a letter from the Board for pumping water from side lot into lake; was pumping onto lawn; did Board ever authorize diversion of water by anyone to one source to another? Are there any irrigation lines diverting water away from home to the lake? Do people pump water from cellars to the lake? Why did he get a letter specifically? R. DeCormier should not be bragging that if want something done, should join the Board; first proposal $8,000 but cost $14,000 where did the extra money come from? Wants copy of DEP Permit, copy of contract – Mark Paul asked him to submit request in writing; is there any work scheduled to be done in front of any other Board member’s property?
M. Paul – no and being on the Board does not get things done at your house
(7:30 pm -- Mark Paul left the meeting. Sherri-Ann Martin took floor)
Reggie Miles, 239 Deepwood Drive, Hebron
Discussing coves; document with coves in our hands from George Knoecklein? Yes, we received 2009 Lake Monitoring Report; Northeast Cove is anaerobic and void of oxygen; fetch area is large, winds carry all there; planning to address this now; Ray DeCormier noted that the Northeast Cove is priority this year for 2010/11 budget.
Evelyn Harbut, 194 Deepwood Drive, Lebanon
Why are street lights off in Lebanon? S. Martin explained that the Town of Lebanon removed several street lights in town to save money and several other towns in CT have done the same.
Nancy Pufahl, Lake View Heights, Lebanon
Road washed out and broken – Paved; S. Martin encouraged her to contact the Town of Lebanon and request repair
Marge Nichols, 18 Spafford Drive
Will sand be added on Ryan Terrace ROW? Holes developed in heavy rains; S.Martin pointed out that Carl Wool listed this need in his report
D. Approval of Previous Meeting Minutes
Laurel Hennebury motioned to approve with D. O’Brien’s requested changes, Ray DeCormier seconded, unanimous approval
E. Receive and Act Upon Clerk’s Report – nothing to report
F. Presentation of Correspondence and Communication – see list attached
G. Receive President’s Report – D. O’Brien absent from meeting
H. Receive Treasurer’s Report – R. DeCormier submitted, see attached financial data
I. Receive Tax Collector’s Report – E. Curtin submitted on April 9; see attached – was read by S. Martin
J. Consider and Act Upon Standing and Special Committees’ Reports
1. Dam – D. Moorcroft – the 7-8” rainfall we had tested our dam and it passed – there is no leakage; K. Acimovic, the dam engineer, is to put together an “as built drawing” of the work done in 2009 so that we have it documented; cost will be $650
2. Storm Drains – nothing to report
3. Lebanon Sewer Project – S. Martin covered for D. Martin - Marge Nichols has put together a flyer and is distributing, with help from the Gandelmans, to all Lebanon resident homes on the lake and she is distributing them to many Lebanon local businesses to get info to Lebanon non-lake residents too; she has also written articles to several newspapers encouraging Lebanon residents to vote YES for the sewers; S. Martin thanked M. Nichols for all of her volunteered support – D. Martin cannot discuss the project and the need to vote YES once May 3rd has arrived. He is on other boards for the Town of Lebanon and under voting laws, board members cannot discuss upcoming votes during the time period when they are being collected
4. Drinking Water – R. DeCormier wrote a letter to CT Water complaining that the meetings regarding the rate increases are all 30+ miles away from our lake, the usage assumptions are too high for seasonal residents and they are selling us our own water.
5. Boats & Rafts – S. Forgue and L. Mika: R. DeCormier to check ALD mailbox before decision is made; all lottery requests received and available at the meeting did not fill all open spots; S. Forgue and L. Mika to assign slips and notify all when complete
6. Weeds – nothing to report
7. Communications – R. DeCormier – discussed the cost of postage and alternate delivery methods for next time; the residents who attended were supportive of a “paper box” like the Reminder Press to distribute the newsletters without paying so much for postage
8. Ordinances – L. Hennebury concerned about ATVs and go karts driving too quickly and without helmets; checked our ordinances and we do have a $100 fine for riding these vehicles on district owned property; police were called; call police if it occurs again
9. Security – J. Connor – to start on weekends again on Memorial Day; helpful if residents assist too and will save money to avoid bringing in an outside security firm; residents asked about fireworks – R. DeCormier responded that due to liability concerns, fireworks cannot be fired off of district owned property but that it was not the Board’s intention to police private yards
10. Lebanon Roads – RFP sent out in February; Committee is learning
K. Receive Lake Management Reports
1. Caretakers’ Report – submitted via email by C. Wool on April 21; L. Hennebury summarized the report for all; tasks to be approved will be discussed with D. O’Brien; he has been the central point of contact and C. Wool has requested only one; we will follow up with C. Wool via email, etc
2. Lake Health Coordinator - nothing to report
L. Act on Remaining Items of Agenda….Old Business…
1. Beach Closure Signs and Beach Closure Procedures – info sent to C. Wool by D. O’Brien and we are waiting for size and price data; move to next month
2. Invasive Plants Signs: Installation and Costs – same as above
3. ALD Self Help Document – move to next month
4. Purpose of Duck Pond Discussion – S. Martin found an article from 1913 in a magazine called “Outing” about how Charles Ams invited the Audubon Society to come and set up a breeding program on Amston Lake – in the DUCK POND!! There were actual duck houses built in the pond for the ducks to winter in; article is on file
5. Dredging Schedule Conversation – move to next month
6. Lebanon Roads – Policies and Procedures – Committee is in process of defining
M. New Business……Discussion and Possible Action – nothing new
N. Prepare Agenda for Next Meeting – move all Old Business from this month to next month’s agenda with exception of Duck Pond item
O. Adjournment
Motion made to adjourn by L. Hennebury, seconded by Dave Moorcroft, unanimous approval
8:53 pm
Respectfully submitted by,
Sherri-Ann Martin, Clerk
Amston Lake Tax District