OLS BEACH ASSOCIATION SPRING MEETING
JUNE 11, 2016
OLD LYME MIDDLE SCHOOL
Called to order at 10:10 am
Attendees: Paul Yellen, Matt Merritt, Polly Merritt-Maglio, Tom Annulli, John Cunningham, Jim Zanavich, Sheila DeLutrie and Maura Graml.
Absent: Jay Moynihan, Patrick Burns
WELCOME AND HONORING OUR DEPARTED MEMBERS– Paul Yellen
After reading the names of the family members and friends of OLS, we all observed a moment of silence.
COMMITTEE REPORTS
SNOW PLOWING Paul Yellen
The winter of 2015-2016 was an easy winter with no resident complaints. This is the last year of the contract with our current vendor. Paul will put contracts out to bid with our current vendor as well as look into other vendors for the winter season of 2016- 2017.
SUMMER SPECIAL EVENTS Julia and Margaret Nixon
July 2nd Events- Parade, sand castles, and beach races; Michael Cleary Band will play at Brightwater Beach Saturday night. Rain date of July 3rd.
Ladies Lunch-Water’s Edge Resort July 21st– Please let Julia know by the July 10th if you will be attending.
Carousel Night: July 30th at 6 pm to 6:45 pm
OLS Neighborhood Beach Party: Will be held on Saltaire and Sea Lane on August 6th
Fundraisers this year are custom cocktail napkins, hot /cold beverage cups $10 each/stickers $5 each. 100% of proceeds go to OLSBA
Recreation programs/Gate Greeters/Beach Security Polly Merritt-Maglio
Gates start on Saturday June 25th along with beach guards; Seaspray will be the first gate open this year
July 4th Weekend- Saltaire open only
Recreation on the beach starts Monday June 27th at 9 am and 5 pm
Sheffield Brook Drainage Project Paul Yellen on behalf of Patrick Burns
OLS has been working with Old Colony Beach for several years to remedy the flooding of this brook. We, along with Old Colony, plan to work with CTDEP to obtain town and federal funding to pay for this. All construction is being done on Old Colony property. OLS will not be affected by this project as far as interruptions to our residents, land, and streets are concerned.
Time frame for this project: Permits secured by July, with bidding from July to August. Construction will start between September and October with a completion date of December 2016.
The CTDEP has required the discharge pipe to be installed at the median high tide mark and run relatively flat up to Sheffield Brook. The CTDEP’s preference is to employ a weir board structure for storm tidal surge control. The tidal control structure chosen by the CTDEP will always allow unobstructed daily tidal flows up into the Brook and at the same time an unobstructed discharge from the brook. Tidal surge control during hurricane type events will be managed manually. Weir boards will be inserted and removed according to the changing tidal surge during major storm events. These boards will need to be stored in a safe and secure space on Old Colony Beach Association property. Fuss O’Neil Engineers will train and instruct specific members of Old Colony Beach on how to use these boards during a tidal surge to reduce the impact of flooding from storm surge. It is important to know the Federal Government’s Flood Plain Maps have not changed. During major storm events properties within the flood plain will flood.
Patrick Burns would have incorporated the following document into the meeting:
Fuss & O’Neill memo section dated 3/11/16
If additional information is needed please address Patrick Burns, 60 Saltaire Drive
The question was asked do our members have recourse if Old Colony does not operate and maintain this system? There will be something in writing concerning this.
George Finley made a very good point that these boards will only be necessary at a time of heavy rain and surges. Water will be able to flow freely from Rt. 156 to the Sound.
Beach Conditions George Finley
George summarized that is was a difficult winter. Many trees came down the river and landed on our beach – approximately 30 to 40 very large trees. Harry Plaut did a good job of disposing of them and the Town worked with us to keep the price of disposal to a minimum. The bigger areas of concern on the beach right now: Seaspray beach has a tremendous amount of shells and seaweed, etc. and we will be making a conscious effort to clean this up. OLS Beach is getting more and more sand every year which we may have to remove some day. The lines go in this week- please do not tie up to the lines. This could result in a fine or a ticket.
If anyone is interested in obtaining a mooring, please contact Harry Plaut. In addition, if anyone would like to purchase a used mooring or anchor, please contact Harry Plaut.
The raft is going in the next week or so. Beach should be back to where we want it in the next few weeks.
The question was asked if OLSBA could put in a line just for jet skis, etc.? This is a possibility but would need to be discussed further.
Kayak and canoe racks will go in this week. Please remove your possessions at the end of the season.
WPCA Jim Zanovich
Last October we entered into negotiations with Waterford, Niantic and New London.
Niantic has agreed to take on our waste water through their pipes. Pricing is currently being discussed.
Waterford is behind us 100% and will do whatever is necessary to help us with our project.
New London has also agreed to accept our waste water and our capacity. Just like Niantic, pricing is being currently discussed. Jim noted that this is a huge accomplishment in getting those three towns to accept and carry our waste water.
The Town of Old Lyme has indicated they are behind us and will not impede our progress. The WPCA is exploring the possibility of leasing a small portion of the parking lot on Hartford Avene for the pump station for all three beaches. There is another possibility of placing the pump house in Miami beach.
It was stated that as we move further, we will move faster. The WPCA will be dealing with the legal side of the agreements with the three above mentioned towns within the next few weeks to determine pricing.
There is no set date for the project completion. Construction will not start before next year and it will take about a year from the start date.
The Cost Sharing Agreement is between Miami Beach, Old Colony and OLS.
White Sands is not in this discussion as the Town asked for their exclusion.
Hawks Nest Beach is fighting that they do not need sewers and is excluded as well.
The town has asked if Soundview can join in the project. The answer is yes. They cannot hold us up.
Traffic Safety Tom Annulli
Our roads are not true legal roads as they are narrow with sharp corners. Meetings were held by the Traffic Subcommittee to discuss ways to improve traffic safety. They discussed the “3 E’s” of traffic safety -Education, Enforcement and Engineering. Engineering should be part of the sewer project.
Speed bumps- The Association does not want them and plows will not plow streets with them. Speed tables might make sense when the roads are done. OLSBA may need to hire a professional safety engineering firm to determine how best to accomplish this at the appropriate time.
Enforcement-Unless something happens, there is very little that can be done for enforcement.
Focus on Education- Flyers to remind residents, visitors, etc. to drive slowly. It only takes 56 seconds to drive from one end of our roads to Rt. 156 at 15 mph. What is the rush to speed? We will need to issue reminders to FedEx, Home Depot, etc. If they do not comply with our rules, they will not be allowed to enter OLSBA property.
This committee will continue to meet this summer and over the winter. We will be ordering additional signs and portable signs for the association.
It is the feeling that the majority of speeders are our own residents.
Golf Cart Concerns Matt Merritt
Matt and Paul met with the lawyer last week to discuss this. They were told that the Association would incur liability should an accident occur with a golf cart and the best way to limit Association liability is to ban them from our roadways. Our members have voted to ban golf carts multiple times. We have an ordinance in place that bans golf carts. There is a Committee looking at how to enforce the ban given our limited enforcement powers. Committee members met with police and other associations to find out what they do to control and enforce the ban. There will be no enforcement of the ban at this point. The Board will decide on an official policy concerning regulations later this summer. Notices will be sent to all golf cart owners informing that golf carts are not allowed on Association roads in an attempt to limit our liability this year.
Web page Communications John Cunningham
After the exploits on the website from early 2015, we have re-hosted the site on the most secure and robust hosting service for WordPress. The entire website was rebuilt from scratch with security and ease of maintenance in mind. The website has been revamped and redesigned. You may register for the website to view restricted content available only to association members who register. You will find the registration link at the bottom of the home page on oldlymeshores.org.
The Association directory will be put online and an email will be set up to communicate with OLSBA officers, board members, and website volunteers. Members will also be able to comment on content.
OLSBA is seeking volunteers to help out with the website in many areas. Posting content, updating information, adding pictures, sharing stories about beach history and more. This would be an excellent opportunity for a high school or college student to pick up new skills or add to their resume. Anyone interested in getting involved in the OLSBA community should visit oldlymeshores.org/volunteers to review the opportunities and contact us to participate.
Review 2015-2016 Budget Sheila DeLutrie
Almost all taxes have been collected and she is working with those that have not paid. The town cut our subsidy this year and only paid us $8650 vs. the $13,000 that we have gotten previously. This is completely out of our control. Beach cleaning did go over budget this year.
Approve 2016-2017 Budget
Rather than impose a significant tax increase to all members this year, the mill rate will increase from 2.4 mills to 2.5 mills.
Vote on the proposed budget- Paul Yellen made the motion to approve the budget, it was seconded. No further discussion was had.
The Budget for 2016 -2017 was passed by the membership.
Election of BOG Members and Officers
John Cunningham headed the nominating committee.
Polly Merritt-Maglio and Tom Annulli were nominated as continuing members of the BOG. Polly as a BOG member and Tom as Vice President.
Slate of Officers put up for re-election: Paul Yellen, Tom Annulli, Sheila DeLutrie and Maura Graml – a motion was made to re-elect these members.
Member Concerns/Other business
Directory is almost done and will go to print July 1, 2016. Guards do not have a directory but they do have a list of owners from A to Z.
A motion was made to adjourn the meeting and seconded. The meeting was adjourned at 11:55 am .
Respectfully submitted by Maura Graml, Secretary.
It is disheartening that past agreements voted on by the Association are disregarded and ignored by each new round of “leaders”. Many years ago, we hired an attorney to attend a spring meeting at Mile Creek School and reached an agreement regarding the use of golf carts at OLS. The members agreed by a majority vote that golf cart owners must send proof of liability coverage to the Association (to Dave Wooley at the time of the agreement), only licensed drivers can operate golf carts and operation can occur during daylight hours only. We continue to abide by this agreement and to maintain liability coverage despite being told that the Association no longer wants this proof of coverage. We are happy to forward our proof of coverage. We have upheld our end of the agreement and will continue to do so.
Many communities in Old Lyme have figured out a way to manage golf cart use. OLS had a manageable agreement that is being ignored. We plan to continue to abide by that agreement.