Board Meeting Minutes: May 14, 2023

PRESENT

Rachel Dretzin, Susan Krim, Miri Navasky, Alfred Souza, Eva Thaddeus

FARMHOUSE

Debbie has requested someone like Tom to help out  with work that needs to be done in the farmhouse. The front and back deck need work, the roof needs a pressure treating, etc. We agree that twice a year someone should do a walkthrough of the farmhouse just to see what needs to be done.

Now that Tom is no longer available, Susan thinks we can rely on Chris Preusser (a handyman/ construction person) for the work in the farmhouse. Her sink is pulling away from the wall. Debbie may need grab bars around the house.

Motion: For small things (under $300) Debbie should go directly to Eva and Eva can approve. Passed

Motion: to approve Chris Preusser’s 4/23 bid of $4400 to redo the decks and roof and other things on the farmhouse Passed

LAWN

The gash/ trench we made in the lawn between the farmhouse and barn needs a load of topsoil and maybe some grass. Debbie’s gardener Luis offered to handle it. Will is cheaper and Susan thinks he’ll get around to it eventually, but it could take a year. Action: We decide to add it to Will’s list. Will also said he could handle the deck around the tennis court.  Action: Alfred will assess before we decide if we take that on ourselves or give it to Will.

ROAD

Susan spoke to Burfeind who said the road damage was a problem for everyone this year. The problem was that the road hadn’t frozen before it snowed so there was no base for the plows. He has a space in his calendar and can do the repair. We just need to give him the go ahead. The community should expect approx. $8000/year in road maintenance costs, according to Burfeind.

Motion: to give Burfeind the go-ahead to fix the road based on his estimate 4/20 of $8710. Passed

Will sent an estimate for blowing the trenches in the road the fall. It was very cheap, but if there is debris from shale in the road, that’s a different kind of cleaning.. Action: Susan is going to talk to Burfeind to see if that is part of his estimate.

Because of the problems with plowing this year, we decided we need a snowplowing plan next year with Martin to see if that helps. Eva is willing to take charge of that. Action: Eva will coordinate the plowing plan with community members this summer and speak to Burfeind about it in the fall and will do a walk through with whoever is planning to do the plowing.

TENNIS COURT

Susan got quotes from Peretti to fix all aspects of tennis court which came to approximately $21,000.  Board thought too much. Alfred thinks court is generally playable, with the possible exception of areas where the surface is eroding. The tree needs to come down. Also: algae is growing on the surface which could be dangerous in terms of people slipping. Susan got a quote from someone at Burfeind as well as from Chris for powerwashing and chemical treatment, to keep the court usable. Those quotes were $1,000-$1,400 That’s the kind of maintenance that makes the court usable.

Motion: Alfred to do research into what’s needed to stabilize court and has authorization for community to spend up to $500 for supplies – members will help with cleaning of tennis court this summer (miri volunteers).

ANNUAL MEETING

Potential dates for the annual meeting were discussed, and the board settled on either July 15 or 22. Action: Eva will investigate. Miri is sure Annie will be willing to host and we can also consider the barn or Debbie’s back porch.

OTHER ITEMS

Rachel brought a suggestion from Megan that the community purchase a projector and related supplies for a weekly movie night during the summers. Action: Rachel will talk to Megan and explain that the board feels the supplies for movie night should be a donation unless she wants to wait for the community to discuss it in July.

Susan says that Peretti is totally impossible to work with. We have a credit with him, which is why we talked about using him, but Susan suggests we should just have him refund the money he owes us and let him go. Action: We agree to let Peretti go and have him refund the money.

Paul Burstein also gave Susan the name of a handyman he trusts. He’s been added to our list of local contractors.

With no further business to discuss, the meeting was adjourned.

The meeting was held remotely by video. Minutes submitted by Rachel Dretzin.

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