Present

Deb Adamsons, Marti Bone, Rachel Dretzin, Susan Krim, Wendy Lidell, Roger & Debbie Meier (remote), Annie & Miri Navasky, Jenny & Bruno Navasky (remote), Judy Reibel, Alfred Souza & Fabiana Viso, Eva Thaddeus

Financial Report

We’ve had about 30k in our account every year between operating and capital accounts. Susan notes that rates go up and at some point we won’t have the cushion we need.

Dues

The board presented a proposal to raise dues by $100 a year, increasing each of the annual payments by $50. It has been two years since the last increase and there’s been 2.9 percent inflation. The increase would start at the end of the year, with the January dues. A vote was called and the community was unanimously in favor of the increase.

Road & Plowing

Susan notes that road hasn’t been repaired for close to three years. Burfeind estimated about 7k a year for maintenance, some years more and some less, and that was two years ago. Susan worries it could be as much as 10-15k this year. If it’s 10k we will end up with about 10k in each of the two accounts. The only real concern right now is the potholes. We are on his schedule for annual maintenance. Burfeind seems good and reliable, much better than Carmen.

The road is plowed in winter by Martin Moore-Bridger, who also does trees during the summer. His wife runs the office, it’s a two person business. It was a rough winter, and many HN members had issues with the plowing. Eva toured the community with him and discussed the issues and damages. Burfeind said it was such a hard winter there wasn’t anyplace else to put the snow, but offered in future to bring a smaller plow for detail work in the driveways and park it on our road during the winter. He comes to plow when snowfall exceeds 2 inches. Deb suggests maybe each person meet with Martin to discuss and mark appropriate locations for snow storage during extreme snow events. Susan noted that his Martin hired people to plow during the past winter, and they weren’t familiar with our roads and difficult spots. Annie asked if we can talk to him individually and pay him extra to come and mark with poles. Wendy says she has done that every year and he’s still plowed down her pole. He hasn’t taken responsibility, but he did come back and repair the damage without charging us. He dug out a portion of Dmitri’s driveway which required a lot of work to repair. Susan has looked for alternatives and so far they are very expensive compared to Moore Bridger. Few people will take on such a large job. Brothers for example overcharges and does a poor job. Susan also has one more plowing company to look into on behalf of the board. It was suggested that we ask Moore Bridger to give us a quote for a flat seasonal price as an alternative to per-plow pricing.

Pond

Algae last year created a nuisance for swimmers. We met with representatives from two pond maintenance companies regarding treatment, received proposals, and eventually hired Zach from Pond and Lake to treat the algae with a copper-based algaecide called Cutrine Ultra. The treatment seemed effective in clearing the surface for swimmers, but dead and living algae remained at the bottom of the pond. The algae that dies ultimately just decomposes if not removed, and returns the nutrient load to the pond to feed further algae growth, while the copper sinks to bottom and accumulates over repeated treatment. Zach thinks we will need a treatment once or twice yearly. Bruno suggested as an alternative a rake and net to manually remove both floating and bottom algae, for a total of about $300-400. The net is designed to haul in floating mats, while the rake pulls out stuff from the bottom. Bruno volunteered to order the equipment and lead a trial effort to use both should the algae recur. He has submitted a proposal to the board to make the purchase. Bruno noted that there is also a peroxide alternative to Cutrine called Green Clean, which is more expensive (probably twice as much as the Cutrine, which was $810), but has minimal impact on the pond ecosystem.

Another thing we are doing differently is asking Will to leave an unmowed margin of tall grasses by the pond, to capture mowed grass and other nutrients that might wash into the pond and feed algae, and to make the pond less attractive for the geese.

Zach did find an invasive water chestnut. The most important thing we can do is learn to identify them remove them regularly. They are spiky and hurt a lot when you step on them. There is a page on the community website with pictures of the water chestnut.

Debbie noted that she has struggled getting into the pond with her walker due to holes and unevenness in the pond bottom. It was suggested that Roger could rake a smooth path to provide a runway for Debbie’s entrance into the pond. There was some concern expressed that the holes were due to sunfish nests. Bruno noted that according to Zach from Pond & Lake the sunfish in the pond were overpopulated, so he didn’t think it was much of a concern from an environmental point of view.

We are low on pond seating . Miri has a couple of chairs to donate, and there are more in the barn.

We are also low and shaded areas. We have planted a birch and three young red maples, but they will take time to grow. Deb offered to donate young red maple, black willow, and red oak trees to the community for shade near the pond. Hers are about twelve feet tall right now. The willows grow super fast, but can suck a lot of water out of the pond. The community agreed that the board could create a pond subcommittee to decide about trees.

Legal Documents

Bruno transcribed the community’s foundational documents that
were originally done on a typewriter. The bylaws and the statement of restrictions, which are 50 years old and have never been updated. The board has been looking at them and seeing ways we are out of compliance with them, either because times have changed or because we didn’t know. We have identified a lawyer able to work with us to advise us on how to update the documents to bring them into line with our current practices and needs. The lawyer charges $375/hour, so it behooves us to have our ducks in a row going into the consultation. He’ll take an hour just to read them, so it will probably cost at least twice that. Examples of things that need updating: the by-laws say that the Annual Meeting is supposed to be every March 6, and there’s a requirement that the community issue certificates of membership, among other questions. There are also questions about what parts of these documents can be amended by the board or membership, and how that works. Eva suggested that the board make a list of changes to work on with the lawyer and then can present them to the community for a vote next year, if necessary.

Woods

Eva reported that she worked on an agreement with the Family Forest Impact Foundation to pay the community for our carbon credits. We commit to leave 65 acres of our woods largely undisturbed, with no logging or development other than pulling invasives and a certain amount of thinning. In return they give us an annual payment. The protected land doesn’t include our individual lots or the land immediately along the road or stream. We get a $2000 signing fee, and then $600/ year for the next twenty years. Eva proposed that we allocate the money toward health of our woods. The foundation will also send an expert to work with us on a forest management plan. Current needs were discussed. There are invasive burning bush plants on the side of the road between the Navasky and Dretzin houses, which might be a good place to start. Susan moved that the income from the Family Forest foundation be allocated toward forest health. All members were in favor. Deb suggested that we budget for replacing the invasives with something else by planting. She noted that seedlings from the state cost a dollar each.

Tennis Court

Dmitri reports that the net is sagging and that there vines have returned along the perimeter fencing. We cleared the vines last year during our work day and its already grown back. At some point the net will need to be replaced and the court will need a repaving. Susan noted that Peretti did the fencing, and that she had tried to get a hold of them but couldn’t. ACTION: Dmitri volunteered to research costs for a new net and posts, and to try to remove the vines. Any remaining vines can be tackled during the community work day.

Orchard

The apples and pear trees are bearing fruit this year. They will be ripe in September. The quince trees seem to be taking a year off, perhaps because of the late spring frost. There are two holes ready for something to be planted in the fall. Mulberries were suggested.

Community Memorial Grove

Will has cleared some brush away around and under the pine trees by the pond in that location. There is still poison ivy there, which Eva has been addressing. Miri and the memorial subcommittee will look possibilities for stone engraving and other issues.

COMMUNITY WORK DAY

Last years workday was a great success, with good turnout and a lot accomplished at the tennis court and around the pond. Eva proposes doing it again this coming Labor Day, since most of us will be here. The community supports the idea. The day is set for Sunday of Labor Day weekend, with Monday as the rain date .

ANNIE’S STUDIO

Annie has submitted a request to the board to expand her studio, adding a room. Since her addition would exceed the 1000 square foot limit set by current board policy and the declaration of restrictions, she would need a waiver signed in writing by 75% of the membership. Annie already had her architect bring it to the town. A studio was also defined as having no kitchen. A document was circulated among the community members to sign and presented to the board.

SWIMMING POOL

It was suggested that the board form a subcommittee to research the possibility and cost of building a community swimming pool. Deb, Megan and Annie from the membership and Rachel from the board volunteered to constitute it.

BARN REPORT

Bruno shared an estimate and plans from Chris Preusser on a deck for the pond side of the barn. It would be uncovered and unattached, just a platform with bench seating in lieu of railings on two sides, and broad steps on the front. Chris gave us three options: from $20k- $35K. Chris strongly recommends the two more expensive options, which are for Timber Tech, a synthetic material that looks very much wood and lasts for many decades, as opposed to a pressure treated wood deck. Bruno noted that natural wood would be more in keeping with the spirit of the barn restoration, but that it will require costly maintenance and eventually start to splinter and become challenging for bare feet. He’s working on getting quotes for an alternative: a flat stone patio with a couple of tables and chairs with umbrellas, which he things will be a nicer option, and looks forward to sharing all options with the community. Megan noted the stone steps at their house require a lot of maintenance. Another possibility is a fine gravel bed. The challenge has been that the stone people are overcommited and not responding. Even Chris, who is already working in the community has been occasionally hard to track down.

Bruno reported that a foosball table had been donated by Megan and Dmitri, and he and Melissa had donated a sturdy wood low table for the sitting area. The next priority acquisitions are shelving and bins for the storage bay, and a small bookshelf for the sitting area.

Deb Adamsons reported that standard grid-connected solar power would be prohibitively expensive. Miri volunteered to join Noah in researching alternatives for electricity.

Megan noted that the paint on the barn exterior has started to peel, and that one of the beams inside seems loosely seated. Deb and Eva agreed to contact the Schermerhorn’s regarding the beams, and Susan will talk to Chris regarding painting.

BOARD ELECTIONS

The current board all agreed to stand for reelection and the community voted unanimously in favor of reelecting them.

The meeting was held in the community, at the home of Anne Navasky. Minutes submitted by Rachel Dretzin.