PRESENT
In person: Debra Adamsons, Susan Krim, Wendy Lidell, Anne & Victor Navasky, Bruno Navasky, Judy & Noah Reibel, Marty Bone & Michael Rosenberg, Alfred Souza & Fabiana Viso, Eva Thaddeus. By video: Dmitri Cavander/Megan Gelstein, Miri & Jenny Navasky, Rachel Dretzin

FINANCIAL REPORT
Susan delivered the financial report (see attached document).

ROAD MAINTENANCE
We spent close to $7000, double what we did the last couple of
years. Paul Burfeind does the road repair. Susan spoke to him and reported that he said this year was a bad year because we didn’t get a frost and the road wasn’t hardened when the plow came, so there was
more damage. He didn’t seem to think it was a problem with the plowing. Burfein did the road and will maintain it annually and he thinks we should budget about $7000/year for that. If we need work on individual driveways, we can call Burfeind, or let Susan know. We’ll have him come annually in early summer to look at the road.

The Board reported on extensive plowing discussions. Snowplowing has gone up by about $2000 this year to about $8000, which is in line with what was anticipated (Martyn Moore-Bridger’s fee varies according to how many times he plows, while Carmen charged a flat fee per season). Some of the problems we had with the plowing spewing up dirt and gravel were unavoidable, but there were other complaints. We decided to go with Martyn again for this next season, but Eva will give him an list of issues, and ask that he and whoever plows with him does a drive around with Eva before the winter and look at problem areas and ask that they become familiar with it and are sensitive to what was messed up. Martyn is a tree person, and not really a plower. His equipment is old and he told Wendy he’d stop plowing before getting new equipment. The board is considering getting a quote from Bob Host in case Martyn doesn’t want to continue.

A general discussion of plowing issues this year followed:

• Dmitri’s new wall got nicked. Martyn was pushing snow into the driveway instead of across the street.
• Wendy and Alfred’s hubcab sign got knocked over, Wendy’s sign for 180 got completely ripped out, and the reflector sticks she put over the edge of her garden for the plower got knocked over. There’s no more gravel on her driveway because of the plowing of the gravel over the edge. He came back as promised and she no longer has a gravel driveway, she has a dirt road. She had terrible runoff. He swore up and down it wasn’t anything they did. Last week with the rain, she had a huge gulch in her driveway. Annie suggested we ask Burfein to look at it. Wendy has a company coming next week to assess. Judy and Annie had what they felt were similar problems and Carmen put in a drain. Wendy has a company called Green Flow Property coming in to do an assessment. Susan suggested Wendy ask Burfein to come in for a second opinion.
• Judy would like Green Flow to look at her property as well.
• Susan: they took part of her corner wall. Also they’ve knocked a couple of her huge rocks in her driveway,
• Bruno reported that Martyn generally seems to scrape deeper, but thought it was an issue of time and technique rather than equipment. Also, the runoff from their driveway runs into the center of the road and is damaging it. It would be great if he could scrape less, and if Burfeind could do some minor work to rechannel runoff.
• Miri reported an issue with ice, but there was a question as to whether this was a plowing issue.

The community resolved to hire Will Chase on an annual basis to clean out the ditches of the road in the fall so the stuff doesn’t gum up the road. He will also clear the tennis court of vines. Will mostly does lawn mowing, weed whacking, clearing land and falling trees, provided
wood. THE COMMUNITY VOTED TO SEND WILL CHASE A WEDDING GIFT OF $500.

POND
Do we need sand? Discuss pros and cons of sand. Agree that we should wait and decide after the season. Bruno says the sand attracts the geese. The sand does make it easy to get in and out. Maybe we can look at some kind of big rubber mat or other way to make it easy to get into the pond for Debbie. We have to be very careful about design and execution so
that they don’t become a hazard in and of themselves. The huge flocks of geese are a recent phenomenon and they like sandy beaches.

ORCHARD
No fruit this year. We agree to replace the trees we’ve lost. MOTION PASSES TO AUTHORIZE UP TO $500 FOR REPLANTING. We will have a planting party in the fall and perhaps remove the deer cages on the ones that have surpassed deer height. What about a willow tree? They grow really fast and like the water. We could use some of the $500 for a willow.

PHONE/INTERNET
We have a three year contract ending this year, and then can renegotiate pricing. We can talk with the sales rep. We should renegotiate as a community. MIRI WILL CALL CONSOLIDATED TO DISCUSS. Access problems at individual homes can vary in their causes, but most should be fixed by Consolidated for free. Individual community members can contact them directly for repairs .

BARN
Bruno delivered a report on the barn. Current furnishings include the ping-pong table, a hammock, two small tables, several chairs, and changing area. Possible significant future improvements include solar panels, a refrigerator, electric lights and maybe an exhaust fan or hot air outlet. We agreed at our last community meeting that we didn’t want to charge fees for anything, so these will be considered by the barn committee and board as capital expenditures. Before we think about electricity, we need to work on basic furnishings for general use and community events. THE BARN COMMITTEE WILL PUT TOGETHER A PROPOSAL TO THE BOARD for chairs, tables, storage containers, shelving and other items, including costs. Questions from the community included the feasibility of wireless internet and/or phone service, and the possibility that installing solar may change the tax status of the barn.

TENNIS COURT
A freestanding fence would be far cheaper than getting someone to fence it in. They’re about $80 for six feet. You could buy sections of fencing you put there instead. Bruno reported that Nicky Meier had noted that the net will last longer if we take it in for the winter.

We will try to add a makeshift bridge to the tennis court using some of the discard lumber from the barn restoration. The old beams are really desirable, and THE COMMUNITY AGREED TO ENTERTAIN AN OFFER from Deb Adamsons, who might want to use them for her house. Initially Tom Shepherd saved them with the thought they might be used to make a loft over the second bay, adjacent to the storage area, but realistically speaking, the cost and possible complications to barn infrastructure and potential insurance risks make this unlikely in the near future.

TRASH/BEAR
The bear visited the dumpster twice again this year, both times in the spring/early summer. Bruno spoke to Carmen Jr. who reported that there are bear proof dumpsters that start at $2500 and go up to $10,000. Bruno asked him to look into the cost of one with the possibility of either us purchasing one or him purchasing one and renting to us. Carmen said the nails he’s used have worked for most of his clients, or a metal bar that makes the dumpster unopenable without removing it. Carmen thought seniors in the community might have difficulty with both the bar and the specialized dumpsters, and that his people would leave it on the ground when picking up the trash. Three options were discussed: 1) purchase or negotiate rental on a bearproof bin; go with the metal bar, or continue to pick up scattered trash when necessary, which hasn’t been overly onerous to date. BRUNO SAID HE WILL CONTINUE TO LOOK INTO OTHER OPTIONS and the community agreed to stick with status quo in the meantime.

Community members were alerted that hazardous waste, large metal items, and electronic equipment cannot go into the dumpster. Hudson maintains a free recycling center in Greenport, and Barbado has a transfer station as well, and will accept many items for free.

For community members who need papers shredded, town hall sponsors free shredding events periodically. You can sign up on the Hillsdale town website for the newsletter to keep apprised of these.

TREES
Deb reported on the spongy moth caterpillar situation. Green Cross was here, went to everyone’s property to estimate how many oaks there were in each house envelope. There are a few properties that don’t have any high-risk trees at all, so it might not be equitable if we all chip in. Deb says they are very thorough and very good. They spray the trees, but you have to do it just after the eggs have hatched in the beginning of May. They priced the various properties as follows:

• Farmhouse (129 Bushnell): no oaks
• Susan (140 HNR): two small oaks, plus birches $700
• Marty and Michael (171 HNR): many oaks, $1700
• Wendy (180 HRN): a dead ash, $750
• Alfred (182 HNR): $1400
• Judy (201HNR) : $1000
• Deb (214 HNR): not sure
• Annie (307): five dead ashes, $1250
• Miri/Bruno/Jenny (314): Many dead oaks. (included in prev?)
• Rachel (287 HNR): $950
• Megan/Dmitri & Eva (no estimate?)

DEB WILL GET A COMMUNITY PRICE FROM GREEN CROSS, AS WELL AS PRICING FOR Eva’s house, and the orchard and dumpster areas. Other dead trees: SUSAN WILL ASK CHRIS to look at the big tree between farmhouse and the road that is going to fall one way or the other.

FARMHOUSE
Chris cleaned roof of moss, and the other work that needed doing. Has
painting/ staining of decks on his radar, weather has made it difficult.
For future large events, THE COMMUNITY AGREED THAT WHOEVER IS HOSTING THE EVENT MUST SUBMIT PARKING AND OTHER PLANS to the board in advance for approval, and then upon approval the community should be notified, either by the board or the person holding the event. We should expand the parking across from the dumpsters. THE BOARD WILL LOOK INTO costs of having Burfeind do it when he comes to do the rest of the work.

BOARD ELECTIONS
With all members willing to continue to serve, and with no other candidates standing for election, the board was unanimously renewed for the current term.

The meeting was held at the home of Anne Navasky and remotely by Zoom video. Minutes submitted by Rachel Dretzin.