LAKE CHAFFEE IMPROVEMENT ASSOCIATION, INC BOARD OF DIRECTORS MEETING MINUTES NOVEMBER 11, 2009 Meeting called to order @ 6:38 pm by President Laura Koropatkin Members in Attendance: Laura Koropatkin, Kay Warren, Ed Chisholm, Jack Pirzl, Kari Olson, Diana Murray, Gerry Dufresne, Laurie Layton, Bob Layton (A) Public in Attendance : Gary Lathrop, Deborah Lathrop, Linda Parent, Ralph Sherman, Stephen Donnell, Jeff Schroder Public to be heard : • Deborah Lathrop wanted to know why the lake was not lowered. • The bids for the valve repair were discussed. • Members wanted to know why there were no minutes posted for 10/28 & 10/30 • Rich Rodrigue is upset with the member of the board who is also an attorney. This board member does not act as counsel for the board. Rich also expressed that he feels weed control is the sole purpose of the lowering of the lake. He wants a new vote from the Association regarding the valve/dam issue. Rich also wants multiple bids before moving forward. • Kari Olson read her letter regarding the 2009 Lake lowering and Dam committee issues • Sandra Moquin discussed a letter received from a member on Maple Drive also regarding the lowering of the lake. • Mike Mahoney was asked directly if in his opinion the valve would open to lower the lake, his answer was “no”. • Diana Murray left and Carol Natitus was seated. • Linda Parent, Jay Schroder, Gary Lathrop, and Stephen Donnell also expressed opinions. • The public portion was concluded at 7:30 pm. Motion was made to have minutes from all special meetings available at the next regular board meeting, motion passed. Secretary’s Minutes : Secretary’s minutes of October 14, 2009 were approved with minor correction. Treasurer’s Report : Treasurer’s report was approved. Bingo : • 38 players last week • Lost heat, used electrical back-up propane • Contacted York form yellow pages for maintenance • Fan motor $150.00, Induction motor $100.00 (approx), plus filters • Cancelling bingo for the 21 st of November Kitchen : Kay is resigning effective November 2, 2009……letter attached.
Transcript
LAKE CHAFFEE IMPROVEMENT ASSOCIATION, INC BOARD OF DIRECTORS MEETING MINUTES
NOVEMBER 11, 2009
Meeting called to order @ 6:38 pm by President Laura Koropatkin Members in Attendance: Laura Koropatkin, Kay Warren, Ed Chisholm, Jack Pirzl, Kari Olson, Diana Murray, Gerry Dufresne, Laurie Layton, Bob Layton (A) Public in Attendance: Gary Lathrop, Deborah Lathrop, Linda Parent, Ralph Sherman, Stephen Donnell, Jeff Schroder Public to be heard:
• Deborah Lathrop wanted to know why the lake was not lowered. • The bids for the valve repair were discussed. • Members wanted to know why there were no minutes posted for 10/28 & 10/30 • Rich Rodrigue is upset with the member of the board who is also an attorney. This board
member does not act as counsel for the board. Rich also expressed that he feels weed control is the sole purpose of the lowering of the lake. He wants a new vote from the Association regarding the valve/dam issue. Rich also wants multiple bids before moving forward.
• Kari Olson read her letter regarding the 2009 Lake lowering and Dam committee issues • Sandra Moquin discussed a letter received from a member on Maple Drive also
regarding the lowering of the lake. • Mike Mahoney was asked directly if in his opinion the valve would open to lower the
lake, his answer was “no”. • Diana Murray left and Carol Natitus was seated. • Linda Parent, Jay Schroder, Gary Lathrop, and Stephen Donnell also expressed
opinions. • The public portion was concluded at 7:30 pm.
Motion was made to have minutes from all special meetings available at the next regular board meeting, motion passed. Secretary’s Minutes: Secretary’s minutes of October 14, 2009 were approved with minor correction. Treasurer’s Report: Treasurer’s report was approved. Bingo:
• 38 players last week • Lost heat, used electrical back-up propane • Contacted York form yellow pages for maintenance • Fan motor $150.00, Induction motor $100.00 (approx), plus filters • Cancelling bingo for the 21st of November
Kitchen: Kay is resigning effective November 2, 2009……letter attached.
Road Report: • Patching and repair done on Armitage Court and Ashford Drive • Plow bid $8,000 from Company in Tolland, another bid coming in • Hipsky will be charging $200.00 per load of sand, same as last year.
Constable Report:
• Halloween was quiet, a few smashed pumpkins • Kari Olsen’s’ boat was stolen
Beach Report:
• Donation received for stone for the boat launch • The pony will be repaired by Bud Staples, Thank you Bud! • Leaves were raked by Laura and Rich, Thank you Laura and Rich! • Karen Holmes took care of the branches, Thank you Karen! • Tom Coville and Sandy also spent time leaf blowing on the beach, Thank you Tom and
Sandy! • The buoys were pulled out, and the dock pulled to shore by Karen Holmes and Sandy
Moquin, not an easy task, Thank you Sandy and Karen! • Improvements budgeted for next year: buoys, new “no biking” sign, repair and
maintenance of the bench. • Sandy would like to do a fundraiser for new sand • Sandy would like to request that there be no garbage container at the beach, Sandy
reports that people use it for their own personal garbage container for cleaning their cars, also dirty diapers, booze bottles, etc.
Newsletter: Bob Layton resigning effective November 11, 2009 as newsletter chairman. Old Business:
• Ralph Sherman continued the valve/dam discussion with the board. Two other companies have been contacted; New England Infrastructure and Valley Contracting.
• Motion was made and seconded to seek independent legal opinion costing up to $1,500 about items to be clarified in valve repair contract. Kay Warren will obtain.
Correspondence: All Attached
• Letter from Kari Olson • Letter from Bob Layton resigning his alternate board position effective 11/11/09 • Letter from Sandy Moquin: Re: anti-lake lowering • Letter from Bob Bickford about leaf blowing into the lake • Letter from Laurie Layton regarding displeasure over special meeting votes • Letter from Kay Warren: Re: Kitchen resignation
Kari L. Olson73 Kidder Brook RoadAshford. CT 06278
29 Shore Front DriveLake Chaffee
Lake Chaffee lmprovement AssociationBoard of Directors
November 7. 2009
Re: 2009 Lake Lowerinq and Dam Committee lssues
Dear Board:
As you know, on October 30, 2009, I voted against a Motion made andultimately passed to put out bids regarding repair or replacement of the valve andto not lower the Lake this year. I feel it is important to make the record clear forthe rest of the Association members as to why I voted against the motion, vyhy Ibelieve that vote was illegaland why I also believe it must be rescinded.
At the August annual meeting of the Association, the membershipunequivocally voted to lower the Lake this year. In fact, the membership voted,contrary to the prior year's voG, to lower the Lake e3rlier. As part of thatdiscussion and ultimate vote, the membership criticized the Board fur notexpending Lake maintenance monies to preserve the integrity of the Lake. At theannual meeting, the membership also voted to create a dam committee (like ourroad artd bingo cornrnlttees) to investigate and make recommendations to theBoard on siphoning the Lake, and repairing or replacing the vafue. Everyoneagrced and the vote at the annual meeting mnrmanded us tio lourerthe Lake andthen take the opportunity when tfie rryater was dorryn to furtherexamine the valveand our options for replacement Ralph graciously agreed to cfiair thatmmmittee.
Forweeks now, Ralph has been investigating our options and hascontacted at least three conrpanbs for estimates. Martin Consbr"sdiron to* ontfie task of making a bid and its principalrnember even donned a wetsuit anddove on ihe valve to inspec,{ iL His ultimate recorru?Fndation was to replace thevafve. The offrer ttrro conpanbs have declind or offienriee irxiliffi Srey amnot interested inany job re{ating to fE \rab€. The sne trfiparry tftat wasreeponsive, not only agrced to rcplae the valve, but also, in th€ ailernatirreagreed ts assist us in lowering the Lake for a $1,500 fee. There has beert
mention of potentially repairing the valve but no one has profened anyone uvho iswilfing or capable of doing so. Certainly, lowering the Lake wqruld be requird forsuch an endeavor.
Just today, I happened to b speaki*g with Mlke Maloney {the individuaft/vho holds the key to the valve). fle was helping me pull rny paddleboat out ofthe Lake after some kida had taken it for a joyride. He explained the problemswith the integrity of the vatue and, although he could notsay nftetherthe valvecould be repaired, he did indicate to me that its integnty is severely compromisedNOW - in tfrat it coufd br,eak at any time and we could fisose all the water in theLake- He is not convinced that it is sealing praperly at ftis very moment" This is,therefore, not a siftlatlon frrd shouH sirnpty wait f$r next year. I wilf nst want toadmitthat I am a member sf this Board if that valve brealcs when we had theopportunity to repair it and failed to do so under ciru.rmstances where thernembrship mnas not proprfy fnfiormd of S?e optisn.
The issue of siphoning of the Lake also has been fraught with difficnlties.Alhaugh we have no o$e &'tlo haffi ageed to actua$y undertake trEtask ofsiphoning, so far, everyone $eenrs to think that it wuuld tafrc too [ong, the prpesmightfreezeand that there nNa b€ sscu#ty issu€s wfth an over-therdarn oiphon.Therc vuould also be a cost associsted with siphoning. I do not beliere" horerer,we ever cwnpbtety exdrdd fiis optlon"
Given the vote of the l-ake membership, it is my cpinion that the Board'srecent vcte to r*ot lcnser tfre Lake thb year b ifleEaf- The Board fias no aumyto ovenfrde the vote of the membership as a whole, especially undercircumstranms where the nwnbershrp was not notifled ttrst such a vote might betaken. The Board shotr$ nst ful mrnpelhd wi$xorrt proper legal jil$tifisdion toignorc the rneffibershry as a whole werthe ranting and tftrearts of a singbrnember.
To be cbar, I did rd vofte again$ fte ldatkm to ffqe e$er$ fld Strecommerd€d submiiling the istm of whetherand hsv we shsuld rcpair orreplace fte valve be put out to bid" Nor do I disagree witf'r tlre notian that sucfldecisions h pr$ to &e llate of fite nembemhip ae a sM- t* facf I qffis S*emewho suggented ueeks a-go, ffrat a special nenncletter gn outts the remhershipe4plainir4g tlre choims rr$e $nere fe*ng. $lc orp ryreed with rre at the lime.Insted, ue epmt fiw ree*{* goerry over tk [tartirl Cons&Ktitrr bid, or*y t*havefte Bofid, atffr* efisnertft trcur, shfun ttr*twnmisaianirqg ftfartinConatnJctiffi wGsS, s#neilffir, be *ilbgaN." I do not qree fsr tsfCI Bdncipalreasons-
First, $r€ afe a municipa*ity thaft is run ry Ghanbr, nd hs{T}B rub- As aresull I do not believe that $ffi rnust publish bids for ihe rrah,€ repair rryardbs* afthe a:nmrfr of rnorey invshd. Tne C*mrer b vefrd ds*y ${,#r rmrdaffi- |have nst been on the Soard long, but fte fuct that we lrave nst sent out bitls for
road repairs during the reent history that I am aware of, and lrf fte failure tosolicit $$cfr brt*s was never before considercd "ilhgal," bears &is out
Second, the nrembrship properly voted for and instihrted a damcommittw forthe purpose of addresslilg the Lake rrahre issues. I, thele$ole,believe thatvve are enti0ed to vote on that committee's recomrnendatipns, just aswe do with the Rod smmittee, K*chen mmmittee, etc.
This does not mean that I am opposed to bidding out the job. My ontyobjecticn is to the Board's late decis*on to do so. lf it wanted formal bids, theBoard shouU have mrnmend this procese \ireek$ qro, instmd sf ufrasting dl ofthis tirne, pote*tially phcfteg tE Lake in pedl as a rccufi.
In addition, we hav€ an obligation to preserve fte integrity of ftB lake forall rnernbers. The lsl€ lo'verirg decbbn, &erdure, sfiqrld ftot be gorcrrd bythe pelsonal agendas that seemed pervasive at the October 30 meeting- Andwhi|e I truly respec{ Diane's ryinions, I do not agree that lorcring the Lake y"illnd help wi$r fE uee&. Thb year sayv rwd ltr&rrfa$s arxil ue M no afoiffiy(because the vahe is not wurking pmBerly) to cornbat trc urater bveb. As aresult, u,e saw an exponential inseam in tfie fiumber *f $Ms and in areaswhere there had reven bffir uee& befiore- Thb mnern lre echod acmss thestate by dler hke assoc&{h*s The bottorn line b ffi, if re caffd propafyconhof the brr€l of the Lake, rre will;!en'er realty knmrr.
tAfe aleo need b be abb to onhd the [-ake &end for fto$e v$ho ffint tomaintain their beach ftonts (another isslr raised qt the annual meeting), maintaintheir docks ard drcdge. All agree that dredging really is the only way to eliminatefte s,eed issue. Wfletfrcreveryone on the kctftsnt cft@€6 to do so b drprnoment. The members ufto carne out snd vsted csrnlnanM it. Th6 rnernbers$rar* tlut option.
Thb tsoatd fim dorp a fugn disservice to frF irdisidrnb rrdro spslt tfla6Sunday afiemoon in August attending an,anrual fiFetiltg ard vdir€, only tohave the Eoard overtum their vote without any public notice or an opporfi.rnity tobe hesrd on the is$ie" ff &e fuard tr#y he that ffle rnerfibershhs' sishsshould control, then a speqialmeeting, properly notied as to the issues beforeus, slpuld be hd so that {he mernhrship can tell us rrhetlnr ftey want us tospnd fle $1,5ffi b hrer the Ldqe ard inrdh#e $e vah,e w mit w# rext)rear. As I said at tfe rneding, tfte Board camot hane it bo& vrale. lt canndrefirse to ffit on tfe orte hand, clailnirg the mernbership dld rd yste b aWruwethe vdue umrk ard, on Sle offis twdt rsurp tni.r ve b bnffi SF t*e si$mfiproper adyarre rdb or nenber$tl;raprorfid.
For all af tlrc toruoirg r€ffions, I oti# b tfie Hldhri ard be&ue thdthe vote aprovirqg it nrust be rs*rded. Tne Boatd fisffifi ei$€r knffi ffle l-*cthis year or ho*d a pSlic rr*ef*ng s that fie rnernbssli'p can We vvffipr tocfiargo ltrffihe m*d.
November 11.2ffi9
To all members of LCIA Board:
I was exlremely disturbed by the vote taken by the board at the special meeting on Friday 10/30/09 whichBob and I were not able to attend. The agenda very specifically said "discussion/vote on LCIA valveproject." How that turned into a vote to not lower the lake is a mystery. It was very emphatically addressedby Kari Olson and me at the special meeting of Wednesday I0l2Il2O09 that rescinding the membership'svote of lowering the lake was not an option available to the board- Minutes for that meeting have beendeemed unne@ssary, so the membership was not made aware of this. I contend only a vote on the valverepair should have been €ntertained and the decision made to lower the lake by the membership shouldstand!
It was an aftont to the board to allow an impassioned speech by a lakefront property owner, withovertones, to take place prior to the meeting being cafled to ordeq to avoid being on the record.
Ralph had contacted four companies who had expressed an interest in bidding to repair the valve. Only onecompany submitted a formal proposal. This was hardly a steered project.
Delaying action on this matter puts all of our properties at risk. Three years have passed with no action on apivotal matter that has the potential of being catastrophic if it fails. Where would Lake Chaffee be withoutLake Chaffee???
In summary: the board illegally voted to not lower the lake; minutes have been eliminated or sanitize{ andspeeches made prior to a meeting called to order is clearly unethical, if not outright manipulative.
I am appalled at the board's behavior and must gg on record as adamantly opposed to the action taken bythe series of special meetings on October 2I"r 28'h, and 30h. I also submit that minutes for all threemeetings must be made available for the membership to view.
Respec;tfirlly,
{au'ugLaurie Layton (Board Membei
DONOTDRAIN THE LAKE
Reasons being:
1 - The drain off areais not repaired, as wecan not afford the cost of properlyrepairing this situation
2 - The water may not fill back up if thisdam is not repaired
3 - The Association would be liable forhuge lawsuits from lake front propertyowners
4 - clean up of leaves at owner's lake frontproperties canbe still done with a rake -and a little more elbow grease
5 - so, what makes more sens e, dlake witha few leaves from lazy owners or no lake )atall??
Wednesday morning November 11, 2009 Board of Directors Lake Chaffee Improvement Association Inc. c/o Brenda Chisholm, Corporation Secretary It is with deep regret that, for professional and personal reasons, I relinquish my role as Chair of the Newsletter Committee and resign my position as Director Alternate effective with the adjournment of today’s LCIA Board of Directors meeting. My best wishes to the entire board and my sincerest hope that future boards find the will to serve association membership by acting decisively to preserve and improve that which we have in common -- Lake Chaffee. Respectfully Submitted, Robert W. Layton 147 Lakeview Drive
- hke Chaffee Hall - Yahoo! Mail http://us. mc8 24.mul.y ahoo. com/mc/showMessage?sMid=32&fi lter...
I am writing to you because my fianc6 and I are moving into 61 Old Town Road and our closing isOctober 30th.I don't believe we are part of the Association but I was wondering if we could use the Lake ChaffeeHall next to the volunteer fire department in March for my bridal shower.
Please let me know if they is something I can do and what the fees are, etc.
Thank you,Cara
Cara RileyMortgag ee C omp lian c e Sp e cialistHMB, Ine330 Main StreetHaftford, CT 06106P: (860)244-2783F: (773)714-1669crile{dhmbiweb,com
www.hmbiweb,com
l o f l l l l l l l09 6:21PM
- Lake Chaffee Hall - Yahool Mail http:i/us.mc8 24.ma|l.y ahoo.com/mc/showMessage?sMid=3 &filter...
I would just like to say I appreciate your NON-response to my e-mail a while ago regarding possiblyrenting the Lake Chaffee Hall. I wasn't sure if certain roads were part of the Association and if I couldrent it or not but I didn't even get a response so I guess I am glad I am not a part of it.
Cara RileyMortgagee Compliance SpecialistHMB, Inc.330 Main StreetHartford, CT 06106P: (860)244-2783F: (773)714-1669
uilet@hmbiweh,cot4www.hmbiweh.com
l o f l lUII lOg 6:19 PM
Re: [.ake Chaffee Hall - Yahoo! Mail http:i/us. mc824.ma|l.y ahoo.comimc/showMessage?sMid=2&fi lter...
Hi Cara, I do apologize for not getting back to you sooner. This will have to be brought up to the board of directorsas you are not in the boundaries of the association. Also I might add that if i t 's on a Saturday the hall would notbe available. I was going to bring this up at our last meeting but we had another problem that took the wholemeeting time and there were other things that took priority and none of us had time to bring anything up. We havea meeting tomorrow night and I certainly wil l bring this up. Sorry again. Kay Warren
I would just like to say I appreciate your NON-response to my e-mail a while ago regardingpossibly renting the Lake Chaffee Hall. I wasn't sure if certain roads were part of theAssociation and if I could rent it or not but I didn't even get a response so I guess I am glad Iam not a part of it.
Cara RileyMortgagee Compliance SpecialistHMB, Inc.330 Main StreetHartfurd, CT 06106P: (860)244-2783F: (773)714-1669
crilel@)tmbiweb.com
u,ww.hmbiweb.com
l o f l l l l l l l09 6:20 PM
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BEACH REPORT'1lwa9
Buoys were pulled out of the water in October by myself and KarenHolmes. They are presently stored away for next year. We also pulled thedock up to the shore lineThe 'pony' will be repaired by a member of the association who hasnicely volunteered to do thisThe leaves were leaf blown and raked by Laura Karapotkian, RichRodrique, 5 hours of hard labor each. Tom Coville donated his time leafblowing along with myself to push the leaves offthe beach. KarenHolmes also donated a little time picking up branches and glass. Anotherleaf blowing will be accomplished soonImprovements that have been budgeted forore:I - New buoys next year2 - An additional 'no bike' sign is available3 * General maintenance ofthe dock4 - Repair and/or maintenance of the bench seats5 - A member has offered to repair the 'pony'
I would like to nm a fund raiser for new sand next yearI would appreciate that there NOT be a garbage bucket at the beach nextyear. There has been thoughtless over use by passer-byes using this canfor their personal garbage from their vehicles. Some parents use it fortheir baby's drty diapers. Others find it a convenience for their boozebottles and cans, cigarettes and items I do not chose to mentionA'no garbage' sign is a thought for next year
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