1 OYSTER HARBOR CITIZEN S ASSOCIATION Board of Directors Board Meeting Thursday, December 3, 2015 at 7:00 PM Eastport Library Present: Eric Epstein Nick Jones Calvin Kidd Joe Matta Nancy Plaxico Joan Shifflett Dianna Zarring 1. Call to Order: The meeting opened at 7:06 PM 2. Moment of Silence: The Chair called the meeting to order; a moment of silent reflection was observed 3. Acceptance of Agenda: Motion by Calvin; seconded by Nancy; all in favor of accepting the agenda 4. Acceptance of Board Meeting Minutes: Motion by Eric; seconded by Nancy; all in favor of accepting July and October meeting minutes 5. Treasurer s Report and Budget Update: a. On budget or under budget on almost everything. b. Another $6000 was processed for Landscaping & Cleaning c. ACTION: ERIC will check with the man who does trash pick-up about salting d. Motion to accept by Eric; seconded by Nancy; all in favor. 6. President s Report Projects and their status Planning for cistern system, pier water and dog wash at Fishing Creek [In planning still] Porta-Potty enclosure [Test one is complete. Will do a white one for Beach and move test one to Fishing Creek] Will have two porta-potties next summer Scanning old OHCA files is underway (ongoing) Create a GIS Map of community roads to plan maintenance work [Delayed] The GIS Map is delayed because we are waiting for the photos Winston s son has done over 300 homes already New pilings and adding four temp slips at Fishing Creek [In planning]
2 Raising Fishing Creek Pier (Complete where pilings are high enough) We can raise piers at least a foot without changing pylons, and get 20 years out of them Washington Saltwater swale at boat ramp (Complete, but will change upper side) Exercise Circuit course (underway) Most popular thing we ve ever done! Great place for the kids The belaying system is going in for the rock wall (for kids) ACTION: ERIC working on signs that say, at your own risk The course is covered under our insurance New gravel at Fishing Creek (Plan to add more gravel) Planning to widen the path with all gravel Trim brush around Fishing Creek and clean-up trash (Complete) We gained a huge amount of extra space All the trash behind the kayak racks is gone, thanks to Jason & Jonathan Spent $6000 on community clean-up, but we did a big clean-up Repair Booker floating dock posts (complete) Beach sand repair from storms (mostly complete, more sand to be added this winter) Electrical at Beach (complete) LED light upgrades as Beach and Fishing creek (underway) 5 lights total for $8000 The lights hooked right into BGE we re doing it the right way, by putting a trench in for BGE to form a tunnel Neighboring lot at Fishing Creek remove Phragmites (Planning) Booker pump out (complete, but need maintenance) ACTION: ERIC will find a maintenance company to handle the vacuum issues on pump; Eric will expense it back Shade for Harbor street light to address one resident s complaints (underway) Gazebo at Harbor (early planning) The foundation is strong enough to hold an enclosed building Long-term plan: (6 years down the road) Close it in Pavilion only $15-20,000 vs. foundation for $100,000 Will be just past the parking lot, as far off from the back properties as possible People can bring BBQs and leave them (we don t have to worry about the liability) Save $3500 per year on insurance by not having fire pits We can have more community events at the Harbor If we like it, we can change one of the gazebos at the beach into a pavilion Negative Side outdoor events and issues (noise complaints will be the issue) 3 seasons with canvas enclosure means more noise for the neighbors We will need more rules Grand Opening probably in June The man who built the handicap ramp will be building it Ribbon-cutting summer event for the community Community Condition Assessment (about 80% complete)
3 Helen s problem is solved the whole section of Creek Dr. was draining into her yard, but we fixed it! ACTION: EMMA Will do a commercial for the community (drone video) If it s successful, we can put it on the website Eric teaches these kids how to use the drone 7. Community Areas of Concern This is a list of areas in the community that need attention: Standing water [Fixed] Still some flooding on Creek after new house was built. [Fixed] Ms Cherry s swale repairs need to be re-checked. Probably need to talk with her on what she thinks needs to be changed [Complete] Flooding from Paper work (Cedar Rd) into homes along Ellis and into Ellis Road. [Complete] Flooding on Ellis [Fixed] Fix standing water in Biohabitats area on Harbor Community Property Fishing Creek parking area and park No current issues. Add two more picnic tables. Fishing Creek pier Partially raised. Needs the main run raised and electrical work Harbor Lot and play ground No current issues. Booker Parking Lot Need to add some gravel. Washington Boat ramp Swale plantings. Beach Move some sand to cover storm issues 8. Board Approvals/Motions Needed To accomplish these, we would need to Board to approve the following: Discussion about the budget 27% of allotted value allowed for tasks (used to take 32%); last year we dropped 5% This year: reverse engineered what we already spent Nick, audits, everything: $213,000 Roads spent less than $20,000 (budgeted more, $38,000) Pacer: sticking with them: $1900 per month Dave drives through our community, drives through Arundel on the Bay Dave now sends Kathleen a log Kathleen asks about the crime report Spot Crime (iphone app) within 90 days or less, a reported crime shows up on the website (just the type of crime) Kathleen is keeping track of this so we don t have to find out about crime through Facebook page
4 Dredging Can t do it at Fishing Creek We ll do it again when we do the channel, in 10 years Dan s Property a problem $600,000 We re paying Jose to fix it $600,000 in our checking account (approximately) We could rebuild every pier and every road, if necessary We are not at 50% of the estimated cost for the 19-year plan Eric guesses that even though the budget balances to zero, we ll have about $50,000 Under what we charge any year Thankfully, we haven t had any bad years since Shore Drive was destroyed Eric has been invited to speak at Fishing Creek Farms how we are so proficient with our funds People fight over slips; their rules paralyze them Calvin s half-joking proposal: Oyster Harbor residents should have free access to the pool in exchange for the advice Arundel on the Bay would like to add a big loop onto our exercise course Community Property/Beach No change from last year Office rate hasn t been raised $5400 on website; moved up to $6000 Still paying John Gibbs a retainer We pay a girl $12/hour to write a Kids Blog (writing from Pakistan); she can also clean-up our website ACTION: ERIC Will find a shredding company (Calvin s recommendation) Leaf Removal not a good job on tree-trimming in the past After BGE did a bad job, we fixed them up Upped from $2500 to $7500 FY2016 Last year s budget on Lightening Maintenance we ll go over that this year (Landscaping comes out of maintenance money) ACTION: NICK & ERIC Will make sure that projects like the Circuit Course aren t maintenance; they are capital (didn t spend any money on capital last year) Questions Winston: What about a shower at the beach? Can t drill a well (no structure or permits) Dog Wash? 350 gallon tank in there, behind the new shed at Fishing Creek If Dog Wash works, then we ll put in a shower at the beach Pool Water Company will use the shed (U/V filter) to kill everything as the rain filters through Can have unpotable water Where the trash is at the beach, we will have an enclosed structure that catches rain water; electric will allow you 5 minutes to wash your feet
5 Will need a process to winterize the pump-out Trampoline is in the new shed, along with sailing parts ACTION: ERIC will put in a little workbench for tool storage in the shed $900 for a storage box; cheaper for an 8x10 shed This was the big run Eric had a huge wish-list, found a great group of people to get things done (Lost Boys, Jason, etc.) John Rogers is an electrical apprentice (he has a job and doesn t live here anymore) a success story! 9. Piers & Harbors Report Included in President s report 10. Green Committee Report Included in President s report 11. Old Business LED light upgrades still underway 12. New Business Budget approval for FY 2017: Approve new budget at 7:50 PM Facebook Administration o We have 5 administrators to remove posts (keep the complaining out!) Promote the fun stuff; build on social things like community yard sales Remove advertisements Add cohesion with Podio/website/Facebook perhaps with Google calendar? ACTION: If anyone wants a new e-mail address with @Oyster Harbor, ask Eric Draw for the Spring meeting? o No wine tasting for Bay Ridge? o Annapolis Maritime Museum? o Need 25 people again o ACTION: NICK Will get RSVPs Call around in advance, focus on younger crowd, young parents o We can talk about summer plans? More t-shirts? Who owns the taxi on Booker? 13. Adjournment: 7:59 PM