Deer Island Association P.O. Box 103 Morris, CT 06763 DRAFT Minutes for September 1, 2012 Annual Meeting Board Members in Attendance: Chairman Virginia Stukshis Treasurer Allen Bernardini Director Phil Rothfeld Director Kurt Pluchino McClain Clerk Anne Murdica Members in Attendance: Harry Chen Mary Chen Rick Haverly Arthur Brooks Edward Sakl III Peter Longo Edward Sakl Jr. Ed Kerin Michael Kerin Jr. Roger Grenier Mary Grenier JJon Gollan Dan Gollan Kevin Vicha Connie Trolle Susan Freydberg Chris Modine Jean-Francois Dreyfus Susan Webb Ralph Freydberg Wayne Stitzer Katie McClaine Jon Lindstrom Dan Thomas Peggy Jo Thomas Michael Lockaby Linda Cookson Daryl Zordan Proxies: (2) Hogg, Nathwani (2) West, Fattibene (2) Giovinazzi, (2) Williams, Spencer Proxies: (2) Archer, Richardson (2) Kovalchik, St. Onge (1) Kerin Sr. (2) Longo, Skrzypczak (1) Gollan (1) Miller (2) Pavalock, Lipsitz (1) Sarah Zordan 1
Bridget Garrity Larry Sweeney Natalie Bram Suzanne Nemeth Tom Mazzaferro Cindy Mazzaferro Walter Gadlin Maria Stafford Robert McIntosh John Trolle Lance Trolle Paul Lupinacci Mary Phillips Jean Grela Larry Grela Bob LaBonne Jr. Jim Murdica Joel Roy Kathy Roy Paula DiCostanzo Ed Gragg Mike Holden Keith Zengel Andrew Chetirko Kathy Kohout Steven Kohout Paul Buckley (2) Cole, Blondin (1) Pugliese (1) Sellman (1) Choate (2) Lauretano, Wasilauskas The meeting was called to order at 9:12 AM. Opening statements were made by Chairman Stukshis. Motion: Suzanne Nemeth moved to hold the meeting on September 1, 2012, seconded by another Association Member. Discussion. All approved, no one opposed. Motion passed unanimously. Brief discussion of the Deer Island food drive and a thank you to the Board of Directors. Approve Action of the Board of Directors 2011-2012 Motion: Chris Modine moved to approve the action of the Board of Directors, seconded by Ralph Freydberg. Discussion. All approved, no one opposed. Motion passed unanimously. 2
Discussion of State Boat Launch Jim Murdica gave an update on the State boat launch. At a meeting a few weeks ago, he learned that the Beverly s building is not suitable to be a state building. The State has three options with respect to the building: (1) rehabilitate it; (2) elevate it and move it back; or (3) reconstruct it. These options all cost over $1 million. The State may decide to tear it down, but needs to see if this is possible because it is an historic building. The State is going to be putting in a courtesy dock for the launch and is considering adding 20 more slips but will not do so without discussion first. There is an issue as to whether there is adequate parking for 20 additional slips. The State has clarified that a car with a kayak counts as one boat launched out of the 20 maximum boats that may be launched at any time. A car with a kayak has to park in a trailer spot and the attendants have been instructed accordingly. All of the parking in the middle of the lot is for the marina. Ralph Freydberg questioned whether the Association could have input into what goes where the Beverly s building is if it is torn down. Jim Murdica responded yes. He also believed that it would be unlikely that the State would be permitted to tear the building down without a plan for what would be going there. Robert McIntosh asked Jim Murdica to tell the State that they need restrooms for 200 people. The State exceeds the limit with their porta potties in one day. The State should also build some sort of structure to house the marina office, a first aid station and a phone. Larry Sweeney asked on behalf of Audrey Blondin whether her guests could park in the State launch parking lot after 5 pm. Jim Murdica said that he would ask at the next committee meeting. Jim Murdica continues to push the State on screening the parking lot. Planting will be done this fall. The next committee meeting is in 2013. Any Association member with questions or comments should email Jim Murdica. Review and Approval of Minutes of the 2011 Annual Meeting Motion: Suzanne Nemeth moved to approve the minutes from the 2011 Annual Meeting, seconded by Chris Modine. Discussion. All approved, no one opposed. Motion passed unanimously. 3
Cautionary Notes Chairman Stukshis went over some cautionary notes: (1) Garbage, especially for weekenders, should be kept in closed receptacles. (2) The speed limits and one way roads please remind family, friends and contractors. (3) The buoys at the boat launch are directional only and the launch is shallow. Association members can use the State launch as well. (4) Dogs must be kept on a leash and please clean up after your dogs.. (5) If you cut down a tree, please plant another. (6) Passway insurance and passway boat registrations must be given to Clerk Murdica. Speed Hump/Fences At the 2012 Budget Meeting, it was decided to try an experimental speed hump. Director Pluchino reported that he has seen most people slow down, although some people drive fast after the hump. Connie Trolle discussed using fences. She said that they work well on private roads in Connecticut and that she has been told that the Association could get permission to put fences on Palmer Road. The fences can be moved aside in winter for snow plows. Walter Gadlin stated that the problem with the proposed fences is density traffic is too dense on Palmer Road and they may cause more of a problem on Palmer Road. A member pointed out that Palmer Road is a town road and there would not be fences on Palmer Road. Jean Grela reported that she has seen people slow down at the fence and that fences are easy to move for construction vehicles. Larry Sweeney stated that he likes the fences. He does not like the speed hump. Ralph Freydberg also stated that he likes the fences but questioned how many times the test fence had been hit. Bob LaBonne Jr. questioned the use of speed tables. Director Pluchino responded that he had looked into those but drivers can exceed the speed limit of 20 mph without much impact. 4
Cindy Mazzaferro stated that she would like to know more before the Association spends money on fences. For example, where do you put them to be effective, what happens if you are pulling a trailer and are they dangerous for kids biking on the Island. Larry Sweeney mentioned the use of stop signs. Keith Zengel stated that stop signs are never used to control speed and that the only thing that really works to control speed is narrowing or restricting lanes. He believes the fences would work. Jean Francois Dreyfus also voiced his support for fences. He stated that the speeders are mostly people who live on Deer Island and a physical obstacle is the only thing that will work. The discussion moved on to a discussion about putting a gate at the entrance to Deer Island. Director Pluchino had started to look into this option for traffic control and answered Members questions about the logistics of a gate. Director Rothfeld did an informal vote asking who was in favor of the gate. The majority of the meeting attendees opposed the gate and therefore the gate issue was tabled for now. It will be revisited if traffic on the Island from the boat launch gets worse. Motion: Walter Galdin moved to have the Board experiment with putting in fences to see what works for traffc control, seconded by Larry Sweeney. Discussion. All approved, no one opposed. Motion passed unanimously. Review and Approval of 2011-2012 Financial Report Walter Suski reviewed the 2011-2012 financial report. In response to questions, Walter Suski explained why it did not make sense to pay off the road loan and agreed to include the prior two years in next year s financial report. If any Association member has any additional questions, please get Walter Suski s email from Treasurer Bernardini. Motion: Cindy Mazzaferro moved to accept the report, seconded by Suzanne Nemeth. Discussion. All approved, no one opposed. Motion passed unanimously. Open Discussion Cindy Mazzaferro discussed and showed some of her Plein Air paintings. If anyone is interested in any artwork or in opening their homes for Plein Air paintings in the fall, please contact Cindy Mazzaferro. Bridget Garrity discussed her concerns about the use of golf carts on the Island. Specifically, the Island is subject to state motor vehicle laws and she is concerned about non-compliance with state rules that she reported require child restraints, horns, flags, and other things. She asked the Board of Directors to send an email to the membership ceasing operating of golf carts until they are in compliance. Motion: Walter Gadlin 5
moved that the Board notify all members they we are required to abide by state laws for motor vehicles and attach the rules on golf carts, seconded by Suzanne Nemeth. Discussion. All in favor, no one opposed. Motion passed unanimously. Bob LaBonne, Jr. asked that the Board email all members about hanging limbs that need to come down from the storm. Walter Gadlin suggested that the Board get someone to check all limbs on the Island. Nominations and Election of Board of Directors for 2012-2013 Larry Sweeney nominated the existing Board of Directors. Jean Grela nominated Ed. Sakl Jr.; Michael Kerin nominated Larry Grela. Votes were counted. Elected Board of Directors: Ginny Stukshis, Anne Murdica, Kurt Pluchino, Larry Grela and Phil Rothfeld. Motion: Peggy Jo Thomas moved to adjourn, seconded by Jean Grela. Discussion. All approved, no one opposed. Motion passed unanimously. Meeting adjourned at 11:32 A.M. Submitted by Anne Murdica Clerk, Deer Island Association 6