Emerald Lakes Free Press

by Kathy Leslie-Whelan

President Diane Caldwell opened the meeting with an upbeat President’s Message. Taking a ‘where does the time go’ approach, she briefly enumerated the accomplishments of the year. New road paving, the first since 2006, general road maintenance and more. She especially thanked the Events Committee, and then cited the work of Betty Goodline, Lola Lauri and CC manager Karina D’Angelo for their work in decorating the community center for the holidays. She said the board would continue to move forward, finishing the many projects underway to improve the community. She also expressed condolences on the death of Director Buz Whelan’s brother and wished that Bob Lauri a speedy and full recovery. She wished all health, happiness and prosperity in the new year and concluded with season’s greeting, a happy holiday and happy New Year to all.

Treasurer’s Report: In summary, Treasurer Stefania Johnson reported that while dues are down $53K over the same period last year, delinquent collections are up $91K. Reserves are at $416K, operating fund at $344K. All departments (Administration, Maintenance, Public Safety and Community Center) are near or under budget, though the center is about $5K over budget at the current time. The unusually high cost of operation for the Bar & Grill for September of $5K plus was reduced to approximately $1.6K in October. A detailed inventory being currently prepared may also reduce the number for September.

Management Report: After wishing all a joyous holiday season, Manager Judy Kennedy reminded members that complaints and concerns should be addressed through proper channels rather than on the unofficial Facebook page. Members may contact the administration office or use the official ‘address the board’ option on the ELA website.

Northeast Financial would like to meet with the board to go over risk tolerance and general investment policy for the association’s investment account.

Completed SOPs were distributed to the board at the 12/1 workshop.

Updates from the attorney on the status of delinquent accounts requiring legal action. The abstract company will provide status updates on the properties being researched.

Auditor selection – 3 firms are being scheduled for interview. Director Buz Whelan pointed out that Zavada, our auditor for 20 years, was not among them and because of past good service should be included. Kennedy said she would contact them. Also, Joe Gallagher is preparing a protocol to deal with the invasive plant fanwort and is looking at the possibility of a grant. A full report is expected for the January open meeting. Don Atkiss is going to report on the monarch butterfly project and wants to have planning sessions in January and March in preparation for a workshop by mid-May.

Under general maintenance, GOE had submitted revised, corrected reports on the dams. The dehumidification system project is proceeding and a concrete pad for the unit will be poured soon. Pocono Spray Patch started working on the approved areas. Line Striping had been completed on 5 miles of roadway. Permits have been secured and the shed to store Events Committee materials will be scheduled for delivery. Kramer Sheds is the vendor. Vehicles and equipment have been prepared for winter and materials have been ordered. Toys for Tots donations were accepted at Admin office and CC until 12/18. Donations for AWSOM, the animal shelter will be accepted until 12/31.

Directors’ Comments: Bob Leon suggested that we have a standard procedure for setting up standard procedures, so that changes would be made in the same way every time. He also suggested a weekly email blast containing all necessary notifications.

Committee Reports: Dan Glasgow, Events Committee, spoke on the tree decorating event and Storytime with Santa. Also there will be a New Year’s party and interested people should sign up. He also suggested that the bar and grill be open for parents during children’s events. He asked that the possibility of a group baby sitter for children of members attending adult events be explored. Ken Shuey, Mainenance Committee chair, wants better landscaping to remove obscuring vegetation in front of entrance signs. Reminded that lake maintenance needed to be done rapidly, and if any other vendors were looked at it should be done forthwith. He stated that cold patch of potholes was working well. Committee liaison Director Whelan added that a permanent replacement for road and bridge advisor Fred Spot be named. Also the pothole hotline should be called the ‘road hazard hotline’ and should be publicized and monitored.

Public Comments: Linda Shuey, repeatedly emphasizing that she was speaking only for herself, said that the process of approving Rule and Regulation changes needed to be improved. Bill Folger suggested that waste slag be used as filler/base on dirt roads and topped with tar and chip. He suggested that haulers moving this type of waste be contacted for possible drop off here. Lola Lauri suggested that the outdoor smoking area at the CC be enclosed. Currently smokers prop open the self-locking exit door so they could easily return, thus allowing much heat to escape.

Editor’s Note: I regret that personal issues interfered with the timely reporting of this meeting. -Kathy Leslie-Whelan

by Kathleen Leslie-Whelan

President Diane Caldwell opened the meeting with her President’s Message. She talked about doing the right thing and about knowing right from wrong. She said that people looking back might agree or disagree about the past, but we can’t live in the past. She said we must look forward to the present and that no one is promised the future. She said that improvements that were promised are now happening. She then went on to say that the performance of the Events Committee has been phenomenal and while some dwell on the negative, we offer fun times, improvements and a better way to live. She stated that the board wanted to give you the most bang for your buck and she hopes we continue on this amazing path. For that, we need to be united, not divided. She continued that the community has great things to offer and that former board members know that it is not easy to be on the board, that she has to make decisions, not have them made for her.

Treasurer’s Report: Vice President Al Leslie filled in for Treasurer Stefania Johnson who had been called to a family emergency. He reported that dues collection year to date are $798K, down 54K from the same period last year. He also reported that delinquent collections are almost $159K. Administration is $39K over budget, but discounting collections expenses reduce that figure to approximately $12K. Maintenance is less than $2K over budget and Public Safety is $7.5K under budget. The Community Center as a whole is $1K over budget, but the Bar & Grill have had a $5k cost of operation for the last month alone. He called for a special meeting to examine and discuss this situation. Finally, Al reported that the transfer of $53K from the Contingency Fund to the Reserves had been completed.

Management Report: On-site Manger Judy Kennedy reminded that all complaints should be directed to her or to Address-the-Board on the official website. Social media is not the appropriate venue. She also reported that Northeast Financial will conduct an employee meeting on their 401(k) plans followed by an enrollment period and review. An abstract company will research 70 designated properties and information is being provided to the company. Three auditing companies will be interviewed by the board to select the auditor for the next period.

Lake maintenance: Joe Gallagher of Ecological Solutions is present to address the assemblage on future maintenance.

Boat storage removal: a notice has been sent that boats may remain on storage racks this year, but beginning next year, owners will have to remove boats by a date to be announced.

Under General Maintenance: GOE has corrected name changes on dam reports but the spillway repair has not yet been addressed. The boiler portion of the CC upgrade is complete. The dehumidification system is moving forward with Button as the GC. Complicated situation with exterior pad, Desertaire System and Falcon Engineering are all involved. According to Pete Fagan of Button, work will soon commence.

The road repaving and side stoning have been completed and sealing of selected areas has begun. A proposal of $4,888 to do 5 miles of line striping has been received and will be reviewed by the board. Winter preparation, including truck maintenance and ordering of materials is underway.

The winter hours of the CC begin November 1st and will be posted on the website and in email blast. Main changes are no B&G Wednesdays, but  open 1pm to 7pm (or end of afternoon football game) on Sundays.

Directors’ Comments: Whelan asked that Sunday hours be left open to allow for ending of football game which might often come after 7. Agreed.

Whelan also restated his position that monies for construction of shed to house Events Committee materials be taken from New Capital Reserves rather than Events Committee budget.

Whelan also asked for special meeting to figure out why B&G has gone from just over $100 cost of operation in April 2016 to $5K in September with an average cost of about $3.5K for intervening months.

Committee Reports:

Events Committee Co-chair Betty Goodline reported that the Cancer Awareness events raised $2,788, a record. Spoke of upcoming Halloween events (now past) and breakfast Nov. 5th. She also reminded of the Gong Show, Nov. 12th.

Maintenance Committee: Chair Ken Shuey spoke of the necessity to clean boats when transferring from one lake to another to prevent transfer of algae, etc.  He requested signage at boat ramps for this. Said better landscaping needs to be done at main entrance, Estates and CC where growth obscures some signage.

F&P: Chair Earl Frank expressed several concerns. How much reserve money will be used in total for CC refurbishment? Also, if there is no dues increase, what spending adjustments must be made? He also stated that he agreed with Director Whelan’s point that new construction, such as the shed, should be paid out of New Capital Reserves. He cautioned that reserves need to be replenished and wondered how the cost of the B&G could have gotten so high.

Real Estate: Board Liaison Diane Caldwell reported that short term rentals had produced almost $61K in revenue. Committee got list of rentals from county, so we have a more accurate count. Out of 79 short term rentals we have only had problems with 4. The new software package should help generate even more money by more efficient tracking, listing, etc. Also, the county is currently re-assessing.

Special guest: Joe Gallagher of Ecological Solutions addressed the assemblage in some detail regarding lake maintenance. In brief, he said he looks for balance between plant growth, oxygen content and fish population to have a healthy system. Approximately 30 to 40 percent plant growth is necessary for balance. We have an invasive species, fanwort (cabomba) in the Southeast cove of Mountaintop Lake. He is working on a plan to contain and then eradicate this plant.

Public Comments: Member Don Atkiss spoke on a plan to build gardens favorable to migrating Monarch butterflies. Milkweed gardens can be used to attract them.  The Clymer Library and Lake Naomi already have established such. Don is making his own small plot on his property. It is inexpensive, low maintenance, and the butterflies are beautiful. He favors establishing a garden near the Mountaintop Lake boat launch. The benefits include attracting the Monarchs and hummingbirds, educational opportunities for kids, and marketing Emerald Lakes as an environmentally-friendly community.

Cookie Lietwinski asked about shredding of documents mentioned in the recent Emerald Lakes Free Press article. General agreement was reached that Al Leslie is a respected and well-liked member of the community. Whatever happened with the shredding is long past and probably best left there. President Caldwell, apparently growing into her role as a politician, cautioned that you cannot believe everything you read, referring to social media and the Free Press, and taking the path of all elected officials when facing negative press. And who can blame her? As she said in her opening remarks, “We can’t live in the past.”

by  Kathy Leslie-Whelan

The meeting was called to order and following the traditional Pledge of Allegiance, President Diane Caldwell called for a moment of silence to honor recently deceased Paul Capozzoli, a former board secretary and highly respected community member.

     President’s Comments: Caldwell remarked that it had been a tough week in the community with the death of Mr. Capozzoli and the drug-related shooting on Glade Drive. She cautioned that in light of local, national and world events, community members should stay vigilant. She then spoke “on a better note” referring to the changing foliage and said that positive efforts will continue to move things forward. Speaking generally of the board, she said that every member has a passion for something, citing Bob Lauri’s efforts on road maintenance as an example. She also spoke of the beautification of the association by the maintenance staff and her expectation that we will keep on this path. President Caldwell welcomed the two newest members of the board, the recently-elected Bob Leon and Gilda Spiotta.

     Treasurer’s Report: New Treasurer Stefania Johnson reported on the year-to-date variances of the major cost centers. Administration was approximately $3,000 under budget when collection fees and doubtful accounts are discounted. Public Safety is approximately $6,600 under budget. Maintenance is  over budget by $7,000 and the Community Center is about $2,000 over budget. Reporting on the bar and grill, the treasurer said the cost of operation was over $11K for the first 4 months of the fiscal year. She also reported that dues collection of $760K was down $16K vs. the same period last year. Delinquency collections of $127K were up approximately $66K over the previous year, an “amazing” increase in the treasurer’s view. Following a motion to accept the Treasurer’s Report, Director Buz Whelan asked that the report be amended to include cash on hand figures. In round numbers, Operations is at $457K, down $56K from last year, Reserves are at $223K, down $149K from last year and New Capital was at $39K, down $64K from last year. Most of the decreases can be explained by the road repair, new paving and Community Center upgrades, according to Whelan. He then mentioned the $53K no longer in the Contingency Fund, and Ms. Johnson stated that this had been transferred into reserves to cover the extensive projects now nearing completion. The board then voted to accept the Treasurer’s Report, as amended.

Management Report: On-site Manager Judy Kennedy opened her remarks by noting management’s sadness at the passing of Paul Capozzoli. He was always ready to assist management and the board and conducted CPR classes, as well as arranging for the Red Cross Bloodmobile to post outside the Community Center periodically. She then went on to tell what is known about the shooting on Glade Drive, assuring members that it was not a random home invasion, as was first falsely reported by the victim, who was trying to conceal his involvement in drug dealing. She further stated that management cannot respond to complaints on social media, that they must be addressed directly to the manager or on the website under ‘address the board.’ Kennedy announced that the audit report is finalized. She also reported that the liquor license has been renewed, at a cost increase due to the passage of Act 39. An abstract company (Judy Picollo, Independent Title Searcher) has been selected to title search properties whose membership in Emerald Lakes is in doubt. The initial cost is a one-time fee of between $200 and $400 for a “master” tracing from the developer back 60 years, with a fee of $100 per searched property added on. She is in the process of setting up interviews with auditing companies to select the next auditor. On the lakes, lily pads will be reduced by treatment. A memo has been sent to Joe Gallagher of Eco Solutions. Also, the crack in the Pine Tree Lake spillway will cost about $6,000 to fix. Management is also seeking bids to line stripe the roads and crosswalk. On the GOE dam inspection reports, the mix-up in lake names has been corrected. The HVAC system being installed by Button in the CC will take quite a few weeks. Hallet will finish road maintenance by putting down roadside stones the week following. Paving on the tennis and basketball courts is finished. Coloring hasn’t been finalized and perhaps the tennis courts only need lines painted. Wrapping up, Kennedy said preparations for the winter season are underway, Code Enforcement is doing a great job, the outdoor pool has been closed and Winter hours for the CC and Admin Office are in the process of being set to go into effect Oct.1. AWA members are requesting earlier hours for the pool as DST ends and darkness falls sooner.

Directors’ Comments: Bob Leon brought up the problem of high humidity in the pool area. He pointed out that mold has already appeared on furnishings and pool apron areas. While it has been removed several times, it returns. Director Leon’s concern is that if the humidity continues eventually the mold will take hold in concealed areas, such as behind the drywall and would necessitate a very costly removal project such as the one two years prior. A lively discussion ensued, including an estimate that installation of the new dehumidification system will take 5 to 6 weeks. Finally, a motion to turn off the pool heat until the new system is up and running was passed unanimously.

Stefania Johnson offered a motion to lower the association flag to half-staff for 5 days to honor the memory of Paul Capozzoli. There followed a discussion on the legitimacy of that action. Director Buz Whelan stated that while there is flag etiquette that he, as a veteran, supports this motion completely, and it violates no laws, rules or regulations regarding the display of the flag. Rulings by the United States Supreme Court 50 years ago stated that flag display or abuse, no matter how repugnant to some, is a First Amendment issue, i. e., protected speech. Therefore the association is within its authority to decide when to lower the flag and for how long. Preferred Management representative Brad Jones suggested that a board resolution on flag policy be prepared for the next meeting. The board then voted unanimously to lower the flag for 5 days beginning 9/25/16 to honor Mr. Capozzoli.

Committee Reports: John Palmisano, filling in for new the new chairperson, Ken Shuey, reported for the Maintenance Committee. The committee recommends against using Pocono Spray Patch for small area road repair, as they are judged to be substandard by the members. They would also like to be given access to bids and contracts on any maintenance-related projects. They would like appropriate signage at crosswalks and new road line painting. (Later in the meeting board liaison Buz Whelan added that there should be side line painting on Bus Road due to the unfortunate positioning of a telephone pole within the paved area. Whelan also reported a suggestion that boulders be place at the end of Hunter Lane to prevent access by non-members to adjacent land-locked property.)

For the Events Committee, Chairman Dan Glasgow thanked CC Manager Karina D’Angelo and Chef Pam for their assistance before and during events. He said Biker Night had been successful, especially the music of Long Time Coming. October is Cancer Awareness Month and there are requests for donations for the Bingo event. He is looking to have the biggest and best Tricky Tray ever associated with the Cancer Awareness event. A party is being planned for Halloween, and Trunk or Treat will be held on Monday, October 31st in the CC parking lot.

Reporting for Finance and Planning Committee Earl Frank stated he had been re-elected chairperson and liaison Gilda Spiotta was serving as secretary, at least for the time being.

Unfinished Business: Northeast Financial has been selected to assist in managing association investments and employee 401(k) accounts.

New Business: Committee Goals and Objectives should be available for discussion by the next board workshop.

Resolution 88 was passed naming the new signors of checks. There was one ‘no’ vote by Director Bob Lauri who stated simply that he was objecting to the naming of VP Al Leslie based on the previous negative comments on his integrity by Diane Caldwell. (See Reporters Note at the end of this article)

Public Comments: Mary Kavanagh reported that the ceiling fans in the pool area are not working. Darren Johnson suggested that due to the recent crime event, herein discussed earlier, the CrimeWatch Committee should be resurrected. He also suggested a gun safety course be offered. Bill Folger asked that an email blast to the membership accompany any decision to lower the flag so that individual members who have their own flag poles, as he does, will be able to follow suit.

One humorous moment occurred at the end of the meeting. Apparently anxious to get on with her day, President Diane Caldwell exclaimed, “I make a motion to adjourn.” Director Buz Whelan said laughing, ” You’re the chair!” Everyone in the room burst out laughing, including Ms. Caldwell herself. Whelan then said, “Motion to adjourn,” and with that Caldwell banged her gavel.

Reporter’s Note: When questioned at the conclusion of the meeting about his comment about Leslie during the vote earlier, Director Lauri explained that Diane Caldwell had said 2 years previously that she did not trust Mr. Leslie. 

Mr. Lauri was most likely referring to a workshop meeting of the board wherein Millie Bishop resigned as Treasurer after only 2 weeks, citing health concerns. When Al Leslie was suggested as a replacement due to his earlier term as treasurer, then-Secretary Diane Caldwell objected vigorously. It was at this time that many in the community were questioning Mr. Leslie’s role in the shredding of a huge cache of association documents, including his signature on the check to the shredding company, which cast serious doubt on his integrity. The reason for the shredding has never been made clear, and the precise extent of the document destruction is unknown. Neither has it ever been explained why the documents were not put on microfiche before destruction.

by Buz Whelan

I feel a deep sadness settling into my body as I come to grips with the fact that a very dear friend and all around wonderful person has passed away. But I’m not writing an obituary. I just want to tell you about my friend. And if you’re looking for objectivity, you won’t find it here. I loved Paul Capozzoli. As I write this, my eyes are filled with water. I miss the guy a lot. The thought that I’ll never again be able to joke around with him is hard to bear.

The most defining characteristic of Paul was his generosity. He was the most generous person I have ever known and in every way. He was generous with his time, with his effort and with his money. Any resource that Paul controlled was subject to being shared with anyone who needed it. Just ask for help and you got it. No hemming and hawing, no excuses, just “Yeah, whaddaya need?” I cannot tell the reader how many times I heard him utter what seemed to be his favorite phrase. “No problem.” That was Paul’s ‘yes.’

Among the quiet ways Paul helped others was his involvement with the local chapter of the Boy Scouts of America. He kept in contact with scout leaders, especially Bob and Lola Lauri. When some boys couldn’t afford this or that program or piece of equipment, Paul was there. He would give the Lauris $500 every year to use in the most effective way they could choose. Paul couldn’t abide the fact that this or that scout couldn’t afford to go to camp with his fellow scouts. But that $500 was far from the limit of his sponsorships. He would cough up what was needed as needs arose. And like any true giver, only those with a need to know were aware. Never ever did he trade on his generosity. If you tried to talk about it or compliment him as I sometimes did, he would brush your comments aside and quickly change the subject.

Often when a daytime event was being held in or around the Emerald Lakes Community Center a Red Cross blood bank bus would appear. This was not magic or even coincidence; this was Paul arranging to take advantage of the presence of many potential donors. I was always one. After all the time and effort Paul put into making sure that bus was there it was the least I could do. Happily, many others felt the same. And this was reflective of Paul’s involvement with the Bloomfield (New Jersey) Emergency Squad with whom he proudly served for 25 years, attaining the rank of First Lieutenant. He brought skills learned and practiced there to Emerald Lakes, conducting CPR courses and issuing certifications. He was also active with the CrimeWatch committee. Not least of all, Paul donated an Automatic External Defibrillator which can be used here in a fraction of the time it would take for local EMT to arrive. We are all a little bit safer because of Paul.

If you asked Paul to do something, to perform a task you needed done, he was there for that as well. During a recent year the then-current board secretary was up for re-election and so couldn’t serve as Judge of Elections. I asked Paul if he would fill in as he had performed that task in previous years. His first response was a no, that he was done with all the ‘board stuff.’ I just kept looking at him. He said, “What?” I kept looking and said nothing. He then said. “Okay, okay. I’ll do it,” shaking his head and laughing. That was sooo Paul.

Paul and I were elected to the Emerald Lakes Board of Directors the same year, 2007. I didn’t know him or much about him, but we quickly bonded over our shared military service. We both served over 5 years, but at different times and in different services. I was an army vet, Paul, a proud marine. Once when I described him as an ex-marine in his presence he corrected me. With good humor and a twinkle in his eye he said, “Marine. There’s no such thing as an ex-marine.” During those 3 years together we grew closer and closer, sharing a mutual respect, mutual attitudes toward community service and pretty much the same evaluations of the people around us. I think when you share that last thing, that similar view of people, you feel a strong connection, and I believe we did.

Paul was a man of good humor. He enjoyed a good joke, and he genuinely liked people. Most people. But for all his generosity of spirit, he was nobody’s fool. I won’t sour this homage with specifics, but Paul could spot a phony, a poseur, quickly and wasn’t the least bit reluctant to call the individual to task. When his normally pleasant demeanor was interrupted by a flash of anger, it could be scary. But it was always a righteous anger in my view. He never blew up over petty squabbles, though he could show a bit of impatience if he felt disagreements went on too long. And he rarely engaged in anything you could call gossip.

So my good friend is gone. We always add ‘way too soon,’ but at the tender age of 58, it is so true this time. And so surprising, so unexpected. He appeared so fit, so trim. He was buried in his military uniform. Who can fit into a uniform they wore 34 years before? I am a somewhat gelatinous blob of nearly 74 years. If you asked people last year to bet on which of us would live longer there wouldn’t have been much money on me, yet here I am, writing about Paul. I’m told by his girlfriend Lena Ciervo that he was on regular medication, so much so that he had an alarm wake him at medication time. Yet other than Lena, no one knew. That was Paul. He wouldn’t want others to worry about him. And he was right. We would have.

Lola Lauri

After approval of the minutes from last month, Dan Glasgow reported that he has inspected the Community Center renovations and is pleased with the progress he has seen. He then turned the meeting to Buz Whelan with the treasurer’s report.
Whelan said that the big story is in collections. Our dues collections are $11k over the same period as last year, and our delinquent account collections are already $59.5k over the amount collected for all of last year, and there is still one month left to this year. This is a significant increase and due largely to the Board and the collections attorney using all possible means to extract payment from those account holders.

Judy Kennedy gave the manager’s report. She reported that the membership review has been completed and that 25 properties will be selected at random for the abstract company to examine deeds. Scalping will begin on Monday, April 27th at Glade and Clearview, and notifications will go out to members in the affected areas as the work continues. Maintenance is working on road patching every day, and they are hoping to catch up soon.

The Community Center is scheduled for a “soft” opening on May 23, with the Grand Opening celebration set for May 30th. All permits and inspections have been secured and work has resumed. The pool area and bingo room construction have entered the finishing stages, the saunas are being repaired and the cosmetic work has begun. Email blasts will resume as the work is completed.

Speaking for the Events Committee, Melanie Balzano reports that the CC Grand Opening will begin at 11 am with a ribbon cutting and a carnival theme. In the evening there will be dancing and dinner and activities for the children. The committee asked the Board to consider sending out postcards to all members announcing the Grand Opening. They also requested the purchase of magnets with the events calendar printed on them, to distribute to the membership.

Balzano continued, this time for Parent’s club and reported a small showing for the last meeting. She will hold one more meeting to see if there is enough interest to continue. She is hoping to gather enough interested families to be able to create an after-school program for the children of the community.

Lola Lauri reported that the furniture, paint and some equipment has been delivered to the Community Center and that the committee continues to work on the renovations. Connie Simpson stated that the Crimewatch group is unable to hold meetings until the CC reopens. Kennedy stated that she could find room in the schedule for a meeting at the Administration building. Earl Frank said that F&P is working on setting up a meeting with Edward Jones to discuss the community’s stock and bond holdings. He also said that the committee has discussed a recommendation to the Board to dedicate the transfer fees collected by the association to new paving of roads.

Speaking for the Real Estate committee, Diane Caldwell said they have recommendations for changes to our Rules and Regulations that include an increase in fines. They are also working on completing the list of landlords within the community and taking measures to make sure that all are paying registration fees for renting their homes. She stressed the need to balance the needs of landlords and fulltime residents to preserve safety and quality of life for all.

In New Business, the board approved a measure to authorize management to accept bids for the painting of the indoor pool room for up to $2,500. Six directors voted yes, and Diane Caldwell abstained from the vote because her husband’s company is one of the bidders in the process.

In a unanimous vote, the Board agreed to authorize the collections attorney to accept offers that re at least 80% of the amount owed from delinquent account holders without Board approval. These offers are often time sensitive and this measure will allow the lawyer to work quickly when necessary and appropriate.

Finally, the board unanimously approved the 2015/2016 budget.

Public Comments
Several members stated their dissatisfaction with the name choices given for the Community Center bar and grill. One member stated that the word “Joint” was a drug reference and inappropriate for the name. Another was unsure if we were naming the whole building or just the bar and grill. Kathy Leach asked if the “ugly” sign will be replaced when the name is decided upon.

Margaret Fitzgerald questioned why Ms. Caldwell abstained from the vote on the funds for the pool room bids. Ms. Caldwell explained that it would be a conflict for her to vote on a matter that involved her husband’s company. Fitzgerald opined that she believed that no bid should be accepted from Caldwell’s husband’s company. Buz Whelan interjected that it would be irresponsible for the Board to NOT accept the lowest bid, no matter who it comes from, and that this was common and acceptable business practice. Kathy Whelan stated that the attorneys and ethics committee of the Port Authority of New York deemed this practice acceptable as well. Linda Shuey stated that she believed that as long as there is a bid process, then this was handled just fine.

Fitzgerald then asked Judy Kennedy if the boiler and the HVAC systems would be in place for the CC opening. Kennedy said it would be done. Joseph Olall asked what adjustments were required from the inspectors. Kennedy replied that there needs to be an handicapped accessible walkway leading to the back of the pool, and some minor changes to the indoor work.

A member complained that she had not gotten proper notice of a violation charged to her property and said that the compliance officer was not following procedure. Kennedy directed her to the Appeals committee for discussion of this matter. This same member stated that there were needles left on Community property and that there was a significant drug problem in our community. She told the Board that she has called the police and has been told that she needs to contact our Public Safety as well. Ms. Kennedy said that members should not touch any materials that are dumped in the community, but should contact the office or Public Safety to remove them instead. She also assured everyone that the police have been involved in the matter, but that they would (obviously) not be informing us of what measures they are taking to address the problem.

Lola Lauri
President Daniel Glasgow welcomed everyone and then moved right into his President’s comments. The Board has decided that although the workshop meetings will remain open to the membership, they will no longer allow public comments at that time. He did say that everyone is encouraged to make their comments at the regular open meetings.
In his Treasurer’s report, Buz Whelan discussed our improving financial picture. Dues collections are up, already over the total collected last year, and collections on delinquencies are also already higher than all of last year due to the board “releasing the Kracken” as Whelan put it, “and authorizing the lawyer to take all means necessary” to collect past due accounts. Attorney fees, which were at an all time high for the first 5 months of the year, continue to decline as the Board aggressively works to keep these under control. And, joked Whelan, the (now closed) Bar and Grill finally broke even for the month of February! He calculates the savings in February for having closed the Community Center at approximately $14k.

Whelan continued his report with an explanation of the meaning of the disclaimed audit and the actions that the Board has taken to rectify the concerns. He said that the main reason that the annual audit was disclaimed was that the auditor found that Monroe counted listed many more properties in our Association than our records show. They had no opinion on which set of records were correct, but could not sign off until this matter was reconciled. Another concern for the auditor was the cash control procedures at the Bar and Grill, and the rest consisted of technical preferences of this particular firm for accounting procedures. In response, the Board has created an ad hoc committee to reconcile the property records, has overhauled the procedures at the Bar and Grill, and has organized the recordkeeping system to meet the suggestions of the Auditor. Glasgow interjected that at this point, a letter has been sent to the auditor seeking a clean audit.

In the Management report, Judy Kennedy said that a bug in the website that allowed posts from members to be put up before moderation has been fixed. Scalping of the roads will begin in the next few weeks. Road ban signs to keep trucks over 10 tons from our roads during the spring thaw have been ordered. Electrical work on the saunas has been completed. Ms. Kennedy will be on vacation next week, so “Walk In Wednesday” has been cancelled for next week.

Lola Lauri reported that the Ad Hoc committee for the CC renovations is continuing to work, selecting furniture and lighting for the dining room and bingo room. The Finance and Planning committee has submitted a proposed budget to the Board. The Rules and Regulations committee requested a liaison from the board be assigned. The Crime Watch committee needs a room in which to meet. The Real Estate committee has compiled a list of landlords in the community and will meet to discuss options developing revenue from rentals. Diane Caldwell noted that not only is developing this revenue stream important on its own, but also renters often become buyers in the community. She also added that our rules and regulations should be amended to increase fines and amenity fees for associate memberships. The Events committee has cleaned out and organized the inventory stored at the Community Center.
Melanie Balzano, reporting for the potential Parents Club, reported that their first meeting had a decent turnout, with parents discussing the possibility of creating a summer program and an afterschool program for children in the association. “We are a village,” she said, “and we need to find ways to raise our children.” She added that there will be a fee to parents for any program created, and that they also discussed fundraising ideas to help with those fees. Parents who are interested should attend their next meeting on April 18th. The Maintenance committee is happy to report that the Strawberry Landing issue has been resolved and the structure has been removed. They also repeated their recommendation to the Board to consider adding a solar heating system for the outdoor pool.

Addressing Old Business, Brad Jones reported that a “stop work” order was issued by Tobyhanna Township for construction on the Community Center in response to a complaint and phone call from a member. Although no fines were issued and only one small correction was necessary to the project, the plans are still with the township and work cannot resume until the response is received. He estimates that this has set the project back about ten days.
In New Business, the Board approved a budget to complete the Homeowner review to examine property deeds and determine which properties are and are not members of the association. Brad Jones stated that the new Association budget will be available for inspection for 30 days and may be adopted at the next open meeting. Dan Glasgow described the road plan for the next year, beginning with the scalping project. Notification will be given one week in advance of work beginning on a particular road. After that, drainage areas will be inspected and repaired, with the work being done in-house as much as possible. Then roads will be inspected and slated for repair where needed. There is 30k budgeted for scalping and an additional 170k for all road work and Glasgow assured us that every penny will be used for that purpose. The “road bans” mentioned in the management report mean that during the spring thaw when the roads are soft and easily damaged, trucks over 10 tons will be banned from using our roads for 30 days. This excludes fuel trucks and the garbage trucks removing Association garbage.

In Public Comments, a resident asked about the scalping project, designed to direct water away from the roads. He was concerned about how this might impact his property. Jones took his address and promised to look at the problem and see if there was anything he could do to make sure it did not impact him negatively.

Bob Leon asked if absentee balloting would be on the ballot in August and was told that the matter was being discussed with the lawyer.

John Palmisano asked if the “Fisch” properties and the Gap View road debate were continuing and who is responsible for the roads in that area. He also suggested that the Association should include some small amount of paving of unpaved roads into each year’s plan to at least reduce number of unpaved roads over the long term. Glasgow responded that the membership review included the Fisch properties and that the results might help shed some light on the road responsibilities there as well.

Connie Simpson asked why the Association did not just obtain a loan to finish the roads. Whelan responded that this was offered and the membership voted it down. Jones added that the membership also rejected a dues increase and therefore, there is no extra money for new paving. Unfortunately, said Whelan, 85% of the membership lives on paved roads and is unlikely to vote for an increase or assessment to pave the remaining roads.

Flo Mauri read a series of recommendations from former directors, including the suggestion that “permits should be obtained” when required by Pa law, our camera surveillance system should be upgraded, there should be an “official” Emerald Lakes Facebook page, the Board should follow the bylaws and seat Mr. Olall, and the Board should reply to all recommendations made. She also stated that she believes that all recommendations from ELDAS should appear in the minutes of the open meetings, to which Whelan replied that this would be contrary to what “Robert’s Rules” require.

Kathy Leach asked when construction would begin on the new building in the Administration area and was told it was scheduled for May first.

Mary Kavanaugh complained that the person who answered the Public Safety message line was rude. Jones said they would address this. She also asked if anything could be done about the potholes along Long Pond Road. Kennedy said that she was talking to Penndot about the issue.

Linda Shuey asked if the budget would be available online and Jones confirmed that it would be. She also asked if the stop work order meant that all work at the CC was halted. Jones replied that this was a stop order for construction only, and painting and other work could continue.

Carmen Brodnax asked what the stop work order was about (in spite of the fact that it was explained earlier). She also said that we fine members for not following permit regulations and that it is Management’s responsibility to obtain the proper permits for work. “Correct” replied Jones. She then asked if this same problem happened last year during construction of the storage building. “Not correct.” Replied Jones.

Linda Shuey asked if construction in the CC might mean that we could be required to build handicapped accessible bathrooms there. Jones replied that since there is no construction going on in the bathrooms, these should not be required. Glasgow added that the sill plate repair required by the inspector should be an easy fix and that the architect did not see a reason for a permit in the first place, but because somebody called the inspector, he would be determined to find something to justify the call.

Gilda Spiotta and Stefania Johnson both expressed their satisfaction with the work of the Board in recent months and thanked them for their dedication and hard work.

Pat Galderisi asked Mr. Frank to confirm that the total delinquent accounts debt owed to the Association was approximately $4million and that the Board had recently written off $3M as bad debt, unlikely to be repaid. Glasgow explained that writing off a debt for Auditing purposes is not the same as declaring that you will no longer attempt to collect that money. Galderisi then read a statement from Joe Miller who could not be present. The statement said that there was a double standard applied when the Association fines members for not getting permits and then does not get permits for its own work. He also asked why pictures of the progress at the CC have not been posted. Since Mr. Miller’s statement was obviously written before the meeting and before the explanation given for the permit problems, the Board’s only response was from Glasgow who stated that we had not posted pictures because it would be nice if all the updating and changes were a surprise at reopening.

Flo Mauri stood again, and said that there seemed to be a discrepancy. Did we or did we not need permits for the work at the CC? Once again, Brad Jones patiently explained. He said that there were 4 major projects in the renovation. For 3 of the 4, permits were needed and applied for as needed. The fourth project was deemed by the architect to be cosmetic and should not have required a permit. Unfortunately a member called the township and the inspector disagreed with this assessment because of the lack of a pressure treated plate needed in the Bingo room. This was in no way an attempt to avoid the permit process; it was a mistaken call on one small part of the project. Glasgow added that no fines were assessed and that the permits for the other projects were all applied for and in order. Mauri said that she accepted this explanation but that there was clearly a communication problem with the membership and that the Board should ask themselves why a member would call the township in the first place. (To which the audience reacted loudly and vehemently, with calls of “To be spiteful” and “To be a &!@*” and “to make trouble, of course”). Glasgow said that the Board has done everything possible to be transparent and to keep the membership up-to-date on developments. When asked why the stop work order was not explained to the membership, Jones stated that it WAS explained, in this meeting, today, the first meeting held since it happened.

Darren Johnson stated that it was clear that the Board and Management had no negative intentions in their actions and equally as clear that the caller had only negative intentions or he or she would have gone to management with their concerns rather than directly to the township.

Another member stated that he had dealt with the Tobyhanna Township inspectors on more than one occasion and he had found them to be quite difficult and arbitrary in their requirements and often seemed to change their minds from one meeting to the next and so he was not at all surprised that we had encountered difficulty.

Finally, Melanie Balzano said that she saw accidents on Long Pond Road regularly and could there be some kind of sign to warn drivers to slow down in that area. Glasgow wondered if we may be responsible for erecting a fence to contain snow and keep it from drifting across the road at that spot, to which Jones replied that it might be and they agreed to consider this action. Diane Caldwell suggested that contacting the township and local representatives might help in getting signs and reflectors for that area.

Lola Lauri
Due to the Community Center closing and renovations, this month’s meeting was held in the Tunkhannock Township building on Long Pond road.
In his President’s comments, Dan Glasgow commended his fellow directors for all the work they have been doing. He mentioned their work on the various committees and projects and said that he was honored to serve with these men and women and was proud of their work to date. He also mentioned that management is working with the township to resolve the matter of who is responsible for certain disputed roads in Blueberry Estates.
After an adjustment for an amount recorded incorrectly, the minutes from last month’s meeting were approved.
Next, Buz Whelan presented the Treasurer’s report. The highlights included the fact that the Community Center was significantly under budget for January (because it is closed), and that we are catching up on the amount of dues collected compared to last year at this time. He also reported that our collections attorney had already surpassed the amount collected for all of the previous year, due to more aggressive collection practices and support from the Board to pursue these accounts.
In the Management report, Judy Kennedy reported that an insurance policy to cover all ice activities, including ice fishing would cost an estimated $7,500/year, and that the Board had decided to table this issue at its workshop, given that the winter was coming to a close (at least we all hope it is). She expected construction and repairs to begin in the pool area and in the Bingo room next week. Responding to complaints about members and private plow truck drivers leaving snow in the roads, she stated that citations are being given out to the homes involved, and that cars parked on the roads were being stickered and towed. Glasgow asked that members speak to their plow truck drivers and remind them to keep the snow off the roadways. He suggested that snow should be removed for several feet on each side of the driveway to avoid getting plowed back in by the community plow trucks clearing the roads. Kennedy continued by reminding members that “Walk in Wednesday” hours were from 1:30-3:30 and that Mr. Glasgow would also attend on the third Wednesday of each month. She said that the next open meeting would be on March 28th, and would also be in the Township building. The room is being provided by the township at no cost, and she thanked them for their help and cooperation.

Brad Jones continued the report, discussing the Community Center renovation project. He noted that the budget will be posted on the website. The project will include replacement of the two current boilers with one boiler to serve both the building and the pool, a new HVAC system, cleaning and painting of the pool and replacement of the exterior walls and doors, installation of walls and windows in the bingo room, and renovation of the dining area. He estimated that $152k would remain in the reserves after completion, and added that an additional $200k would also go into the reserves from the February dues collections. They have made the decision to switch the CC to propane because its price is less volatile, and it burns more efficiently than heating oil. He said that the Falcon report estimated a payback on the boiler of 2-3 years. Glasgow put in that he believed the whole project would pay for itself in 10 years at the outside.

Addressing a complaint from a tenant in the Community, the board declined to give prorated refunds to renters for the period of the CC closing. In their discussion, Glasgow and Whelan stated that the renter agreement included all amenities, not just the Community Center, and that renters would also benefit from the improvements being made at the center. It was also noted that they could not give refunds to some people and not to others, and that this was a shared sacrifice, being made by all to obtain better and newer recreation services in the building. No one at the meeting spoke in favor of the refunds and the Board unanimously voted against issuing any refunds.

Resolution #55 to approve the expenditure of approximately $24k on the pool room repairs and $10k on the Bingo room renovation was passed unanimously.

Resolution #56 to approve a budget of $40k for the Ad Hoc committee renovations, furniture and décor in the CC was approved 6-1, with Earl Frank voting against the matter. Mr. Frank stated that he believed the project should be completed, but that the budget was too high and that $20 – 25k would be enough.
Resolution #57 allowed for a meeting to be held to determine if there was enough of an interest in forming a parent’s club. It was unanimously approved.

The third and final reading of resolution #49 (the banning of ice fishing) was also completed.

Public Comments
Bill Henry asked how the pool water would be heated if there was only one boiler. Brad Jones responded that there would be intake and outflow lines installed to and from the boiler, leading to the pool.
Joe Olall asked how much of the renovation money being spent was coming from the money promised to be allocated to the roads at the time of the last dues increase. Jones answered that none of the funding for the project was coming from the road budget. Commenting on the estimated 10 year payback from Mr. Glasgow, Olall asked if there was any research stating this information. Jones referred him to the Falcon report for the 2-3 year estimated payback on the boiler, and he said that it was difficult to determine the same information for the HVAC but that we will see the return in energy savings, less heat expenditures, the use of fewer chemicals (less humid air equals less need for chemicals in the pool), and less wear and tear on the building from excess humidity. Finally, Olall asked who the propane supplier would be. Jones said that they would be obtaining bids in the future.

Buz Whelan asked Mr. Olall if he could provide a list of the current members of the community Propane buyers’ club, so that we can use that information to renegotiate the best prices when necessary. Olall seemed either reluctant or unable to provide a list of participating members and argued that Modern has been and remains the best choice for propane, in spite of their recent rate increase. Whelan continued that without a list of members, the club has no way of using its negotiating power to keep Modern from instituting further increases. Bob Leon suggested that we could also form a buyers’ club for electricity as well.

Kathy Leach asked if the renovation proposal included the replacement of the exit doors in the pool area that have become rusted and dangerous to use. Jones said that although it was not included in that specific proposal, those doors would be replaced by the end of March.

Kevin Marsland asked if the “math error” in the previous month’s minutes was simply an error in the minutes or if it would effect the financials as well. Whelan said it was an error in the minutes. Marsland commended Ms. Kennedy on the improved condition of the roads and then asked if we had buried oil tanks and were there any concerns about leaks from those. Jones said that they would be checking for leaks when the ground is thawed.

In what may have been the shortest meeting I have ever attended, we all happily adjourned at just past 10:30.

Lola Lauri

The Board of Directors has asked us to correct what they see as a mis-characterization of their official statement regarding the vacancy on the board.  In our original article, we wrote that “Mr. Glasgow spoke about an incident where Mr. Olall was arrested for illegally recording a conversation”.  Although Mr. Olall did eventually face charges for that incident, Mr. Glasgow did not actually use the word “arrest”.  Below is their actual statement on this matter, and we regret the confusion:

“Pursuant to Article V, Section 6 of the bylaws, if the office of any Director shall become vacant by reason of resignation, the remaining Directors shall choose a successor to fill that seat.  The successor is to be the member who received the next highest vote tally from the most recent annual meeting. While Joseph Olall received the next highest vote tally in the 2014 election and annual meeting, the Directors believe that it is not in the best interest of the community to allow Mr. Olall to be seated as a Director based upon prior actions taken by Mr. Olall while he was serving as a Director in 2010: specifically, Mr. Olall’s recording of one or more Board meetings without the knowledge or consent of the remaining Directors and/or the Association attorney at that time.  As a result, Mr. Olall will not be seated as a Director.
The Directors are therefore choosing the person with the next highest vote tally from the 2014 election and annual meeting to fill the seat: Earl Frank.  Mr. Frank shall hold the office of Director until the 2015 election and annual meeting at which time a candidate shall be elected to fill the seat.”

Lola Lauri

Due to the Community Center closing and renovations, this month’s meeting was held in the Tunkhannock Township building on Long Pond road. In spite of the new location and the terrible road conditions, the meeting opened with a respectable turnout of over 30 members in the audience. Director Millie Bishop was absent. After the pledge, President Dan Glasgow’s comments were very brief. He welcomed everyone and stated that the community was moving ahead with the renovations of the Community Center and that the membership could expect biweekly updates on the progress. The minutes from last month’s meeting were approved after Buz Whelan asked that a note be added to explain that Director Lauri had joined the meeting via a Skype connection after the first two votes were taken to explain why he had not voted on those but did vote on issues addressed later in the meeting.

Treasurer’s Report
Buz Whelan reported that our financial picture was improving. In administration, we were over budget by $1,800, which is a smaller increase than in previous months and, he believes these costs are coming under control. He reminded us that much of the year-to-date excess over the budgeted amount can be attributed to a difference in the way collections are recorded, and not to actual expenses to the community. The balance is $46k in attorney’s fees, which has been discussed at previous meetings. He noted that the board is addressing these costs by enlisting Bill Henry and Carmen Brodnax to work on the membership review. The attorney’s bill for December was only $157.
The maintenance department is $24.6k under budget for the year, due mainly to three items: weed control for $10k was not completed, $7,500 in vehicle maintenance that has not been needed (yet), and salaries and benefits, that will probably rise again depending on snow removal needs for the remainder of the winter.
Public safety is right on budget.
The Community Center is also under budget, by $22,750 ytd. This is mostly in salaries and in heating costs, which should stay low with the closing of the center. The Bar and Grill reported a $2k loss for December, which is much smaller than in previous months. Whelan noted that the board is looking to create a system that will allow the Bar and Grill to operate at or close to the break even point.
Dues collection is down $49k over last year, but Whelan reports that a preliminary look at January numbers look very good, and so he hopes to see an improvement in the January report. In spite of our operating expenses being up $56k over last year at this time, the Association has $66k additional cash on hand over last year, due to the collection efforts of our attorney. It was noted that if collections continue in this manner, we are on track to collect nearly $250k from delinquent accounts for the fiscal year.
The Treasurer’s report was accepted unanimously.

Management Report
Onsite Manager Judy Kennedy reported that the Membership review committee had completed its work and they were looking at its findings. The Association insurance company has been acquired by Univest. She will be meeting with them in February to discuss the upcoming renewal. Maintenance was at work applying anti-skid and completing snow removal efforts. The signs for the new ice fishing regulations have been received and will be installed soon.
New Business
Glasgow announced that Director June Solla had submitted a letter of resignation; the board voted unanimously to accept her resignation.
Next, Glasgow read an official statement from the Board regarding the vacancy. It stated that although Article V, Section 6 of the bylaws state that the successor should be the member who received the next highest vote tally at the most recent annual meeting, the Board believes that it is not in the best interest of the community to allow Joseph Olall to be seated. Glasgow described the 2010 incident where Mr. Olall was improperly recording meetings of the board and the Association attorney without the knowledge or permission of the participants, and as a result, the board chose the person with the next highest vote tally to fill the seat, that person being Mr. Earl Frank. [Editor’s note: this sentence has been edited for clarity.  Click here for the actual wording of the statement.]  Frank will hold the office until the election in August.

Committee Reports
Events committee chair, Stefania Johnson reported that the committee has completed a suggested calendar of events for the year, beginning in May of 2015, and that they are working on ideas for a re-opening event at the Community Center.
Bob Leon submitted two recommendations from the maintenance committee. The first is the installation of a pool cover for the indoor pool, to help control heat loss and humidity in the building, and the possible replacement of the windows in the pool area for this same reason. The second recommendation was to install and automatic vent cover for what he described as a hole in the wall in the boiler room.
Lola Lauri reported for the Ad Hoc Committee on Renovations. Having been informed of the board’s intent to create this committee prior to the original date of this meeting, its members held an initial meeting and discussed the vision, concept and scope of the work desired. The committee submitted a list of projects to be completed along with sketches of the proposed changes.
For the Real Estate committee, Diane Caldwell reported their intention to hold a Town Hall meeting to discuss ways to generate revenue through short-term rentals. She also discussed long-term plans to incorporate an Emerald Lakes rental office, to showcase properties available in the community.
Earl Frank had three recommendations from the Finance and Planning committee; they would like to be provided with copies of the statements from Community investment accounts, they would like to see quarterly bills sent out in a more timely basis, and they would like to have a preliminary budget by the end of February.

Old Business
Community Center – Cleaning the building and clearing out have begun, and goals and objectives of the ad hoc committee have been created. Current projects include the draining, acid washing and painting of the pool. Plans are to repair, renovate and upgrade the indoor pool area, the bingo room, and the dining room, as well as mechanical infrastructure upgrades and repairs. Status reports on the progress of the work will be sent biweekly via email blast.
Address the Board policy – Robert Lauri requested that this policy be revisited to include another official way to reach the board. Currently, the policy only accounts for letters sent via the website. Mr. Lauri feels that it is important to create another avenue and suggested a paper form be made available in the office. Management agreed to mirror the online procedure with a paper form, to be available beginning on Tuesday.
Robert Lauri suggested that snow removal concerns should be routed through the pothole hotline. Mr. Jones responded that the hotline is no longer in service, however, the new phone system will alert Ms. Kennedy when someone has left a message, and she will be able to respond quickly.

New Business
Resolution #53 Appointment of the Ad Hoc Committee for the Renovation of the Community Center. The committee will consist of Millie Bishop, Diane Caldwell, Stefania Johnson, Ana Krespi, Lola Lauri and Buz Whelan. Motion passed.
Resolution #54 –Falcon proposal for engineering services. Motion passed.
The second reading of the ice fishing policy #49, and the third reading of proposal #42, the variance policy.
There followed here a discussion of the renovations. Glasgow suggested a motion to approve the immediate draining and upgrade of the pool and the window replacement and drywall work in the bingo room. Jones said that he would have prices in the coming week and would the board agree to move forward on the project via email to avoid delays. Whelan suggested that the committee be given latitude in matters of style and color instead of returning to the board for each small decision to be made. Jones and Caldwell asserted the importance of having only one voice authorized to speak to the contractor, to avoid unnecessary expenses and confusion. Caldwell asked that the board set a clear budget for those items assigned to the committee.
Acceptance of New Members
Ms. Caldwell reported that 15 properties were sold, 4 foreclosures were sold, there was one new foreclosure, and 7 sheriff’s sale notices were sent.

Public Comments
Carmen Brodnax said that the bylaws say that the candidate with the next highest vote tally should fill the vacancy on the board and she felt that the decision to bypass Mr. Olall for the decision was made arbitrarily for political reasons, and that the board has no discretion in this matter. She asked to see the lawyer’s opinion on the matter. She also asked why the matter was not voted upon at this meeting. She was told that the lawyer’s opinion was subject to attorney/client privilege and would not be shared, but that the statement of the board would be, and the issue was decided in an executive session because it involved a member’s personal and legal issues, but that the decision was made unanimously by the board.
Bill Henry suggested that the ice fishing policy should be broadened to include other activities on the ice, such as ice hockey. He also said that he would like to see Earl Frank be allowed to continue as chair of the F&P committee, in spite of his appointment to the board.
Kevin Marsland asked why the parking lot of the closed Community Center was being plowed on a Saturday when employees would be making overtime. The board responded that the parking lot also served as a bus stop and needed to be clear and open before 6 am on Monday. Marsland continued by stating that although he found Mr. Olall personable and well spoken, he wouldn’t take questions at Meet the Candidates and would not read a question submitted by Mr. Marsland during that event (where Olall served as moderator)(click here to link to the question from a previous article) Marsland said that a representative must be available to answer questions and “run and hide”, so he supported the board’s decision on this matter.
Gilda Spiotta suggested that it is important to explore all sides of the real estate issue in the planned town hall meeting, and she would like to see more experts than just a broker who may present a one-sided picture of the issues involved. She said she is happy to see the board looking to broaden the options for members to contact the board, and wanted to know if members can call Public Safety for road maintenance issues. Finally, Spiotta applauded the appointment of Earl Frank to the board, saying this was a good call and that the membership needs to be able to trust its board members.
Mr. Olall did not comment on his snub from the board, but did ask if there was a budget for the CC renovation projects. Brad Jones responded that there was approximately $450k available in the reserves, but that amounts had not yet been allocated for each component of the project.
Eric Bergstrom opined that it is important to make the fines for violation of the ice fishing policy significant, or many will simply ignore them.
Darren Johnson stated his support of the board’s work and applauded the “cadence and rhythm” of work done so far. He urged them to consider ways to reach out to members to get them to use the new Community Center.