Monthly Meeting
May 16, 2007

 Meeting Minutes

I.       The meeting was Called to Order at 7:40 p.m. by Joe Thomas.  Those in attendance included Bill Dickinson, Bruce Fournier, Pat Mannix, Dan Quirk and Bob Stebenne.   District Manager Erin Rooney and Clerk Catherine Kelleher were also present. Treasurer Natalie McDonald, Tax Collector Helen Patience, Harbormaster Mike Tortolani were absent.

II.    Pledge of Allegiance

The Assembly recited the Pledge of Allegiance.  The Council and Assembly also observed a prayerful moment of silence for the men and women in uniform who are serving in the Armed Forces, in harm’s way, in Afghanistan and Iraq and, in particular, for those serving from our own state and community. 

III. Urgent Business

A.     Two sets of building plans were reviewed.   

B.     Mr. Thomas introduced Erin Rooney as the new District Manager.  Jean Albert was thanked for serving in the interim. 

IV.  Period of Public Comment

None.

V.      Ratification of Minutes

A.     Bob Stebenne motioned to accept the April 2007 meeting minutes.  The motion was seconded by Bill Dickinson and approved by all Council members in attendance. 

B.     Ratification of the March 2007 meeting minutes was deferred to next month’s meeting.

VI.  Committee Reports

A.     Nominating Committee (Dan Quirk)

Applicants for Council seats and Land Trust Committee members are being sought.  Interested parties are to contact Steve McCooey or Lee Listro.  Interviews will be held on Wednesday, May 23, 2007 at 6:30 p.m.

B.     Pond (Bill Dickinson)

No meeting was held this month.

C.     Beautification (Bill Dickinson)

1.      The report is on disk and a hard copy is retained at the Community Center.

2.      The committee met on May 3, 2007.

3.      Mr. Dickinson reported that he and Elizabeth Reed met with the building inspector on May 12, 2007.  The inspector briefly reviewed the plans for the footbridge and reported that the plans must be referred for a wetlands permit.  If the plans are directly approved, they will then be sent to CRMC for its approval.  If the plans are not directly approved, they must go to a zoning board review. 

D.    Beach (Bob Stebenne)

The report is on disk and a hard copy is retained at the Community Center

E.     Community Center (Bob Stebenne)

1.      The report is on disk and hard copy is retained at the Community Center.

2.      A one-page informational brochure on the proposed Center is being prepared for mailing to all Bonnet Shores Fire District taxpayers after it is reviewed by the Council.  This information will also be posted on the website. 

F.      Trash (Pat Mannix)

1.      The dumpster season begins on May 19^th from 7:00 a.m. to 10:00 a.m. 

2.      The dumpster schedule will be posted at Kelly Beach, Little Beach, at the Community Center and in the newsletter. 

3.      Trash collection will occur twice weekly on Mondays (for trash and recyclables) and on Thursday (trash only) beginning after Memorial Day. 

4.      The trash contract with Waste Management ends this summer.  Requests for bids have been sent out.  Negotiations for the new contract will begin shortly.

G.    Social (Pat Mannix)

1.      A summer cook-out is planned for July 13^th at 6:30 p.m. at the Bonnet Shores Beach Club.

2.      Plans are under way for Bonnet Shores ’ 75^th Anniversary celebration which will be held on September 21, 2007 at 6:00 p.m. at the Dunes Club.

3.      Mrs. Mannix thanked Peg Haas for obtaining two mailboxes to display Social Committee flyers. 

4.      Paul Haas commended Pat Mannix for monitoring the dumpster on Saturday mornings. 

H.    Roads (Bruce Fournier)

1.      Public Works cleaned up and re-patched the deterioration of the asphalt along Little Beach on Col. John Gardner Road . 

2.      Mr. Fournier thanked Erin Rooney and her family for personally cleaning the causeway which had not been done on Earth Day due to the flooding.

3.      The foot wash is in and the water has been turned on.

4.      Col. John Gardner Road has been paved.

5.      The survey has been submitted to Dave Ousterhaut from Public Works, regarding the area where Col. John Gardner road meets Bonnet Point Road . 

I.       Recreation (Joe Thomas)

Linda Byrne has agreed to oversee the summer camp.

J.      Harbor (Dan Quirk)

1.      Mr. Quirk has reached an agreement with the gentleman who runs the Newport Harbor Sailing School .  He will offer a program directly to Bonnet Shores ' residents (10 years old or older) so there will be no insurance or liability issues for the Fire District.  Dan asked if anyone had or was aware of 3 or 4 small sailing boats which could be used by residents taking this class.

2.      Mr. Quirk has been reviewing the required revisions to our Harbor Plan that were made by CRMC.  Kevin Cute will be contacted to address his concerns regarding these required revisions.  Any interested Harbor Committee members are invited to attend that meeting. 

VII.            Treasurer’s Report (Natalie McDonald)

 The Treasurer is absent.  There is no report.

VIII.          Tax Collector’s Report (Helen Patience)

A.     The Tax Collector is absent; however Joe Thomas reviewed her report.

B.     That report is on disk and a hard copy is retained in the Community Center.

C.     2007 Fiscal Year tax information is as follows:

·        Total assessment - $575,711,200.00

·        Taxes assessed - $232,587.32

·        Total abated taxes - $2,829.89

·        Total collectable taxes - $229,757.43

·        Taxes collected to date - $224,927.51

·        Returned check fees - $31.99

·        Interest collected - $972.39

·        Percentage collected – 97.90%

D.    Fiscal Year 2006 tax information is as follows:

·        Uncollected from the prior year - $1,220.95

·        Taxes collected from prior year – $620.64

·        Uncollected taxes - $600.31

·        Interest collected - $101.48  

IX.  Land Trust

No report.     

X.     District Manager’s Report (Erin Rooney)

A.     Erin met with Bob Barber at 6:00a.m. this morning to view the condition of Kelly Beach and obtain an estimate to cut grade off the banking along the breach way, picking up seaweed and rocks.  Quotes have been received from Mr. Barber and from Al Amore.   

B.     Bruce Fournier made a motion to hire Bob Barber at a cost of between $1,300 to $1,500 to level the banks, rake the beach, remove the rocks, and to get the beach in condition so that the Bonnet Shores Beach Club can rake Kelly Beach on a regular basis.  The motion was seconded by Bob Stebenne and approved by all Council members in attendance.  

XI.  Old Business

A.     Bill Dickinson reported that he met with Matt Mannix, Ted DeStefano and Kathy Kelleher on May 14^th to discuss the ballot counting procedures at the Annual Meeting.  A series of recommendations were given to the Council for review.  Mr. Dickinson requested that the Council review and approve the recommendations at the June monthly meeting.  (A copy of the recommendations is attached to these minutes and retained at the Community Center.)

B.     Bob Stebenne made a motion to approve the expansion/renovation of the Community Center at an estimated cost of $1,035,000 subject to securing financing.  The motion was seconded by Bruce Fournier, but was then followed by a lengthy discussion.  The original motion was then amended by Mr. Stebenne to approve the expansion/renovation of the Community Center project at an estimated cost of $1,035,000 subject to securing funding and acceptance by a majority of taxpayers voting at the 2007 Annual Meeting.  This amended motion was seconded by Bill Dickinson and again followed with another lengthy discussion.  Ultimately a roll call vote was taken:  Those voting “yes” were Bill Dickinson, Bob Stebenne, Bruce Fournier, Joe Thomas and Dan Quirk.  Pat Mannix abstained.  There were no negative votes.  The amended motion passed 5 votes to none with one abstention. 

C.     Bruce Fournier motioned to send a letter to the real estate companies in the area requesting their agents regularly monitor and retrieve their signs.  This motion was seconded by Bob Stebenne and approved by all Council members in attendance. 

D.    Marie Kelly requested that a “ Closed Road ” sign be erected further up on Bonnet Point Road , rather than at the stop sign, when the causeway is closed.  Bruce Fournier will research this with the Department of Public Works.  

XII.           New Business

A.     Budget hearings have been scheduled for:

1.      Wednesday, May 30, 2007 at 7:00 p.m.

2.      Saturday, June 2, 2007 at 9:00 a.m.

3.      Saturday, June 9, 2007 at 9:00 a.m.

B.     It was noted that the first 45 minutes of the first two budget meetings (May 30^th and June 2^nd) would be open to public discussion of capital expenditure projects for the 2007-08 fiscal year. 

C.     Joe Thomas reported that the locks to the Community Center were re-keyed last week.  

XIII.        Executive Sessions

None.  

XIV.        Adjournment

A.     Bruce Fournier motioned to adjourn the meeting.  The motion was seconded by Pat Mannix.

B.     The meeting was adjourned at 9:40 p.m.        

Respectfully submitted,  

Catherine M. Kelleher
Clerk