Bonnet Shores Fire District Community Center

130 Bonnet Shores Road

Narragansett, Rhode Island

Monthly Meeting

August 15, 2007

The meeting was Called to Order by Chairperson Joe Thomas. Council members in attendance included Bill Dickinson, Mimmy Logee, Matthew Mannix, and Bob Stebenne. District Manager Erin Rooney, Treasurer Natalie McDonald, Tax Collector Helen Patience, Harbormaster Mike Tortolani and Clerk Catherine Kelleher were also present. Bruce Fournier and Dan Quirk were absent.

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.

Urgent Business

Building plans were reviewed and approved by the Council.

Period of Public Comment

A. Yvonne Johnson stated that she was pleased with the Annual Meeting election results.

B. Florence Clement expressed concern about unmarked trucks in the Fire District and also about people dumping trash on land.

C. Mrs. Fracasa expressed concern about people who do not live in the Fire District going to the beach.

D. Mary Beth Holland reported that she had seen a RIPTA bus in the Fire District. John Carvalho stated that he would speak to someone at RIPTA to get more information.

E. A resident on Camden Road expressed great concern about golf carts not being allowed on Fire District roads.

F. Another resident expressed dismay over cars speeding and parking on Fire District roads.

Ratification of Minutes

Since there was no quorum of Council members from the 2006-07 year, ratification of the March 2007 and June 2007 Council meeting minutes was tabled until the September meeting.

Committee Reports

Beach (Bob Stebenne)

The report is on tape and a hard copy is attached to the original meeting minutes retained at the Community Center.

Beautification (Bill Dickinson)

The report is on tape and a hard copy is attached to the original meeting minutes retained at the Community Center.

Pond (Bill Dickinson)

1. The report is on tape and hard copy is attached to the original meeting minutes retained at the Community Center.

2. A member of the Assembly expressed concern that the pond is not identified and she feels the public may not be aware that there is water on both sides of the causeway.

Recreation (Joe Thomas)

1. Joe reminded the Assembly that the Golf Tournament is being held on Friday, August 31^st at Laurel Lane Country Club.

2. Matthew Mannix stated that he would like to see Bonnet Daze brought back as it was originally in the early 1990s.

Roads (Bruce Fournier)

No report in the absence of Bruce Fournier.

Harbor (Dan Quirk)

No report in the absence of Dan Quirk.

Treasurer’s Report (Natalie McDonald)

G. The report is on tape and a hard copy is attached to the original meeting minutes retained at the Community Center.

H. $55,207.57 is in the money market/checking account combined.

I. The $14,500.00 surplus from last year is retained in the cash reserves.

J. $2,500.00 in legal fees will be deducted from the $14,500.00, leaving $12,000.00 in surplus.

K. The report is submitted for audit.

Tax Collector’s Report (Helen Patience)

L. The report is on tape and a hard copy is attached to the original meeting minutes retained in the Community Center.

M. 2008 Fiscal Year tax information is as follows:

Total assessment - $578,618,800.00

Assessment abated - $7,585,200

Total taxes including abated - $241,341.55

Less abated taxes - $3,163.80

Total collectable taxes - $238,177.75

Taxes collected to date - $17,542.82

Returned check fees - $00.00

Interest collected - $00.00

Percentage collected – 7.37%

Outstanding taxes for 2008 - $220,634.86

N. Fiscal Year 2007 tax information:

Unpaid as of July 19, 2007 - $1,790.91

O. Fiscal Year 2006 tax information:

Unpaid as of July 19, 2007 - $ 578.01

Land Trust (Doris Baris)

P. A hard copy of the minutes from the August 2, 2007 Land Trust meeting is attached to these original Council meeting minutes retained at the Community Center.

Q. Doris expressed her displeasure with the "No Council comment" following the August 2^nd Land Trust meeting when she had 2 engineers available to discuss the stairs at the end of the ramp that had washed away during the April storms and the lack of flow between Wesquage Pond and the ocean. A lengthy discussion followed.

R. Bob Stebenne stated that this was the first that he had heard of this and that he would be happy to attend the next Land Trust meeting. Mimmy Logee will also attend. Doris will notify both of the next meeting date and time.

District Manager’s Report (Erin Rooney)

S. "Pack It Up" care packages have been sent to troops from Rhode Island and New England.

T. The Blood Drive is scheduled for August 24, 2007 from 3:00 to 6:00 p.m. at the Community Center.

U. The Community Center has been rented 4 weekends so far and it is planned to be rented an additional 5 times through the month of October.

V. Camp has been successful.

1. Story teller, Len Cabral, visited the camp on July 31^st and the campers thoroughly enjoyed him. All the campers and guests who came to his presentation brought canned good and the food was donated to the Johnny Cake Center.

2. Another group from North Kingstown came to camp on August 10^th.

3. Spirit Week is this week and is the last week of camp.

4. August 17^th is the last day of camp. Many of the counselors are going to participate in the end-of-the-season clean-up that morning.

W. A grate fell off one of the windows at the Community Center and is in need of repair.

X. The Community Center floor has been painted.

Y. The 3 bulletin boards throughout the Fire District are in need of repair as they can be effectively used for posting all Fire District information.

Z. A sign-up sheet is available at the door for those residents interested in sharing their email addresses.

AA. Committee chairpersons were reminded to get information for posting on the website to Steve Ryder in a timely fashion.

BB. Litter on the causeway, especially near the beach, is of concern. Joe Mignano, manager of the Beach Club, has been asked that his gate staff collect litter near the entrance gate.

CC. The Kelly Beach sign is finished and is in the process of being reinstalled.

DD. The "No Parking" sign at the top of Bonnet has been taken down and a new one is in the process of being replaced.

EE. Cox Cable has been installed at the Community Center.

FF. David Ousterhaut was notified that the brush cutting is an issue. Additional concerns will be addressed as soon as possible.

GG. Telephone poles at the right of the Community Center have been raised.

HH. Very few complaints have been registered regarding parking on the roads.

II. Steve Ryder and Erin are working on posting the by-laws on the website.

JJ. 5 lifeguards worked this summer. One lifeguard, who wishes to remain anonymous, rescued a small child who had been stranded on the sand bar at Little Beach when the tide rose. Erin requested that a letter of commendation be sent to that lifeguard.

KK. The Golf Tournament will be held on August 31^st.

LL. Complaints have been received about fires on both Little Beach and Kelly Beach.

MM. A meeting was held with Lt. Driscoll regarding students returning to the area.

1. The community should consider and reflect on the impact of rentals.

2. Lt. Driscoll said that the Bonnet Community was the most cooperative last year.

NN. The new trash haulers have begun trash collections. Their phone number is posted on the website.

OO. The 75^th Bonnet Shores Fire District anniversary celebration will be held at the Dunes Club on September 21, 2007.

PP. A letter from Bob Patterson, regarding the mooring list, was given to the Council and is attached to these minutes retained at the Community Center. Joe Thomas suggested that the letter be referred to the Harbor Committee.

Old Business

A discussion regarding the "No Parking" policy was held among Pat Mannix, Bob Stebenne, Joe Thomas and Natalie McDonald.

New Business

Joe Thomas reported that, during the 2007 budget hearing, it was suggested that the mooring fees be placed into a sinking fund to pay for capital expenditure items in the mooring area. It was agreed that the Harbor Committee would estimate the amount of money needed for the sinking fund and then set the mooring fees accordingly.

Mike Tortolani reported that there are 67 moorings. The fee is $90 per boat. The ordinance states that the owner of the mooring must have a boat registered to them and if they don’t have a boat registered to match the mooring, they have one year to do so. The boat does not have to be on the mooring; it just must be registered to the mooring owner. Mike also reported that, as long as he is made aware, a mooring owner can let someone on the waiting list use that mooring for one year.

The possibility of mooring availability at Kelly Beach was discussed.

Mary Beth Holland complained that the Community Center rental forms are confusing. The form will be reviewed at the September monthly meeting.

Mary Beth Holland questioned the purpose of inviting DEM and CRMC and Audubon to the Pond Committee meeting. Bill Dickinson said that the meeting was to be informational and direction setting.

Mary Beth Holland also questioned the safety of the ramp at Kelly Beach.

Mary Beth Holland suggested that the additional money found in the budget be used for repairs to the Community Center.

Doris Baris stated that she requested a reallocation of funds for an upgrade of the Community Center during the Annual Meeting.

Matthew Mannix motioned to discuss the $12,000 surplus at the next monthly Council meeting. The motion was seconded by Mimmy Logee. Joe Thomas, Bob Stebenne and Bill Dickinson then suggested that a subcommittee be formed to decide how best to spend money upgrading the Community Center. A lengthy discussion ensued. A vote on the motion failed 3 votes to 2 with Matthew Mannix and Mimmy Logee approving and Bill Dickinson, Joe Thomas and Bob Stebenne opposing.

Joe Thomas requested that the formation of a subcommittee to recommend improvements at the Community Center be placed on the agenda for the September monthly meeting.

Executive Sessions

None.

Adjournment

QQ. Bill Dickinson motioned to adjourn the meeting. The motion was seconded by Bob Stebenne.

RR. The meeting was adjourned at 9:45 p.m.

Respectfully submitted,

Catherine M. Kelleher

Clerk