Ratified January 16, 2008
Bonnet
Shores Fire District Council
Bonnet Shores Fire District Community Center
130 Bonnet Shores Road
Narragansett, Rhode Island
Monthly
Meeting
October 17, 2007
Meeting Minutes
I.
The meeting was Called to Order at 7:37 p.m. by Chairperson Joe Thomas.
Council members in attendance included Bill Dickinson,
Mimmy Logee, Matthew Mannix, Bob Stebenne and Dan Quirk.
District Manager Erin Rooney, Tax Collector Helen
Patience, Treasurer Natalie McDonald, Harbormaster Mike
Tortolani and Clerk Catherine Kelleher were also present. Bruce
Fournier was 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
Matthew Mannix motioned to move the monthly meeting scheduled for
Wednesday, November 21, 2007 to Wednesday, November 28th,
2007. The motion was
seconded by Bill Dickinson and approved by all Council members
in attendance.
IV.
Period of Public Comment
A.
Once
again, Joe Thomas requested that anyone wishing to speak must
come to the front of the room and use the microphone so that the
entire Assembly can hear the comments.
B.
Doris
Baris recalled a meeting where the minutes were discussed
regarding the committee reports being “so abbreviated”.
Mr. Dickinson responded that he would work on getting the
committee reports scanned.
C.
Paul
Haas commented that the 75th Anniversary celebration
of the Fire District, which was held at the Dunes Club, was
“spectacular” and anyone who was involved with the planning
should be complimented. Matthew
Mannix reported that
Lee Listro
was quoted extensively in the newspaper about the 75 year
history of Bonnet Shores. Joe
Thomas asked Bill Dickinson to express the Council’s
appreciation to the Social Committee for the fantastic job they
did preparing for the celebration.
D.
Pat
Mannix feels that taxpayers should know who is submitting the
announcements for CAP since it is not the official website for
the Fire District. Gene
DeCiccio responded that he submits the CAP updates.
He indicated that, when CAP was formed as a totally
independent entity, there was a mission statement published to
explain the organization and that it was meant to keep residents
informed and to encourage participation.
He will again publish the mission statement.
Mrs. Mannix wants to clarify that CAP is a separate
entity from the Fire District Council.
The Fire District Council members confirmed Mrs.
Mannix’ appraisal.
V.
Ratification
of Minutes
Bob Stebenne
motioned to accept the minutes of the September 19, 2007 monthly
Council meeting. The
motion was seconded by Mim Logee and approved by all Council
members in attendance.
VI.
Committee Reports
A.
Bylaws (Matthew Mannix)
1.
The By-Laws Committee meeting was held on
October 8, 2007. Members
Doris Baris, Lenny Mercier and Mr. Mannix were present.
2.
Ann Marie Silveira expressed an interest in
joining the committee.
3.
Doris Baris brought up the issue of voting
requirements at the Annual Meeting.
She indicated that 44% of the eligible voters come from
the Bonnet Shores Beach Club, but those voters account for only
4% of the tax base. Mr.
Mannix invited the Assembly to bring forth their concerns on
this matter. Bob
Stebenne encouraged the committee to call a meeting to address
this issue.
4.
A discussion regarding attendance and live
voting at the Annual Meeting ensued.
Mr. Mannix reported that, prior to 1985, the common
ownership rule did not exist and the only people who were
allowed to vote in someone’s absence were husband and wife.
5.
Notarizing proxy ballots was also discussed.
6.
The Blue Book was updated in 1971 and again in
1985. At this time,
the supply of Blue Books has been exhausted.
Reprinting the Blue Book, to include the amendments
passed since 1985, was discussed.
B.
Harbor (Dan Quirk)
1.
The Harbor Committee met on October 3rd
and reviewed the rough draft of the Harbor Plan.
2.
Issues of the mooring list and fees were
discussed. Members of the committee will poll other communities
regarding their fees and associated rights so that a fair
comparison can be made.
3.
The committee reviewed a list of ordinance
changes that will be needed for the new Harbor Plan.
4.
Issues of the sand bar and boat ramp were
discussed. Mike
Tortolani will get additional bids for the ramp.
5.
At the suggestion of Matthew Mannix, Dan will
ask those attending the Mooring Committee to attest to becoming
members of the committee versus attending just to observe.
C.
Harbor Master (Mike Tortolani)
Letters are going
out to 10 mooring holders who did not have a registered boat at
their mooring during the 2007 season.
The letter explains that the mooring holder is not in
compliance with the mooring guidelines and it must be corrected
before June 30, 2008 or termination of the mooring privileges
will occur.
D.
Beautification (Bill Dickinson)
No meeting. No report.
E.
Pond (Bill Dickinson)
1.
No meeting.
No report.
2.
Mr. Dickinson did say that he has received
calls regarding a smell coming from the pond.
F.
Social (Bill Dickinson)
The report is on
tape and a hard copy is attached to the original meeting minutes
retained at the Community Center.
G.
Beach (Bob Stebenne)
1.
The report is on tape and a hard copy is
attached to the original meeting minutes retained at the
Community Center.
2.
Doris Baris stated that she feels the Land
Trust should be a permanent part of the Beach Committee.
3.
Mim Logee is planning to formalize a committee
to study Little Beach. Presently
there is $2,500 budgeted for the study of and goals for Little
Beach.
H.
Historical (Bob Stebenne)
The report is on
tape and a hard copy is attached to the original meeting minutes
retained at the Community Center.
VII.
Treasurer’s
Report (Natalie McDonald)
A.
Natalie reported that there is $3,000
allocated for the Little Beach environmental study.
B.
$206,494.15 is in the combined checking and
money market accounts.
C.
There are some accounts that are building
money and should be evaluated.
They are:
1.
$14,064 - Playground Fund
2.
$1,760 - Historical
3.
$8,225 – Land Trust (not including the
$1,000 allocated for this year)
D.
Natalie explained that the new sanitation
contract will cause a $10,000 deficit because previously, the
July 1st invoice was sent for June work, but with the
new haulers, the July 1st invoice was sent for July
work.
VIII.
Tax
Collector’s Report (Helen Patience)
A.
The
report is on tape and a hard copy is attached to the original
meeting minutes retained in the Community Center.
B.
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 - $218,570.85
·
Returned
check fees - $00.00
·
Interest
collected - $00.45
·
Percentage
collected – 91.775%
·
Outstanding
taxes for 2008 - $19,606.90
C.
Fiscal
Year 2007 tax information:
·
Unpaid as
of September 19, 2007 - $1,185.87
·
Interest
collected - $74.47
D.
Fiscal
Year 2006 tax information:
·
Unpaid as
of September 19, 2007 - $ 425.13
·
Interest
collected - $36.69
IX.
Land Trust (Doris Baris)
No meeting.
No report.
X.
District Manager’s Report (Erin Rooney)
A.
The clean-up on October 27th at the
Town Beach North Pavilion will accept computers, paint, tar,
driveway sealant and other liquids.
No televisions or appliances will be accepted.
B.
November 10th is the last date for
the dumpster this season.
C.
The Holiday Party is scheduled for December 9th,
2007 at the Spain Restaurant.
D.
Narragansett Electric repaired the light and
the pole in the Community Center parking lot.
E.
Bob Barber will dig out the trench.
F.
Erin
expressed appreciation to Larry Marcello, who constructed 3 new
bulletin boards for the Fire District.
G.
Erin
attended the Coalition of Neighborhood Associations meeting on
October 16, 2007. The
orange sticker policy was discussed.
H.
The
“Run for the Troops” was successful.
XI.
Old Business
A.
Joe Thomas explained the process of election
results being posted on the website and on the bulletin boards.
B.
Matthew Mannix made a motion to post on the
website the actual number of votes on the Community Center
proposal. That
motion was amended to include all ballot items.
The motion was seconded by Bill Dickinson and approved by
all Council members in attendance.
C.
Matthew Mannix reported that he received a
complaint about a burm at Namcook and Bonnet Point Road.
XII.
New Business
None.
XIII.
Executive Sessions
None.
XIV.
Adjournment
A.
Bill Dickinson motioned to adjourn the
meeting. The motion
was seconded by Dan Quirk
B.
The meeting was adjourned at 9:00 p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
Catherine M. Kelleher
Clerk