POENB Meeting Minutes
Friday, February 3, 2023
The meeting was held physically at the Eaton’s Neck Firehouse as well as via Zoom.
The pledge of allegiance was recited and then followed by a roll call of the officers.
Roll Call
- Frank Pasquale – President
- Ryan Schafer-Walker – Vice President
- Steve Neuf – Assistant Vice President (Engineering and Special Work Projects)
- Yvonne Lambertson – Assistant Vice President (Technology, Web and Communication)
- Anthony Fusaro – Treasurer [ABSENT]
- Sally Neal – Recording Secretary
Member Attendance
There were 19 members in attendance at the firehouse, not including the board members and four members in attendance via Zoom.
Acceptance of Prior Month’s Minutes
Frank Pasquale’s motion (seconded by Yvonne Lamberston, AVP) to accept the prior month’s POENB minutes as published in the Changing Tides in January 2023 was accepted.
Correspondence
Publication of the Changing Tides
Frank Pasquale stated that February and March are combined months for the Changing Tides” meaning that only one edition will be published for both months. Frank noted that the February/March edition will probably be published in early March.
Funding for the Asharoken Environmental Study
As described in January’s edition of the Changing Tides, John Ballow stated that the Village of Asharoken obtained $50,000 to study beach erosion issues/the sea wall near Bevin Road. The village also obtained $1,000,000 from a fund made possible by Sen. Chuck Schumer to execute “next steps” as outlined in a prior Army Corp of Engineers study. John stated that he currently has no further information on the status of these two studies.
Survey Results
On January 6, 2023, the Board sent a survey via email to all last year’s POENB members.
Given that the survey results are graphically presented on 33 pages and there is an eight-page limit in the February/March edition of the Changing Tides, it is not possible to publish the responses to the approximately 30 questions posed in the survey.
However, the full results of the survey were printed and made available by the Board to members at the February meeting.
Additionally, survey details are available online at the POENB website (eatonsneck.org) Go to “Menu, “Recent Communications” and then “2023 POENB Membership Survey Results.”
In terms of key take-aways,
- Responses were received from 83 of the 252 members (~25%).
- 42 responders had senior memberships while 41 had standard memberships. This 50/50 split is representative of the 2022 membership.
- 67 responders have been members for more than 10 years
- Approximately half of all respondents store watercraft at the beaches and those with watercraft are overwhelmingly satisfied with the current storage system
- The vast majority of respondents (84%) do NOT attend the monthly POENB meetings; more than 50% stated that the Changing Tides is their primary source of POENB related updates
- 100% of respondents stated that they plan to re-join in 2023
- Respondents stated that they believe the Board is doing a good job
- Of the 13 benefits identified from POENB membership, 50% or more of the respondents ranked these eight as the most valuable:
- Advocacy with the Town of Huntington (62 out of 83)
- Free (1 spot) watercraft storage (44 out of 83)
- Distribution of the Changing Tides Newsletter (54 out of 83)
- Preservation of POENB beaches (68 out of 83)
- Creation of a storm infrastructure and emergency fund for the beaches (56 out of 83)
- Managing beach erosion due to higher tides and heavy rain (61 out of 83)
- Infrastructure improvements from local government (like better drainage) (55 out of 83), and
- Emergency communications in time of severe weather (46 out of 83)
Questions/ Open Discussion
One member asked what the Association’s available balance was as of 12.31.22. POENB net surplus for 2022 was $16,303.37
Another member inquired as to how much money was budgeted in 2023 to replace the fence at Prices Bend.
Frank stated that the 2023 budget for beach improvements for both PB and VG was $9,000, an increase of about $3000 over the actual beach improvements spent in 2022. This which covers special projects item represents.
He went on to explain that the 2023 Beach expenses line item was $20,000, an increase of about five thousand more than last year. This funds vendors for our routine maintenance, storms cleanup and our spring cleanup.
Frank then made four additional points:
- If the fence at PB was either repaired or replaced, the money would come from the beach improvements expense line item.
- Improvement spending is only available to the extent that it is NOT needed for routine maintenance
- Per the comments made by survey respondents and comments made during prior monthly POENB meetings, there are differing (and strong) opinions among the members as to how many and which improvement to PB should be made
- All members will have an opportunity to vote on the nature, timing and extent of any beach improvements at a “key vote meeting” in March or April.
Frank’s comments engendered a lively discussion regarding:
- the purpose of the fence at Price’s Bend
- the need for the fence
- alternatives to a fence and
- the feasibility of repairing the fence.
With respect to the purpose of the fence, opinions varied.
- Some members stated that they believe the fence is a security tool – it helps to keep non-members off the beach property.
- Others believed that the fence was a property marker and served to delineate which parts of the beach belong to the POENB and which were the Town of Huntington’s (Hobart Beach).
- Still others believed that the fence was an aesthetic device that should highlight and/or improve the look and appeal of the beach.
- Others stated that they believed the fence played “multiple roles” and included security, property demarcation and aesthetics.
Since member’s opinion as to the purpose or objective of the fence varied, so too did their opinion on the need for the fence. Some stated that the hedges that surrounded parts of the fence served all three purposes, security, property marking, and aesthetics and therefore advocated to (1) remove the fence and (2) enhance and extend the hedges.
Others stated that regardless of the “philosophical” purpose of the fence, the existing fence should be removed. It was old, ugly, broken, rotten, and had far exceeded its expiration date.
Some members disagreed that the fence had outlived its useful life. These people stated that while specific posts and cross members of the split rail wood fence should be removed, selected sections of the fence could and should be salvaged (e.g., sections closer to Hobart Beach). The good and usable section of the fence could be used to replace sections that were broken, rotten and in disrepair
Finally, some members, who believed that the objective of the fence was primarily for security, suggested installing video cameras. These members felt that discussions as to whether the fence should be removed, repaired or replaced were not only unproductive but distracting; they impeded conversations about adopting a different, more modern approach to safeguarding PB.
To ensure that members have a full and complete fact base prior to deciding regarding the fence or other improvements, Frank Pasquale stated that he is in the process of obtaining three quotes from three different vendors:
- Repair selected sections of the fence – using salvageable parts where possible
- Replace the fence in its entirety with another wood fence – This would involve dismantling the existing fence, hauling off /potentially using selected pieces of salvageable posts and cross members, and constructing a new fence (potentially made of an extremely durable wood, like the current locust wood fence).
- Replace the fence in its entirety with one made of PVC. This would involve dismantling the existing fence, selling or repurposing the salvageable wood from the existing fence, and installing a new fence made of PVC – which requires significantly less upkeep than a wooden fence.
Frank stated that if the members wanted to keep the fence around PB (regardless of reason), each of the three options would probably cost at least $10,000. Frank stated that, in general, the materials represent one-third of the total cost while labor represents two-thirds.
Frank stated that the total cost of a fence could be reduced if members volunteered their time to execute the option selected (e.g., one of the three above or potentially another one, not yet articulated).
Additionally, a variety of proven sourcing strategies and negotiation techniques could also potentially modestly decrease the cost of repairing or replacing the fence Frank concluded by saying that given each option would cost at least $10,000, any improvements would need to be done in stages – over a two- or three-year period
This phased approach is both realistic and rational since the Board does not yet know how much money will be available for improvements. Money for improvements is available to the extent that funds are not needed for maintenance. The cost of routine beach maintenance expenses is not yet known since (1) vendors don’t bid on work until spring and (2) prices will probably increase given the inflationary economy.
Per comments received in the survey, other proposals to beautify the beaches include building a proper bathroom facility, changing room, shower, and providing additional security.
Vote on the 2023 POENB Budget
The motion to accept the budget was carried based on a show of hands. One member opposed the budget proposal.
New Business
Enrollment for 2023 POENB membership will open on Saturday, February 4th. Interested residents can join by accessing the POENB website (eatonsneck.org/membership) or by dropping their enrollment form (to be published in the Changing Tides) and check in the POENB mailbox near the Firehouse.
Mark Pendergast asked whether it was in POENB’s mandate to opine on new buildings that homeowners may want to construct on their property. Specifically, he was concerned with residents with waterfront homes on Eaton’s Neck Road (between Tudor and Peterborough Drives) building garages at street level in front of their homes. In the mid 1960’s, there may have been an ordinance that prohibited front yard garages. If additional garages are constructed, it is possible that those buildings might obstruct the water view that other residents of the last part of Eaton’s Neck Road currently enjoy.
Frank Pasquale, President, stated that POENB’s mission is to care for the two beaches – Price’s Bend and Valley Grove. It does not opine or advocate on behalf of individual homeowners with respect to changes other homeowners make to their property. POENB remains neutral on construction and other issues between neighbors. POENB would only be involved if a homeowner with property adjacent to either of the two beaches made changes to their property that would negatively impact the use and enjoyment of the beaches by the association members. Frank reminded the members that the beaches are deeded to the property of Eaton’s Neck POENB members.
All Other Business
The next meeting will be held on Friday, March 3, 2023 at 7:30 pm. The meeting will be held in person at the Firehouse and via Zoom.
The meeting was adjourned at approximately 7:40 pm.
