POENB Minutes
Friday, September 8, 2023
The meeting was held in persoan from 7:00 pm to 7:40 pm at Valley Grove beach.
The Pledge of Allegiance was recited followed by a roll call of officers.
Officer Roll Call
- Frank Pasquale – President
- Ryan Schaefer-Walker – Vice President
- Anthony Fusaro – Treasurer
- Yvonne Lamberston – Assistant Vice President (Technology, Web and Communications)
- Steve Neuf – Assistant Vice President (Engineering and Special Projects)
- Sally Neal – Recording Secretary
- Nancy Reagan – Corresponding Secretary
Attendance
Approximately 12 members, including officers, were in attendance.
Frank Pasquale’s motion to accept last month’s minutes as posted on the POENB website was seconded and the minutes were approved.
President’s Report – Frank Pasquale
Frank reminded members that POENB’s next social event – Endless Summer – will take place on Saturday, September 9, 2023 from 3 pm to 7pm. This year’s band, Division Street, will play a selection of tunes from the 1970s. Food and soft drinks will be provided. Adult members are asked to BYOB if they’d like to enjoy an alcoholic beverage. As of September 7th, approximately 40 persons have RSVP’d. Walk-ins will be welcome at the event. See the POENB website for additional information.
Frank then asked John Ballow, who is the POENB’s designated point person, to update the members on two public safety issues.
- PSEG – PSEG is making excellent progress on improving the reliability of electrical power to Eaton’s Neck as well as decreasing the frequency and duration of outages.
All PSEG projects, the details of which have been described several times in prior issues of the Changing Tides, are on track for completion by Q1 ‘24. Collectively, these projects should reduce the number of outages EN experiences (currently ~20 per year) by 70%.
John and Frank urged members who experienced personal property damages due to the electrical outage on February 3-4 to submit their claims to PSEG. The claim form can be found on the PSEG website (http://www.psegliny.com/claims). While the form may be returned via email, fax or US mail, email is best since the email box is monitored 24/7. To date, PSEG has paid individual EN residents, who were economically damaged by the power outage, between $400 to $4,000 for their claims.
- Bevin Seawall – As discussed previously, the Bevin Seawall is rapidly deteriorating. For more than two decades, politics has negatively interfered with the development of feasible engineering solutions to permanently fix the Bevin Seawall.
John Ballow, as Eaton’s Neck representative, is working with multiple impacted stakeholders to:
- Further educate local, state, and federal politicians of the public safety hazards to the 2,000 residents living north of Bevin Road (inability to access fire, police, and health services), and
- Provide a fact base to help politicians (Village of Asharoken (VOA), Town of Huntington (TOH), Suffolk County, and NYS) collaborate with NYS Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) and the US Army Corp of Engineers (ACOE) on solutions and funding.
John Ballow provided the following updates:
- As discussed in last month’s edition of the Changing Tides, Keith Brown (NYS Assemblyman) shepherded the process to “release” $50,000 of previously budgeted and approved state funds to be spent on additional rocks for the Bevin Road Seawall. These funds were provided to the Village of Asharoken (VOA). However, per the VOA’s meeting minutes, the town has spent only $15,000 of the available $50,000. Specifically, VOA spent $10,000 on additional rocks to bolster the Seawall and $5,000 on an engineering study. They are reserving the remaining $35,000 for future repairs.
- The VOA has also secured two $1 million grants.
- The first $1 million is an earmark from Sen. Schumer to substantially repair several hundred feet of collapsing sheet steel.
- The second $1 million is a hazard Mitigation Grant to prepare an engineering solution to permanently restore the seawall and the beach.
- Both grants have a local share meaning that VOA (ideally with NYS) must fund $250K of the first $1 million grant and $107,600 of the second $1 million grant.
- The VOA believes that conducting the engineering study is a necessary first step to secure funding to implement the study. Politicians have estimated that the cost to execute the engineering design to fully restore the seawall and the beach could cost $15 to $20 million.
- The VOA plans to issue an RFP (request for proposal) for qualified firms to bid on this engineering design study in the near future.
- After the engineering study to design a permanent solution to ensure the safe and secure access of residents who live beyond the Bevin Seawall is completed, the VOA plans to “re-engage” with the Army Corp of Engineers (ACOE), and the NYS DEC about construction funding and responsibilities.
- As discussed previously, multiple governmental entities/administrative agencies have authority and responsibility for the seawall. These include (1) the VOA (since the seawall is located in the Village), (2) the Town of Huntington (since it represents EN residents who must pass by the Seawall to get to and from their homes), (3) the NY Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) (since they are responsible for protecting, preserving and enhancing the natural resources and environment and enhance the health, safety and welfare of NYS residents), (4) the ACOE (since they originally dredged the sand and made other changes to the environment), (5) Suffolk County (since the Seawall is in SC and SC owns property, acquired in a tax foreclosure, near Bevin Road), and (6) NYS and the US Federal government (given the need to coordinate across jurisdictions/administrative agencies).
Not surprisingly, these different governmental entities and administrative agencies have different mandates, follow different processes and protocols and have different priorities. However, all parties agree that to move forward there must be a “local, willing, capable and funded sponsor” to lead and drive the effort.
Unfortunately, a local government leader (e.g., VOA, TOH, and/or Suffolk County) has not been identified.
As a result, while there have been several live and virtual meetings attended by local and state leaders, the path forward to permanently fixing the Bevin Seawall appears to be in a “holding pattern.”
- Residents and other interested parties are asked to complete a survey sent out by Keith Brown, NYS Assemblyman. This survey, which is due on September 15th, allows NYS residents to communicate where and how they would like the $4.2 billion of funds available from the “Clean Water, Clean Air and Green Job Environmental Bond Act” that was passed on November 8, 2022. Specifically, EN residents are asked to request that the funds be used for the “Asharoken Seawall & Dune Reconstruction.”
To make it easier for residents to complete the survey, POENB sent an email to members which recommended responses. The Board urges members to complete this survey as it represents another opportunity to obtain funding for the Bevin Seawall.
Treasurer’s Report – Anthony Fusaro
Anthony provided highlights from the Income Statement for the period January 1, 2023 to September 8, 2023 and three Balance Sheet line items as of September 8, 2023.
While income from beach usage, membership, social events, and watercraft spaces were robust, net income decreased from the prior period given expected increases in seasonal beach expenses (e.g., split rail fence at PB, new beach security camera at PB, new utilities at VG as well as three social events – 4th of July Parade, Partí Gras, and Endless Summer).
POENB’s financial condition continues to remain strong.
Income Statement
Income
Beach Usage/Rental Fees $840.29
Changing Tides Ads 0.00
Interest Income – Bank 0.06
Membership Dues
Senior $20,666.72
Standard 31,542.99
Total $51,209.71
Social Events
4th July $935.00
Parti Gras 4,935.82
Endless Summer $1,730.00
Total $7,600.82
Watercraft Income $638.50
Total Income $61,289.38
Expenses
Bank Charges & Fees $60.00
Beach Expenses 9,316.64
Beach Improvements 6,604.29
Beach Security Expense 3,391.89
Changing Tides Expense 2,515.94
Meeting Expenses 10.85
PayPal Fees 921.71
QuickBooks Payments Fees 16.74
NY State Sales Tax 26.67
Social Expenses
4th July Parade $1,500.00
Egg Hunt 490.70
Parti Gras 4,280.23
Total Social Expenses $6,270.93
Software/Website Expenses 362.09
Utilities
Prices Bend $208.94
Valley Grove 157.61
Total $366.55
Total Expenses $29,854.30
Net Income $31,435.08
Balance Sheet Items as of August 3, 2023
- Operating checking account balance $ 47,944.61
- Beach Fund checking account balance 2,000.00
- 50/50 Savings account balance 640.13
- PayPal Bank 1,094.80
- Total Cash $51,679.54
New Business Report
POENB Membership – Gene Caputo
Gene noted that POENB has continued to attract new members during the summer months. As of September 8, 2023, 256 memberships had been sold. In 2022, POENB had 252 members which had been an historical high.
The Board would like to thank all residents who continue to help preserve our beaches and make Eaton’s Neck a fun, friendly, safe, and engaging community.
Beach Maintenance – Steve Neuf
Price’s Bend
A few members have inquired about the large dirt pile that exists near the parking lot entrance to Price’s Bend. Members have noted that it is unsightly and may attract vermin. Frank Pasquale, President stated that over the next few weeks, this dirt pile will be transferred to Valley Grove and used for landscaping and other purposes.
Valley Grove
Previously, members noted that the VG facility has been plagued with overgrown weeds, poison ivy, and other yard maintenance issues. These issues have been corrected.
Finally, Steve Neuf stated that VG now is electrified. It has a new meter pan, circuit breaker, GFI outlets and a motion sensor light with disconnect.
The meeting was adjourned at approximately 7:40pm. The next meeting is scheduled for October 6th.
