The meeting was held in person from 7:00 pm to 8:20 pm at the Eaton’s Neck Firehouse.
The Pledge of Allegiance was recited followed by a roll call of officers.
Officer Roll Call
- Tom Kehoe – President
- Ryan Schaefer-Walker – Vice President and Treasurer
- Anthony Fusaro – Assistant Vice President
- Yvonne Lambertson – Assistant Vice President (Technology, Web and Communications)
- Steve Neuf – Assistant Vice President (Engineering and Special Projects)
- Sally Neal – Recording Secretary
- Nancy Regan – Corresponding Secretary
Attendance
Approximately 18 members, NOT including officers, were in attendance. Christine Ballow’s motion to accept last month’s minutes as posted on the POENB website and in the Changing Tides was seconded and the minutes were approved.
Correspondence – Nancy Regan
Nancy reviewed the list of inquiries, comments and correspondence that the Board received in
December. The dates, person or persons initiating the question/correspondence and the topic
discussed (if relevant) are listed below. The Board’s response to selected items is also
included.
- In response to the emails sent to members about removing watercraft by December 1, 2023, three members emailed the Board stating that illness and other issues prevented them from moving their watercraft by the deadline but said they should be able to move their boats by January 31, 2024.
- Email from John Ballow updating the Board on PSEG activities. On January 7th, PSEG will activate the buried electrical lines, (divided into six zones), on Eaton’s Neck Road between Bevin and North Creek. PSEG is currently trimming trees around Eaton’s Neck to help prevent outages resulting from non-buried electrical lines. In Q2 ‘ 24, PSEG, in conjunction with the TOH and the VOA, will be repaving Eaton’s Neck Road to repair any damage caused by the underground power lines.
- Members expressed safety concerns regarding the road between Bevin and the Fire House and suggested (1) widening the road shoulders, (2) painting a line on the road to denote a jogging/bike path, (3) installing a “blind hill/do not pass” sign on both sides of the road between Locust Lane and Winkle Point Drive, and/or (4) create a “path” between Essex Drive and North Creek. John Ballow stated that Bob Dennis volunteered to communicate these safety requests to PSEG, TOH and VOA prior to the Q2 ‘24 road construction.
- Verbal inquiries regarding the ~7 month delay in moving the unsightly and potentially pest-ridden dirt pile at PB. Initially, the dirt was going to be moved from PB to level the bulkhead at VG. However, given cost and logistical issues, the Board plans to spread the pile across the PB parking lot. Tom Kehoe stated that this work should be done by January 31, 2024.
Treasurer’s Report – Ryan Schaefer-Walker
Ryan presented the Income Statement for the period January 1, 2023 to December 31, 2023
and three Balance Sheet line items as of December 31, 2023 as well as the proposed income
statement budget for 2024.
In 2023, POENB generated a surplus of $3,187. The Association also had cash on hand of
approximately $26K as of December 31, 2023.
In 2024, the Board is recommending increasing both annual membership dues and watercraft
fees given (1) inflation/cost of living increases (e.g., insurance increased 30% in 2024 vs. 2023),
(2) member preferences to use third party contractors (vs. volunteers) for beach maintenance
work (e.g., spring clean-up) and (3) several repairs needed at both beaches (e.g., stairs at VG,
playground equipment and fence at PB). Early bird senior and regular memberships will be
$180 and $275, respectively while non-early bird senior and regular memberships will be $200
and $305, respectively.
Previously, one watercraft spot was free with each membership. However, this year, the Board
is proposing that watercraft spots would be purchased separately and would not be included
in the annual membership. The proposal is $30 for the first spot and $60 for large watercraft.
Assuming membership numbers, types (senior vs. regular) and timing (early bird vs. standard)
remain the same in 2024 (vs. 2023); the changes in dues and fees should increase revenue by
$11K.
The Board estimates that in 2024 beach expenses will increase by $14K and beach
improvements will increase by $5K. PB beach security will decrease in 2024 since the 2023
expenses reflected the cost to both install and maintain the security camera.
In 2024, the Board will put all third-party contracts out for competitive bid to obtain the best
value for money. Vendors will be selected based on a combination of their all-in cost,
experience, and quality of work performed.
The 2024 budget, therefore, is a “breakeven” proposition. Once the budget is approved, the
Board will create a list of improvements for 2024 and a proposed prioritization. Members can
provide feedback on this list in March 2024.
The actual financials for 2023 and the proposed income statement budget for 2024 have been
posted on line at eatonsneck.org and are re printed here in the Changing Tides on Pg. 2.
The following exchange, about the 2023 actuals and the proposed 2024 budget, took place
between members and the Board.
Q1: Will the proposed increase in dues and watercraft fees be sufficient to cover the increase in
expenses? A1: No. Expenses will exceed revenues –that’s why 2024 is projected to be a
“breakeven year.” It is also difficult to accurately estimate the number of members and the
type and timing of their memberships and forecast the cost of improvements and repairs. If
needed, the Board will explore additional revenue opportunities in 2024.
Q2: How do these proposed annual dues and fees compare to other beach associations? A2: In
terms of absolute dollars, POENB’s membership is much less than other private beaches. Eaton’s Harbor charges $425 per year for its sluice beach. HBCA (Huntington Beach Community Association) in Centerport has unbundled their prices and charges separately for beach usage ($285 regular/$255 senior), boat ramp and dock access (including 1 dinghy/kayak spot) ($395 early bird and $415 standard), and optional security charge ($25).
HCBA also has a “sustaining” property membership ($130) that is used to support the
upkeep of the beach property as an asset to home values. A sustainer can participate in
sponsored events, general meetings and vote – but cannot use the beach or boat
ramp/dock. HBCA charges $50 for additional watercraft spots. There are several other
private beach clubs in Long Island and Westchester that charge several thousand dollars a
year but have significantly more amenities and services (permanent clubhouse with indoor
plumbing and showers, lifeguards, eating facilities, pools, and paved parking lots). There
are ~10 beaches in the TOH. A seasonal pass is $40 and a day pass is $30. The beach
pass does not include boat/ramp access. TOH charges $100 per year for small watercraft
rack space and $200 for large boats (sailboats, catamarans). The TOH also imposes fines
on watercraft that are NOT removed at the end of the season.
Q3: Have sufficient funds been allocated to beach security – specifically at PB given prior year
issues (e.g., non-member and non-EN residents parking in the lot, launching their boats,
and conducting early morning rendezvouses in the parking lot as well as individuals
throwing flammable bottles into the fire pit and vandalizing selected equipment). A3: There
may be a need to provide additional security (e.g., a permanent fence discussed in 2023).
However, members will need to prioritize beach projects given the multitude of
needs/requests and projected revenues.
Q4: What capital improvements are preliminarily included on the prioritization list? A4: In no
particular order, the preliminary list includes: (1) fix stairs at VG, (2) install motion detecting
lights at VG, (3) complete installation of split rail fence at PB, (4) improve landscaping at VG including debris near the kayak rack, (5) improve layout, functionality and landscaping at PB – including watercraft racks, and (6) repair/ improve safety of playground at PB. All items that are unsafe or dangerous will be given an A-1 priority.
Other Business
Watercraft – Yvonne Lambertson and Tom Kehoe
The deadline for removing watercraft from both beaches was December 1, 2023. Unfortunately, there are still ~20 craft at PB. Pictures of these boats are shown on the POENB website. The Board has sent several direct and blast emails to the community – with limited effect. The Board respectfully requests that members remove their watercraft from the racks/beach so that the beach can be properly cleaned and maintained.
The Board is considering more strictly enforcing the watercraft removal rule (e.g., all watercraft not removed by February 28 will be piled in the PB parking lot and then either sold or carted
away).
2024 is a watercraft reassignment year. All members requesting and receiving a watercraft spot
are asked to affix stickers.
Changing Tides – Tom Kehoe
The Board recognizes the communication value of the Changing Tides (CT) newsletter. The Board is currently reviewing opportunities to (1) reduce the creation, printing and distribution cycle time and (2) increase ad dollars from the Changing Tides. In FY 2022, PDF versions of the CT were stored on the POENB website. The Board is also considering uploading earlier editions (pre-2022) of the CT to the cloud.
POENB Documentation and Administration – Tom Kehoe
In 2024, the Board will consolidate, organize and secure POENB legal and administrative documents. A single, comprehensive, and safe storage space will make it easier for the Board to quickly access documents and enable a more seamless transition for new Board members. The Board asks members (especially former Board members) who may have key documents (contracts, policies, warrantees, and/or notes) to please contact the Board (info@eatonsneck.org).
Fourth of July Parade
The Eaton’s Neck Fire Department (ENFD) has organized an annual Fourth of July parade
every year for 50 years. While this historically fun and patriotic event has delighted both young
and old residents, as noted in the August edition of the Changing Tides, members had three
concerns about the most recent Fourth of July parade.
- Aggressive water balloon “fighting.” Some water balloons were aimed directly at
members’ and elected officials’ heads and some were launched with lacrosse sticks and
slingshots that increased both the force and distance with which the balloons could be
hurled. - Non-EN residents were often the most aggressive water balloon fighters.
- Significant debris from the broken water balloons which residents had to remove.
Remnants not picked up found their way to the sewers and shoreline which posed an
environmental hazard to local fish and bird life.
While the Fourth of July Parade is planned and sponsored by the ENFD, POENB collaborates
on the event by inviting local elected officials to speak. In 2024, the number of (1) Fire Departments participating will be reduced, (2) “wet areas” will be curtailed and (3) family-friendly events (parade floats) will be increased. In 2024, Tom Kehoe, as POENB president, will serve as the emcee for the elected official event.
New Date for the Monthly POENB Meetings
To increase attendance at the meetings, starting in February, the monthly meeting will be held
in person at the Firehouse and on zoom at 7:00 pm on the first THURSDAY of every
month. After the meeting, light snacks will be served to give members a chance to socialize.
2024 POENB Committee Chairs
Please let the Board know if you are interested in serving as a Chair or Co-Chair of one of
these committees.
- Membership – Gene Caputo
- Nominating – Christine Ballow
- Planning and Zoning – John Ballow
- Community Watch (sub-committee) – Phil Cuiffo
- Road Safety (sub-committee) – Bob Dennis
- Beach – VG – Tom Bishop
- Beach – PB – Greg Hodges
- Social (at least 2 needed)
- Heather Brown Kennedy
- Sara Coddington-White
- Heather Warrington
- Ryan Schaefer Walker
- Welcome – OPEN
- Beach Reservations – Nick Cavuto
- 4th of July Parade Committee – OPEN
Other
A new EN resident, Michael Cohen, expressed his interest in becoming more involved in
POENB. He has experience installing productivity software/hosting websites for NFPs and also
had commercial grade audio and visual equipment that could be used for an outdoor movie
night.
The meeting was adjourned at approximately 8:20 pm.
The next meeting is scheduled for Wednesday, February 7th at 7:00 pm both on Zoom and at the
Firehouse. Zoom (and dial in details) will be provided via email closer to the meeting.
