Roll Call:

• Ryan Cote – President; Frank Pasquale—Vice
• President ; Steven Neuf – Assistant Vice President;
• Anthony Fusaro—Assistant Vice President ; Nora
• Beck—Treasurer; Yvonne Lambertson—Recording
• Secretary; Ryan Schaefer-Walker—CorrespondingSecretary.

Attendance :

15 members were in attendance plus 7 board members.

Ryan Cote called the meeting to order and reminded attendees that the December meeting is the POENB Annual meeting. Per the by-laws, the order of business at the annual meeting is:

• Roll call of Officers and Directors;
• Annual report of Treasurer;
• Annual report of President;
• Presentation of issues to be voted on other than election of officers;
• Nominating committee reads list of nominees and proceeds with election;
• Nominating committee announces elected officers.

The first order of business was the Annual Treasurer’s Report. Ryan noted that after five years of dedicated public service as POENB treasurer, Nora Beck was stepping down with Anthony Fusaro nominated to take over her position in 2023. Ryan thanked Nora for her selfless service
to the community and turned the floor over to her for her report.

Annual Report of the Treasurer:

Treasurer Nora Beck reported that of our December meeting we had a year-to-date total operating income of $69,116.65 and year-to-date total operating expenses of $50,855.93. As of 12/2/22 this left an operating surplus of $18,260.72. We are on track for a successful year with a moderate surplus and will be able to set aside the budgeted $2,000 to seed a future Infrastructure/Beach Emergencies fund with the hope that future boards will continue to fund it. As of the December meeting we still had a few more expenses to pay such as landscaping and some Changing Tides
printing.

Membership receipts were $19,462.72 for senior and $32,706.93 for standard totaling $52,169.65 and 4th of July Parade donations made in conjunction with membership total $1,255. Beach rental reservations raised $2,300 in income for the year. Invoices for Changing Tides advertising and watercraft were sent and we hope to collect that revenue by the end of the year.

We have spent $5,702.27 in beach improvements ($1,298 left in budget) and normal beach expenses of $16,093.72. Year to date, we paid $1,657.44 in note repayments through June 30, 2022. The outstanding VG Notes were paid in full using the excess proceeds of $10,050.56 from the Valley Grove Bulkhead Project along with $1,948.67 coming from the current year budget.

Our checking account balance as of Dec 2nd was $ 23,307. 23. Our 50/50 savings account was $640.05. The Valley Grove Note checking account was zero balance. We are now going to use that account for the aforementioned beach infrastructure emergency fund.

Annual Report of the President:

Ryan reported that over 8 years of POENB service, five most recently and three about 10 years ago, he had been fortunate to be part of several fantastic iterations of the board with every single volunteer giving their full effort. But this 2022 board, he noted, was exceptional and he thanked all members for their selfless work and accomplishments. Primary among these was a return to normal and a re energizing of the membership after years of Covid. This board, accomplished that with a record membership tally of 252 households. With just over 400 households on the Neck, Ryan noted POENB still has more work to do to convince the remaining households to join, but these membership numbers were a great accomplishment.

Ryan thanked Gene Caputo for his excellent membership work year in and year out. He also
thanked Gene for educating him on board issues and policy way back when Ryan was a new home- owner with small kids and just beginning to get involved. Many of the successes of POENB operations today were built on foundations Gene established years ago; careful tracking of all members; use of technology to engage the membership a much more user-friendly website, etc. Ryan’s one regret this year is that he did not have the time he wanted to convert Gene’s carefully compiled member lists into a functioning Volunteer Corps. However, Ryan pledged to help the 2023 compile that data into a useable form. He went on remind all that Eaton’s Neck runs on volunteerism. Gene Caputo, exemplifies that spirit

Ryan thanked Heather Kennedy who volunteered to be our social chair and re invigorated Eaton’s Neck with its first full slate of social events in years –sorely needed after Covid had put a stop to our social calendar. Heather, ably assisted by Ryan Schaefer-Walker and Bethany Pokorny, added significantly to our calendars in just a single year: Easter Egg Hunt (April) Parti; Gras (May); Friday Night Grillin (June and July); Political Coordination for ENFD’s July 4th Parade; (July) Community Garage Sale/ Sunset at the Grove (August); Endless Summer Party (September); Halloween Parade (October); Turkey Trot (November). Ryan thanked Heather and congratulated she and husband Pat on the arrival of baby boy Finn on November 23rd.

Ryan thanked Anthony Fusaro, noting that when they met in the fall of 2021, POENB still had bonds from the seawall remaining to be paid and no idea if a new, still untested board would have a successful membership year. Out of caution, Ryan asked every 2022 board member to tighten its belt and carefully track and manage every POENB expense. Anthony re-negotiated our sand raking at the same price and, this past November, renewed our 2023 insurance policy at the same price as well. When not doing that, Anthony was checking the Eaton’s Neck mailboxes every single day to ensure paper membership forms were integrated with online forms so that membership order for watercraft selection was established with 100% accuracy. He is nominated to be the new treasurer and, in 2023, desires to investigate ways residents (even if they move) can donate to a fund for the preservation of its beaches.

Ryan thanked Ryan Schaefer-Walker whom he labeled the board’s jack of all trades—able to handle every crisis with a friendly, relaxed smile. Officially Ryan was POENB’s Corresponding Secretary. Unofficially, he did a little of everything: working with Heather on social and delivering a profitable Parti Gras. He also created an easy-to-follow watercraft diagrams as well as brand new (reusable) parking stickers with the help of husband David. Ryan also managed POENB garbage collection and, like Anthony, negotiated a pickup rate equal to years prior by carefully reviewing
our expenses. In short, Ryan Cote noted, RSW did a little bit of everything and when not doing all that, he’s busy as a CPA which means he will be an additional resource Anthony can tap into. RSW was, in fact, in line to succeed Nora as treasurer but with Anthony stepping up, agreed to be nominated as POENB Vice President. His enthusiasm will be a tremendous asset and tempering influence for the 2023 board.

Ryan thanked Yvonne Lambertson and applauded her for her unwavering commitment to transparency and fairness. Ryan remarked that he often reached out to seek Yvonne’s even handed counsel. When she joined the board in 2022, all were aware Yvonne possessed the organizational vision
and technological skill set POENB desperately needed. Her tenure, even before she officially joined the board, has been marked by a dramatic modernization of our processes; improvements necessary to speak to the new generation Necker moving here. Yvonne’s work can be found in everything from our website to e-blast communications—all clear and clean. However, it is her improvements to the watercraft process, building on the work and vision of the previous board, which has been exceptionally noteworthy. Ryan Cote was pleased to report that Yvonne would be running for Assistant Vice President in 2023.

Ryan thank Steve Neuf who has served this community for the past five years in a variety of board roles and who will continue to serve Eaton’s Neck in 2023. Ryan noted he and Steve are old friend and that it is always good to have a friend around when you’re on a board. Ryan praised Steve for his ability to get things done in a matter of fact way, always with a relaxed perspective that masks his excellent engineering mind. Steve was hugely instrumental in building of the Valley Grove seawall in years past and this year, with Frank Pasquale and Greg Hodges, helped manage several key POENB projects which included re building the dinghy racks at Price’s Bend and re doing the electric. As 2023 dawns, Steve is looking at the possibility of doing the same at Valley Grove as well as tackling a list of other needed projects. Ryan thanked him for his service to Eaton’s Neck.

Ryan thanked Nora Beck, noting that our December meeting marked the last meeting of her tenure as POENB treasurer and five years of excellent service. Ryan praised Nora for stewarding POENB finances during the fundraising, financing, building and, most recently, the paying off of the Valley Grove Seawall. In 2022 this board paid off the final notes, thus bringing that huge job to a conclusion, with all compliments to the prior board who did a fantastic job making the project happen. While stewarding that job through from start to finish, Nora was busy doing monthly treasurers reports and annual budgets. Speaking personally, Ryan commented that Nora is a good friend who well deserved to finally step away. He concluded by saying that he will always be grateful that Nora was willing to give POENB one more year of her time to make sure his time as president was a success.

Ryan thanked Frank Pasquale whom he labeled the hardest worker on the POENB board this year and one of the smartest guys in the room. Ryan complimented Frank’s ability to absorb every detail about a situation then spit it back out in common sense terms. Frank’s style is all his own, funny and irreverent but laser sharp. If people don’t quite know what to make of Frank, Ryan said, they haven’t taken the time to get to know him. Under Frank’s occasionally gruff exterior is a caring person who gives selflessly of his time and energy to make the Eaton’s Neck community better. Ryan encouraged Frank to keep doing that, commenting that it’s easy to criticize but far harder for a person to give of one’s time to try to make a community better. Frank exemplifies the latter. Ryan concluded by noting that Frank has the ability to look at every issue from every side and make a gut call which, in Ryan’s mind, is the essence of leadership. In that spirit, Frank has agreed to step up his leadership in 2023 as the POENB nomination for President. Ryan thanked him for his continuing service.

Ryan Cote ended by thanking all the POENB members. Being President, he remarked, is not an easy job but an incredibly rewarding one. He enjoyed working with this talented board and is proud of its many accomplishments. While the reality of a looming home renovation coupled with kids nearing college age made it necessary to say it was time for a step back, that decision was a very difficult one and made with a heavy heart. Ryan concluded his report by noting that as much as he has loved working with this board, he loves

Eaton’s Neck more, both as a place and as an idea–even if a slightly idealized one at times. Ryan noted that after growing up out here, he then chose to raise his family here. During his tenure as president he has received nothing but polite acceptance and encouragement from all Neckers, whether they agreed with him on an issue or not.

The community, Ryan felt, understood he was doing this job because he cared about this place and he thanked them for their kind support. He finished by asking all residents to give that same support to the next iteration of the POENB board. As most ex board members do, Ryan pledged to continue to work hard for and with the next board in a variety of capacities to help them be successful. With that Ryan noted there were no other issues to be voted on other than the board election.

He thanked Christine Ballow for agreeing again to be the POENB Nominations Chair and turned the meeting over to her to read the slate of nominees into the record, noting that voting will be conducted in-person and shall be carried by a simple majority of votes cast. POENB Members in good standing shall be represented by one (1) vote per household.

2023 Board Election:
Christine Ballow read the following nominees into the record for election to the POENB Board for the 2023 term.

• Frank Pasquale, President
• Ryan Schaefer-Walker, Vice President
• Steven Neuf, Assistant Vice President
• Yvonne Lambertson, Assistant Vice President
• Anthony Fusaro, Treasurer
• Sally Neal, Recording Secretary

All attendees were households in good standing and all voted in the 2023 slate of candidates in unanimously. The incoming 2023 board was applauded by those in attendance.

Motion to adjourn.
A motion to adjourn was made, then seconded. The meeting ended at 8:15 pm.