August 15, 2006 Board Meeting Minutes

MINUTES

AUGUST 15, 2006 BOARD CONFERENCE CALL
BEDDINGTON LAKE EAST HOME OWNERS ASSOCIATION

FIRST ORDER OF BUSINESS
All Board members participated in the meeting, linked via phone conference call.

BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Following the nomination and approval of Bob LaMarche as the Association’s new Secretary at the annual meeting held on August 5, 2006, the Board made and passed a motion (at Bob’s request) to have his wife Marty appointed as Co-Secretary.

NEW BUSINESS
The Board reviewed and approved the contents of the Minutes for the Association’s annual meeting held on August 5. The Board decided that the Minutes would be posted on the Association’s website. Members, especially those who were unable to attend the annual meeting, will be directed to the website in the upcoming mailing of annual lot assessments (see below). It was decided that anyone without internet access can request a hard copy of the Minutes by contacting Bob or Marty LaMarche.

Treasurer Brian Govang reported that all Association annual lot assessments will be mailed to members to arrive around the first of September.

It was agreed that the next Board meeting (via conference call) will be conducted Tuesday, October 24 at 7 pm..

August 5 2006 Annual Meeting Minutes

MINUTES

AUGUST 5, 2006 MEETING
BEDDINGTON LAKE EAST HOME OWNERS ASSOCIATION

FIRST ORDER OF BUSINESS
Attendance was taken and the Board confirmed that a quorum existed. Thirty-six (36) lots were represented.

BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Bob LaMarche was nominated and approved as new Secretary of the Association to serve the remainder of the previous Secretary’s term.

OLD BUSINESS
Last year’s lot assessment was $100 per member. The Board expressed appreciation for all those who paid promptly. The purpose of the fee was restated: to maintain roads to the same standard as when the property was owned by International Paper (IP). Herb Jordan provided the road maintenance. The anticipated portion of that work was performed in May. An unanticipated emergency repair was done to fix washouts in the first dip of the road after leaving Rte. 9. Jordan does not anticipate any further problem in the area.

The Board then recognized the volunteer contributions of Association members who helped clean out a number of the culverts, as well as brush clearing. It was stated that brush clearing is clearly beyond the scope of volunteer efforts. The Board recognized the contribution of Marlene Sullivan, who negotiated a great price with IP to clear brush along the rest of the road and in so doing saved the Association a substantial sum of money.

TREASURER’S REPORT
Treasurer Brian Govang outlined Association funds spent from June 15 to August 5. Administrative costs during that time amounted to $55, which included snack bar hall rental and Association-related phone calls. As far as road maintenance is concerned, $425 was paid for emergency road repair noted above, and $1,500 was paid to IP for brush trimming on both sides of the main road. The total Association balance as of 8/5/06 was $1,642.53

NEW BUSINESS

1. ROAD MAINTENANCE: A motion was made and passed to continue the routine and emergency maintenance of the same roads and to the same condition as was done when IP owned the property. Any work beyond this commitment would require a vote by Association members. One of the members asked about the possibility of adding Shorey Brook Road to the list of maintained roads. It was stated that this is a road not previously maintained by the paper company, and the effort and expense of upgrading it to a maintainable standard would be prohibitive.

2. ANNUAL LOT ASSESSMENT: A motion was made and passed to increase the annual lot assessment from $100 to $125 per year to cover routine road maintenance (see No. 1 above) and to cover unforeseen expenses. An earlier suggestion to increase the fee to $150 was discussed before final agreement was reached on the $125 total. One member suggested that the fee be kept at the $100 total and that any emergency would be handled by special request. The President stated that from past experience that type of request does not work. The assessment fee this coming year is intended to cover not only routine road grading and maintenance, but also the trimming of vegetation along both sides of the road for safety/visibility reasons. It was stated that this approach of regular small-scale trimming is preferable to waiting a few years for the brush to grow back in because this year’s work would have cost the Association $12,000.

3. CONTRIBUTION IN MEMORY OF ROBIN STAEBLER: In recognition of Robin’s service to the Board and Association, a motion was made and passed to contribute $50 on behalf of the Association to a Short-Wave Radio Association Fund established for Robin Staebler by his wife Sally.

4. SPEED LIMIT SIGNS: A motion was made and passed to authorize the Board to research and secure up to three signs to post speed limits at the most economical cost in an effort to reduce excessive vehicle speeds on the main Association roads. Actual accidents and close calls were described by Association members. One of the accidents was a head-on collision that an ambulance crew didn’t reach for 2.5 hours afterward. These excessive speeds are not limited to cars. ATVs and logging trucks also routinely violate what has always been a 15 mph speed limit. One suggestion to help limit the use of the road by outsiders and reduce speed is to have real estate For Sale signs at the junction of Rte. 9 and East Beddington Lake Road removed if the company currently does not have an active listed property on the road.
   

OTHER TOPICS

1. TERMS OF BOARD MEMBERS: The election of a new Board of Officers at next year’s annual meeting means that all Association members should consider serving in some capacity. A suggestion was made to stagger the elections of Board members (rather than elect all posts at the same time) in order to create a smoother chain of succession. This suggestion will be explored in coming months.

2. ASSOCIATION WEBSITE: Carol Aten outlined the features of the revised Association website which will allow members to post messages to Board members. Members should use this resource and not assume that Board members are already aware of specific situations or problems because none of them live at the lake year-round. A sign-up sheet was passed around the room asking for e-mail addresses. Association members can use the website to not only send messages, but also to contribute comments and photos about life, environmental observations and wildlife sightings around the lake. The website will feature excellent links for general interest, resources for lakeside living and even up-to-date water depth charts. Members can see the website at http://eastbeddlake.blogspot.com/ and contact Carol if they would like the ability to post their own comments and/or photos to the site (use the “Email Blog/Web Admin” link on the site).

3. GENERAL INFORMATION: Several suggestions were made that should be considered by all Association members. These include the following: 1. The increased use of water by lake residents carries with it the responsibility to maintain overall water quality and one way to do that is by using a non-phosphate laundry detergent; 2. Before starting any construction project, septic installation, well drilling or tree removal work, contact a DEP representative or Wilma Loughlin, Beddington’s new construction code officer (after the meeting, it was learned that Lew Hutchins retired earlier this spring), to make sure you are not violating any regulations. This can save you time and expensive fines; 3. Speaking of new wells, make sure to have your water tested for safe drinking; 4. Because owners can now rent their properties, it is their obligation to find responsible clients and communicate guidelines to ensure that the lake and surrounding property is protected from harm and that other residents not be disturbed by inappropriate behavior. The consensus of members in attendance was that these issues were outside of the charter of the Association to address. However, the Board welcomed the active participation and information sharing by Association members.

ANNUAL MEETING IN 2007

A motion was made and passed to hold next year’s annual meeting at the same time of year, date to be determined by the Board. The meeting was then adjourned.

What is it?

These ghostly "flowers" have been growing in our woods, poking through the pine needles in very shady areas. Can any of you tell us what they are? Post the answer under "comments" below if you know!

First (Annual?) Beddington Lake Picnic a Success!

Good weather, great food (Bonnie promised to post her baked beans recipe here...) and many new friends at the (hopefully) first of many annual gatherings of the residents of the East side of Beddington Lake. Huge thanks to Jim and Joyce Tucker (14), our hosts, and Steve Gitscher (2) for grilling an endless supply of hot dogs and hamburgers. For those of you who couldn't join us, it was a terrific opportunity to meet many new and longtime residents of the lake, and learn about eachother and some great lake lore. Make sure you set aside time next August to come!

East Beddington Lake Loss

We are greatly saddened to learn of the passing of Robin Staebler (Lot 23E) and send our sympathies to Sally Baldwin and their family. Robin started the East Beddington Lake Homeowners Association website "blog" and gave all of us an opportunity to see the lake year round even when we couldn't be there. His commitment to communication and our lake community will be remembered, and continued in his spirit.

Dr. Robin J. Staebler, C.C.F.P., Dip. A.B.F.P. BELFAST (July 25): Robin J. Staebler, M.D., C.C.F.P., Dip. A.B.F.P., born Aug. 28, 1936, in Gananoque, Ontario, Canada, died July 23, 2006, after a lengthy illness. He was a resident of Belfast, where he lived for the last eight years with his wife, Sarah Laird Baldwin. He was predeceased by his wife, Sally Ann Levandoski; son, James Edward Staebler; and sister, Penelope Ann Skidmore. Dr. Staebler is survived by a daughter, Lee Ann Posavad (nee Staebler); and grandchildren, Victoria Leigh Posavad, Sandra Louise Posavad, Kyrielle Sara Staebler, Cody Jacob Staebler and Robyn Evely Staebler. He was a veteran, serving both the U.S. Army as a medic in Korea, and as a doctor in the Canadian Armed Forces. Robin earned a doctorate in medicine from Queen's University, Kingston, Ontario, Canada, specializing in family medicine. In addition to his work in private practice, he was an assistant professor of family practice at the University of Minnesota, and a professor and chairman of the Department of Family Medicine, University of North Dakota School of Medicine. Upon retiring to Belfast from Reading, Penn., in 1998, Dr. Staebler worked locum tenens for several years until he took a staff position in the emergency room at Waldo County General Hospital. He was an avid ham radio operator under the call sign WF1R. Past-president and current secretary for the Medical Amateur Radio Council, he was active in Waldo County Amateur Radio Emergency Service and Radio Amateur Civil Emergency Service. He acted as communications officer for Maine Emergency Management Agency and was a trained community emergency response team volunteer and communicator for Waldo County. Dr. Staebler also taught the amateur radio license course at Waldo County Technical Center. He enjoyed outdoor sports, especially kayaking and camping. He was also a licensed pilot. A memorial service will be held in the fall. The family has requested that donations, in lieu of flowers, be given in support of the Waldo County Amateur Radio Club.