2016 Annual Meeting

NBCA Annual Meeting
July 2, 2016
 
Before calling the meeting to order, Dave Gale explained to the members attending why he was running the meeting.  He said he was elected President by the Trustees on June 11, 2016 as a result of 1) Neil Krupnick resigning as President and 2) Vice President Kathy McGraw withdrawing as acting President due to family commitments.
 
The meeting was called to order at 10:20 a.m.
 
Proof of Notice was provided by Secretary Ann Kromer, who indicated that most members were sent e-mails and those without e-mail addresses were mailed a notice.  Ann also updated the membership on other communications.  The membership voted to waive the reading of last year’s Annual Meeting minutes.
 
Mr. Phil Barbato was guest speaker.  Phil owns Biofilia Organic Farm and spoke about the use of Tagates Minuta marigolds to deter mosquitos.  He had samples of seedlings and advised on how to acquire seeds.  Phil is also a member of the Riverhead Neighborhood Preservation Coalition and explained it is an association of Neighborhood groups whose primary mission is to support each other as needed.  He spoke highly of the work NBCA did in successfully opposing the United Riverhead Terminal expansion.  Mr. Gale reported that Nancy Gray has accepted the role of NBCA liaison to the RNPC.
 
Noel Gale spoke for the Nominating Committee and put the names of Nancy Berkowitz, John Cullen, Dave Gale and Kathy McGraw up for election as Trustees.  All are current Trustees with expiring terms. No nominations were made from the floor and the membership unanimously voted all four nominees to be Trustees for three years.  Jim Radosta suggested the Trustees try to rotate duties to get different faces before the Town Board.
 
Noel Gale, Treasurer, provided her report of Association finances, a copy of which is attached to the hard copy of these minutes.  The membership voted to accept her report as presented.
 
Committee reports were presented by Mr. Gale as follows:
 

1. United Riverhead Terminal – there is nothing new on any expansion plans.It was reported that former President Neil Krupnick and VP Kathy McGraw met with the DEC regarding URT emissions.They were told that the DEC was willing to keep NBCA up to date on future URT applications.
2. NBCA sign – Mr. Gale reported that, at its June 23, 2016 meeting, the ZBA seemed to be opposed to granting a permit needed to relocate the sign to the property of Eve Kaplan.However, after remarks by John Cullen, the BA decided to hold over a decision until July 14, 2016.Bruce McFarland suggested trying to locate the sign near the NBCA memorial on Pier Avenue.
3. Road cleanup – it was reported that there was a decent turnout of fourteen people.Nancy Berkowitz said the cleanup went very well.Penney’s Road and Sound Shore Road were the focus of the cleanup.
4. North Fork Preserve – John Cullen and Dave Gale met with Representative Al Krupski to walk the property and discuss water containment.It is agreed that the most desirable solution is to keep water runoff on the property.
5. Crime -Mr. Gale said he was aware of no crimes being reported for the past year and asked the membership if they were aware of any.Bruce McFarland, who owns the property at 4 Bayberry Lane closest to the Town Beach, reported that his property suffers chronic vandalism.Members agreed to keep watch on that home as they go about their activities.Mr. McFarland also reported drone activity around his home.Drone activity in the area was witnessed by at least one other member as well.
6. Helicopter noise – this continues to be an unresolved problem for Northville residents. Mr. Gale said the Town of Riverhead has formed a helicopter/sea plane noise task force to address this problem.John Cullen distributed a letter members could use to write the FAA and reviewed who/how to contact with specific noise complaints.Mr. Cullen is NBCA’s point person on this issue.
7. Scholarship – Mr. Gale reported that there were no applicants this year, so no schlarships would be awarded this year.Sandy Gruner, chairperson of the Scholarship Committee, said that the committee would send surveys to the membership regarding the application and will target families with children.She hoped this was just an off year for children and relatives of members attending college and that we would get new applicants next year.
8. Web site maintenance – Ann and Mike Kromer have agreed to maintain the NBCA web page and Tom Hughes has offered to set up a Facebook page for NBCA.Tom’s offer was accepted.
9. Attorney debt – Noel Gale reported that there are no outstanding bills related to attorney fees for the URT fight.
10. Sensory Gardens – Mr. Gale reported that they may wish to expand and have offered to share details with us.This is a group home on Sound Shore Road and Sensory Gardens was a good neighbor to NBCA in the URT battle.NBCA has named Molly Tatman as our liaison to Sensory Gardens.
11. Dues – Membership was informed that the Trustees have voted to increase dues effective May 1, 2017 to $15 for single members and family members.
12. Army Corps of Engineers Dredge Dumping – this proposal calls for taking dredged materials from Connecticut and dumping them in Long Island Sound.Numerous East End organizations and the Riverhead Town Board, as well as individuals, have spoken out against this proposal at several meetings sponsored by the Army Corps of Engineers.In spite of the opposition, the Army Corps of Engineers has decided to move forward with its proposal.Rep. Al Krupski, who is against it, indicated at a Civic Association Roundtable meeting on June 28, 2016, that Governor Cuomo can stop this.John Cullen and Dave Gale attended the Roundtable.Members were encouraged to write to Governor Cuomo.
     
    Mr. Gale mentioned that the Scholarship/Cocktail party will be held at Pat Holland’s on August 27, 2016 from 4-7 p.m.
     
    New Business
     

1. The membership was asked how they felt about changing the start time of future Annual Meetings.After some discussion, it was agreed to start at 9:30 a.m.
2. Mr. Gale brought up the issue of horses on Sound Shore Road going onto a private road and onto the beach.It could be a health issue as these horses had left manure piles on Sound Shore Road and on the private road.Mrs. Jenulis said to keep horses on private property, there is a limit of one horse or two ponies per acre.She suggested checking the Town code about access laws.She believes horses have the right of way everywhere on public property, but not private property, and said there should be some kind of cleanup procedure in place.
3. George Luce mentioned two fundraisers for the Lions Club.The first, in August, is a golf outing to raise funds to purchase a veteran’s seeing eye dog.The second, in March, is a scholarship dinner at Polish Hall in Riverhead.
4. Mr. Radosta mentioned the Town is dumping everything cleaned up off the Pier Avenue boat ramp on the west side of the ramp.He wondered whether this might let ATV’s or horses get from the beach over onto Pier Avenue.Mr. McFarland confirmed this is happening with ATV’s.
5. A member said the handicapped ramp at the Town Beach on Pier Avenue is filled with sand.She suggested NBCA request the ramps be cleaned up by the Town.
6. Joe Hoffman, Jr., made a motion that the Trustees be empowered to purchase a sound system for use at the annual meeting.This was seconded and voted unanimously.
7. Berna Moran mentioned the new house being built just east of Fairview has a swimming pool with no water in it that does not have a fence around it, making it very dangerous.
8. Mary Yarusso mentioned boats with divers appearing every day off our beach and wondered what they were doing.It was suggested they might be gathering conch.
    
   Meeting concluded at 12:10 p.m.
    
    
    
   Ann Kromer
   Secretary