Minutes: MPCA BOARD MEETING

Monday, January 9^th, 2006

7:30 PM

 

The Board of Directors of the MPCA met on Monday, January 9^th, 2006 at Judi Carr’s home. Present were Ann Adams, Judi Carr, Darby Johnson, Don MacKinnon, Jeanne Ormrod, Peter Roy, Russ Simon and Jim Fitzpatrick, presiding. Dimitri Chernyshov was absent. Guests included Erin Surprenant of Great North Property Management, our new property manager.

 

The meeting was called to order at 7:35 PM.

 

1.     Minutes of the December 5th, 2005 MPCA Board meeting:

 

·Motion to approve minutes was made by Jeanne Ormrod, seconded by Judi Carr - approved unanimously.

 

2.     Treasurer’s Report :

 

• Presented by Don MacKinnon
• As requested by the Board, Great North has consolidated the financial reporting of the MPCA Operating and Water Systems expenses.
• Updated financials through 12/31/05 were reviewed. Overall, Year-to Date MPCA Operating Expenses and Water System Operating Expenses are continuing to run under budget $6000+.
• Electric expenses for the Pump House and Well House appear to be running over budget and will be investigated by Great North and the WSC.
• Pruning expenses were incorrectly classified as landscaping improvements and will be corrected and moved to Common Land maintenance.
• Certain Days Irrigation bills paid by the MPCA need to be investigated as they may be expenses that should have been paid by the local Associations.

 

3.     Committee Reports

 

Water Systems Committee

 

• Presented by Jim Fitzpatrick.
• Maintenance and upgrades continue to be done on the Water System and Sewer Lift Station. Various valves need replacing in the pump house, a Lift Station louver needs repair and other estimates are being sought for updating portions of our equipment.
• As part of our regular testing of the water quality, the most recent results showed a minor bacterium content. Though well within normal limits, it will continue to be monitored and investigated.
• At some future point, the fire pond will require some minor dredging around the outside perimeter of the pond to remove silt build-up over the past 20 years. This will return the fire pond to its original depth and increase current capacity. We plan on integrating this task with other future drainage and potential irrigation work to leverage the use of equipment and minimize expense and Lot #4 disturbance.
• The WSC needs to review the overall current irrigation system sprinklers installed throughout Moody Point to ensure effectiveness of water use and reduce redundancies. This will be done during the 2006 irrigation cycle.

 

Environmental Committee:

 

• Presented by Jeanne Ormrod.

• Nothing new to report.

 

 

Community Life Committee:

 

• Presented by Darby Johnson.
• The Holiday Party (the Winter Quarterly Moody Point Get Together) held on Saturday, December 10^th at the Bouthot’s, was a great success. Not only was a good time had by all that attended, but a significant amount of non-perishable goods were collected to donate to people in need. A note was received by Debby Grubbs from the Newmarket Food Pantry thanking us for the large food donation. Many thanks to the Bouthot’s for hosting this holiday event.
• The Board asked the CLC to consider asking for food donations at all the Quarterly events.
• The next Quarterly event is scheduled for April 1^st from 5 to 7 PM, at the home of Paul Ossenbruggen & Cathy Burns. Stay tuned for more info.
• Peg Goddard is planning a “Ladies Night Out” at her home on 2/15/06. Stay tuned for more details.
• The CLC is planning to recommend an updated Screen House Use Policy by the end of the 1^st Quarter.
• The Timely Topic Calendar has been established and is as follows:

 

* All sessions will begin at 7:00 pm.

 

January 22, 06 Topic: "Global Warming"

Speaker: Sukey Stafford and Gordon Clark, UNH Marine

Docents working with Dr. Cameron Wake, UNH Climate

Change Research Center

Host: Anna-Lisa Gotschlich – 133 Cushing Rd.

 

February 26, 06 Topic: "Understanding Memory and Aging"

Speaker: Dr. Spencer Amesbury, North Shore geriatrician/family

practitioner specializing in Alzheimer/dementia.

Host: Lorelei and Dimitri Chernyshov – 117 Cushing Rd.

 

March 26, 06 Topic: "The History of Newmarket"

Speaker: Sylvia Getchell, Curator, Newmarket Historical Society

Host: Kay McTigue – 15 Osprey Lane

 

April 30, 06 Topic: "The 60's – How They Changed Us"

Speaker: Harvard Sitkoff, UNH Professor of History, Moody Point

resident, published author

Host: Val Shelton and Diane Morin – 124 Cushing Rd.

 

 

 

4.     MPCA Managers Report:

 

• Presented by Erin Surprenant.
• Bruce Goodwin, a local resident and volunteer participant in the 105^th annual National Audubon Society Christmas Bird Count requested of the MPCA access to the dock and screenhouse areas. They combine all counts to yield a total for all North America. Permission was granted. We received a thank you note from Bruce and he commented on how beneficial the site was for observation.
• We have received a new service contract from Pump Systems on the Sewage Pump Station, with a price increase. WSC needs to review for approval.

 

 

 

5.     MPCA By-Laws – Review of Revised Draft

 

• An updated copy of the proposed MPCA By-Laws, including Board comments and changes was completed by Jeanne Ormrod (many thanks to Jeanne for her tireless work here). This updated copy was sent to the By-Laws Revision Committee to review. A meeting will be set up shortly with Jim Fitzpatrick, Jeanne Ormrod and Russ Simon from the MPCA Board and the By-Laws Revision Committee to finalize the draft and to develop the process for distribution to, discussion with and voting by the MPCA members.
• A request was made of Erin Surprenant to provide the Board with copies of other Communities list of fineable violations so the Board can develop the appropriate policy for the MPCA.

 

 

6.     Title XXXI – Condominium Act Requirements

 

• The recent updates to this Act require that an Association disclose issues and potential liabilities that exist to new buyers. The Board feels that the drainage issues potentially require some disclosure statement and Jim Fitzpatrick will be working with the MPCA counsel to develop the appropriate language. We also think that each local Association needs to consider preparing a similar statement. The MPCA will share the language with the local Associations once it is developed.

 

 

7. UNH Storm Water Management - Drainage Fix Proposal

 

• Jim Fitzpatrick, Russ Simon and Dick Mills have been in discussions with UNH's Storm Water Management Team to review portions of our drainage problems (Eastern Cushing Road and Osprey Lane and Circle area) and to recommend solutions. They have reviewed the area and sent us a project proposal to develop drainage solutions for this area.
• The Board reviewed the proposal and though we are very interested in pursuing drainage fixes and UNH provides us with an excellent resource, it would be premature to develop solutions prior to the resolution of the Moody Point Company’s Wetlands building permit applications and the completion of the Drainage Issues Administrative process with the Town of Newmarket. In addition, we are seeking a complete, coordinated and integrated drainage plan for Moody Point before we decide to focus on any particular area. We will be keeping the proposal open to re-visit as we reach resolution on the above issues and processes.

 

8. Legal and Other Expertise Required to Address Drainage and Wetlands Issues

 

• The Board discussed the need to continue with legal representation and potentially hire engineering and other expertise to pursue the resolution of the Wetlands Permits Applications and Drainage Issues. The Board felt it was critical for the MPCA to see the State and Town processes through to their conclusions and to retain the expertise necessary to support this effort.
• A motion to approve authorizing up to an additional $12,000 for legal representation on these issues was made by Russ Simon, seconded by Jeanne Ormrod. The motion passed with a vote of 5 in favor and 1 abstention.
• A motion to approve authorizing up to $6,000 for engineering and other expertise that may be required to address these issues was made by Russ Simon, seconded by Darby Johnson.
• At this point we will not require any special assessment of our members or use of reserve capital funds.
• The Board will actively monitor the progress on the resolution of these issues and the expenses incurred.

 

 

9. Status and Discussion on the Drainage Issues and Wetlands Permit Applications

 

• Anne Adams agreed to continue to recuse herself from these discussions due to her conflict of interest as an employee of the Moody Point Company.
• The Board discussed the status on these issues and the recent notification by Al Dixon, Newmarket Town Administrator and Clay Mitchell, Newmarket Town Planner that:
• they were abandoning the Administrative process on Drainage they had committed to in writing now that the drainage plan was discovered. We were given no reason and were told ‘to have our lawyer talk with the Town’s lawyer’.
• they or any other of the Town’s administrative staff would no longer be allowed to any speak to Moody Pointer’s on Drainage related issues, only their lawyer.

 

 

• The Board will continue to pursue its options.

 

 

The Board Meeting was adjourned at 10:28 PM.

 

The Next Regular MPCA Board Meeting will be held at Jim Fitzpatrick's home on Monday, February 6^th at 7:30 PM.

 

 

 

Respectfully submitted,

 

Russ Simon

Secretary