Birch Island Property Owners Association
Minutes of Executive Meeting of May 7, 2006
Present Home Cottage E-mail
Orland French President (613)969-8354 359-1074 ofrench@littlebrickbookhouse.com
John Curley VP, Web Master (613)549-1021 359-5085 JohnCurley@gmail.com
Alice Howarth Treasurer (613)546-7208 Alice_Howarth9@hotmail.com
Sharron Curley Secretary (613)549-1021 359-5085 Sharron.Curley@gmail.com
John Feltmate Director (613)824-1833 359-5831 feltmate@ican.net
Ralph Robertson Past President 359- 5427 ralph.robertson@sympatico.ca
Regrets
Chuck Laudermilch Director 359-1078 cclauder@ptd.net
The meeting was held at the Curley’s, 494 Aragon Rd., Kingston and convened at 1:45 pm.
· Minutes of the previous meeting (Jan 14/06) were approved.
· It was with regret that members accepted the resignation of director Ross Leeder.
· Annual general meeting date set for Sunday, Aug. 6 @ 10:00am
· The action item list has been revised to reflect meeting decisions.
· Ralph Robertson gave a status update on the Sand Lake Cottagers Association. Although there are cottagers with interest in the group, no one is stepping forward for executive roles. Ralph suggested a possible affiliation with BIRPOA ... to be explored.
Agenda items 1 through 9 were discussed.
1. Brochure & Survey
Corrections & suggestions were made to the brochure and members felt it was ready to go. A spring mailing is planned that will go to all Birch Island property owners. Included in the mailing will also be a survey and a map of the island with list of owners along with a “note from the president”.
2. Newsletter & presidents message.
Orland will write the “note from the president” for inclusion in the mailing.
3. Website
John Curley confirmed that the survey will also be available online. Ralph supplied a MNR brochure which had the answer for the web site query “how to protect bass nesting areas”.
4. Trails & signs
John Feltmate had sample signs made as an example of the type that could be used throughout the island. Signage applies to the area in the rear of his property. A typical sign board would cost under $10. (Note that multiple signboards could be mounted per post.) There is an additional cost of $10 for each galvanized mounting pole. John will mount the signs so the executive and cottagers can see them in action. If individual cottagers wish to purchase signs, that can be accommodated and the matter will be discussed at the general meeting.
5. Directors insurance
Orland will pursue.
6. Property assessments
Some property owners got automatic reassessments which were lower than the first. It would be useful to approach this from two angles. One, look into provincial cottage associations formed to seek fairer assessments and secondly, to get a broader base of numbers for the Birch Island assessments along with some recent sales data for the island. It looks like assessors are using Sand Lake/Rideau lake sales in general without taking into account the boat access status.
7. Parking at end of Glover’s road.
Ralph reported that the municipality will allow parking at the end of the road within certain areas. The parking available however is minimal and it would be easy to create additional spaces. Orland will draft a petition to council for increased parking.
8. Canal 175th Anniversary celebrations
Orland mentioned there was little new in this area. Everyone is asked to keep in mind possible activities that Birch Island might consider proposing.
9. Annual meeting date and location
The traditional Sunday AM of the August long weekend will remain the annual meeting date. This year it will be August 4th. We hope to hold it at the usual spot in Howards’s bay. Orland will confirm that this is OK with the Horton’s. Notice of the meeting was included in the brochure.
10. Other business
Rights of Way
John Feltmate (our expert on right of ways, lot locations etc.) suggested an annual agreement (a $1 sum) be made between BIRPOA (acting for its members) and various property owners where paths cross lots in locations that may be somewhat off the actual right of way locations. By not doing so there may be situations (acknowledged as rare) where over the passage of time, an actual right of way might be assumed. Given it was the rare occurrence and a reluctance by the executive to tackle this complex issue, the suggestion was put aside at this time.
Dock Carts
Alice reported on her research into dock carts. Only possible one that may be suitable is available at Canadian Tire. It has wide tires and looked to be easy to haul. Cost of $100?. Ralph volunteered to look into what may be available at Princess Auto. Other members also asked to look around. Hopefully a decision could be made at the next executive meeting.
Next Meeting:
Orland will call the next meeting sometime in early July.
Action Items
Ralph Robertson
· Suitable dock carts from Princess Auto?
Orland French
· Acquire Director’s insurance for the association.
· Status of boat slips when property is sold? Directors felt that we can only advise persons who may be selling to check first with Glovers and get their assurance they can transfer the slip. Perhaps for mention at the general meeting or as item for the website?
John Curley
· Web site traffic statistics?
Alice Howarth
· On going treasurer duties
Sharron Curley
· Research the coalition of cottage associations concerned with high property assessments (WRAFT).
John Feltmate
· Mount sample signs
Chuck Laudermilch
· Send photo for website
Unassigned
· Status of emergency fire pumper and servicing maintenance bill