Northport Village Corporation

Overseers’ Meeting

July 23, 2006

Present: President Jo Huntoon; Overseers Peter Allen, Margaret Brockway, Bill Cressey, David Crofoot, Linda Houghton, Judy Metcalf and Peter Spollett; Treasurer Julian Sheffield; Village Agent Bill Paige; Tree Warden Jane Phillips, Secretary Karen Hoedtke and several residents of the Village.

Brockway moved and Metcalf seconded to accept the minutes of the last meeting. Voted.

The warrants were circulated for approval by signature.

Treasurer’s Report: Sheffield noted that the auditors have not quite finished but that the $25,000 will be removed from the due to/due from categories as voted by the Overseers at a prior meeting. Metcalf moved, Spollett seconded to accept the Treasurer’s report. Voted.

Village Agent: Thanks to Paige from Metcalf for the Maple Street work. Also thanks from Allen for painting the stripes on the wharf. Paige reported that the french drain in Park Row will cost more than originally estimated. Crofoot moved, Cressey seconded to re-authorize Paige to get the Park Row problem fixed. Voted.

Visitors’ Concerns: Beverly Crofoot spoke on the satellite dish on the tree at the corner of Maple and George. The Greenlaw map indicates the road to be 45’ wide. She requested that the Williams be asked to remove the dish. Metcalf will review surveys and meet with the people.

Cressey for Ed Williams who is under the impression that boats should not be stored year-round in Cradle Park . The consensus was that there should be boat storage in the winter with temporary parking of trailers in the summer.

Dan Webster: Concerned with the signs in the Village which point to property for sale i.e. the corner of George and Broadway and the corner of Sea and George. Metcalf moved and Brockway seconded that all signs posted on NVC property must be removed immediately and that, in the future, signs could remain in place for no longer than 48 hours. Voted. Notices will be posted on the bulletin boards. Metcalf moved and Houghton seconded that the President should write to those people with signs if they’re not removed within 48 hours of the posting of the notices. Voted.

Sheffield : A tenant’s brand-new green kayak was stolen from the beach. It had been tied up with another kayak above the high-water mark.

Hoedtke for Lagner: Dick Lagner has built an extension to the steps which go down to the beach in Auditorium Park and requested reimbursement for the lumber. Crofoot moved and Houghton seconded to reimburse for the costs with a clear indication of what the costs were. Voted.

Jim Coughlin would like to see some concentrated law enforcement presence on Bluff Road for the high speed issues. Allen can instruct the police to vary their times of patrolling the area. The addition of safety signs and painting on the roads need to be discussed with the Northport Selectmen. Cressey recommended having an Overseer for roads and to act as liaison with the Town.

Phillips noted that the Garden Club Garden Party will be hosted by Dan and Lisa Webster at their home on August 5^th. The purpose is to raise money for the flowers in the parks and on the Community Hall.

Crofoot: The Yacht Club has offered to put up a rustic fence or cedar split rail fence to replace the boulder(s) to prevent cars and trucks from parking on the treatment tanks. Metcalf moved and Brockway seconded that the Northport Yacht Club be granted permission to install a split rail fence on the property to protect the treatment tanks. Voted.

Communications: The committee has recommended that the annual contract for the web site not be renewed; the check was removed from the Warrant. A check will be sent for the period ending July 31, 2006.

Safety: The question arose whether Children at Play signs could be put up through the Village. Allen will check with Road Commissioner Morse.

Metcalf suggested clarification to the lifeguard and others that the lines painted on the wharf are being misinterpreted.  They are there to protect the lifeguard’s line of vision and to make clear the demarcation for fishing and swimming.  They are not intended as a signal or indication that the lifeguard has no right to communicate with the people on the dock.  Indeed, it is inconsistent with the Overseers’ directive to the lifeguard to become familiar with and build relationships with the community.  The Overseers believe that fewer problems and rule violations occur on the dock in a cooperative environment where the Lifeguard, in whom the Overseers have great confidence, is trusted to use her sound judgment in enforcing the safety and comportment rules on the dock.  Metcalf will assure that the wharfmasters cooperate in fostering this community goal.

Notices need to be posted that fire permits are required for any fire on the beach, whether above or below the high water line.

Surface Run-Off: A public hearing was held on the findings of the Surface Run-Off Committee and Cressey has heard only a few adverse reactions to the thought of paving. He requested the Overseers to reverse their thoughts on the paving of Main Street . Cressey will present his ideas at the Annual Meeting. Metcalf suggested exploring the option of 1-way streets during the summer due to the narrowness of the roads. Cressey moved and Crofoot seconded to reverse the no paving mandate with respect to Main Street from George to Broadway. Vote: 6 for 1 against.

A resident asked Brockway how much was spent on road maintenance during the last 5 - 10 years. The question of paving or non-paving cannot be supported by maintenance costs over the years as there will continue to be maintenance costs for paved as well as non-paved roads.

Cressey recommended putting a paved swale and drain on the bay side of Bay Street so that water runoff would go from the existing drain to the new drain, across Hahn’s property to the Bay. Metcalf moved and Brockway seconded to have Cressey investigate the possibility of outfall across Hahn’s property. Voted.

Cressey would like to spend some of the authorized funds to clean up the swale on the mountain side of Bay Street and clean out the culvert. Spollett moved and Brockway seconded to authorize Cressey to hire someone for clean-up purposes with funds from Road Maintenance or Run-Off.

The Overseers should require that anyone using heavy equipment in the Village (new foundations, etc.) post a bond for any damage incurred during the work. Also, anyone planning to put in a new foundation should file a drainage plan with the Overseers or CEO. Also, there should be some formal mechanism to coordinate utilities, roads, and run-off.

Tree Warden: Mr. Tooley (the arborist) will be coming shortly. Phillips questioned whether there should be more emphasis placed on roadside trees than with just the parks. The consensus of opinion was that the emphasis should stay with the parks but if a tree was on NVC property then it was within Jane’s purview to have it checked.

Utilities: There were no violations during May and June. The Committee has been working on the revisions to the Utilities Ordinance. One additional change has been suggested. In paragraphs 201.4 and 201.5 (enforcement of the sewer ordinance), CEO should be changed to Superintendent. [Note: Those changes were made prior to the public hearing scheduled to follow this Overseers’ meeting.]

Following the approval of the Warrant at the last meeting, a change was made to the wording of Article 10. Metcalf moved and Cressey seconded to revise the wording of Article 10 to read, “To approve the revised Northport Village Corporation Utility Ordinance,” and that the amended Warrant should be the approved Warrant. Voted.

The meeting adjourned at 9:39 a.m.

Respectfully submitted,