HARFORDS POINT ASSOCIATION
ANNUAL MEETING AGENDA
July 31st, 2021
11:00 in the Kliem Field
1. Welcome and Call to Order – Sophie Sevey, President
2. Introductions of Directors and New Members– Sophie
3. Sophie called for a moment of silence to remember our members who passed away in 2020-21:
4. Fire Safety Presentation - Kent Nelson, Maine Forest Service
Kent spoke about the ongoing threat of wildfires in the State of Maine. There has been a 33% increase in wildfires in the past five years. Generally, about 500 acres burn each year; in 2020 more than 1000 acres burned. The most common cause is an escape debris burn when people are burning brush piles and the fire gets out of control or is not fully extinguished. Unattended campfires on trails and camps cause fires as well. It is against the law to leave a fire unattended. There are also equipment-caused fires from skidders, generators, lawn mowers, etc.
To help the prevention of brush fires on Harfords Point, we have been very fortunate to have the Maine Forest Service conduct a brush chipping day in August for the past three years. Homeowners collect brush from around their residences and pile them at the roadside where they are collected and chipped by the Forest Service. Each year 20 homeowners can participate. There are still slots available for the August 24th chipping day this year. The program is free and voluntary.
Kent also spoke about a program called Firewise run by the National Fire Protection Association wherein communities are recognized for their efforts to prevent wildfires. There are eight Firewise communities In Maine. He suggested that we should consider applying for Firewise status. It requires that each residence conduct one hour of brush clearing annually. Events and other wildfire education activities also count towards the total. He thinks that particularly with the dry hydrant project we would be well on our way to achieving the number of volunteer hours. This program also commits the Forest Service to do educational talks for us. He will send us the information to apply.
5. Old Business:
a. Minutes from the 2019 Annual Meeting – Susan Nevins provided the minutes and there was a motion to approve which was seconded and unanimously approved.
b. Treasurer’s report –Charlie Quimby provided the report and there was a motion to approve which was seconded and unanimously approved. In 2020 our expenses totaled $2,008 and revenue was $2,935. We currently have a balance of $6,967.
c. Dry Hydrant Update - Dave Sinclair reported on his efforts this year to assess the feasibility of constructing a dry hydrant on the site that the Kliem family has agreed to provide for the HPA across from the railroad crossing. He and Eric White took soundings at the site and discovered it to be quite shallow and requiring a 100+ foot pipe to extend from the shore to satisfy the requirements to sit two feet below the surface under two feet of ice. He obtained one estimate of $12,000 for the pipe to be laid from the shore. This doesn’t include construction from the road to the pipe. A number of other HPA members including Tom Perry, Wayne Whitney, and Chris Beal helped with the process this winter.
There was some discussion of trying to find another site on the Point but Eric Frazer who has been a firefighter for many years and is currently a member of the Greenville department said that the current site is optimal because of its proximity to the road which is always plowed.
There was a discussion of how to identify funding to move forward with the project. Kent Nelson said that the matching grant provided annually by the Forest Service could not exceed $3,000. We could apply again for 2022 with a December deadline. He also said that a cistern might be a possibility.
Jerry Nutt offered to form a committee to raise the money for the project and to spearhead the effort. The members unanimously accepted his offer. Committee members will include Sophie Sevey, Marj Droppa, and Charmian Sperling.
d. Membership Update– Susan Nevins reported we generally have 110+ members and that last year we were able to have 75 members despite the pandemic.
e. Sign Update - Tom Perry reported that we have a new vendor, DaVinci signs from Herman, which can produce high quality signs as needed.
f. Internet Access on the Point – Consolidated Communications is maxed out and not accepting new customers. Premium Choice reported to Sophie Sevey last month that they now have the permits to start laying a line to the Point. Arnold Sperling reported that you can upgrade a Consolidated account to Cat5E to improve service.
g. The road – Donna Mabee called attention to the rough condition of the county road and inquired when it would be graded again. County Commissioner and HPA Board member Wayne Erkkinen said that with the new budget in July we should see the road graded again by the end of the year.
6. New Business
Keith Smith suggested that we should work with the Land Use Planning Commission (LUPC) to request that owners be required to obtain a permit to rent their property commercially. This would require them to comply with permitting conditions. Naomi Kirk-Lawlor is the Senior Planner currently conducting a long-term plan for this area. Tom Perry knows her and will contact her with this concern.
Susan Nevins suggested that we develop general guidelines for renters that we would put on our website and which would be available for owners and renters to review. Owners could also include them on their rental agency listings. The document will encourage owners to include information unique to their property such as how to access the lake. She will post a document on the website for members to comment on and make suggestions.
Wayne Erkkinen said the County Commissioners are working with the Sherriff to see if we can set up restrictions with regards to short term rentals.
Respectfully submitted,
Susan Nevins, Secretary, Harfords Point Association
ANNUAL MEETING AGENDA
July 31st, 2021
11:00 in the Kliem Field
1. Welcome and Call to Order – Sophie Sevey, President
2. Introductions of Directors and New Members– Sophie
3. Sophie called for a moment of silence to remember our members who passed away in 2020-21:
- Jack Clark, North Shore Rd.
- Tom Dyer, Chipmunk Lane West
- Peter Kliem, North Shore Rd.
- Duane Lander, Rail Lane
- John O'Roak, South Shore Rd.
- Frank Woodard, North Shore Rd.
4. Fire Safety Presentation - Kent Nelson, Maine Forest Service
Kent spoke about the ongoing threat of wildfires in the State of Maine. There has been a 33% increase in wildfires in the past five years. Generally, about 500 acres burn each year; in 2020 more than 1000 acres burned. The most common cause is an escape debris burn when people are burning brush piles and the fire gets out of control or is not fully extinguished. Unattended campfires on trails and camps cause fires as well. It is against the law to leave a fire unattended. There are also equipment-caused fires from skidders, generators, lawn mowers, etc.
To help the prevention of brush fires on Harfords Point, we have been very fortunate to have the Maine Forest Service conduct a brush chipping day in August for the past three years. Homeowners collect brush from around their residences and pile them at the roadside where they are collected and chipped by the Forest Service. Each year 20 homeowners can participate. There are still slots available for the August 24th chipping day this year. The program is free and voluntary.
Kent also spoke about a program called Firewise run by the National Fire Protection Association wherein communities are recognized for their efforts to prevent wildfires. There are eight Firewise communities In Maine. He suggested that we should consider applying for Firewise status. It requires that each residence conduct one hour of brush clearing annually. Events and other wildfire education activities also count towards the total. He thinks that particularly with the dry hydrant project we would be well on our way to achieving the number of volunteer hours. This program also commits the Forest Service to do educational talks for us. He will send us the information to apply.
5. Old Business:
a. Minutes from the 2019 Annual Meeting – Susan Nevins provided the minutes and there was a motion to approve which was seconded and unanimously approved.
b. Treasurer’s report –Charlie Quimby provided the report and there was a motion to approve which was seconded and unanimously approved. In 2020 our expenses totaled $2,008 and revenue was $2,935. We currently have a balance of $6,967.
c. Dry Hydrant Update - Dave Sinclair reported on his efforts this year to assess the feasibility of constructing a dry hydrant on the site that the Kliem family has agreed to provide for the HPA across from the railroad crossing. He and Eric White took soundings at the site and discovered it to be quite shallow and requiring a 100+ foot pipe to extend from the shore to satisfy the requirements to sit two feet below the surface under two feet of ice. He obtained one estimate of $12,000 for the pipe to be laid from the shore. This doesn’t include construction from the road to the pipe. A number of other HPA members including Tom Perry, Wayne Whitney, and Chris Beal helped with the process this winter.
There was some discussion of trying to find another site on the Point but Eric Frazer who has been a firefighter for many years and is currently a member of the Greenville department said that the current site is optimal because of its proximity to the road which is always plowed.
There was a discussion of how to identify funding to move forward with the project. Kent Nelson said that the matching grant provided annually by the Forest Service could not exceed $3,000. We could apply again for 2022 with a December deadline. He also said that a cistern might be a possibility.
Jerry Nutt offered to form a committee to raise the money for the project and to spearhead the effort. The members unanimously accepted his offer. Committee members will include Sophie Sevey, Marj Droppa, and Charmian Sperling.
d. Membership Update– Susan Nevins reported we generally have 110+ members and that last year we were able to have 75 members despite the pandemic.
e. Sign Update - Tom Perry reported that we have a new vendor, DaVinci signs from Herman, which can produce high quality signs as needed.
f. Internet Access on the Point – Consolidated Communications is maxed out and not accepting new customers. Premium Choice reported to Sophie Sevey last month that they now have the permits to start laying a line to the Point. Arnold Sperling reported that you can upgrade a Consolidated account to Cat5E to improve service.
g. The road – Donna Mabee called attention to the rough condition of the county road and inquired when it would be graded again. County Commissioner and HPA Board member Wayne Erkkinen said that with the new budget in July we should see the road graded again by the end of the year.
6. New Business
- Nomination and Election of Directors to the Board – Sophie Sevey called for nominations and/or volunteers for new Board members. Jerry Nutt volunteered. Since there were four Board members running for re-election and room on the Board for an additional member all were elected by unanimous vote. The following members will serve until 2024: Tom Perry, Herb Olsen, Charlie Quimby, Dave Sinclair, and Jerry Nutt.
- Chipping program will be August 24th and there are still slots available.
- Other New Business
- Donations – Fred Altimore moved that we reduce our donations by $100 for each recipient and eliminate the school fund. These funds will be placed in a separate account for the dry hydrant. This was seconded and unanimously approved.
- Rentals – A member asked that we address the issue of short term rentals and how to respond when renters create disturbances or do not obey the law. Sophie suggested that the first option when there is a disturbance by renters is to contact the owners or the management company. Because we are in unorganized territory, the Sheriff responds to our calls when there is a problem.
Keith Smith suggested that we should work with the Land Use Planning Commission (LUPC) to request that owners be required to obtain a permit to rent their property commercially. This would require them to comply with permitting conditions. Naomi Kirk-Lawlor is the Senior Planner currently conducting a long-term plan for this area. Tom Perry knows her and will contact her with this concern.
Susan Nevins suggested that we develop general guidelines for renters that we would put on our website and which would be available for owners and renters to review. Owners could also include them on their rental agency listings. The document will encourage owners to include information unique to their property such as how to access the lake. She will post a document on the website for members to comment on and make suggestions.
Wayne Erkkinen said the County Commissioners are working with the Sherriff to see if we can set up restrictions with regards to short term rentals.
- Sophie Sevey thanked the following members for their help in 2020-21:
- Joe Brooks for mowing the picnic site and for cooking (again) with his wife Theresa.
- Dave Sinclair and Tom Perry for maintaining the sign and Bonnie Erkkinen for placing flowers at the site.
- Dave Sinclair for his efforts in pursuing the dry hydrant project
- Moose Island – there was discussion about future development on the island which has recently been purchased. No direct information was available and no action taken.
- Adjournment – the meeting was adjourned at 12:10.
Respectfully submitted,
Susan Nevins, Secretary, Harfords Point Association