A meeting of the Stony Creek Association Executive Board was called to order by President Peter Brainerd at the Willoughby Wallace Memorial Library at 7:38 pm on Tuesday August 6, 2002.
Present: Peter Brainerd, President; Jake Greenvall, Tax Collector
Board Members: Sandra Fischer, Nina Smith, Ron DeFord, Daniel Bullard, Lucia Blanchard, Michael Infantino. Stan Fisher, Dorothy Leachman
Absent: Gregory Ames, Treasurer; Marvin Zimmerman, Vice-President, Joseph Grandel,
Public: 4
Minutes: The minutes of July 9, 2002 were approved as mailed.
Treasurer’s Report:
Treasurer’s Report through July 9, 2002 was distributed:
Checking
Total cash: $1,244.38 (General Fund 1,134.38; Ramshaw Memorial Fund 110.00)
Total Income: $ 2.21
Total expenses: $ 315.01
CD:
Total Cash: $20,733.94 (General Fund $8731.63, Sidewalks $8902.59, Summer House $2488.07, Open Space $611.65).
A motion was made/seconded and unanimously approved to receive the Treasurer’s Report and file it for audit.
Bills: A motion was made/seconded and unanimously approved to pay the following bills:
CL&P Lighting and electricity 41.25
ShoreLine Newspapers Classified ad invoice-meeting notice 17.98
Branford Postmaster P.O. Box rental 3.00
(Additional amount to cover rent increase)
Jake Greenvall, Tax Collector Postage $185 and supplies $18 203.00
Sandra Fischer Youth Clean-up supplies 49.78
TOTAL $315.01
Tax Collector:
Payments are coming in.
COMMITTEES
Legal and Zoning:
No report
Police and Traffic:
Parking lines at the dock have been blacked out.
A letter was sent by the Association to the Branford Chief of Police regarding
the parking spaces that had blocked Fire Department access to the dock area
on July 5th.
The spaces have been marked as “No Parking”
Cars are still being parked there, but the Police Dept. has started ticketing
those vehicles.
It was suggested that the spaces be marked as “compact only” as
a compromise.
Police and Traffic - continued
It was also suggested that the Town remove, or move back the curbing to allow
cars to park further in, or taper the new sidewalk.
Another suggestion was to place portable bathroom facilities there.
Another suggestion was to put cones in the spaces to emphasize that they are “No
Parking”.
It was noted that many people look at parking tickets as an inexpensive parking
space.
The Association received a letter from a resident who had witnessed the original
incident. He indicated that it was a Chevrolet SUV that was irregularly parked
in the no parking area next to the Boating Association gate that created the
problem,and that the parking spaces which have been eliminated were not the
problem.
It was noted that the quick response from the Police Department regarding the
parking spaces may be an indicator of how urgent and dangerous they considered
the situation to be. Board discussed reviewing the situation for action next
year as we are so close to the end of the season at this time, vs doing something
now. It was suggested that notices be posted notifying the public that the
dock parking space issue will be discussed at the October meeting. Notices
will be placed at the: Bait and Tackle Shop
Stony Creek Post Office
Stony Creek Market
Willoughby Wallace Memorial Library
Stony Creek Package store
Mobil Gas Station
Other parking problems were discussed: Parking area around Stony Creek Market
where the yellow markings are placed.
The markings are too indistinct and may be too long.
Various parking/street signs need to be inventoried by October; concerned about:
Inappropriate or confusing wording/instruction.
Ex. Road markings, curb markings, crosswalks
Dumpsters near the dock access area and on Thimble Islands Rd. near the corner
of Three Elms Rd. are creating traffic problems. The Police and Traffic Committee
will do an inventory of the previously noted problems prior to the October
Association meeting.
Maintenance:
“Children of all ages at play” sign is still being
worked on.
The overgrowth of shrubbery on the sidewalk at 458 Leetes Island Rd. needs
to be addressed.
Board member will discuss with the owner, and will offer to assist in getting
it taken care of.
Other properties that will also be approached are at 7 Flying Point Rd. and
259 Thimble Islands Rd. Letters were sent to the three property owners in July.
Garbage cans: Board specifically purchased cans with covers, however once the
cans have been emptied and the covers left off, the problem develops.
Garbage is collected every weekday at the beach and park areas, and once on
the weekend.
Recycling is only collected once a week – the container is inadequate
for the amount of recyclables that are generated in that time.
Civic Pride: Too many property owners do not keep their property clean.
Ex. Trash collectors drop or miss some trash, no one picks it up.
Dog droppings- too many dog owners are not picking up after their dogs. Student
clean-up crews: The students have been at work cleaning the beach, the parks
and the benches.
Lifeguards Now only 3 lifeguards, there used to be 6.
Bathroom facilities: The portable facilities are cleaned once a week now and
the odor has become a problem.
The Association needs to address this service issue.
Discussion about placing bathroom facilities at the Post Office. Stan Fisher
will pursue this.
There is a Town summer program at Bayview Park and the participants need more
facilities as do the Stony Creek residents-Stony Creek needs a permanent facility.
The Town of Branford utilizes the Stony Creek area, it should provide the appropriate
facilities to support those activities.
Sidewalks: There are still 30 squares that need to be fixed from the railroad
bridge to the beginning of School St. –approximate $3600.00 to repair.
Sandra Fischer will speak to Ed Masotta at the Town Public Works Dept.
Administration:
The Tax District Annual Report was filed.
The Antique Store in Stony Creek (next to the Stony Creek Market) was given
24 of the old Stony Creek street signs and 11 have been sold so far.
The Sound and the Branford Review ran publicity about the signs.
The annual Stony Creek Tag Sale will be held on September 7th from 9:00am to
2:00pm. Nina will put up posters advertising the sale, submit publicity to
local papers, and place a classified ad.
Old Business:
Clarification given regarding the “Miscellaneous” line
item in the budget – some items were:
P.O. Box
Christmas lighting
Street signs (reduced by reimbursement from town shown under income)
Return of overpayments
$600 for Town Engineering Study
Suggested that future budgets list the Miscellaneous item followed by the explanation.
New Business:
Recommendation made to use the Willoughby Wallace Memorial Library
for the Stony Creek elections vs the firehouse.
Nina will talk to Susan Donovan about this.
Discussion re approaching the State of CT to establish Stony Creek as a Local
Historic District (LHD) in order to maintain the historic “look” of
the village. This would be similar to what is already being done in Guilford
and Clinton. A study must be done to initiate this process.
In effect, it creates a set of zoning regulations that control the LHD.
It requires two third’s of the village’s approval.
Discussed whether or not septic system restrictions can be used to control
the size and type of structures being built.
Unlimited funds can overcome those restrictions.
Noted that Stony Creek is already an eclectic mix of properties/structures,
why change that? The data regarding LHD’s will be reviewed and discussed
again.
Motion made and unanimously approved to adjourn the meeting at 9:17pm.
Respectfully submitted,
Daphne N. Balacos
Secretary Pro Tempore
The next meeting of the Stony Creek Association Executive Board will be held on Tuesday, September 3rd at 7:30 pm at the Willoughby Wallace Memorial Library.