Carry Ponds Association, Inc.
Annual Meeting Saturday,
August 13, 2022
WCP Outlet Dam
Present: Leo Beane,
Kimberley Beaulieu, Paul & Kay Belanger, Elizabeth Bridges, Olin Brooks,
Peter Bryant, David
Clock, Mick Daigle, John & Trish DiPierro, Hilary & Rick Doane,
Stan Giguere, Brian & Sue Goss, David Gradie, Ted & Sandy Gradie, Gene Hay, Wayne
& Barbara Howard, Billy
Hughes, Paula Walter
Hughes, Norm Kalloch, Frank
& Noah Mathews, David Maxwell, Kevin & Wendy McGowan, Vaughn
Mercier, George Motta, Walter & Marianne Purda, Dave & Mary Robinson,
Shannon & Angie Savasuk, Michele Saccoccia, Jim Saccoccia, Matt &
Gretchen Scruton, Bayne Smith, Kyle & Cathy Smith, Steve Sperry, Jody &
Kelley Strout, Barbara Sutcliffe, Beth Toothaker, Mike Walker, Nora West, Matt
Westling, Dean Wood
CPA President Walter Purda called the meeting to order at 12:45 p.m. Acknowledgement and thanks for all of the delicious food for the lunch preceding the meeting. Thanks to Steve Sperry for the use of his wonderful tent and Marianne Purda and Kay Belanger and all those who helped set up for lunch and to Leo & Carrie Beane for letting us use the boat launch area for our meeting.
Walter took a moment to remember the following CPA
members who have passed away (Diane Maxwell, Kendal Bonin, Jack Bailey, Juddy
Calder, Eric & Martha Walter). Paula Walter Hughes spoke to the group about
how much her parents loved this area and how much it still
means to their family. Walter asked new members to stand and introduce
themselves.
Treasurer’s Report - (Since Paula and Bruce Ferguson sold their camp in
July, Barbara Sutcliffe was asked to present the Treasurer’s Report.)
All CPA road assessments for 2022 have been paid for a total of $32,400 in income.
A Reserve Fund of $15,000 was approved by the CPA BOD on 6/11/22 and is to be used for bridge work, emergency road repairs, gates/keys/locks, legal expenses and signage.
2022 West Road Maintenance Budget$10,302.00
2022 EOM Road Maintenance Budget - $8,398.00
Balance of funds (Bangor Savings Bank accounts as of
7/31/22 - $32,487.84
*Please see attached report for details.
David Clock had a question regarding the amount of the
Reserve. He told the group that the CPA bylaws require a membership vote to
determine the amount of the Reserve, not a decision by the BOD. There was some
discussion about this and eventually the question was tabled so that everyone
had time to actually look at the bylaws to verify that a membership vote is
required for financial decisions.
Keeper
of the Keys Report - John DiPierro
Walter officially thanked John for serving as Keeper of
the Keys for the last 8 years and took this opportunity to present Jody Strout
to the group. Jody was nominated to take over from John. John formally handed
over the big, gold key to Jody.
Condition of Roads - West Carry - Ted Gradie
Ted formed a Committee this past spring (Peter Bryant, Gene Hay, Tank McGowan) to make a plan for immediate and long-term road maintenance and how best to use the 2022 West Carry road budget. All the members of this Committee volunteered their time, equipment and expertise. A broken culvert on Spring Road was replaced at extremely low cost. Ted obtained free gravel from the Wagner Corporation for use on Wagner undated roads (Cyr and Boise). Long term plans include prepping Spring and Storey Road ditches, culverts and road crown to accept crushed ledge, keeping flat stretches (Dickson and Mass Pike) maintained with gravel.
40 yards of crushed ledge was purchased and
installed on the first steep hill on Spring Road (water bars removed). Ted
would like feedback from the owners as to how it is holding up - this is the
first time it has been used. Ted thanked and acknowledged many individuals who
helped with road work.
*For more details,
please see Ted’s
attached report.
Ted has resigned as West Road Commissioner.
Walter expressed his thanks for Ted’s work on behalf of CPA over the years.
Condition of Roads - East Carry - Matt
Bowman
(Matt was unable to make the meeting - Walter presented his emailed report.)
Matt plans to have trenching done by Dave
Robinson and to pay particular attention to Mountain Road which is not in great
shape. Matt, who is a contractor, has had a very busy summer, but is able to
begin work in the next few weeks. Free gravel was also obtained for Mountain
Road repairs.
Jody
Strout asked Walter if volunteers could be paid for fuel for their equipment.
Both Walter and Ted confirmed that fuel should be reimbursed with a receipt.
Directors and Officers
(Walter informed the members that David Grimm resigned as
Director to take a leave of absence with his family and to spend a year
traveling.)
Paul and Jerry are continuing their terms as Directors.
Stan volunteered for another term as Director at the meeting. George and Brian
were nominated and the membership voted them in as Directors.
Terms Expire
Paul Saccoccia 2024
Jerry Child 2024
George Motta 2025
Stan Giguere 2025
Brian Goss 2025
CPA President - Peter Bryant was nominated by Ted Gradie.
Jim Saccoccia was nominated by Stan Giguere. The members voted 33 for Bryant
and 2 for Saccoccia. Peter commented that he wanted to be as open to input and
questions from CPA owners as possible and wanted everyone to know that he
regards Carry Ponds as a very special, great place.
CPA Treasurer - Barbara Sutcliffe was nominated by Ted Gradie. The members voted unanimously in favor.
CPA Secretary - Kelley Strout
volunteered, was nominated and unanimously elected as Secretary.
Old
Business
George Motta has researched the lease on the West Carry
Dam which will expire in 2035. He has asked Leo Beane for another 50-year
lease on the dam and the boat launch. The lease
allows West Carry only to maintain
it. The expenses for maintainance,
repair or replacement will be paid for by West Carry funds, not the rest of
CPA. Volunteers have already made repairs to the dam in the last few years.
Paula Hughes asked questions about the status of the East
Carry dam. There was little knowledge or information about it. She volunteered
to begin the process to find out its condition and whether repairs, etc. are
needed.
Walter gave an update on Dirigo Timberlands Middle Carry
development. There was an incident recently with the Mountain Road gate and the
double lock system that has been in use there. The lock had been removed and
the gate had been left open. Walter has talked with Blaine Miller about the
situation and since they are still developing lots for sale, Blaine needs to keep the double lock setup in place for
inspectors and contractors to have access to the lots. The lot development is
nearly finished and Walter will ask him to put in a gate system like CPA’s (with non-reproducible locks) so that
Middle Carry will have the same
security as the rest of CPA. Walter also mentioned that CPA will be getting new
locks and keys soon.
Walter updated the group on LifeFlight emergency landing spots.
Middle Carry - Fireside location.
West Carry - end of Spring Road before Long Falls Dam Road and Boise Road before the intersection with Dickson Road.
Otter Pond -
intersection of Carrying Place Road and North Bowtown Rd.
East Carry - Logging
landing on the Walter
property per Paula
Walter Hughes
New Business
Walter told the members that the “Work Ticket” policy for
payment of dues that was agreed on last year will not continue. Our bylaws
require payment of dues as a qualification for voting as a CPA owner.
Private work with heavy equipment on CPA roads must be run by the Road Commissioners.
We will begin an email notification system to inform
owners of the condition of CPA roads in the springtime so that damage to
softened surfaces can be avoided. Road condition updates will begin in
mid-April. These notifications will also apply to contractors coming in to do
work.
Walter found a black gun holster on Mass Pike - he’s hoping someone will claim it.
Several owners mentioned seeing the loon family on West
Carry. Norm Kalloch does a loon count for West Carry in the spring. We were
cautioned about creating large wakes close to shorelines which can inundate loon
nests and to be careful and observant of the loons while on the water in boats.
The State of Maine does a fish survey. We have tried to
get the State Biologist, Elizabeth Thorndike to speak to us about fish in the
CPA area. She was unable to attend our meeting but she encouraged owners to
give her a call. She wants to hear from CPA residents. The fish survey is
available online.
Jim Saccoccia reminded the group that he is managing a CPA Facebook page that we can visit and share information, etc. Some members commented about not putting pictures of 5-lb trout on Facebook - those shots might make Carry Ponds a little too popular.
Jody Strout asked about another boat launch at Middle Carry since the old boat launch area was sold as a lot. Walter responded that he is trying to get Blaine Miller to find us another location. There is a carry-in path for canoes just beyond the old boat launch - there is a sign.
Walter thanked people for stepping up and volunteering. It was great to meet new owners and their families. We have started the process of long-term planning for roads, bridge and dam work that will need to be done. With the increase in income from dues, these things will be possible. Walter thanked the officers and directors that he has worked with over the past five years.
Meeting
adjourned at 2:20 p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
Barbara Sutcliffe, former Secretary
