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PRESIDENT’S REPORT

As President of the CBPOA I am pleased to update the Community on the status of the Reservation as we close our season. We on the Board of Directors sincerely hope that everyone enjoyed the Reservation as much as possible. We regret that the continuing risk of Covid compelled us to cancel several seasonal events, particularly the annual mid-summer picnic (now to be called the Jim Carforo annual summer party), and the children’s S’mores party. But we still enjoyed full use of the Reservation’s many amenities:

  • the lifeguarded-beach
  • the swim raft
  • the fishing boardwalk at the channel inlet
  • the annual, dredge-enabled navigation of the channel inlet
  • the basketball court
  • the picnic area and
  • boating/paddle craft marina [132 paddle craft racks and 120 boat
    slips]
  • many families are delighted with our new children’s playground swing set 
  • the new bocce court attracts many aficionados. (We now have a set of bocce
  • balls for members’ use in a locked, wooden box at the bocce court: the combination is 1,2,3,4.)
  • our evening sunset watching remained a daily fave
  • many members joined the twice-weekly “Yoga and Meditation on the Beach,” and the new instructional course “Women on the Water,” each conducted by our new advisor to the Board, Roey Ficaro
  • adviser Judy Freeman arranged three nature walk/lectures
  • many residents celebrated private events at the picnic area, including a couple of weddings
  • and the kids liked the prizes at the snapper fishing contest.

Like so many, we look forward to an even better 2022. As we receive and generate new proposals for events and facilities, the Board of Directors shall apply the same standard when we address any issue: what is in the best interest of the Reservation and the Membership?

We are exploring several capital improvements for 2022:

  1. Converting our mailed, printed publications to digital, with the newsletters posted on the website (CBPOA.net), and sent via email attachment, (while still mailing the printed versions for residents who so prefer).
  2. Electronic voting for the annual meeting as well as paper
  3. Re-surfacing the entrance parking lot
  4. New plantings bordering that parking lot
  5. Awaiting the Town Natural Resources Department resolving the drainage problem at the access path at 233-235 Kings Point Road
  6. Expand the wi-fi “reach”
  7. Low “dark skies” lighting for the bocce court
  8. Resurface the floating dock walkway
  9. Accepting member-donated memorials, such as affixing a plaque on a bench, table or elsewhere, via a process to be announced
  10. New recreational amenities t/b/a

As of this writing we await the Fall season, which is so lovely here as the golden autumn light plays on our wooded, green slice of paradise. On that note this newsletter encourages our selling residents to consider sale to the Community Preservation Fund, which offers market value for those who return the land to a vacant, natural state. And I encourage residents and new owners who plan building on vacant lots to minimize their clearing of the trees and
bushes and not to take down the maximum allowed by the town code; trees add such beauty and shade and dimension, and they cost nothing because they are already there.


For their time and energy, their talents and skill sets, and their selfless, collaborative dedication to the best interests of the Clearwater Beach community, I thank:
• Our directors George Lombardi, Ken Neary, Gerry Giliberti, Edith Holmer, Fred Kleinsteuber, Stuart Close, Paula Miano, Kurt Miller, Michal Waltz, Leonard Czjaka and Jon Tarbet
• our Secretary Gary Grille and Treasurer Edith Holmer,
• our Advisors Scott Sassoon, Judy Freeman, Nancy Labiner, Roey Ficaro and Steven Sobel, and our Historian Marian Diange, and Handyman Paul Trela, and
• our super-volunteer Roey Ficaro,
• and special thank you to Carlson Jacobs for his drop-everything rush to the Reservation with his front-loader to move our benches, tables and lifeguard stands out of harm’s way from the expected Hurricane Henri.

And now I once again take the liberty of sharing the late Jim Carforo’s President’s message from 2020: “The days are shorter, the breeze is brisker and the birds depart daily for the southern temperatures but I must say our sunsets are still spectacular. As the holidays near, the Clearwater Beach Board and I extend our warmest wishes for a joyful season sharing time, happiness and traditions with your loved ones.”

EXECUTIVE SECRETARY

Greetings, and welcome to the fall season!

As life tried to get back to normal this past summer, the Delta variant arrived and seemingly put caution back into the equation.

The beach and marina areas were fairly uneventful this season. The marina was filled with boats and paddle craft by the end of March, and another rack was built to accommodate an additional 18 kayak, paddleboard and canoe applicants on a waiting list. Speaking of the marina, the Board voted for an increase in fees for the 2022 season. Member boater fees will be $50.00 per foot, sponsored boater fees have increased to $100.00 per foot, and the rack space fee will be $100.00 per rack space. You may stack your crafts in one space. All boat slips and rack spaces will be assigned on a priority basis in order of receipt with consideration to those who have had rentals in the previous year(s). Boat applications are generally mailed out around the first week of December to those previous renters. New applicants can
visit our website, to obtain the appropriate documents. All boaters should return their applications, certificate of insurance, registration and check by February 15th to be considered for a slip in 2022. The same goes for rack space renters, sans the insurance and registration elements.

Due to insurance regulations, unregistered motorized vehicles are not allowed anywhere on the Reservation and especially on the beach. This includes golf carts, mini bikes, dirt bikes, etc. Basically, if the vehicle is not street legal, it is not allowed at the Reservation. There is a sign with the Reservation rules
just past the gate and parking lot on the road to the beach. It is suggested that members familiarize themselves with these rules, as failure to comply may result in loss of beach and/or marina privileges.

I would also like to take this opportunity to remind everyone that the maintenance fee was increased by proxy vote at the Annual Meeting of Members on July 31, 2021 by $30.00. At the beginning of the new
year, the Treasurer will be mailing out the 2022 annual maintenance fee invoices which will indicate the new maintenance fee of $330.00. Prompt payment of this fee is greatly appreciated and is one of the reasons why the Reservation looks as good as it does. Payment will also allow you access through the entrance gate all year round. As of this writing on October 9, 2021, there are 866 dues paying members. 807 are current, 25 are in arrears for one year ($300), 10 are in arrears for two years ($600) and there are 24 members who owe three years or more (16 owe more than $2,000.00). Any owners with unpaid dues for two years or more will have a judgement of lien placed against their property, which carries a $300.00 legal fee from Suffolk County as well as accrued interest fees.

Beginning with the spring 2022 edition, we will be converting our printed publications to digital, with the newsletters posted on the website, cbpoa.net, and sent via email attachment. On the 2022 invoice, you will find an option to continue to receive the printed version of the newsletter. As well as being a cost cutting measure of paper, printing and postage, the paperless option
is better for the environment with regards to trees and landfills.

Finally, please visit our completely renovated website by Clearwater Beach member and Technical Advisor to the Board, Scott Sassoon. The site is clear, concise and very easy to navigate. It can be reached at our new domain name, clearwaterbeachpoa.org or the old way, cbpoa.net will also direct you there.

If you have any questions or concerns, please feel free to contact me any day from 11am to 6pm and I will do my best to help you or connect you with someone who can.

Wishing you all a safe and enjoyable fall and winter.

Gary M. Grille
631-907-9032
[email protected]

DOCK MASTER REPORT

The 2021 boating season is coming to a close. I hope everyone was able to enjoy our beautiful marina and reservation with all the upgrades that have been achieved. The new security cameras worked great and are a big help in trying to make our reservation safe. And the bocce and new playground is a big hit for all.

REMEMBER: Boaters and Kayakers must take responsibility for their vessels.

Prior to a storm or extreme tides and wind, it is important to check your dock lines, especially your spring lines, the lines you tie from the middle of your boat to the pilings, so your boat doesn’t hit or get snagged on the bulkhead or ladder and get hung up. We again have had too many issues with that this year. Not only can your boat sink or at the very least get damaged, it also is important to know that the ladder and bulkhead gets damaged to the extent the ladder has to be replaced and the pilings that cannot get replaced stay damaged. I have contacted many boat owners this year to check their lines because of this issue and many have been adjusted but a few calls were ignored or missed. If you need help with your lines or are not sure how to adjust them, our assistant Dock Master or myself can help you. In addition, your boat’s bailing system should be checked to insure it is working properly. Most of the boat sinking problems have been attributed to malfunction in pumps and/or batteries. We sent inserts to all boaters on the floating dock explaining that if they have an anchor pulpit, that the anchor has to be stored elsewhere and the pulpit must not impede the walkway. Most boaters complied but others have had to be
reminded. Also, before or after a heavy wind, please check your kayak or canoe to make sure it is secure and to make sure it hasn’t blown off its assigned spot.
Important Note: This year we encountered a problem with boat owners leaving the dock water on after they left the marina. This can be a potential hazard if the hose that is attached breaks or if the nozzle on the end falls off and water happens to spray in your or your neighbor’s boat.

PLEASE SHUT THE WATER OFF AFTER USING AND IF YOU SEE A HOSE ON, PLEASE SHUT IT OFF.

In Mid-December 2021, 2022 season applications will be sent to the boaters who have had a slip this season and those who have requested a boat application. Slip applications and emergency data forms will be available
on the Web in mid-December at www.cbpoa.net. Marina Rules and Regulations will also be posted. In addition, kayak rack applications will also be posted on the Web. Community member boat slip fees for the 2022 season
have increased to $50 a foot. Sponsored boat fees also increased to $100 a foot. The minimum boat slip fee will be for a 20-foot boat. Boaters who desire a slip at our marina must submit a certificate of insurance (COI) and a copy of their boat registration. The COI must indicate marine liability insurance coverage and, in addition, indicate spillage coverage if the boat has permanently installed fuel tanks. It is also required that the COI form denote Clearwater Beach Property Owners Association (CBPOA) as an interested party. No slip assignment will be considered if the above items are not submitted with the boat application. Please send only the COI form instead of the entire boat policy. We have enclosed a sample COI for your review. For community members wanting the same slip assignment for next year, submit your information no later than February 15, 2022.

IT IS STRONGLY RECOMMENDED TO GET YOUR APPLICATIONS IN AS SOON AS POSSIBLE.THE MARINA WAS FULL THIS YEAR AGAIN AND WE HAVE A NUMBER OF NEW RESIDENTS THAT HAVE BEEN ASKING ABOUT DOCKING ACCOMMODATIONS. SO, AGAIN, THE SOONER THE BETTER.

Please take note that although we will make every effort to give you your same assignment as last year it will depend on the accurate size of your boat. What that means is on the application we ask for length and beam size of your boat. If you are not familiar with that terminology it means the width of your boat.
This is very important in the decision of where you will be placed, especially if on the floating dock. The floating dock slips are designed for boats with 8-foot beams. We have been squeezing boats in at 8.5 ft if we can, but anything bigger than that will be moved to the hard dock. We will not place any boats larger than 21 ft on the floater anymore, because the dock cannot handle it. We also have a few slips that shrunk a bit due to the resetting of the pilings and bulkhead work so again, take out a ruler if you must and get an accurate
measurement so you won’t be surprised if you are moved.

Our marina is not getting bigger but the boats coming in are getting larger. We will do whatever it takes to fit your boat, but, unfortunately, some have been turned away. It is important to note that after all member applicants have been
assigned a slip the remaining unassigned slips are assigned to sponsor applicants. In some instances, sponsored boats may be assigned a different slip. Late application filing can also result in a slip assignment change. Applicants with missing information will have their slip assignment postponed with a possible change or no assignment at all. It is important to note that during the boating season no refund will be provided if a replacement boater can not be found for your slip. As a reminder, no trailers and/or boats
may be parked overnight on the reservation due to insurance liability. Violators are subject to having their trailer and/or boat removed from the reservation, and the violators will be billed for services performed. Please note, if you see any boat with a problem, please notify the Dock Master, Assistant Dock Master or Secretary. When checking kayaks stored on the racks, I found a few not locked. The board of Directors will be requiring all kayaks/ canoes owners to lock their stored vessels. We will continue the policy of notifying boat owners if their boat is in danger of sinking, but please make sure your application has a phone number where you can be reached. If the boat owner does not respond, we will contact a marine service to pump out the boat. CBPOA will pay the pump-out fee set by the marine service and then bill the boat owner. The boat owner should periodically check the floating condition of the boat, particularly
after a rain storm. For boating problems at our marina, please call the Dock Master or Assistant Dock Master.

The number of kayak/canoe rental spaces available is now 132 DUE TO THE NEW RACK THAT WAS BUILT THIS SEASON. The new fee for all racks will be $100.00 per space. We are repairing rack spaces from 1 thru 48 during the off-season and they will now all be built as the same size as the others. In order to track canoes/ kayaks at our rack storage area, 2021-year stickers with the rack assignment were issued for the renter to place on his/her vessel. I would like to thank the majority of rack renters for complying with our requirement to place our sticker on their kayaks. We are doing this to avoid non-registered kayak owners from using the racks. It is unfortunate that we have experienced problems with intruders storing a kayak on a rack. Vessels with no sticker will
be removed from the rack. The owners of canoes/kayaks must remove their vessels from the rack by November 15, 2021.

REMEMBER WHEN USING AN SUP (stand-up paddle), YOU AND YOUR PASSENGER ARE REQUIRED TO HAVE A LIFE VEST ON. MORE THAN A FEW TIMES I HAVE PERSONALLY SEEN ADULTS WITH SMALL CHILDREN PADDLING WITHOUT ANY LIFE JACKETS. (“Swimmies” on the child’s arms are not safe on a SUP.) YOU ARE ALSO SUPPOSED TO HAVE LIFE JACKETS ON WHEN ON KAYAKS.

If you have experienced problems at the Reservation, please inform our secretary Mr. Gary Grille, the Dock Master or Assistant Dock Master. We ask that all boaters review the Marina Rules and Regulations that they will receive with the slip assignment. Check to make sure that you have a copy of your boat registration available to submit with your 2022 application. Some boat renters leave their original registration on the boat during winter storage and have no copy. Your application will not be processed until your registration is received AND THAT MAY CAUSE YOU TO BE LEFT WITHOUT A SLIP.

I would like to thank the members who saw something and said something this season as we had a number of near mishaps. Without a simple call these incidents could have ended up as a disaster. Unfortunately, we have had some vandalism and some things missing from a number of boats this year. We were able to see the offenders on our new security cameras. They were walkers and hard to identify, but the police were notified. So please do not leave expensive fishing poles or any equipment on your boat that can be easily taken. Unfortunately, it’s the world we live in now. Remember all boats must be removed from the marina by November 15, 2021.

I would like to wish everyone a happy holiday season, stay safe and let’s hope next season is even better yet.

Regards,
Ken Neary Dock Master

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