As I write this report, we have just had our first snowstorm of the winter season. It is beautiful how the snow transforms the landscape. Clearwater in the winter is both serene and restorative, like an oasis of calm.

While the community and reservation are quiet in the winter, it happens to be the busiest time of year for the officers of the association. In addition to all the typical end of year/beginning of year tasks, we have completed the transition of our bookkeeping functions over to our new assistant treasurer, Amber Talimage, and moved over to using QuickBooks Online with the full membership included as customers in the accounting system. This was a group effort by our secretary, Gary Grille, our treasurer, Edith Holmer, our assistant treasurer, Amber Talimage, and myself. The team also processed the results of the communications preferences postcard that was sent last Fall. I would like to thank the team for all their hard work and for a job well done.

Having our membership in QuickBooks Online allows us to introduce electronic payments as an option. Our first attempt at accepting electronic payments in January was met with an immediate road-block. The payment vendor we selected, Melio, had misleading marketing and was limited to accepting payments from businesses only. We quickly realized that the invoices we sent out by email could not be paid using Melio and we were forced to cancel the invoices. We are currently in the process of testing another vendor for accepting electronic payments by credit card or via eCheck and hope to have this ready before this newsletter is published.

You may have read in the East Hampton Star about the Town approving a water quality improvement grant for CBPOA to convert the asphalt parking lot into a bluestone parking lot. The grant was applied for by our past board member and local expert attorney in land use and planning, Jon Tarbet of Tarbet & Lester, PLLC. While the grant was approved by the Town, it turns out we were not able to accept the grant. In order to do this project, a full gambit of Town permits would be needed such as Town ZBA, Town Planning, and a building permit. It would take over a year to obtain the necessary permits to move forward. The Town board recognized the regulatory hurdles this imposed and is considering modifying the Town code to make it easier for water quality improvement grants to be accepted. Should the Town modify the code, we can reapply for the grant at that time. I would also like to take this opportunity to thank Jon for volunteering his time and expertise applying for the grant as well as representing and advising us through this process.

I’m looking forward to the spring and the beginning of another season of activities at the reservation. I hope to see you out there enjoying the reservation and our beautiful sunsets.

Sincerely,

Kurt Miller,
President