TO: LAE Members
FROM: Don Damm, President
DATE: January 16, 2008
UPDATE ON IMPORTANT LAE AND RELATED MATTERS
1. LAE Web Site:
KC Hayes has spent a lot of time updating and expanding the
LAE web site. It includes our basic documents like: the Articles of
Incorporation, By-Laws, Land and Building Restrictions as well as current
activities and related LAE matters. The web also links to Town of
2. Dock Space at the
3.
4. Driving Golf Carts on LAE Roads: Your BOD looked into this matter at a number
of meetings, which was followed-up by research into the NH OHRV and ATV laws by
Washington Police Chief Steve Marshall and the NH Fish and Game Officer, David
Walsh. The bottom line is that golf carts are required to be registered with
the State of NH and you need to get approval to operate on LAE roads, see item
3 above. The research data is posted on the LAE Bulletin Board.
5. Deep Draw Down of the Pond for 2007: The State Department of
Environmental Services (DES) turned down LAE’s request for the second year in a
row. The reason was the same as last year - The Lake Level Determination Report
was not complete. The weeds get worse and worse.. This DES effort is the
“Project Study” undertaken in 2001 with the fieldwork completed in 2005. The
report has been delayed even after repeated attempts by LAE’s Officers and
Directors to get the report out. The DES Commissioner plans to release a draft
report for comment in March 2008 and a public hearing will be held shortly
thereafter. Hopefully, this public hearing will be at a time that will support
a good turn out. We will need your help and support to ensure that a reasonable
deep draw down schedule and procedure is established to help control the weeds
in the lake and river.
6. Ashuelot Pond Dam Village District (APDVD) Boundary
Expansion: The
public hearing was held in October and the Selectmen issued their decision to
not expand the boundaries in December 2007. The APDVD still only includes LAE.
The Selectmen’s decision is posted on the LAE BB.
7. Broken Raft in the Swim Area: Due to horseplay and severe
tipping of the raft, it broke and is in the process of being fixed for the 2008
season. Members talk with your children
and guests…if it breaks again, there will no longer be a raft to swim out to.
8. Potential Maintenance Garage Relocation: Steve Boucher continues to work this one and negotiations
with the landowner off of Stowell have slowed down.
9. Newsletter for 2007: This newsletter dated January 25, 2007 and can be found on
the LAE website. It contains important information about the LAE Fines Policy and Commonly Asked Questions (with answers)
About LAE’s Roads. Please review them.
10.
Pavilion at the Beach Area: The BOD is looking into a possible pavilion at the Beach
Area, near the current Beach House. This would be a roofed open building about
40 feet by 24 feet with a grass floor. It could be used for additional capacity
for LAE sponsored events or for any member who is having a get together at the
Beach Area. This will be discussed further at the spring BOD meetings and
possibly brought to the membership for a vote at the Annual Meeting on July 12,
2008.
11. LAE Property Owned by the
Town Acquired through Tax Collector Deeds: The Town acquired the
following properties for failure of the owners to pay taxes. The Town is
considering putting these properties for a “bid sale” in the July 2008 time
period. If you are an abutter to any of these lots, there are tax and
LAE dues financial advantages in acquiring these properties. If anyone is
interested, please contact the Town Selectmen’s Office at
Phone 495-3661, fax 495-3299 or
by email selectmen@washingtonnh.org.
The properties are:
(1) B-1 Presidential Dr, TM
15-127
(6) M-1 Presidential Dr, TM
15-125
(7) M-2 Presidential Dr, TM
14-331
(8) Q-7A off of
12.
Other Important Matters – One-liners:
(1)
No pets on the
(2)
LAE road closure to heavy vehicular traffic on Sat,
Sun & Holidays.
(3)
Save the lake – only high speed in the middle and in
moderation.
(4)
Goose Poop on the Beach – be proactive with the
ropes and clean it up.
(5)
Drive Slowly and Carefully – Max is 20 MPH; winter
much less.
(6) Check and
remove weeds from your boats and trailers before launching.
(7) Fun and Games Day is the 4th
Sat in July…July 26, 2008.
LAE
ASSOCIATION WINTER NEWSLETTER
LAE Web Site:
laeinc.org
TO: LAE Members
FROM: Don Damm, President
DA TE: January 25, 2007
UPDATE ON IMPORTANT LAE AND RELATED MATTERS
1. DOCK SPACE AT
THE
2. LAE FINES: The ability to fine members for
non-compliance with the LAE land and building deed restrictions is new and will
be implemented starting on June 1, 2007. This was approved at the July 2006
Annual Membership meeting and your Board of Directors (BOD) has published each
restriction and associated fine. See
attachment #1, two pages, titled, LAE LAND AND DEED RESTRICTIONS SUBJECT TO
FINES FOR NON-COMPLIANCE. The restriction and fines is also posted on
the LAE bulletin board. Failure to pay the fines will result in a lien being
place on your property. Please pay close attention to RESTRICTION # 13, which also means no sales and
contractor / subcontractor signs. This will help enforce the deeded land and
building restrictions that we enjoy and that the vast majority of members
adhere to.
3. Board of
Directors: A
well-managed and effective Association is accomplished by dedicated and hard
working Board of Directors Members. We are a voluntary organization and a
letter from the Nominating Committee is enclosed, as attachment #2. Please look it over and contact a member of the
Committee to express your interest in serving.
4. Roads and
Grounds: As a result of
the many questions and concerns about the LAE private roads at our Annual
Meeting, the Roads and Grounds Committee has prepared a document titled,
"COMMONLY ASKED QUESTIONS ABOUT LAE'S ROADS". See attachment # 3, two pages. If you need further
clarifications, contact any Committee Member, Don Damm, Don Turner, Bob Dearborn,
Mike Hoffman or Jim Russell.
5. Ashuelot Pond Dam Village District
(APDVD) Boundaries: The
Selectmen made a decision to deny the petitioners specific request to expand
the boundaries. However, the Selectmen reserved the right to review additional
evidence presented at a public hearing on an alternative application and they
would be inclined to approve a petition that proposed that the district's
boundaries be altered. The Selectmen provided definitive expanded boundaries
that they would favorably consider. The short version of the five page
Selectmen's Decision Memorandum (posted on LAE's Bulletin Board) is that a
significant expansion of the district boundaries (still including all of LAE)
could be approved by the Selectmen.
6. Ashuelot Pond Fall Deep Draw Down
for Weed Control: We
had a severe weed problem this year, mostly in August, and the LAE Board of
Directors requested a deep draw down for weed control. The LAE request was
denied by the State's Department of Environmental Services (DES). The primary
reason given was that the five-year DES Project Study Report (to determine the
appropriate lake levels and associated timing) was not complete. This important
report is still in the works and is almost a year late. The latest projected
release date is February 2007; it will be available electronically and for
comment. Not sure how long the comment period will be, however, we are trying
to have an extended comment period, recognizing the difficulty of obtaining and
coordinating comments during the winter and early spring.
7. Potential Maintenance Garage
Relocation: Negotiations,
led by Steve Boucher, are proceeding to acquire about three acres of land off
of
8. Other Matters: Since this newsletter has a fair
amount of material, the following are one- liners that are important, but
covered in previous newsletters. Also, the 2006 Newsletter covering these
subjects is posted on the LAE Bulletin Board.
(1)
Save
the lake - only high speed in the middle of the lake and in moderation.
(2)
Ashuelot
Women's Group - Active group. Contact Nancy Damm at 495-3795.
(3)
Goose
Poop on the Beach - We are volunteers, be proactive and clean it up.
(4)
Drive
slowly and carefully - Maximum speed limit is 20 MPH - go slower.
(5)
No
pets at the
(6)
No
diving and horseplay on the raft at the beach.
(7)
LAE
roads are closed to heavy traffic during mud season.
(8)
OHRVs
- must register with the State & LAE
permit to operate on LAE roads.
(9)
LAE
road closure to heavy vehicular traffic on Sat, Sun and Holidays.
NOTE: The three (3) attachments enclosed
are also posted on the LAE Bulletin Board.
LAE LAND
AND DEED RESTRICTIONS SUBJECT TO FINES FOR NON-OMPLIANCE
RESTRICTION #3:
No lot, and no structures which may
be erected on any lot, shall be used in whole or in part for any trade,
business or other occupation, whether for profit or not (e.g., activity that produces heavily trafficked
roadways, requires unsightly storage or specific clearing of trees for storage of related equipment);
provided, however, that nothing herein shall be deemed to prevent an owner of
any lot from renting the dwelling thereon to no more than a single family at
any one time.
FINE: Written warning with allowance for 30 days
to respond; $50/mo thereafter; then
$500/mo after 6 mo.
RESTRICTION #4:
No more than one single-family
dwelling (with
reasonably appropriate accessory
buildings) shall be
erected or maintained on any one lot.
FINE: Written warning with allowance for 30 days to respond; then
$1000/mo.
RESTRICTION #6:
No trailer or mobile home and no
structure without a permanent foundation shall be
erected, placed or maintained on any
lot.
FINE: Written warning to remove with allowance for 30 days to respond; then
$500/wk.
RESTRICTION #7:
Once construction or erection of a structure is commenced on any lot ...
no structure
with uncompleted or
temporarily finished exterior shall be maintained on any lot for a
period longer than 6
months.
FINE: Written warning with allowance for 30 days
to respond; then $1000/mo.
RESTRICTION #7:
Until the permanent exterior of the dwelling on any lot has been
substantially
completed, no accessory building
(including any tent) shall be erected or maintained
on such lot.
FINE: Written warning with allowance for 30 days
to respond; then $500/mo.
RESTRICTION #8:
No outside toilets shall be allowed
on any lot. Every lot on which a
dwelling is
erected or maintained shall have a sewage disposal or
septic system which shall
comply with all applicable laws of the
State of New Hampshire.
FINE: Written warning with allowance for 30 days to respond; then
$1000/mo.
RESTRICTION #8:
No sewage or waste of any kind shall be caused or allowed to run, flow
or seep to, or
in any way enter, the waters of
Ashuelot Pond, directly or indirectly.
FINE: Written warning with allowance for 30 days to respond; then
$5000/mo if no action
i
taken to correct the violation.
RESTRICTION #10:
No unregistered motor vehicle of any type shall be allowed to remain on
any lot.
FINE: Written warning with allowance for 30 days to
respond; then $50/week/vehicle.
LAE LAND
AND DEED
RESTRICTIONS SUBJECT TO FINES FOR NON-COMPLIANCE
RESTRICTION #11:
No lot shall be stripped of trees, and no more trees shall be cut or
removed from any lot than
shall be reasonably necessary for the
erection and maintenance of the structures permitted
under those restrictions, with suitable
landscaping and recreational facilities.
FINE: Written warning with 30 days to respond; then
assessed per degree of flagrant disrespect for
rule: $500 for neglect to $10,000 for a logger-type
clear-cut.
RESTRICTION #13:
No sign shall be placed or maintained on any lot for any purpose, except
for a sign of
reasonable size identifying the name
and address of the lot owner or occupant and/or the lot
number.
FINE: Written warning with allowance for 30 days to respond; then
$50/wk.
RESTRICTION #14:
No fence shall be erected or maintained on any lot so as to interfere
with the view from any
other lot; a fence in excess of 6 feet
in height shall be prima facie deemed to interfere with
the view from adjoining lots.
FINE: Written warning with allowance for 30 days to
respond; then $500/mo.
Dear Members of LAE
Association,
Each year as we
begin to plan for the Annual Meeting in July, we look for members who might be
willing to serve on the Board of Directors or its committees. We realize that
there are many members with many talents and areas of expertise that could
benefit our growing association but we don't know who all those members are.
We invite and urge
you to tell us about yourself, your friends or neighbors who might be willing
to serve in some capacity. Many of our present Board members have served for
many years and would welcome the insights and energies of new members. Ours is
a board that thrives because of the commitments of the volunteers and almost
everyone could find a way to contribute, should they so desire.
We will soon be
forming a proposed slate of new nominees to run for the Board of Directors at
the July meeting and we are asking you to take a few minutes to share your
thoughts with us.
Last year we
accepted nominations from the floor and, although we may decide to do so again,
many of our members who vote by proxy prior to the meeting will miss the
opportunity to vote for those nominees. It is an ineffective and unlikely way
to elect members who have a sincere interest in serving on the Board.
Anyone who would
like to consider the possibility of being a Board member is invited to attend
one or both of the next meetings of the Board scheduled for May 25, 2007 and
June 15, 2007.
We encourage you to
submit any names you might wish to propose to the Nominating Committee. Any of
us would be happy to discuss any questions or concerns you may have. We will
happily contact anyone whose name we receive as potential nominees to explore
their interest in serving.
Carolyn Russell,
Chairperson Bob Dearborn
Karen Hunihan
Pat Liotta
Jim Russell
603-495-3193 or jcrussel@gsinet.net
603-495-4015
603-495-3448 or rhun@gsinet.net
603-495-6151 or patmar@gsinet.net
603-495-3193 or jcrussel@gsinet.net
COMMONLY ASKED QUESTIONS ABOUT LAE’s ROADS (December 2006)
1. How come you cannot sand and plow
at the same time? Answer: Because
the weight of the sand is needed in the truck to better control the truck
during plowing operations.
2. How does the sanding operation work
on a typical day when the roads are getting slippery? Answer: Usually starts between 5:00 – 5: 30 am,
sanding the main emergency route first (Presidential, Ashuelot Drive towards
McKinley, McKinley and Adams going back to Presidential. Other roads are sanded
as needed with particular attention to the hills at intersections. Sanded again
around 2:30 to 3:00 pm. This also ensures that the roads are in as good a
condition as possible for the school bus runs.
3. How do you prepare the trucks for
sanding and how are they loaded? Answer:
The two sanding trucks are normally loaded with sand and stored in the
heated garage. After that sand is dispersed on the roads, the back-hoe loads
un-frozen sand from the sand pile into the trucks.
4. How do you determine the order of
priority for sanding and plowing? Answer: As stated in 2 above the emergency route is
normally sanded and plowed first. All roads are always plowed and for sanding,
sanded when necessary, sometimes many times a day. For plowing, that depends on
the nature of the snow (wet or dry), size of the storm and the time of day.
Usually plowing starts when there is approximately four inches of snow,
however, plowing is accomplished with less snow when traffic may be heavier.
5. Are all roads sanded each time you
sand? Answer: No. Depends on road usage and the condition
of each road.
6. How do you determine which truck to
use for sanding and plowing? Answer: The new large International truck is the
workhorse for the sanding and plowing operations. However, the smaller one ton
Dodge truck is used for light snow conditions. The International truck holds 2
to 3 times the amount of sand as the Dodge truck and the International truck
has a wing plow.
7. During mud season, why can’t you
grade the roads? Answer: The roads are frozen in spots and soft in
others and the grader will get bogged down and not be able to grade the roads.
The mud will still be there.
8. Why don’t you rake the roads during
mud season? Answer: Raking is usually done to supplement grading
operations and in many cases the raking does rid the roads of larger stones.
However, light raking during mud season may help the roads to dry out faster
and help cover some of the potholes. The
raking of the potholes may help for short periods and later in the day,
depending the amount of traffic, the pothole will be back. We will dry a pilot
test of road raking, primarily of the main roads, this spring.
9. What can be done to fill in the
potholes during mud season, particularly March and April? Answer: See 8 above and more stone will be applied
this spring. However, the stone is a very temporary fix and will normally only
be used on the main roads.
10. How do you determine how much
material and where to put the crushed gravel road material? Answer: This is based on the budgeted items for road
material and a survey is made in the fall and spring where best to apply the
allotted material. Usually about one-third is applied in the fall and
two-thirds is applied in the spring. This is done to ensure enough material
will be available in the spring to repair any damage that may have occurred
during winter, mud season and for spring run-off.
11. How come the Town grades the roads
earlier than LAE? Answer: Not sure if that is correct.
12. Do you put a crown on the
roads? Answer: Yes, particularly Presidential and most of
Stowell. You can tell by how the cutting edge of the grader blade is worn. On
some of the other roads, it is hard to put a much of a crown on.
13. The Road Manager has an Annual
Contract, so how many hours a week does he work? Answer: It is a task type contract, not an hours
contract. At times in the winter, it is almost around the clock and at other
times in the summer it is slower. The Roads and Grounds Committee reviews the
work to be done and what has been accomplished at meetings during the year. The
Chair of the Committee, reviews the work formally each month and on a regular
basis during the week.
14. How does the Road Manager know what
is going on in the Town, Schools, other Towns and the Association, particularly
during the winter and spring months? Answer: Listening to the radio transmissions and
communicating on the radios in LAE’s trucks, at his home and with his LAE
supplied cell phone with a vibrator. This communication equipment is on 24
hours a day. Additionally, Fire, Rescue and the School Bus personnel will
contact the Road Manager as conditions dictate.
15. How does the Road Manager work with
the Town on Rescue and Fire calls within the Association? Answer: The Road Manager hears the calls through his
radios and called on the cell phone. During winter months, if more sand is
needed, the loaded trucks are quickly dispatched. At times, this has included
the sanding of driveways to ensure the safe operation of the emergency
vehicles.
16. Do you coordinate with the Town
Road Agent on equipment purchases and equipment operations? Answer: Yes.
There is a very close and cooperative relationship with the Town Road
Agent.
17. When the LAE equipment fails, what
responsibility does the Road Manager have?
Answer: The Road Manager
fixes minor items, orders and picks up the needed parts, arranges for equipment
repairs over and above his ability and at times does what is necessary to keep
the equipment operational.
18. How often are the roads
graded? Answer: All roads are graded twice a year, spring and
the fall. Additional grading is done as required at the discretion of the Road
Manager or at the direction of the Chair of Roads and Grounds. Normally,
Presidential,
19. What is the advantage of using
calcium chloride on the main roads? Answer: To help prevent the loss of road material during
the summer…keep down the dust.