General Meeting Minutes

February 24, 2003

Prepared by Janice Artandi, Secretary

With 24 members at the start of the meeting, a quorum was declared. According to the sign-up sheets, 46 members and 9 non-members-including three speakers-attended the meeting. Executive Board members David Brewer, Michael Brewer, Janice Artandi, Mary Anne Corwin, Charles Bennett, Lonaway Muldrow and Tom Weber were all present. President David Brewer called the meeting to order at about 7:05 PM.

The session began with an hour-long presentation by Walter Bundy, Building Project Coordinator, Town of Southampton, who is responsible for grant process and writing. He explained that he can only write grants at the direction of the supervisor, but that organizations with a 501(c)3 status can pursue grants on their own. He suggested that the hamlet study is a good document to reference in such an application. He said that there is a lead time of about 2 years to notification, meaning work cannot start until the grant is approved or else the funds will not be reimbursed.

Bundy explained that most grants are a 50/50 match of funds, although the community's match could be volunteer service (typically $10 hour) instead of cash. He assured us that the implementation of a grant would not reduce currently provided services to the community. After detailing several county and state programs, Bundy was asked to provide a list of such opportunities for our future consideration. He advised that we continue to work with "key people" Richard Blowes and Jeff Murphee.
After the grants presentation, the meeting continued with Meigan Rocco of the Water's Edge Civic Association making a plea for the Phillips Avenue playground project. She asked for volunteers and such help as the donation of basketball nets.

Riverhead School Board President Laurie Monefusco and Riverhead School Board Member Kathy Brezney were also in attendance. Brezney received permission by the president to address the membership. She cited the challenges of this coming school year's budget, including the potential loss of 29 professional positions. She urged members to attend Tuesday evening school board meetings and contribute their cost-cutting ideas.

After the speakers, Secretary Janice Artandi read the minutes of the previous General Membership Meeting. Mary Anne Corwin made a motion to correct the designation "501(c)3" and to change the words "affiliated with" to "sponsored by" regarding the reading program. This was seconded and passed and the minutes were subsequently accepted.

Since the minutes of the prior Executive Board meeting were incomplete, President David Brewer waived their reading. However, a new policy recommending that monthly committee meetings be held in advance of the monthly Executive Board meeting was explained to members. The President also announced that he recently appointed Michael Brewer as Chair of the Government Committee and Mary Anne Corwin as Chair of the Publicity Committee.
The meeting continued with committee reports. Chair Patty Hopkins read the Beautification Committee report, which included information on the upcoming cleanup day. Copies of the report were available on the back table to all members.
Membership Committee Chair Janice Artandi submitted a verbal report. Although the committee had not formally met, she reported that door-to-door solicitation of new members is ongoing, with 2 new business members having joined this past month. We now have 107 members and 8 business members. The two new businesses are Mike Esposito's restaurant and Janice Artandi's beauty consulting business.

Special Projects Chair Tom Weber read a letter that he had written to George Guldi regarding the transfer of Empire Zone credits. In Youth Chair Ron Zaleski's absence, Mary Anne Corwin reported that Youth Night will continue through June at the Peconic Health & Racquet Club. Regarding Special Events, David Brewer reported that without more information on the reading program, the planned fundraiser was off the table.

The meeting was opened to New Business, which included a short presentation by Mike Ghani. The owner of the USA Deli in Flanders exhibited plans for a 3,000 sq. ft. facility would include other small businesses. Although members seemed pleased with the growth of a local business, a few suggested that he work closely with the architectural review board to come up with a less commercial look on the outside. He said that he was open to any suggestions.

Other topics of discussion included concern over the closing of Sears Bellows' camping facility, a proposed casino in Hampton Bays, and a recent crime at Lena's Restaurant. In the latter case, a suggestion was made to gather information through the Freedom of Information Act about the restaurant's history. Carl Iacone announced that a representative of the Riverhead Charter Schools would be speaking at the next Bay View Pines Association meeting.

Lastly, Ida Crohan won $50 in the 50/50 drawing.

The meeting was adjourned at about 9:00 PM.