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Committee Reports

Annual Meeting

May 2, 2004

Finance Committee

The Finance Committee was established for the primary purpose of monitoring the day to day activities related to the collection of unpaid and delinquent Annual Assessments. The Finance Committee is composed of at least four members consisting of the President, Treasurer and other members of the OTCC Board. Current members are Kevin Callahan, Mary McKeon Stosuy, Ann Palaitis, Joan Myers, Chuck Watson and Paul Lucas.

Since the formation of the Finance Committee, OTCC has been successful in reducing the number of households severely delinquent in payment of their Annual Assessments to zero. The Committee sends at least three notices to a household that has failed to pay its Annual Assessment. If the dues remain unpaid, the matter is referred to our outside counsel to pursue the matter in small claims court. Often matters settle prior to ever going to court. On some occasions a court order is obtained to enforce collection of back dues. Members of the Finance Committee work closely with outside counsel to ensure compliance with the order and collection of the unpaid dues.

The Board and Committee try to work with households to determine the reason for non-payment. In the event a resident has difficulty making the Annual Assessment payment, he or she should contact a member of the Finance Committee to discuss other possible payment arrangements.

Bylaws Committee

The By-laws Committee was established in 2003 for the purpose of evaluating our current OTCC By-laws and recommending changes. Our current By-laws were adopted in 1992 and have not been revised since. The Committee has met several times since its establishment and will shortly be working with outside counsel to develop a draft of revised by-laws. The Committee feels that the following sections need to be amended or added to the OTCC By-laws:

• Architectural Review
• Restrictive Covenants and Enforcement
• Board of Directors - Duties and Administrative Activities
• Formation of Committees

The Committee is hopeful that a draft of the revised by-laws will be available for review by the Taunton Lake Community in July, 2004.

Members of the By-laws Committee are Mary McKeon Stosuy, Paul Lucas, Kevin Callahan, Anne Klein, Jerry Klein and John Palaitis.

This is a huge undertaking that will affect every household in Taunton Lake. We welcome your comments and encourage community members to volunteer to assist the Committee in this project.

Respectfully submitted,

Mary McKeon Stosuy

Our total insurance premiums had increased about $1,900 last year from the year before. And I assume the premiums this year would either be the same or higher from that company. We have changed carriers and our premiums will be about $900 less than last year's premiums, using an insurance carrier which has an "A" rating.

Respectfully submitted,

Gilbert Zlock

• The beach area passed the Burlington County Board of Health inspection.
• Cleanup was a success with about 15 residents helping out last month.
• We do need volunteers to help plant trees and flowers around the front sign.
• We do need volunteers to help fix the fence around the front sign.
• Phil Myers spread stone around parking lot.
• The OTCC Only Parking signs were repainted.
• As always, please be vigilent of any vandalism

Picnic Committee

Once again plenty of music, fun, food and games at annual picnic last July. This year's picnic is July 31 (not July 24 as previously announced).

Street Signs

Street signs were updated this past week. Street captains are encouraged to find volunteers to mulch and plant flowers around signs.

Street Captains

The Street Captains were every efficient and effective in notifying residents of zoning and OTCC meetings this year. THANKS TO EVERYONE!

We are looking for a new street captain on PINE

Respectfully submitted,

Kevin Callahan

The Committee has had a busy year in meetings and appointments with lake front residents. Since the purpose of the Committee is to maintain the natural aspects of the waterfront, we sometimes have to modify or flatly deny some proposals.

Happily, most lake front residents fully appreciate our efforts and the efforts of those before us who took on the difficult job of sometimes having to say "no" to our neighbors. Further, most of the residents obey our rules in stride and maintain an unselfish attitude for the benefit of the Community.

Our guiding principle is to be consistent in our assessments of proposed structures and remediation of violations.

Our rules are posted on the Taunton Lake web site and are often printed in the Taunton Times Newsletter.

Residents are encouraged to report violations to a Committee member in a timely manner.

Respectfully submitted,

Paul A. Lucas, Chairman

Committee members:

Dick Watson, John Riegert, Marty Hamilton, Dan Baskin, Barbara Evoy, Steve Lennon, Phil Myers

Human activity in the area surrounding the lake contributes to the introduction of sediments, nutrients and other materials into the lake. This activity may result in an overabundance of plants and algae growth, and changes in the quality of the lake water. To help control unwanted plant growth, the committee has decided, once again, to engage the services of a licensed pesticides applicator to administer a treatment of aquatic herbicides. Every effort will be made to use the least possible quantities necessary to effectively inhibit the growth of the plants. The materials used, and the procedures for application will be consistent with the permit granted by the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection.

Last year there were two applications of herbicide. The first treatment applied in the late spring involved the use of Reward (diquat dibromide), a contact herbicide with a five day restriction on irrigation. The second treatment administered in late summer contained a mixture of Reward with Nautique (copper) which has no water restrictions following its application. The second application was deemed far more effective than the initial treatment.

The Taunton Lake Weed Committee met on March 31, 2004 to discuss this year's aquatic weed control program. As a result of last year's experience it was decided that the initial springtime application (June) would be with a mixture of both herbicides. With the superior efficacy of the blend, we are hoping to reduce this year's treatment to a single event. The licensed lake management company selected by the committee, Great Blue, Inc., agrees with this approach.

OTCC volunteers will distribute notices approximately one week before the treatment(s) is made. Also, Great Blue will post notices around the community on utility poles at the time of treatment as required by their state permit.

Respectfully submitted,

Brian Petitt, Chair

Committee Members: Michael Gallaway, John Palaitis, Paul Lucas, Barry Joseph, Gil Zlock

Since the Annual Meeting in May 2003 when Colony Club members expressed their concerns about over development of the lake, the Taunton Lake Preservation Initiative committee has been working on a series of programs, and it continues to add new members.

The mission of the Taunton Lake Preservation Initiative is to preserve the quality of life of Taunton Lake. Its goals are to:

• maintain the water quality of a typical Pinelands lake
• maintain the natural wooded environment surrounding the lake
• maintain the economic value of property located on and around the lake
• Thanks to the following members who serve on the Taunton Lake Preservation

Initiative Committee:

• OTCC Board Members: Paul Davis, Paul Lucas, Joan Myers, Ann Palaitis, Brian Pettit, Mary Stosuy
• OTCC Members: Mary Ainsworth, Pat Coty, Mary Ann Fisher, Mike Gallaway, Marty Hamilton, Chuck Hanson, Anne Klein, Jerry Klein, Steve Kudatzky
• Ex officio: Kevin Callahan

The committee's major efforts have included:

• meeting with Medford's mayor, council members, township manager, and zoning and planning director to make them aware of the Taunton Lake Deed Restrictions, Bylaws and Lakefront Rules and Guidelines.
• contacting local media, especially the Central Record and the Burlington County Times, to brief key reporters on the issues and encourage them to follow our progress.
• studying proposed home construction plans and making recommendations to the OTCC Board of Trustees for approvals or objections to new construction.
• attending zoning board meetings to support or oppose proposed construction, especially of oversized homes on undersized lots. Nearly 80 members of the OTCC took their time to attend zoning board meetings relating to 16 Robinson Road. Pat Coty and Mary Ann Fischer-Coty purchased the property on April 16.
• confronting difficult situations and working with new homeowners on revegetation plans for properties where excessive vegetation was removed. (Where cooperation has not been received, the OTCC has revoked lake privileges to enforce compliance. This is not a route the OTCC Board of Trustees wishes to follow unless absolutely necessary.)
• contacting to new home owners and real estate agents, seeking their cooperation to maintain the environment and quality of life on the lake. Two real estate offices have signed a pledge to inform prospective buyers of deed restrictions and bylaws. Their names have been posted on the Web site.
• meeting with the Pinelands Commission to determine rules and guidelines that regulate activities in the wetlands and wetlands buffers surrounding the lake, and to learn what the parameters are for removing trees and vegetation for "necessary" construction.
• compiling photos of the lakefronts and street scapes in both print photos and digital video.
• communicating more frequently with OTCC members via email and Taunton Times.

Thank you to all Taunton Lake Preservation Initiative Committee members and to OTCC members for their active participation in preserving our lake.

Respectfully submitted,

Anne Klein