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Committee Reports
Annual Meeting
May 1, 2005
The OTCC is once again looking for Beach Attendants. This is a paid position for 18-year-old and up.
The beach area passed the Burlington County Board of Health inspection last summer.
The annual Clean-up was again a success with about a dozen residents helping out last month. Work was also done to remove trees from the dam.
The playground area and flower beds at the beach are scheduled to be re-mulched this week.
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
An old OTCC sign was repaired and installed near the walkway in the Parking Lot.
Picnic
Once again plenty of music, fun, food and games at annual picnic last July. This year's picnic is Saturday July 23. We do need help setting up and cleaning up.
Street Signs
Street signs were updated this past week. Street captains are encouraged to find volunteers to mulch and plant flowers around signs.
The Guiding Principles of the Committee are embodied in the Lakefront and Dock Rules, the By-laws, and the Protective Covenants found in the deeds of the properties in the Taunton Lake tract.
We are ever mindful of the vision of the Lake's forefathers when they developed the above-mentioned rules in order to create and maintain a unique, natural environment.
During the past year the Committee has been active in a firm, but respectful way to residents who have wanted to challenge the rules and our authority to enforce the rules of the Club.
The Committee worked with the Taunton Lake Preservation Initiative Committee to reduce the environmental impact of Medford Township's Zoning Board's consideration of variances and by opposing variances that would harm the Community. We have done this through an attempt to educate Township officials as to the unique character of our Community and the important part they can play to help our community stay beautiful.
We have also worked to remind Township officials of their responsibilities when they have failed to enforce their own rules, and decrees.
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.
There were no beach closures for fecal coliform levels during the 2004 swimming season. The maximum allowable is 200 colonies/100 ml, and our average reading for the summer was 75. Only one test was above the maximum, which occurred on June 20 (300 colonies) following a heavy rain. Subsequent testing several days later was normal, and the beach remained open. The average of 75 is a slight increase over 2003, where the average was 64. The average for each of the prior 5 years was between 25 and 40, so the trend is not in a positive direction. The main contributions to fecal coliform levels are thought to be geese droppings and runoff from streets and yards. Residents are reminded to not feed geese or deer, and to clean up after their pets.
This year the Stormwater Management Committee was formed in response to issues that were created by the heavy rains we experienced during the summer of 2004 and particularly the 100-year storm event in July 2004. The following is a list of those issues and others that committee is concerned with:
Hinchman Dam:
The small dam that once created a pond on property owned by the Medford Township Board of Education (BOE) located on the west side of Hinchman Road failed during the rain event of July 2004. That pond discharges into Taunton Lake. We have been in contact with the BOE to determine their course of action. They have indicated that they would prefer to restore the dam, the pond and the wetlands that it creates to its original condition, provided that NJDEP requirements will not make it so costly that is not economically feasible for the BOE to accomplish. Under advisement of the engineers and attorneys they have submitted plans to NJDEP for two options. One to restore the dam, one to remove the dam. The project is currently under review by NJDEP and FEMA. The BOE has installed temporary stabilized the loose soil around the dam to prevent sediment from migrating into Taunton Lake.
Hopewell Road and Breakneck Road:
The construction of a new gas line along Hopewell Road and mechanical equipment at the intersection of Breakneck has created some unsightly areas of bare soil within the small detention basin in front of the Taunton Lake sign. The committee has been in contact with South Jersey Gas Company. They assure us that the area will receive additional topsoil and will be reseeded in the next few weeks and that their vehicles will no longer park on the grass area.
Road Improvements:
Some areas throughout Taunton Lake have experienced minor erosion due to the Township's installation of water mains, catch basins and new paving. The committee has been in touch with the Township. The Public Works Department has stated that they will address the problem areas.
This committee was formed after the annual meeting in May 2003 when Colony Club members expressed concerns about over development of the lake.
The mission of the Taunton Lake Preservation Initiative is to preserve the quality of life of Taunton Lake. Its goals are to:
Thanks to the following members who serve on the committee:
The committee focused efforts this past year on: