Marina Committee (MC) Meeting Minutes

November 16, 2024

Members Present: Lee Cohen, Chairman          Tim Moyer, Vice Chairman

Frank Carrotozzolo Jeff Smith

Rachel Niccoll Torrey Jacobsen

Bill Sullivan

Guest: Brian Stine, Maintenance Supervisor

Meeting was called to order at 9:05 am by L Cohen at the Lakeville Firehouse 

The Pledge of Allegiance was recited

The Minutes from the September 14, 2024 meeting were distributed and approved as written

MC Members will continue to walk the Docks in 2025 on a weekly basis, as assigned, looking for potential safety issues, violations of WLE rules, expired/incorrect registrations or damage to boats/docks.  All issues will be reported to Kathy Sollenne and the MC.  Dock assignments are as follows:  A: Torrey Jacobsen, A1: Rachel Niccoll, B: Jeff Smith, C: Bill Sullivan, D: Paul Pogozelski, E: Ken Stenstrom, F: Lee Cohen, G: Tim Moyer, H: Frank Carrotozzolo and J: Tony Schwab.

Maintenance Recommendations from Brian Stine: 

The Fingers on Docks H and J are in good shape, including the floatation foam, and do not need to be replaced at this time.  The Fingers can be power washed to clean them up and then treated/coated.  A few individual boards on the Fingers will need to be replaced. The Fingers will look brand new when completed.  Only the Mains need to be replaced.  This could possibly reduce the replacement cost of each by approximately $30,000 for 2025/2026.  

The “Suds” needs a complete overhaul including the generator

The MC recommends all the above repairs/replacements be completed for next season

The MC agrees with and recommends following B Stine’s recommendations for replacing all the Docks in the future only when structurally needed rather than just automatically replacing them on an annual basis

Additional Maintenance Issues:

Drainage of the sloped stone path in front of the porta-johns (including the sewer grate) still needs to be addressed as part of the stone washes away in heavy rains.  This should be part of the Master Plan for handing all the drainage issues near the Marina (including all the additional water runoff incurred from the two new homes built up on the Marina/Boathouse Road parking hill).

One top board on the railing next to the porta-johns has split and needs to be repaired/replaced

Flexible netting and railings should be installed on the space between the end of the wooden stairs and the metal grate ramp to the A and B docks

Should additional Maintenance staff be dedicated (part time) to review/walk the docks to address the day-to-day issues that arise, especially during the busiest summer months?

Financial Review/Issues and the 2025 Budget Planning:

A copy of the Marina Financial Statements as of October 31, 2024 along with the proposed budget for 2025 was distributed by L Cohen and discussed in detail

The Marina as of October 31, 2024 is operating $660 ahead of Budget.  The cost to replace G Dock came in $6,536 over budget.  Insurance for the year will come in over budget by $4,663.  However, Marina Income came in over budget by $4,020.  We are hoping to maintain at a minimum a $33,000 Reserve going into 2025.

Lee Cohen met with John Carney and Bruce Phillips for two hours on November 13^th to review the proposed Budget for 2025.  The Preliminary Budget is projecting the Annual Marina Fee for 2025 to increase from $460 to $550 or $90/19.6%.   The main contributors for this very large increase are the cost of Insurance and the cost to fully replace Dock H with a small offset by the Weekend/Weekly Fees income.  This fee increase is based on a breakeven budget. A few potential offsets to this proposed fee increase were discussed: 1) Replacement/rebuilding of Dock H per Brian Stine, 2) Possible reduction of insurance cost per John Carney, 3) Reallocation of the Dockmaster’s payroll cost due to time spent monitoring and directing traffic to the Marina Ramp, 4) “Suds” overhaul/repairs and 5) Possibly reduce the number of cameras on the right path towards Docks E to J.

The MC suggests the Board consider a $25 annual ramp fee for WLE residents who do not have a Marina slip for use of the ramp.  This would generate additional income for the marina and would help cover some of the operating costs for the marina area.  Additionally, by utilizing an annual sticker we could dramatically reduce/eliminate the use of our ramp by non WLE individuals.

The MC recommends the cost of Marina Mike be split 50/50 with Maintenance since the majority of his time on weekends is spent monitoring the ramp.  B Stine/Maintenance has agreed to this recommendation.

The MC recommends the annual Marina fee be increased from $460 to $500 ($40/8.7%) rather than the BOD recommended $550 by accepting B Stine’s proposal to only replace the Mains on Dock H this year and to do a 50/50 split on the Dockmaster’s cost with Maintenance. The “Suds” overhaul and 2 additional cameras could then be completed.

L Cohen will be meeting with the BOD after this meeting to present these recommendations to the BOD.  (Note – Lee Cohen along with Brian Stine did meet with John Carney, Bruce Phillips and Kathleen Maynes for approximately 2 hours and reviewed all of the above recommendations.  They all indicated they would seriously consider the entirety of the MC suggestions.  Bruce Phillips also requested some additional financial information from Brian Stine with respect to his recommendations.)

 Marina Security:

The Board approved the MC recommendation for 2025 to add two additional day/night vision cameras to be located from the Marina shed to the right down along the pathway towards Docks E to J

The MC also discussed adding day/night cameras that would project across all the boats in the Marina.  More information is needed on the design, number and pricing before moving forward in 2026.

The Board approved the MC recommendation for 2025 for each dock to have a pole installed on the Main at the Lake end with an “Under 24/7 Surveillance Sign” being mounted for all to see (possibly with a solar light?)

The Board approved the MC recommendation to install solar lights at the rear of Dock A.  These lights were installed by Maintenance

Additions to the Rules/Contract Starting in 2025:

The Board agrees with the MC recommendation that outboard motors need to be in the down position when moored in the Marina and this will be reflected in the 2025 marina rules/contract

A Mooring Shock Absorber, also known as a rubber snubber, or bungie dock line will now be mandatory on all bow lines on the front of each watercraft (or stern lines if the boat is backed in).  This is used to relieve tension on lines connecting the watercraft to the dock to avoid damage to the dock.  A warning, if not complied with, will be issued for the 1st offense, then a $50 fine, then a $100 fine, and then a larger failure to comply fine.   This rule addition will be found in Section 8 of the Marina Rules and Regulations for 2025.

The MC suggests that K Sollenne includes a diagram for the best way to tie up boats be attached to the letter sent out with the 2025 dock assignments in the Spring.  Hopefully this will reduce the number of calls to Maintenance from boat owners requesting assistance in tying up their boats.

The MC also approved K Sollenne’s recommendation to include in the Section 8 Marina Rules a line indicating: “In the event you do not supply insurance within 7 days of an accident occurring WLE will forward the insurance information on file to the other party involved”.

Note:  Lee Cohen reviewed all of the above suggestions with Kathy Sollenne after the MC Meeting and both parties were in agreement

 Boating Course:

The MC recommended one/two PA Boating Safety Courses be offered in the Spring with cooperation from the PA Fish & Boat Commission.  The Board has approved this idea and has allocated $200 from the Marina Budget for the Course.  The Marina Committee/F Carrotozzolo will speak with WLE Recreation for assistance in covering the cost of the course(s). T Jacobsen has volunteered to organize the course(s). 

Miscellaneous:

The MC recommends the Dockmaster provide a list of empty slips (and any other potential issues) weekly to K Sollenne to investigate potential sublet/weekly/weekend rentals to generate additional income for the Marina

Next Meeting:

Scheduled for May 17, 2025 at 9 am at the WLE Adult Lodge

Lee Cohen moved to adjourn the meeting at 10:35 am and this motion was seconded by all

Respectfully Submitted By:

Lee Cohen, Chairman

Bill Sullivan, Member