President's Message 
Jeanne Jameson, President
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President's Message |
September This past weekend the Clubhouse was filled with activities from Friday to late Sunday. On Friday night, we had the annual Adult Appreciation celebration and it was definitely a most enjoyable night for all that were able to attend. The food was plentiful and served up by our dedicated volunteers to a large crowd. I always feel a little guilty watching them work so hard on the night that they should be relaxing like the rest of us volunteers and wanted to make sure to acknowledge their dedication this year. Thank you to everyone who made that evening a special night for all of us. For any volunteer who was unable to attend, please be sure to stop by the office during regular business hours and on Saturdays between 10:00 am and 1:00 pm to pick up your gift. You have earned it and it’s waiting for you. This year it was a nicely crafted and engraved travel mug for your daily commute. I know many of you have a collection of the annual mementos that we receive each year for volunteering 20 hours or more to the Club during the year and if you’re anything like me, you have a ton of things that pop up during the year to remind you of the good times you have had and perhaps sometimes of the hard lessons you may have learned through trial and error. Cherish them, though. They represent your dedication and your hard work. Saturday night was the Professional Art Show held in the Lake Room. There was an unusually large crowd this year, which is a good indication of the popularity of this annual event. Nice job done by each of the volunteers who put this show together and a wonderful display of talent. On Sunday, the Art Show was opened up to amateur artists of all ages and I understand that this year was a particularly difficult one for the judges. There’s quite a lot of budding artists residing in Highland Lakes and their talent is quickly becoming noted by our residents and the judges. Congratulations to all the winners this year and others take note: it was extremely difficult this year to choose the winners, so you’re good at what you are doing. Keep up the good work! On another note, the Voting Board will now begin the process of determining the budget for our next fiscal year that begins on October 1st. This year offers a lot of challenges to the Voting Board. As we have done in the past, we will examine carefully our expenses while always being mindful of the lifestyle we all enjoy as members of this Association. We all know too well the impact that fixed and necessary costs have on our budget, including utilities, uncontestable real estate taxes, auditing and legal fees, employer benefit taxes and insurance. After examining fixed costs we must turn to the other items of our budget that represent the services and activities enjoyed by our membership. The majority of the Voting Board has consistently rejected scaling back these programs for some time, though it may be increasingly difficult to do so. The Club contracts currently with Waste Management to provide ten weeks of garbage pick-up during the summer months. We are completing the second year of a three year agreement and retain an option for the 2011 summer season.
The Voting Board accepted that recommendation with the understanding that summer garbage pickup would continue to be included in the Club’s budget. However, with recent court rulings and approvals received by the Sussex County Municipal Utilities Authority to significantly increase tipping fees, pricing is much less favorable for all customers, and that includes the Club during the summer months. As reported by Eileen McCarthy Born, Esq. of Dolan & Dolan at the Annual Meeting, a disagreement continues to exist between Waste Management and the Club over the surcharges to members during the Club's ten week service period resulting from SCMUA's NJDEP-approved increased tipping fees. It is clear that members are not customers of Waste Management during these ten weeks, and have no obligation to pay the pro-rata share of the $4.00 per month surcharge. Less clear is the apparent conflict between the Club's contract with Waste Management and NJDEP's solid waste rules, and this conflict is being actively dealt with by the attorney for Highland Lakes and Waste Management's attorney. However the outcome, the Voting Board retains the ability to not exercise the option for the third year with Waste Management, and to solicit competitive quotes from other haulers. The final decision rests with the Voting Board. We will continue to be extremely conservative this year in our budget process, and I am hoping that we can at the very least keep our current programs in place. I cannot guarantee that, but it will be important this year for you to remember that that is our goal. If there is a increase in dues this year, do not be overly surprised, but know that we have worked hard on avoiding it. The Voting Board will be meeting early in September to begin this process of crafting a workable and affordable budget that we can have in place by September 30th to ensure a smooth transition for our finances. This is rarely a one time process and several meetings will be necessary to finalize the budget, but hopefully we can reach a fair budget by September 30th. There are still quite a few activities listed for the end of the summer which are listed in this Newsette in other sections and the year is not over. Continue to check the monthly editions for more information on activities and make sure you get out there and volunteer. It’s not just for the Club, it’s for you as well. Sincerely, Jeanne Jameson President
August 14 With the Annual Meeting fast approaching, I want to once again extend an invitation to all members in good standing to come and listen to your elected representatives as they recap the year’s progression. We will hear from our Treasurer, Robert Hughes who will give you an extensive overview of the financial aspect. We will also hear from the Club's General Counsel, Eileen McCarthy Born, Esq., who will explain the legal challenges we have faced over the past year and any ongoing legal issues we will likely carry into next year. Chairperson of the Board Judith Norton will deliver her report from the Board of Trustees and I will report on the general welfare of the Club as a whole. The members will have the opportunity to ask questions and make suggestions. This is an important function of the Annual Meeting. Input from the Membership is what the Voting Board relies on to guide them in their decision making. All suggestions are given consideration during the course of the next year and I report on those considerations in my monthly President's Column. Some members’ suggestions were first discussed on a Committee level with recommendations made for Voting Board review. A prime example of this is the ongoing pilot program to control speeding in a few problem areas through the use of speed humps. These traffic calming devices are far removed from the speed bumps that were installed in many other communities. Those devices caused more harm than good and were subsequently banned from use by the New Jersey Department of Transportation. According to the Guidelines For The Design and Application of Speed Humps, speed humps "…have the advantage of being largely self-enforcing and of creating a visual impression that a street is not intended for speeding." They are significantly quieter and cause far less damage to vehicles and discomfort to passengers than speed bumps. Instead, they are designed to slow people with a gentle rocking as vehicles pass over the speed hump. Properly designed speed humps pose no risk to emergency vehicles and tracks as they pass over the speed hump. I will also remind all members that the Annual Meeting is not the only time the Voting Board listens to members’ suggestions. The opportunity to speak out occurs every third Friday of the month during the “Floor Open to the Members” portion of our regular monthly meeting. If you do not want to wait until the regular meeting, contact your Trustee. Your Trustee is your representative. Unfortunately, they are not mind readers and will only know what you are thinking about if you tell them. Often minor problems are solved quickly with a few phone calls by your Trustee. The harder ones are discussed at the appropriate Committee meeting with recommendations suggested to the Voting Board for any action. I look forward to seeing as many of you as possible on Sunday, August 15, 2010 at 2:00 pm. We will begin the meeting promptly after the quorum has been met and move through the agenda items in a timely fashion. Sincerely, Jeanne Jameson President August 7 As the summer rolls on and the warm weather persists, we continue to watch the lakes very closely for signs of algae blooms that these warm, sunny days have consistently proven to produce. The New Jersey Herald recently reported that average temperatures in Sussex County during July were four degrees higher, “a pretty significant departure from normal”. We still face the “dog days” of August in the weeks ahead. In previous years, we have seen dramatic algae blooms much earlier in the season due to these conditions and have struggled through the remainder of the summer months with a lot of anxiety and disgruntled members. I honestly think it is too early to gauge the success of the newly installed aeration system in the Main Lake, so I’m not breaking out the champagne just yet. But, I will say that I cannot remember the last time we had such an ideal growing season as we have this year and are just seeing the onset of a potential outbreak. Princeton Hydro analysts noticed a small area of growth last week and suggested a treatment be applied. We contacted Allied Biological who responded immediately and assessed the lake for oxygen levels. They proved to be too high to do any treatments, so the Club decided not to go any further with treatments at this time. There is a delicate balance between nature and chemicals that must be considered when dealing with the lakes, the health of our fish population being one of our main concerns. So, while it is annoying to have rain on some days, be thankful when it occurs. That rain cools down the temperature of the water and increases the oxygen level in the water through turbidity. There was also a minor fish kill on small perch two weeks ago, but it was confined to one species and the majority of the kill was on the smaller 3 " or less group. That indicates that it may have been caused by some natural cause (such as a virus or parasite) rather than any chemical treatments or weather related event. Water temperatures and oxygen levels in the lake are also suspects to consider, but since it was only perch that were affected, the probability leans to the natural cause. I have little doubt in my mind that any algae bloom will occur about a week prior to the Annual Meeting. It is prime time for that to occur on more than one level and I ask you all to remember that as August progresses. As many of you know, I travel to Livingston every day for work and I see a lot of lakes that are covered in green. Most of it is the common duck weed, but it is unsightly and uninviting to most. It is quite harmless, but as members have said in the past coming out of the lake covered in green slime is not their idea of lake management. On another note, the most complaints I have received this past summer are from residents who are feeling uncomfortable sitting in their yards or sleeping at night because of the noise from their neighbors’ parties. There is no one here that likes a good party as much as I do, but I can fully understand their frustration with the situation. Vernon Township Code requires no noise after 10:00 pm, yet is slow if at all to respond to requests from neighbors who call for help. I had always believed that they respond immediately to all nuisance calls after 10:00 pm, but perhaps with the budget cuts now in place in Vernon Township and Statewide that response time is cut to a minimum. So, we are now left to our own devices. One of the easiest solutions is for each homeowner to take responsibility for their parties and their guests. Keep in mind that you have neighbors that may for one reason or another like to sleep early and get up early. They may also be offended by loud arguments about politics or TV shows. They might not appreciate your music blasting in their ears as they lay there trying to sleep. The option always remains to close the windows, but they also have the same rights as you to enjoy their own lifestyle. So when you entertain at your home, consider your neighbors and move the party indoors after 10:00 pm. Or just turn the noise level down. It may be just your one party of the year, but remember there are neighbors on the other side who want to have a party once a year and perhaps across the street and so on down the block that are driving folks up the wall. I also reported to you last week that private communities in Vernon Township had banded together to resolve the dispute with Vernon Township over the reimbursement agreement for Municipal Services that we are entitled to under NJ State Law. The Coalition met at Barry Lakes Clubhouse two weeks ago and it was decided that we draft a letter to the Township Council strongly requesting a meeting to work out these differences. Not being short on words, I volunteered to draft a letter to Vernon Township Officials that would convey our extreme displeasure with their adoption of a one-sided agreement and request their presence at a negotiation table within the next 30 days. I met that obligation and submitted the letter to the rest of the Presidents of the Coalition. They in turn submitted their suggestions and signed the letter on Saturday, July 31, 2010. The letter was hand delivered on Monday, August 2nd by our staff and we now wait for their response. Our intention is to restore the previous fair treatment of all taxpaying citizens in Vernon and to eliminate the misguided conception that we are in a separate class of our own because we are all private communities. The hard work of the previous coalition that first worked to ensure a fair and equitable reimbursement schedule back in 1993-1998 must be preserved and I am committed to carry that to a positive outcome for our voters. If the Township does not respond within the 30 day period to this request, the Presidents will all stand together at a Township Council meeting and make this publicly known. I will then be calling on all of you to stand behind me on this one. It is not just my fight but yours as well. The other communities have promised the same coordination of commitment from their members. As I said last week, we’ll keep you informed as to the information as it comes in. Lastly, are you on the Club’s email list? Every week during the summer months, Sue Buruchian, Co-Chair of the Communications Committee, updates you on the various changes to the website. These include weekly happening announcements and things you need to know about your community. If you want to be included in these notices, please send an email to either the Communications Committee - cchlccweb@gmail.com or the Club Office - hlcc@warwick.net. You will stay connected to your community and know about the latest developments as they occur. Sincerely, Jeanne Jameson, President July 31 In an earlier column this summer, the Voting Board decided to begin the process of installing some speed humps on the roadways of Highland Lakes that have been identified as local speedways often traveled by pedestrians and cyclists. This was a direct result of member input, Road Committee research and recommendation to the Voting Board and many hours of discussion by the Voting Board on the subject. Elsewhere in the Newsette you will find comments from a member raising questions about this decision. The process was not taken lightly nor was it acted on the first or second time it was suggested by the Road Committee. The Voting Board wanted to be sure that it was in the best interest of the members to undertake this pilot project to install these speed humps, and that all options had been considered before it took on the expense of providing members in the sections with adequate protection from speeding vehicles. The first step was determining the need. A few years back a petition was received by the Voting Board from residents along Lakeside Drive West complaining about speeding. The Voting Board requested that the Road Committee, which was also receiving continual comments about speeding from the membership, conduct an initial investigation of options. We were well aware of the work by the Lake Mohawk community in Sparta to install speed humps in their community, and discussions took place with the traffic engineering firm of Dolan & Dean. The Road Committee, while maintaining their other ongoing and difficult projects, devoted a lot of time researching and providing supportive documentation of the need for a traffic safety study to be conducted by a qualified and professional team who could provide us with the necessary information that the Voting Board members could rely upon to make the best decision. As a result of these discussions, the Road Committee recommended that the Voting Board retain that firm to conduct speed monitoring at selected locations in Highland Lakes, and these studies were completed in July, 2009 on the target roads that the Road Committee had identified as being the most problematic at the time. The results of those studies have been published in previous articles, which can still be viewed on the Club’s website, including top speeds and average speeds of the six locations and the results were disturbing to say the least. The safety of the members is foremost in the minds of every Board member and to know the speeds at which some folks drive down our roads with pedestrians and children present is an eye-opener. Remember that the Club's roads are covered by New Jersey motor vehicle laws, commonly known as Title 39. The speed limit on Club roads is established under Title 39, which is 25 mph in residential districts. The Road Committee came back to the Voting Board with some suggestions, most notably and safest being the speed humps. They are designed to accommodate emergency vehicles without being a danger to the undercarriage and with less damage to other vehicles going too fast over them. The entire idea is to get people to slow down on these roads. It is not to punish people or ruin their cars. If that is the result, it is their fault for not obeying the laws of the State of New Jersey. Please also keep in mind that Title 39 authorizes speed humps, but not speed bumps, and speed humps are a proven method of slowing vehicles down. We are all aware of the difficulty of adequate police presence in any one community within Vernon Township and the force is getting smaller and smaller as the Township copes with its budget problems. Vernon Township just does not have the resources or manpower to have a stationary patrol officer in one spot at any given time these days, so we must use our own resources and choose the best possible alternatives to a babysitter. By law, enforcement of Title 39 speeding violations on private roads covered by Title 39 rests only with the local police department, not Security personnel. We are also limited by our budgetary constraints, so we cannot provide one person to sit all day and night to identify the speeders, and would be powerless to assess fines for speeding. At the May meeting, the Voting Board, on the recommendation of the Road Committee, voted to move forward and approved an engineering design phase for the speed humps and the next step will be to install them as part of the Club's paving program this year. As with any speed hump installation, there will be adequate signage warning of the dangers of driving over the humps too fast and people will take notice of the signs. Speed humps are a proven, effective method of managing the speed of vehicles. In fact, in December, 2008, the New Jersey legislature adopted amendments to Title 39 that specifically authorized the installation of speed humps on private roads. We will be making this investment to improve the safety of all of our members, and will be monitoring their effectiveness. I don’t think I can stress the importance of member safety any more than I have, but if you can think of a better way to say it, I’m listening. Again, I would like to remind everyone about the Annual Meeting coming up on August 15th. It is a Sunday afternoon at 2:00 pm sharp and for the past two years we have reached our quorum within minutes of that target hour. Let’s make it a third year in a row. As you know, I don’t like to waste your time sitting listening to speeches and I try very hard to make it flow as smoothly as possible to make that happen. If we get our quorum as close to 2:00 pm as possible, we will be finished with the meeting as soon as possible and everyone can resume their Sunday with their families. However, it is important for you to attend and listen to your Board give you the recap of the year from their perspective. No one particularly likes being in the dark about their Community and the best way of avoiding that is to attend the meeting and hear what’s going on. You need to know this. I have tried very hard to keep you informed over the past year through my letters in the Newsette that are also published on our website, hlcc.org (managed by our very competent volunteer Sue Buruchian, Co-Chair of the Communications Committee), but there may be some articles that you have missed or require more explanation. This will be your opportunity to ask questions or make suggestions (if you have not done so during the year at our monthly meetings). This is your Community, folks. Attend and be a part of its future. This will also be an election year for Officers and the Trustees of Sections 6, 7, 8 and 12. Check the article from Jack Patterson, Elections Chairman, for the candidates for the Officer and Trustee positions. It is your right and privilege as a Member In-Good Standing to participate in this vote and I urge you to exercise that right. Enjoy the warm weather while we have it and don’t let the lack of air conditioning get you down on the one or two days that warrants tolerance this summer. We are a lot better than a lot of folks in the state with our coverage of trees and less black asphalt to retain the heat. Sincerely, Jeanne Jameson, President
July 23 From the President’s Desk The Clubhouse was teeming with activity last weekend as the Goodwill Fund Raising Committee held their second Annual Community Yard Sale. There were so many donated items that the sale continued out onto the lawn. What struck me the most about the scene was the number of volunteers pitching in to lend a hand. As I was going past on Friday night on my way to the Voting Board Meeting, the crowd of volunteers was just as thick setting up all the merchandise and pricing the items out. I was very moved by the generosity of these people who gave up their Friday night and entire Saturday for the event. They will not know who the recipients of their efforts are because of the anonymity associated with the Goodwill Fund awards, but that seems to be beside the point. This is about neighbors caring about neighbors. Thank you all who participated. I would also like to thank the volunteers who organized the Annual Breakfast at the Clubhouse on July 3rd. This event was also a fundraiser to benefit the Goodwill Fund and I know they worked very hard. It was also an opportunity for members to gather on a beautiful morning as the sun glimmered on the lake and perhaps a chance to escape for a little time while the oppressive heat that took hold of the northeast that weekend raged outside. The Voting Board will be reviewing the recommendation from the Buildings and Grounds Committee regarding the replacement of the Clubhouse doors at its August 9th meeting (note the date change due to the Swim Team Awards Dinner on August 11th). Immediately after the Workshop, the Board will convene a Special Meeting of the Voting Board to take a vote on the proposal. If the vote is successful, the project would begin about five to six weeks later and, hopefully, be completed within a few weeks. That combined with a fresh staining of the exterior of the building should give the place a much needed updated appearance. It has been a long process, but in the end will give us a much longer life span with the proposed materials chosen and a Clubhouse we can continue to be proud of. Thank you to Chairman Rich Klos and his Committee and to Jim Zabrieski, our Maintenance Superintendent, for all of his input and research. The Planning Committee has completed their revisions to the Filed Community Plan and will be submitting it to the Voting Board shortly for their review. This project has been very labor intensive and Committee members deserve a lot of credit for all their hard work. There were a lot of updates to add to the Plan, many of which answered the suggestions in the first submission to the Township of Vernon and we can all take a bit of pride in accomplishing that. All of the exhaustive hours spent on planning projects, implementing those plans and most importantly paying for them was a combination of a lot of work and faith. Thank you to Lyn Kaplan and her Committee. Lastly, I urge all members to be considerate of their neighbors when entertaining guests on their property. The occasional outside party or barbeque can be tolerated by most neighbors, but frequent loud parties are never appreciated. You may not notice your neighbor sitting out on his/her deck or lawn enjoying the fresh air, but they can hear your guests and perhaps don’t like the constant intrusion. The Annual Meeting is approaching rapidly. This year will be an extremely important one to attend. Sections 6, 7, 8 and 12 will be electing Trustees. Petitions for Trustees are due into the Elections Chair by 4:00 pm on July 26th and I expect that the Elections Committee will report the nominees in the following week's Newsette. All Officer positions are also up for election this year and it is every member’s vote that elects these representatives. The community-wide vote only comes up every three years, so you will definitely want to take advantage of this opportunity. Please call the office and request an absentee ballot for voting if you are unable to attend the meeting. Thank you all, once again, for all you do for Highland Lakes. It may not seem like a lot to you, but you make this a wonderful place to live. Sincerely, Jeanne Jameson, President
July 17 This has probably been one of the best growing seasons for a bountiful crop of blue green algae in years. I can’t remember the last time we had a beautiful 4th of July weekend that lasted for so long. Given the conditions, please be patient this year with nature’s reaction to the ideal conditions. The new aeration system we installed this past year in the Main Lake was not intended to completely cure all evils associated with hot dry spells with lots of sunshine. It is, however, providing the lake with better circulation and less stratification in the water that will serve us better in the long run. Our lake experts have been stressing the importance of reducing the amount of phosphate-laden runoff that enters the lakes whenever it rains. The Ecology Committee has invested an enormous amount of time and energy on writing articles, developing brochures that are available in the Club Office and distributing flyers that are inserted into Membership mailings to get people to think “less phosphates!” Now it is the members’ turn to do their part and start to pay attention. There are ways to change our dependence on phosphates for green, luxurious lawns that are not painful, do not cause deep depression, are inexpensive and can be quite lovely if carefully executed. For instance, if you insist on having that great green lawn, switch to a phosphate-free fertilizer. They’re available locally and quite reasonably priced. Make sure you have leaf coverage from trees during the hottest times of the season. For the best insurance for leaf coverage all summer long, use indigenous trees. There are lots of varieties that thrive on our type of climate and offer plenty of color. Lawns tend to look a lot greener under a cover of beautiful, healthy native trees. Buy drought resistant and shade loving grass seeds when replanting or filling in bald spots. If done on a regular basis, you’ll have a beautiful, soft and green lawn every year in no time. For those fortunate to live in waterfront homes, try planting some medium height grass at the water’s edge. It doesn’t have to come more than a few feet from the edge to act as a filter to silt during the rains. It can also be quite a dramatic viewscape when gazing out on the water from your deck or lawn chairs. There are many varieties to choose from and once established a few initial plantings can cover the whole coastline giving you years of pleasure and carefree maintenance with the peace of mind knowing you are helping to keep the lakes clean and clear. If we all try to do our part, we’ll make this little section of Vernon a place that we can call home for many years with the same traditions and perhaps some new ones to keep it interesting for a long time to come. Our predecessors have done a terrific job in providing us a great place to live. I think we owe it to them to maintain that paradise for the next generation. Remember, the members own the lakes and must take responsibility for them just as we take responsibility for our own private properties. Sincerely, Jeanne Jameson, President July 3 Now that summer’s here, there’s a ton of activities to occupy children of all ages (including adults). You can search for an activity that is of interest to you by visiting our website, hlcc.org, reading the Newsette each week or looking at the activities schedule posted outside on the porch of the Clubhouse. You can also check with our great staff either in the Office or Activities Center at the Clubhouse. Our Clubhouse Committee works hard all year planning special events and the Clubhouse Director is vigilant in coming up with new and interesting ideas to keep the variety in children’s activities. The parks are inviting for family gatherings and many have taken advantage of picnicking by the lake, but please remember to be considerate of your neighbors and take out anything you bring in. This includes beach toys, towels, sandals and chairs. Don’t leave any garbage behind you. Use the trash receptacles that are located at each beach. And, please folks only deposit beach trash in these receptacles. Do not bring down your household garbage and dump it in the beach cans. This is unsightly and unpleasant for everyone. Even though it is only the beginning of July, it is not too early to begin planning for the third Sunday in August. The lengthy advance notice should give you plenty of time to clear your calendars and make sure that there is nothing standing in the way for your attendance at the Annual Meeting of the Membership on August 15, 2010 at 2:00 pm. I look forward to seeing you there. This year will bring the election of all Officer positions in which every member can participate. If you are considering running for an office, be sure to file your paperwork with the Elections Committee as soon as possible. All petitions, signed by sixty members in good standing (for Officer positions) or five members (for Trustee positions) must be on file twenty days before the Annual Meeting - July 26, 2010, not later than 4:00 pm. Enjoy the Fourth of July holiday and give homage to those responsible for your freedom. Thank a veteran and remember those fighting daily for our continued freedom. And remember, leave the fireworks to the professionals. The 15th Annual Fireworks display hosted by the Vernon Township and Highland Lakes Fire Departments will be held this year on July 3rd at Lounsberry Hollow School. Keep yourselves and your children safe. Sincerely, Jeanne Jameson President June 26 The July 4th holiday is close upon us, and I wish all a great summer in Highland Lakes. Below are just a few items that our Voting Board, Committees, and staff are working on:
Sincerely, Jeanne Jameson President June I’d like to take this opportunity to welcome back all of our part-time Highland Lakes members. It will be nice to see you once again. I would also like to extend an invitation to all returning and full-time members to explore the many Committees available for your participation. The experience is rewarding and often educational and the knowledge you have is essential to the continued success of our programs. Serving on a Committee that interests you gives you the opportunity to help shape the future of your investment and often gives you a chance to involve your families in activities they might not otherwise have considered. Often, folks are reluctant to serve on a Committee because it means time spent away from their duties as parents or guardians. There’s a wide gamut of learning opportunities for your teens if they are involved on a Committee level. Bring them with you to the meetings, let them learn how to plan events at the Clubhouse Committee meetings; let them learn how to recognize invasive and potentially harmful plant life in and around our lakes with the Ecology Committee; let them learn how to communicate effectively by participating in the Communications Committee meetings to name a few suggestions. Any member in good standing is welcome and encouraged to become involved. Remember, everyone has busy lives these days but many find time to include some community service and generally find their lives richer because they did. Contact information and meeting times, schedules and current information regarding their recent activities can be found in the Newsette, on the Website (www.hlcc.org) and by contacting the office. Just 20 hours for adults and 10 hours for juniors will earn you a spot at the table at the Adult or Junior Appreciation events in August. Over the winter months, a sub-committee of Voting Board Members was formed to explore the options available for garbage collection during the summer months. The sub-committee presented its report to the Voting Board at the May meeting. The Voting Board will discuss their recommendation at the next Workshop in June. Members interested in listening to the discussion should plan on attending the meeting on June 9th at 8:00 pm. If you are already receiving service from Waste Management of New Jersey, the company contracted by the Club for the summer pick-ups, you will receive a credit on your bill from them. Note that all dues and assessments for the year must be paid in full before the start of the Club service for this credit to be issued. That does not mean that if you still owe a small balance, the Club will extend the service anyway. It means In Full prior to start date of Tuesday, July 6th. Since July 4th falls on a Sunday, the landfill is closed on July 5th, so the start date will be July 6th, so no excuses - your dues must be paid by Monday, July 5th. It is not too early to remind you that the Annual Meeting will be upon us in a few short months. This year, the members will be participating in elections of all Officer positions. The Nominating Committee that was approved by the Voting Board consists of the following members: Past President, Steve Hastie; Past President, Paul Peters; Co-Chair of the Ecology Committee, Brenda Susman; Past Trustee, Robert Rathgeber; Past Trustee, Ann Nathan; Chair of the Badge Checking Committee, Ursula Fahmy; and member, Mary McKenna. All Committee members are in good-standing and have knowledge of the duties and responsibilities they are charged with. Information on the nominations process can be found elsewhere in the Newsette. I hope everyone has an enjoyable summer season and that you become more involved in your community. Please continue to call your Trustees with questions or concerns and attend Board meetings to stay abreast of your community. Sincerely, Jeanne Jameson President
May This past weekend was the annual spring clean-up in Highland Lakes. The volunteers from the Ecology Committee and friends could be spotted all over the community clearing out trash and junk from common areas, roadsides, wooded areas and freeways. It is always astonishing to see the amount of trash accumulated over the winter. What is even more astonishing is that it is completely unnecessary. It is not the forces of nature or acts of war that create this mess but careless motorists who don’t want to take the effort of disposing of their garbage properly, uncaring people who are too busy or lazy to take their old furniture or appliances to the SCMUA landfill in Lafayette or to arrange to have it carted away. They are teenagers who have watched their parents toss garbage out the car window and believe it is their right to follow this "family" tradition. It is even the conscientious folks who have not taken the time to secure a trash bag in the back of the pickup heading for the landfill. It is everyone’s responsibility to keep Highland Lakes clean. Everyone: remember the investment you have made by purchasing property in this community. The key to preserving the value of that investment is taking pride in your home and your community. A sloppy, littered community is a turnoff to you and to potential buyers. No matter what your short term plans are for where you choose to raise your family, someday you will want to sell that property or your children will. Make sure you or your children can get the value you expect by keeping your property maintained and your community clean. The Voting Board spent a good deal of time discussing how to address the lack of adequate property maintenance by some members. We discussed rules and fines that could be adopted, we discussed the role of Vernon Township through increased enforcement of Township ordinances, and we revisited suggestions of rewarding people who do pay more attention to their property. In the end, we concluded that increased education might be more effective and attainable. The Communications Committee has agreed to help the Voting Board with articles for the Newsette and the website. They will also be exploring other avenues of communicating this message to the members. They could use your help with suggestions, articles or ideas. Thank you to all of the volunteers combing the roadways on Saturday, April 24. You did a wonderful job and we all appreciate your hard work. Thank you also to the Ecology Committee for planning and executing this program year after year. Perhaps some day everyone will get it and you services will no longer be required, but until that day please don’t stop caring. The aerators and tubing have been installed in the Main Lake, with the electrical work taking place this past week. After final adjustments, the new aeration system should be up and running early in May. The final piece of the installation was electrical and it was expected to be completed by the end of April. Thank you again to the Ecology Committee for their diligent research and presentations on the benefits we anticipate from this project. No one expects miracles from this system, but members should notice an improvement by the first year. The Voting Board will review the recommendations from the Clubhouse Committee on a revised rental agreement for family celebrations at the May Workshop. These recommendations are based on previous rentals and are intended to further outline responsibilities of both the renters and the Club representatives acting as hosts. There is also proposed a slight increase in fees to ensure that renters are paying the costs associated with renting the Clubhouse and not the rest of the members. It is important to mention that the Club is not gaining any profits or income from these rentals. I hope everyone enjoys a wonderful spring and looks forward to seeing everyone over the summer months as we emerge from our homes and take to the outdoors once again. Sincerely, Jeanne Jameson President
April Dear Members: By the time you read this, I hope the sun is shining and the weather has moderated. Given the problems they have been experiencing in the lower areas, I think we have been pretty lucky this spring. Don’t worry, I’m knocking on wood. I am grateful for all the work that the Dam Committee accomplished over the past fourteen years and for the diligence paid by all the Voting Board Members who have overseen the rehabilitation of our dams. It’s comforting to know that they are safe and are holding up well during these extraordinary rain storms. Our maintenance crew is keeping a close watch for signs of any trouble and except for a few minor incidents over the years there’s been every indication that the rehabilitations were done with expertise and craftsmanship. At the March meeting, the Voting Board approved an amendment to Rule #29 to further define personal watercraft that are banned from all lakes and the lagoon. The original rule was inconsistent with the State of New Jersey's definition of personal watercraft, creating a loophole that needed to be changed. After several months of discussion and some research, they feel the amendment closes that loophole. Please refer to the rules section for the specific wording and be guided by the new ruling when considering purchasing any watercraft to use on our lakes. This amendment was adopted for the safety of all - boaters, swimmers and those who enjoy fishing. I would like to take a moment to thank former Road Chairman Tom Kemiksizgil for all the hard work he put into his position. Although Tom will not be chairing the Committee any longer, he will remain on the Committee offering his wealth of knowledge and opinions to the committee. I would also like to welcome the new Chairman, Tom Mulcahy, whose nomination was approved by the Board of Trustees in February. The Voting Board approved changes submitted by the Planning Committee regarding the mapping of Highland Lakes by the Highlands Council. The errors in these maps were extensive, and without changes would require homeowners and the Club to obtain expensive and timely waivers from the Highlands Council when seeking building permits, etc. The Club's suggested changes were reviewed by both the Vernon Township Engineer and the consulting firm engaged by the Township to revise the Township's Master Plan, and were submitted to the Highlands Council with a request that the maps be modified. Approval by the Highlands Council of these corrections is crucial in eliminating unnecessary hardships for future improvements made to the Community and to member’s homes and/or properties. At the April workshop, the Voting Board will be reviewing recommendations from the Clubhouse Committee to modify the Rental Agreements for family parties held at the Clubhouse. The Committee feels the changes they are recommending will benefit both the renter and the Club and have spent a considerable amount of time on this review. If you would like to be involved in any of these or the many other Committees in Highland Lakes, please don’t hesitate to act. It’s easy to join, just attend a meeting of the Committee of your choice or call the Chairman of that Committee for more information. If you need a phone number, check the Newsette, the Web site or call the Office. Volunteers make this community what it is and you can help. Sincerely, Jeanne Jameson, President
March There’s one good thing to say about getting a snow storm in late February and early March. The end of winter is near and this will all melt. Like everyone else, my entire body was sore from all the shoveling and chopping we had to do to clear drives and walkways but sitting by the warm fire at night helped relieve some of the strain. I thank all of our staff for working overtime and tirelessly during all of these recent snow storms and for keeping their cool when the going got rough last weekend. The office got a fair share of calls as did Security but for the most part folks were understanding and patient as they waited for their roads to be plowed. The storm of February 26th through February 27th was a big one. At mid-day on February 26th, the forecast was for about 20 inches. As we all know, we received up to about 30 -35” of snow over the two days, some during heavy bands of snow that fell at an extremely fast rate. Many of our roads are very narrow which hampers plowing efforts even further. We suffered our share of equipment breakdowns and closed-in roads. While most of the roads were open late Friday evening, some were not opened until Saturday. On Saturday we also began our effort to improve sight distance at intersections with Highland Lakes Road, Breakneck Road, and Canistear Road, and to make room for bus stop traffic. Please remember that these intersections are the Club's responsibility - and that these areas get blocked in, just like your driveways get blocked in, when those roads are plowed. The biggest difference of this big storm and the Ice Storm of December, 2008 was that we had electricity. That makes a huge difference in people’s tolerance levels. We all have that to be grateful for this time around. In other Board news, the past month has been a very busy one for us. At the February Workshop, we had a lively discussion surrounding the proposed rule that would require that boats not produce an objectionable wake. We took steps a few years ago to ban personal watercraft (jet skis, ski-doos, wave-runners and the like) and relied upon the definition used by the State of New Jersey to define them. Unfortunately, we have now realized that New Jersey's definition does not address the emerging electric technology that is being used to produce and bring to market electric jet-skis, and we must modify the rule to more clearly prohibit all of these personal watercraft. The Voting Board spent a considerable amount of time discussing speed as a deterrent, but was unable to make a clear distinction between the speed of a jet ski versus the speed of a sailboat, even though the annoyance factor between the two crafts is clear. The Board decided to avoid establishing a speed restriction for motorized boats, and felt that language addressing wakes would regulate the speed of watercraft. All rules must be enforceable and clear. It seemed clear to Voting Board members that the proposed rule change - “Boats when not being used for rescue and boats not authorized by the Voting Board shall be operated at a speed that does not produce a wake” - did not adequately address the need to completely prohibit personal watercraft, and did not address the expressed concerns of members. At the end of the discussion, it was evident that sending this back to the By-Laws and Rules Committee was appropriate and that is the direction the Voting Board decided upon. Judging from the size of the audience that showed up for the meeting on Friday, February 19th, it is clear that there is wide-spread agreement to ban electric-powered personal watercraft, and that the proposed rule was not clear enough to convey our community’s distaste for disruptive watercraft on the lakes no matter how they are propelled. One of the misconceptions is that our efforts about potentially disruptive wakes on the lakes is directed at pontoon boats or larger sailboats. It is not. It is directed at avoiding problems down the road for newer and faster electrically-powered watercraft. There is a level of civility that must be continued in this Community to ensure that members are all treated with respect and rationality. The Board will be referring this issue back to the By-Laws and Rules Committee to further clarify this rule, pinpointing the issue more closely and preventing any problems down the road as technology and demand advances. There was also a report given by Paul Peters, Chairman of the Subcommittee that is working with Vernon’s Master Planner to ensure that Highland Lakes is appropriately represented in the updated version of the Township’s Master Plan due out in 2010. This plan is an extremely important document because it will serve as the basis for the Township’s compliance with the Highlands Council’s enforcement of their Master Plan. What that means to most folks in Highland Lakes is more regulation when filing for permits within Vernon Township to make minor repairs or improvements that are outside of the Highlands Council’s parameters and even more restrictions on the Club’s ability to upgrade and improve The Voting Board accepted a proposal from Fay, Spofford and Thorndike (FST) to inspect the Club's bridges. FST is the engineering firm that was engaged in 2002 to conduct the first, formal inspections of the bridges that service the homes on Island Road and Island Drive. FST also designed the repairs to the bridges that took place in 2003. After two years of discussion, discovery and research, the Board accepted the proposal from Princeton Hydro to install aeration systems in three areas of the Main Lake. While the project was approved last year, it was unable to move forward early in the spring since funds had not yet become available in the Capital Budget. Due to this revenue shortfall, the Club was unable to commit to the project early last spring and the short window of opportunity for the project to have it installed by the spring. This year, we are on target with both the appropriation of funding and planning for the project. This step was just the approval process for the project to be implemented. The vote at the meeting on the 19th of February was approved by the Voting Board and preparations are under way. The work is scheduled for the spring. For the past few years, the Voting Board has seen dramatic changes to the Operating Budget due to the cost of the 11 weeks of garbage removal during the summer months that has always been provided to Club Members in Good Standing as part of their dues. The pickup duration was reduced from 13 weeks to 11 weeks some time ago to cut back on the ever-rising cost for this service and once again cut back last year to 10 weeks. Unfortunately, the benefit to members on providing the pickups is decreasing steadily as costs rise and discussions have leaned toward eliminating this expensive item from the budget altogether. However, there are a lot of considerations that must be weighed before any decisions are made, so the Board decided it was time to form a committee to hash out some of the issues and report its recommendations back to the Voting Board before we sit down in September to start the budget process again for Fiscal Year 2011. Finally, the Voting Board discussed a suggestion from the Badge Checking Committee to clarify the rule instituted some years ago on the consumption of alcohol while at the beaches and the allowance of barbeques and family gatherings at the beach areas. Highland Lakes has always been and continues to be a family oriented community. The Voting Board feels that it should continue to be the type of place that people feel comfortable and proud to foster that atmosphere. The Voting Board is very concerned that the safety of all members while at the beaches is maintained, but at the same time recognizes the enormous responsibility of judging when a gathering of family members crosses the line from being a friendly party to an out of control gathering. This responsibility lies with our Security force, and if necessary, Vernon Township Police. A note of caution to members, however: nuisance is very subjective and should be noted by more than one or two people. If there is a complaint, it should be directed to the Lifeguard who will contact Security and the problem will be addressed on that level. All members should be aware that adult supervision of any behavior at the beaches is the responsibility of the member and not the Badge Checkers, the Lifeguards or Security. You, the member, are responsible for your family, your guests and your participants in any activity you engage in while on Club property. There was a final item on the agenda for the February Workshop, the ever perplexing issue of property maintenance that had to be postponed until the March meeting. This issue is not going away and must be addressed by the Voting Board. Weekly tours are conducted by our Security Manager with a representative from the Vernon Township Zoning Department to identify and correct zoning code and property maintenance violations. Members who ignore the violations notice from the Zoning Officer by failing to cure the problem are subject to receiving a summons, requiring an appearance in Vernon Municipal Court. Most summonses are issued for vehicles that are unregistered and/or inoperative, outside storage of junk, etc. Other violations include failing to maintain their property in an acceptable manner, and this issue that the Voting Board will be examining. The Voting Board will begin its discussions in March about what we can do to upgrade our policies to address through regulations how best to protect homeowner values in this Community. For those members who attended the February Regular Meeting on the 19th, I must apologize for sending you out of the meeting so quickly. I understood the reason for your attendance at the meeting and gave you that forum, but in fairness to all of you it would have been difficult at best for you to stand outside while we were in Executive Session with our Corporate Attorney. Those discussions lasted about 1 ½ hours and we accomplished a great deal but you would have been too inconvenienced waiting for that length of time. That is why we opened the floor to the members in the earlier portion of the meeting. Your opinions and concerns are very important to the Voting Board members and your attendance at the meetings is crucial to communication, so it is strongly encouraged by the members of the Board and me. It should be noted that this is not standard procedure, because if you have taken the time to come out to a meeting, you most likely want to know about what is going on in your community and this is one of the best ways of finding out. We have a Workshop every 2nd Wednesday of the month and a Regular Meeting on the 3rd Friday of the month. It is best to check the calendar in the Newsette, the website (www.hlcc.org) or with the office to be sure of the month’s meeting date because they are subject to change depending on weather or holidays. So to all, stay warm and dry but most of all safe. Sincerely, Jeanne Jameson President February I trust everyone is coping with the cold and occasional snow events we have experienced this winter. It’s comforting to know that spring is not far off, but that also means the Voting Board has some hard work to accomplish in the next few months. At the December meeting, the Capital Budget was introduced and passed at the January meeting. One of the items on the Capital Budget is the installation of an aeration system in the Main Lake. This system was recommended by the Club’s Lake Consultant, Dr. Stephan Sousa, Ph.D. of Princeton Hydro and endorsed by the Ecology Committee. It was an item in last year’s Capital Budget but had to be pushed back a year due to insufficient funding and time constraints. At the January meeting, the Voting Board voted to consider this project exempt from the prioritization process. This is not meant to be a cure-all for algae blooms during stressful summers, but will certainly reduce the extent of them. At the February workshop, the Voting Board will discuss a recommendation from the Rules and By-Laws Committee on the boating issue that the Voting Board has been discussing for several months. The Committee has suggested language changes in the existing rule to control boat speed by prohibiting wakes and the Voting Board will decide whether or not to send their suggestion to a vote at the Regular Meeting scheduled for the 19th of February. The Board will also continue their discussion from the January workshop on property maintenance. While most members consider their homes valuable assets and maintain them as such, some properties are in need of upkeep which bring down the entire neighborhood. The Board will revisit some of the suggestions from the Planning Committee on this matter. Hopefully by the time I write my next column the weather will be getting warmer and the ever-present threat of a nasty snow/ice storm will begin to ease up. Until then, stay warm. Sincerely, Jeanne Jameson, President December This time of year is particularly lovely in Highland Lakes. People are decorating for the holidays, filling up their wood piles, cleaning up the fallen leaves and cooking up all sorts of good food to share with friends and neighbors. The possibility of snow and ice begins to creep into everyone’s thoughts as the weather gets colder and the malls are filling up with shoppers. Before things get too busy for everyone, I would like to take a moment and wish everyone a warm and cheerful holiday season. There are, of course, some precautions we should all be taking at this time. Please be sure to have your chimney cleaned by a professional if you have not already done so this year. It is heartbreaking to watch the fire engines racing to a fire, knowing that the possibility exists that some family will be homeless this winter because they did not take the time or spend the money to perform a routine chore to ensure their safety. Please also remember not to place leaves, branches or other debris in the roadway even if you have made arrangements to have it picked up by a contractor. It creates a hazard for pedestrians and drivers and looks sloppy for your neighbors. When considering a cover for your wood pile, try to choose a color that blends in with the surroundings. Bright blue or orange sticks out like a sore thumb but brown or grey can blend in nicely. Thank you for considering these small neighborhood friendly suggestions. The Voting Board spent some time in November, at the Workshop and the Regular meetings, discussing boating on the lakes. Ken Boschert, Chairman of the Boat and Dock Committee, gave the Voting Board a comprehensive overview of the current state of the docks owned by the Club and offered some suggestions for improvements. The Board will take that information and decide on a course of action in the coming months. Trustees Sue Ross and Jim Kensek also reported on their sub-committee recommendations regarding whether or not to impose size limitations/speed restrictions or other safety improvements for boaters. Their fact-finding deliberations included research into what’s available on the market today, discussions with members of the boating community and reviewing the current rules and regulations in Highland Lakes. The Voting Board generally agrees that the size of the lakes basically guides members in the size of their boats and cost precludes purchasing excessively large electric motors. What the Voting Board will address is how to educate the members on the consequences of wakes and recklessness while on the water. In December, the Voting Board will begin the process of developing the Capital Budget for 2010. Hopefully, the future holds a much brighter picture for the economy and we will be able to accomplish some capital improvements. The projects will be much more conservative this year though, as the “crystal ball” approach to estimating revenues in the Capital Budget is still less reliable than in past years. As always, members are invited to attend the meetings of the Voting Board to stay informed about our community. Workshops are held on the second Wednesday of the month and regular meetings are on the third Friday of every month. All meetings begin at 8:00 pm, unless otherwise posted on the website. Please be sure to check with the office for any schedule changes. Enjoy this season of friendship and thanks for a most enjoyable year. Sincerely, Jeanne Jameson, President
November Now that the bathing suits and sunscreen, sails and oars and summer sports equipment are all packed away some folks are wondering what to do with their downtime. There are many activities available for the adventurous that don’t necessarily involve hard work. In October, the Communications Committee held their fall New Member Party which brought together more than 25 new members to share refreshments, stories of how they came to own property in Highland Lakes and why they look forward to spending their time here. They had the opportunity to speak with Board members, Committee Chairs and other members and learn what to look forward to during all seasons. The weather cooperated nicely that day and I think everyone had a good afternoon. The Clubhouse Committee threw a few parties of their own for members. From the Parking Lot Trunk parties for the children to the Adult Halloween Party/dance, there were a lot of smiles on faces during October. Unfortunately, due to unforeseen circumstances, the Haunted Clubhouse had to be canceled this year and I am sure that members understand that these things happen sometimes. Late in September, I had the opportunity to attend a meeting of the Women’s Auxiliary. The social networking group of Highland Lakes women held their first evening meeting scheduled for the winter months. Traditionally, their meetings were held during the daytime hours when many women were working. They are adapting to changing times by holding their meetings at night in the hopes of attracting new members. Their purpose is simple: friendship and fun. I recommend this activity for any woman seeking new friends and a pleasant evening once a month with other Highland Lakes’ women. As any homeowner knows, routine maintenance is critical when dealing with aging structures and equipment. However, the smart homeowner also knows when to give up the ghost and act swiftly to avoid dangerous situations. The Voting Board was faced with the decision to act on the advice of the Club’s maintenance staff and the Buildings and Grounds Committee to tear down the chimney on the Clubhouse and to replace the two boilers servicing the Main and Seckler Rooms of the Clubhouse. The chimney was crumbling beyond reasonable repair and would have been prohibitively expensive to replace. The decision was made to allocate funds from the Asset Replacement Fund and take the chimney down to just below the roof line. The fireplace inside the building will not be removed, but it is for appearances only. At sometime in the future an insert could be installed for aesthetics, but the Voting Board did not want to take on the expense at this time. Routine inspections of the boilers revealed that one boiler was completely shot and the other one was slowly dying as well. Both boilers are over 20 years old and have served the building well, but their useful life is spent. The Buildings and Grounds Committee met several times and are expecting final bids in soon. We expect to have the work completed in mid-November. At the November Workshop Ken Boschart, Chairman of the Boat and Dock Committee, will discuss and update the Voting Board on new dock specifications and configurations as we prepare for the replacement of some of the aging docks and work to accommodate some of the larger boats, such as pontoons. Ken has been spending his free time inspecting docks and observing high traffic areas as he researched this over the summer. All members are welcome at Workshops, so don’t hesitate to attend this one if you are interested. Members who are interested in learning more about the science of hydrology in our lakes should attend the Ecology meeting on November 12th. Dr. Stephen Souza, Ph.D., of Princeton Hydro will present his annual report on the lakes for the 2009 season. Dr. Souza’s presentations are always informative and interesting and should be at the top of every member’s list of things to do in the fall. Dr. Souza’s report is usually accompanied by a slide show and he follows his talk with a question and answer session follows his presentation. Most folks walk away with a lot more knowledge than they had before and a better understanding of our lakes. I would like to wish everyone a happy Thanksgiving. Sincerely, Jeanne Jameson, President
October 3 This year’s budget discussions were long and difficult. At issue was the state of the economy at large and the need to keep Highland Lakes operating at the same level that members expect from responsible leadership. Our community is often referred to by other Association leaders as a well managed and maintained model that should be followed and many of the Board members felt that was a reputation we did not want to lose. The Voting Board adopted its budget for 2009 – 2010 at its Voting Board Meeting on September 23. Notices will be going out shortly for those members who enjoy receiving their early payment discounts and pay in full by October 31st. The Voting Board paid tribute at this meeting to three valuable retiring Trustees whose terms have expired. I, again, wish to thank Mike Gillooley, Jack Healy, and Bob Rathgeber for their dedication and important contributions to the decisions of the Voting Board over the past six years. I don’t really believe they are going very far, given their interest in keeping HLCC a great place to raise a family, to enjoy peaceful retreats and/or to retire in. The Voting Board welcomes three new Trustees as Voting Board members - Michael Gelfand (Section 2), James Schriner (Section 9) and William Laccetti (Section 10) whose terms began October 1st. There will be some tough decisions coming up for the Voting Board this year. One of these decisions will be tied to this year’s budget discussions. Our ten weeks of summer garbage collection is becoming one of the most expensive items in the budget and with each price increase comes the suggestion of dropping it all together and using the money in the budget more wisely. There are pros and cons to this idea and the Voting Board will spend time discussing both sides in the coming Workshops. The Ecology Committee has begun an educational campaign aimed at curbing the use of phosphate laden products, such as lawn fertilizer and detergents. They are stressing switching to non-phosphate products, planting natural buffers between members’ properties and the lakes, and regularly scheduled maintenance of septic systems. There is an interesting article elsewhere in this Newsette written by the Committee. Please take the time to read it and take the advice to heart. The future of our lakes depends on all of us. There will be a get-together on Sunday, October 4th for new members. This will be an opportunity to meet and chat with Members of the Voting Board and Committee Chairs. There will be light snacks and refreshments, so please consider attending. These “New Member Parties”, organized by the Communications Committee have been well attended in past years and I expect this one will be no different. It is a great opportunity to meet your neighbors and your leaders and to find out about the many programs offered to children of all ages. One last thing, even though summer has ended the Club has not shut down. There are activities for all members in good standing all year long. Keep informed about these activities by reading the Newsette, visiting the Club website (www.hlcc.org) or simply stopping in at the office. Sincerely, Jeanne Jameson, President
August 29 That was a whopping storm that roared through parts of Highland Lakes on Friday, August 21st. It arrived around three o’clock in the afternoon and the initial brunt passed within about five minutes, but it left many residents without power until Saturday evening. There was some damage to the docks at Comet Row and members were urged through a message on the Club’s website to check their boats for damage or excess water. I heard a report that a canoe had dislodged from the dock by the Clubhouse and was airborne on a direct path to the all glass Lake Room, but careened off the large pine tree just in time. Of course, now there’s more debris to clean up and once again, we have to bring out the rakes and chain saws for downed branches and limbs but at least these wild storms are taking care of the weaker trees and branches before the winter sets in again. The Annual Meeting was well attended, we had a quorum on the first count and the meeting was well under way by 2:10 pm and adjourned at 4:00 pm. There were interesting comments and some concerns expressed for the Voting Board to discuss during the ensuing year and I will try to address them in my columns as we tackle them. Some of the comments were well appreciated, such as the one regarding road safety. The Club spent a lot of time working with the Township to get some traffic control measurers installed at the intersection of Breakneck Road and Highland Lakes Road. Lately, I have noticed people being more aware of the law and stopping for someone waiting to cross at the intersection. But as the gentleman at the meeting commented, people are now just darting out into the roadway without regard to oncoming traffic. Parents must also take some responsibility for the safety of their children by explaining to them how to cross streets safely. Sometimes no matter what laws you enact or what measures you put in place to warn drivers that pedestrians have the right of way, they don’t seem to get it. For every 10 people that stop, there will always be that one numbskull that doesn’t. Everyone needs to stop first then proceed with caution. Another comment was about leaving garbage out for pickup in unsafe receptacles. Garbage attracts wild animals if not properly secured even for a few hours. A plastic bag is not a safe receptacle. The smell of food can permeate the thin plastic and will certainly attract a wild animal that will tear it open with his tools of his trade. Human food can be deadly to an animal through digestive injury, bacterial infection related delirium or crossing a busy road to get to the food source. Shredded waste will eventually end up in the lakes if left on the ground during a rainstorm, causing problems for everyone and higher costs for lake treatments. So, invest a few bucks in a more secure garbage can and make Highland Lakes a safer and cleaner place for humans and animals. The Adult Appreciation Dinner was an especially lovely evening for all this year. Our volunteers were proud of their accomplishments over the last year and Helen Fugett and her devoted crew did an outstanding job of putting special touches on everything. Our Club Office Manager, Pat Krause was honored with a commemorative clock inscribed with our thanks for 25 years of service to the Club and the wish for 25 more years to come. Pat has been a treasure for the members, the office and the Voting Board and we thank her for all her work. The appreciation gift this year was an oversized tote bag with the Highland Lakes Logo and appreciation message on the side. The craft work was supplied by On-Line Embroidery and it will be an asset for many years to come for any volunteer who received one for just 20 hours of community service performed during last year. If you did not receive your gift because you were unable to attend the Adult Appreciation Dinner, please stop down at the office at your convenience and pick one up. The Art Show this past weekend was another success. The show kicked off on Saturday evening with a wine and cheese reception with the talented Marji Zintz playing soft lilting tunes on her guitar while the guests milled around and discussed the various mediums available for viewing. The talent within our small community always catches me by surprise and this year was no exception. Sunday opened up the show to the amateur artists who are promising in their own right and the talent continues to bud among all generations. Both days were well attended and appreciated. The Voting Board faces a tough autumn, agenda wise. In September, we will be tackling the Fiscal Year 2009-2010 budget discussions at the Workshop and because of the escalation of costs on many expense items, the deliberations promise to be extensive through the next several weeks. Our fiscal year begins on October 1st of every year, so a new budget has to be drafted before the end of the third week in September so that a finalized budget can be adopted and notices sent out to members on the final assessment in sufficient time for payment by the October 31st deadline for early payment discounts. All Committee Chairs are requested to get their Operating Budget requests into the office ASAP so that our General Manager can draft his first budget proposal for the Administration Committee shortly. A final note to those summer residents who will be returning to their winter homes shortly: It’s been wonderful to see you again, and we will miss you during the winter months, but look forward to your return next year. Please remember to check in for updates on the Community happenings through the Club’s website: www.hlcc.org and/or by ordering a mailed copy (for the cost of mailing) of the Highland Lakes Newsette through Frank Henninger who posts a notice on how to receive a copy in every edition of the Newsette. When you hear of any potentially damaging storms in the area, please be sure to call the office for an update on the extent of any damage in the area to see if your property needs attention. Anyone who is leaving and owns a boat on the water or the docks, please be sure to either take the boats out of the water and back to your property or arrange for that with someone responsible to avoid problems when you are an hour or more from the area. Until October, Sincerely, Jeanne Jameson, President 2009 Annual Meeting Address to the Membership
August 15 Reading through the minutes of last year’s Annual meeting, I was reminded of some of the issues brought up by members and wanted to report to you what actions the Voting Board took on those items during the past year. The intersection at Canistear Road and Lakeside Drive West was a concern to some members in that area. Exiting from that road onto Canistear Road can be extremely hazardous because of the limited sight distance. Folks traveling south on Canistear Road often come barreling around the curve narrowly missing turning vehicles. There is signage just before the intersection, but in my opinion it is inadequate at best. The Voting Board urged the Township officials on quite a few occasions to install a larger, more ominous warning to slow drivers as they approach the intersection. I believe we still have more work to do on that issue and will continue to request this from the Town and the Council. The Voting Board also discussed the issue of whether or not to block entrances to beaches when not in use. Ultimately, the Voting Board rejected this idea for several reasons. One reason was that no one on the Voting Board wanted to inconvenience everyone for the actions of a few individuals. Blocking access at the gate would not stop individuals from getting onto the beach if they wanted to be there. Anyone going out to Blueberry Island to party would just find another way to the water. Security does patrol the beaches and freeways during the evening hours and parties have been broken up as they have for decades. It continues to be the responsibility of parents to monitor their children at all times to ensure others don’t have to sacrifice their right to enjoy a summer evening outside. The issue of speeding is in the process of being addressed. Our Road Committee recommended that the Voting Board engage the services of a traffic safety engineering firm to monitor specific identified problem areas to gauge the extent of the problem. The Voting Board contracted with Dolan and Dean, LLC to perform this service and the monitoring was conducted in July. The results should be reported to the Voting Board shortly and further action will be discussed. The crosswalk on Breakneck Road at Beach One has been an ongoing issue all year. The latest attempt to improve safety and control speeding through the area has helped. I have noticed people slowing down as they approach the crosswalk because the bright and colorful signs appear to grab their attention. The Voting Board takes mem bers’ suggestions and comments very seriously, whether brought up at the Annual Meeting or any monthly meeting, written in a letter or e-mail, or communicated through a Trustee. Members can be assured that any suggestions or comments will be addressed in one way or another by the Voting Board and not merely dismissed. I look forward to seeing you all at the Annual Meeting on Sunday, August 16th at 2:00 pm. Jeanne Jameson President
August 8 There’s an old saying "If you want something done, ask a busy woman". I’d like to amend that saying to read "If you want something done, ask a HLCC volunteer". We have an outstanding group of very busy and yet, "always willing" people to take on more in this community. Specifically, I’m referring to the Clubhouse Committee and their wonderful breakfast on August 2nd. These folks and friends got up early on a Sunday morning, set up shop in the Seckler room and the kitchen and whipped up a terrific breakfast of pancakes, scrambled eggs, very tasty cheesy scrambled eggs, bacon, sausage, rolls and two kinds of crumb cake for everyone in Highland Lakes to enjoy. Enjoying our breakfast in the Lake Room by the windows was a special treat that will be remembered throughout the cold winter months. Although the seemingly endless rain continued outside, we were dry and happy watching the families and friends smiling and chatting as Highland Lakers are apt to do. I want to personally thank Carol Hastie and her Committee, as well as all the folks who helped out for this and other activities they provide for us at their expense of time and effort. But, I am also speaking in general of the folks who volunteer on other projects and/or issues within our community that benefit all members. I am looking forward to meeting everyone at this year’s Appreciation dinners (both Junior and Adult) when the members pay tribute to these outstanding folks who step up to the plate to continue the tradition of providing services to the members at a minimal cost. Volunteers: don’t forget to pick up your gift from the membership at the dinner or at the office, if you cannot attend. And thank you! All of this rain is keeping the clarity (visibility beneath the water surface) in the lakes at a very optimal level for the time being. The rain is keeping the water stirred up enough and the algae are not getting enough sun to promulgate growth. Unfortunately, it is keeping folks off the beaches and potentially setting us up for a fantastic bloom if a dry spell should occur. Any phosphates that are running into the lakes are feeding those weeds and with the clarity in the water and a good stretch of dry, sunny weather, we could very possibly see a dramatic growth spurt. I continue to urge all residents to reconsider their use of phosphate-laden fertilizers or detergents to switch to non-phosphate products for the sake of the lakes. Lakefront owners as well as off-lake owners should also consider re-thinking landscaping schemes. Instead of the well-manicured lawns down to the edge of your property, why not have some landscaping buffer end zones to catch the bulk of material that can potentially end up in the lake? August 9th is our annual Family Day this year. Come on down to the Clubhouse lawn and connect with your friends and neighbors for the day. There are activities for everyone and it’s shaping up to be a nice affair. Again, this event is run by volunteers and they can use your help. Even if it’s just for an hour, or so, they need you. So, instead of sitting in your backyard wishing you had something to do, go out and meet your new friends. You’ll probably have a good time. And of course, I could not end this without a special invitation to all members to the Annual Meeting on August 16th. It’s your Annual Meeting, so participate or be complacent. This year, we will have elections for Trustees in Section 2, 9, 10 & 11. To date, there are candidates for section 9, 10 & 11. I’m surprised that no one has, as yet, opted in for section 2. Someone, anyone out there must care enough about their section to run for Trustee. Remember, it’s a thankless job, you get no perks, and the best part is you get to hear from the cranky people, rarely from the satisfied ones. But you do get to work hard; you get to spend two nights a month at Voting Board meetings and other evenings at committee meetings as the Voting Board's liaison. You also have an opportunity to create a special bond with other dedicated leaders of your community. And we thank you for your efforts, along with our other volunteers, at the Adult Appreciation dinner in August. I’m not sure how you can pass this opportunity up, so if you are interested, you can conduct a write in campaign now in time to be elected on August 16th. The choice is yours. Sincerely, Jeanne Jameson President
July 25 There are rumors that the recent Community Yard Sale to benefit the Goodwill Fund was a huge success. I say rumors because I was out of town on that day, just returning from a trip to Niagara Falls, NY. It is awe inspiring to see the raw power of Mother Nature at it’s finest and to wrap oneself around the history of one of the world’s Seven Wonders, but I was disappointed that in all the excitement, I had completely forgotten about the awesome power that individuals can exhibit when we gather to help out our neighbors and friends who have suffered a catastrophic event in their lives that is affecting their ability to find a modicum of respite in our peaceful community. Reportedly some folks overpaid for their purchases by a few dollars just to help out while others purchased nothing but donated money anyway. The Goodwill Fund Raising Committee spared nothing in time and energy to professionally organize, operate and clean up after the event and the Fund benefited greatly from the efforts of the organizers and contributors who were so generous with their time, their wares, and their money and are due an enormous amount of respect from everyone in this Community. The Goodwill Fund Raising Committee deserves our respect for a job well done. Thank you for your effort. I spoke with a member recently about his reevaluation process and the resulting increase in his tax bill. He was quite upset, about his anticipated tax bill for next year. He thought his tax increase was going to be somewhere in the 200% range because the valuation of his property was so much higher than it had been the previous year. After a long discussion, we determined that he was unaware that his tax rate had been cut almost in half and the bill was not going to be as high as he first anticipated, but I am quite sure he was not satisfied as yet. I offered to investigate the actual tax rate and do the math for him and report back to him on what he might anticipate. For anyone in the situation that saw an increase in the valuation of their house and do not understand how the tax rate equalization process worked, let me try to help you understand a little better. In 2008, Vernon's equalized value (the ratio of assessed value to true value) was 46.22% for all properties. Using this formula, a home assessed at $100,000 had an equalized value of $214,500. The current tax rate for 2009 is $2.41 per $100 of valuation. If your property (house and land) is valued at $200,000, divide that $200,000 by 100 and multiply that number by $2.41. Or: $200,000 / 100 = 2,000. That's 2,000 x 2.41 = $4,820. The key to keeping taxes at bay in the future is to continue to elect officials that will keep an eye on the budget for years to come when those higher property values will be affecting taxes. Your attendance at the August Annual Meeting is important. Please keep August 16th open on your calendar so that you are free from 2:00 pm to approximately 4:00 pm, longer if needed to voice your opinion and to hear about your vested interest’s progress. Jeanne Jameson President
July 18 The Voting Board has been discussing changes to the Rules and Regulations that are published in every Newsette and can be found on the community's website (hlcc.org). The changes that are being contemplated involve adding fines to curb the disregard some folks have for the safety of others. This is not an easy task for the Voting Board. We have operated for many years without the need for fines, but it is becoming increasingly more difficult to get compliance from some members. By way of example, Rule #11 states that “All animals must be kept on leash and are prohibited from all beach and play areas”. That would seem like a no-brainer to most people, and yet others continue to exercise their pets on the beaches where small children play, apparently oblivious to a toddler’s propensity to put things in his/her mouth including sand. Rule #26 states that “In order to assure that our roadways are always safe and passable, no branches, leaves, snow or other materials shall be placed beyond any individual property line so as to extend into the road right of way”. Why, then, do members continue to rake their leaves out into the roadway or blow their snow from driveways into the plowed streets? It’s easier, but dangerous for other drivers. These discussions will continue into the September Workshop and Regular Board meeting. Enjoy the summer, what little of it we are seeing this year, but please remember that children and adults use the roadways for walking. They have little defense from a 4,000 pound vehicle barreling down on them, so please slow down and watch carefully. Jeanne Jameson, President
July 3 Now that summer’s in full swing, there’s a ton of activities to occupy children of all ages (including adults). You can search for an activity that is of interest to you by visiting our website, hlcc.org, reading the Newsette each week or looking on the activities schedule posted outside on the porch of the Clubhouse. You can also check with our great staff either in the office or in the Activities Center at the Clubhouse. Our Clubhouse Committee works hard all year planning special events and the Activities Director is vigilant in coming up with new and interesting ideas to keep the variety in children’s activities. The parks are inviting for family gatherings and many have taken advantage of picnicking by the lake, but please remember that children also use the parks for the playground equipment. When you are done with your picnic or other activity take a final look around and make sure you have everything you brought in with you. Don’t leave anything behind. Our maintenance crew can only do so much and the possibility exists for missing the cooking or eating utensil someone in your party dropped on the ground. That final check you perform may also discover something of value to you. Even though it is only the beginning of July, it is not too early to beginning planning for the third Sunday in August. The lengthy advance notice should give you plenty of time to clear your calendars and make sure that there is nothing standing in your way for attendance at the two o’clock Annual Meeting of the membership. This is your chance to hear firsthand how your elected Officers and Trustees are managing your investment in your Community. I look forward to seeing you there. Enjoy the Fourth of July holiday and give homage to those responsible for your freedom. Thank a Veteran and remember those fighting daily for our continued freedom. Sincerely, Jeanne Jameson, President
June 27th There was a rumor floating around last week that the sun was to make an appearance over the weekend, but that’s all it was, a rumor. I’m sure everyone has just about had it with all the rain, but there is usually a positive spin if you look hard enough. We aren’t in danger of any droughts this month, the grass is green without fertilizers and we don’t have to visit the car wash as often as when it’s dry. It could also be snow! It’s been a tough year for everyone’s wallet and no less tough for the Capital Budget. The anticipated receipts are much lower than projected for the first eight months of this fiscal year, so some of our planned projects on the Voting Board’s Priority list will have to be pushed into next year which begins on October 1, 2009. One of those projects is the aeration system installation in the Main Lake. This project, recommended by the Ecology Committee, was approved by the Voting Board, and it was anticipated that the funds would become available and the project would be completed this spring. Since the Club does not start a project until it is funded, we lost our opportunity for installation this year. There is a long lead time for the pumps and hoses required so even if a miracle happened today, installation would bring us too far into the summer to be of any value and would, based on our consultant's advice, potentially create an algae bloom – something we are trying to prevent. So, patience will be required. The Ecology Committee will now recommend that the Voting Board carry over this project to next year. At the June meeting of the Voting Board, a resolution authorizing the President to submit the 2008 Reimbursement Agreement to Vernon Township was approved. This money will be used for Road Improvements and to replenish the Operating Fund Emergency account. That expenditure was for the cleanup and tree repairs following November’s ice storm. At the same meeting, the Voting Board awarded a contract for the rehabilitation of Indian Lake Dam to Ron-Jon Construction Corp. The work is slated to begin around August 10th when the lake will be lowered approximately 2 feet. Work on the spillway and in other areas of the dam will take approximately five weeks and then the lake will be lowered another 5.6 feet in order to work on the dam's embankment. It is anticipated that the project will be completed by mid-November. I would like to take the opportunity now to thank Rich Spoerl, Chairman of the Dam Committee and all the members of that committee for all their hard work over the years on the dams. It has been grueling work for them and their efforts are commended. Jeanne Jameson President
Memorial Day 2009 Memorial Day is the unofficial beginning of summer. With that said, I’d like to welcome back all the summer residents who have returned to their vacation homes and have rediscovered the peace and tranquility that is offered in mountain retreats like Highland Lakes. It is, once again, time to give the children the opportunity to be children and time to give the adults a little relaxation and fun. So, let’s all take a few days this weekend to relax and enjoy the serenity of our surroundings. As for the Voting Board, there is little time for rest after the weekend. We have some major projects approaching that will need a good amount of attention. The final dam rehabilitation project will begin in mid-August on the Indian Lake Dam. The project requires a significant drawdown of the lake that will begin around August 15th. As dictated by nature, the project will be completed by mid-November. For lakefront property owners, this is an opportunity for any remediation work necessary on your docks and/or walls along the lakefront. For beach goers, this will be an inconvenience that is unavoidable. However, please keep in mind that it is for the benefit of our community and that there are six other beaches available for swimming and recreation. The anticipated timeline for this project is an award of the contract by the Voting Board in June to the lowest responsible bidder for the work, contractual work during July, and the beginning of the 90 day construction period in mid-August. Members are reminded that they must obtain the approval of the Club before repairing or replacing their docks and/or structures along the lakefront. Please refer to another article in this edition of the Newsette for more complete information. The work on the trees damaged by the ice storm of December, 2008 is nearing completion. It has been a long and arduous process, but I am pleased with the results. We have lost a lot of trees in the process, but it should be noted that those trees were severely damaged by the storm and would not have survived much longer. We have removed the cracked and broken limbs along our roadways, eliminating as best we can the risk of injury to members from falling branches. The funding for this project came from the emergency fund that the Voting Board established in 1996 for emergencies, including natural disasters, and this event fully qualifies. Our next goal will be to replenish that fund and we will do that through the reimbursement from the Township for snow plowing and related expenses for 2008. This however, means that we will have to sacrifice in other areas of improvements to our Community for a year, but it is money well spent. I would like to emphasize that last remark of however. The members will not be charged an assessment for the work done on the trees due to the ice storm emergency in December, 2008 because we had an emergency fund set up to cover it. We also need to beef up that fund for future emergencies now and we will experience a setback, hopefully not too drastic in projects. As the economy continues to challenge members, it may seem difficult to open our hearts and our wallets to help out other members who have suffered a catastrophic event in their lives this past year but I would urge all to consider supporting the first event conducted by the Goodwill Fund Raising Committee in July. They will be hosting a Community Yard Sale at the Clubhouse to raise funds for the Goodwill Fund by proceeds from table rentals and any donations received at the event. There is information available elsewhere in this edition of the Newsette so don’t skip any pages. Again, welcome back everyone. We’ve missed you. There’s plenty of opportunities to volunteer, so don’t feel hesitant. Sign up at the Activity Center or call one of the Committee chairs. But get involved. Sincerely, Jeanne Jameson, President
May, 2009 After a recent Board meeting, a member and avid volunteer relayed to me that she was glad she had attended the meeting. She had no idea how much was on the Board’s plate and that it was a very productive meeting from her viewpoint. That was an interesting statement on many levels. On one level, it told me that a lot of people, even the ones who are very involved in the Club, are not aware of the broad spectrum of issues that crop up every month and occupy the Board’s time. That is the reason the Voting Board exists, to handle the issues for the membership so that we can all enjoy our life in our woman/manmade paradise. If an issue occurs that pleases and/or concerns you as a member, you are reminded to speak with your Section Trustee by any means you now see appropriate. Board members can be reached by e-mail, fax, and telephone and snail mail. Some may even have Twitter accounts (I don’t, because I haven’t yet gotten past Facebook or MySpace so I’m not sure how to contain my thoughts into 140 characters or less yet). The point is to communicate your thoughts to the folks that you elected to be your voice on the Voting Board to shape your community if you want change or not. On another level, it also pointed out the importance of attending a Board meeting once in a while just to hear first hand the issues that face our Community and how your elected Board is approaching the dilemmas facing the Staff and the Community daily. Understanding the breadth of our expenses that make up the annual budget is key to grasping the reality of not having a deep well of resources for projects that may be important to individuals, but not the entire community (isn’t pork a curse word these days?). The third thought that struck me, mainly because it was Volunteer month in April, was that often we don’t appreciate our volunteers enough. We often take it for granted that there will be a someone who will coordinate the baseball leagues or tennis leagues, that there will be someone at the Clubhouse during the summer months to teach our children crafts or run the family movies at night. We think that the folks that provide us with the St. Patrick’s dinner or the music every third Saturday night in the Lake Room are just people out there who run it (whatever it is). We don’t take the time to say thanks. There is a Junior and Adult Appreciation Night every year for all those who volunteer, and the attendees are all volunteers themselves and the common theme is camaraderie of cheers all around. I would like to suggest that everyone who does not volunteer (no guilt, only cognizance) take a moment of your time this summer to thank every volunteer you see in action. When you go to the beach, the person checking your badge is a volunteer. Thank him or her. When you bring your child to the Clubhouse for an hour of crafts, thank that person who greets you, he or she is a volunteer. When you get served at a fundraiser for the Goodwill Fund this summer, thank that person, he or she is a volunteer. When you go to the Annual Meeting this year, thank every Trustee and every Officer. They are volunteers. And when you come to the Open Mic every third Saturday, thank the folks running the show. They’re all volunteers. Speaking of contributions to our community, I would like to take a moment to commend two of our staff who recently received commendations from the Township of Vernon for their above and beyond duty work during the Ice Storm of December, 2008. Our Security Manager, Allison LaRocca and Maintenance Supervisor, Jim Zabrieski each contributed so much to our members safety and comfort during the five day event that the Vernon Township Council felt it was worthy of official commendation. During the storm and ensuing outage event, Allison transported elderly residents down the mountain to the shelters run by the American Red Cross several times and brought wood to a housebound invalid for his fireplace. She also checked in on several elderly residents daily making sure they had food and water. Jim spent long days and nights supervising and participating in the clearing of roads so that residents could either evacuate their homes or get provisions, utility crews could assess the damages, and emergency vehicles were able to respond. Their actions were selfless and extraordinary and it should be noted they will never be forgotten. I know there are untold stories and some told stories of selfless acts that exist and if there is an aspiring writer out there willing to take on a story, this would be a great book! Any takers? Related to that entire diatribe (anyone wonder why I can’t twitter (or tweet) yet?), there is the subject of brush removal that remains from the ice storm. What are we going to do with that? Well, first of all, the Club is not going to do anything about it. You must remove your own debris yourself. It was a storm, an act of God, not a Club designed or carried out event. To all the folks that carted out the debris from their yards and parked it in their front yards for pickup by the Township or the Club, I have three words, “Deal with it”. No one is ready to fork over membership dollars to clean up your problem. It’s as simple as that. I don’t want to sound harsh, but the reality is it’s your trees that made the mess. You are responsible for the clean up. It may sound hard to accomplish, but clean it up before the Township slaps you with a fine. It’s not too hard to find a contractor to help you; you just have to face the reality of paying for it. Most contractors are quoting reasonable prices, so shop around for the best price, but get it done. If you are fortunate to own a pickup or have a friend/relative that can help you, there is always the landfill operated by the Sussex County Municipal Utilities Authority in Lafayette. While sitting in line the other day at the Vernon bulky waste day, I noticed a lot of folks with truck loads of brush. Those truckloads would have been very inexpensive to deposit at the landfill. Yeah, a pain, but just get it out of the front yard, please. A major issue the Voting Board is working on is the property tax revaluation that recently occurred in Vernon Township. While individual properties are not considered common areas, the freeways and boat launches, Clubhouse and tennis courts, ball fields and beaches and all common areas are. These areas are taxed to all members (through dues) and the valuation of their worth will affect all members. While a higher property value is warranted, an erroneous value on some properties will lead to improper taxation for years to come, so the Voting Board has decided to enter an appeal with the Sussex County Board of Taxation and Vernon Township. The official appeal must be filed by May 1, 2009 and we are on track with that, but then the real work begins gathering all the information that will convince the appraisers of the actual value of the properties in question. This process will be handled by our General Counsel and General Manager, and I have complete confidence that they will do the best job possible. In closing, and again to stress Volunteer Week in Highland Lakes, I would like to extend an enormous thank you to all the folks who came out on Saturday, April 25th to pick up the discarded trash that others so thoughtlessly tossed from their cars as they traveled through our lovely community. It doesn’t take much to hold onto the garbage for a little while until you get home or to a store with a trash bin. It leaves such a scar on the roadway when you flick it out the window. Please stop. Thanks to all who participated. Your efforts are noted.
April, 2009 The Voting Board took longer than usual to develop this year’s Capital Budget. The problem was not what capital improvements needed to be done, but which improvements take priority in this year of economic uncertainty. The priority list is published elsewhere in this Newsette, which I discussed at length in my last message to the members. However, one change was made at the March Voting Board meeting by the addition of a traffic speed monitoring project. In September, the Voting Board received a signed petition from members in Section 10 requesting a remedy to the speeding that occurs on Lakeside Drive West at the south end of the lake. In response, the Voting Board asked the Road Committee to address possible solutions. The Road Committee met with Gary Dean of Dolan & Dean, LLC, a traffic safety engineer, who offered several solutions. The first step in solving most serious issues is to find out if there actually is a problem or if it is just perceived. Speed cannot be accurately measured by the eye. Mr. Dean’s suggestion was to conduct a traffic study in four representative areas and develop appropriate calming measures based on the results. Possible solutions include speed humps and/or rumble strips. The speed monitoring is scheduled to begin in mid-June and last for three weeks. This way, traffic can be monitored when children are in school, when they are out of school and during one of the busiest holiday weekends of the year. I will keep you informed of as the results come in and the Voting Board makes its decision. Also in March, I had the opportunity to sit down with Mayor Carew, Township Manager Melinda Carlson and Police Chief Roy Wherry to discuss various issues involving Highland Lakes and the Township. Chairwoman of the Board Judy Norton and General Manager Jack McLaughlin joined me. One of the issues we discussed was putting better signage on Canistear Road to alert drivers going south passing the intersection of Lakeside Drive West and Canistear Road to the danger posed by turning vehicles. The Township representatives agreed to look at this and take appropriate action. Another issue was the crosswalk at Breakneck Road and Highland Lakes Road. We all agreed that the measures put into place during the fall of 2008 did not succeed, and that perhaps readdressing the original design developed by General Manager Jack McLaughlin, Township Engineer Lou Kneip and the Ptl. Jason Haw, Township Traffic Safety Officer, would be a better course of action. The Mayor will discuss this with the Council and plan appropriately. It was a very product meeting and I thank the Mayor, the Township Manager and the Chief of Police for their cooperation. Sincerely, Jeanne Jameson
March, 2009 February was an interesting month. We saw a warm up that was very welcome for most and along with that the melting of snow. What was leftover was a bleak reminder of the devastating ice storm of December, 2008. Fallen branches, trees sliced in half that have exposed centers, blue tarps on many roofs and brush sitting by the curbside waiting for a pickup. By now, I think most folks have realized that this work is their responsibility and not Vernon Township’s or the Club’s. One member wrote me an email suggesting the Club hire a wood service with a chipper that would be stationed at the Clubhouse to accept brush and twigs from members and dispose of the debris. The Voting Board discussed the suggestion and concluded that resources would be better spent cleaning up the common areas that remain affected. A better solution might be for members to band together and hire a contractor that would offer discounts for bulk work in the same neighborhood. There are a number of contractors in the area who would welcome the work and may be willing to work with groups of homeowners to boost visibility for future events. The Club also learned this past month that Tennessee Gas has applied for and is in the process of receiving authorization from the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) for a second natural gas pipeline that would stretch across parts of Sussex County. Of interest to us is that it would be located within 250 feet of the most southerly tip of the Main Lake on Newark watershed property. The installation of this pipe would require digging a trench and placing a 30” pipe along the stretch and then backfilling the trench. Our concern is that while doing this work, there is the potential for soil and/or plant disturbance that might decrease the natural erosion control that exists. General Manager Jack McLaughlin and I are very interested in working with Tennessee Gas to install proper controls in the area and have made our comments in writing on the FERC website. These comments are available to the public at www.ferc/gov/elibrary. You may need to register to get a username and password to view the comments, but this may be an interesting and educational process as the project moves forward. At the February Voting Board meeting, the 2009 Capital Fund Budget was approved, and Voting Board members submitted their priority lists of projects this coming year. Some already know the process, but as a refresher the Capital Fund depends on Initiation Fees and the collection of dues and assessments in arrears for funding. Only projects that are fully funded will be completed. Voting Board members rank the identified projects to determine the order of funding and implementation. Aside from the mandatory expenses in the Capital Fund Budget, such as repayment of the Beach One loan principal and interest, other projects that were ranked are the replacement of the Clubhouse doors, the Main Lake aeration system, continued Canistear Park improvements, engineering plans to improve the Clubhouse parking lot and the installation of a new backstop/fencing at the Beach One ball field. The standard projects also included road maintenance and road and drainage projects. The Voting Board also approved the pay off of the Beach One loan this year to save next year’s interest costs. With interest income so dismal, it makes more sense to use the cash in the Long Term Fund to pay off this loan which will be replenished next year.The Voting Board also approved the formation of the Goodwill Fundraising Committee at the February meeting. This standing committee will be responsible for ensuring a steady income for the fund that has helped several member families weather catastrophic events in their lives while retaining a sense of dignity. Brian Morton was nominated as Chairman of this committee and the Board of Trustees unanimously approved the nomination. Please support the events this committee sponsors in the coming months. Anyone who wishes to participate on this committee should contact Brian Morton through the Club Office.Stay safe and remember, unofficial spring is only three weeks away. Sincerely, Jeanne Jameson, President
Feb, 2009 The two months since the last Newsette seem to have gone by rather quickly. I’m sure some of that time lapse can be attributed to waiting for the next day after a snow or ice event, which was frequent during December and January, to regain mobility and function in our daily lives. This winter seems to be more in line with the winters we had all been quite used to a few years ago and we had all gotten too complacent with the warmer and easier climes of the past few years. So, I guess this is our wake up call. We still live in the higher elevations and when the cycle returns to colder winters, we need to be alert and cautious like we were back then. Our roads are not wide and perfect and when they are snow and/or ice covered, we need to take special precautions. Respecting the limitations of our side roads will protect both the driver, pedestrians and the shovelers, so slow down! The most devastating of this season’s storms happened during the week on December 11, 2008. For many, it was a horrific night that Thursday evening as we heard limbs and trees falling all around, some on top of houses and cars from the thick and heavy ice that was forming everywhere. The sound of exploding electrical transformers was heard throughout the community for hours and then we went dark. The response of utility personnel, emergency responders and Club personnel was impressive. The recovery response began as early as Thursday night as crews mobilized to mitigate emergencies and prevent further damage from electrical explosions. Crews from surrounding towns were called in to help with the grid shutdown, cutting off potential hazards at the poles to alleviate live wires on the ground. Friday morning was even worse. Phone service was extremely spotty, and the sparse cell phone reception was intermittent. Power was out throughout Highland Lakes, leaving folks scrambling for heat as temperatures plummeted. Highland Lakes Security was busy all day checking on senior citizens and others that needed attention, and transporting a few to the Senior Center in Vernon that was opened for shelter. Our maintenance crew and contractors were out with chain saws helping clear roads of fallen trees and debris wherever permissible, greatly assisted by residents doing the same thing. By late Friday evening, one small section of Highland Lakes was still impassable, while other areas remained blocked by fallen trees tangled up with power lines, utility poles and transformers. These areas had to be left for Sussex Rural Electric Cooperative or their licensed contractors to clear. The General Manager kept me informed as much as possible throughout the day on Friday about the status of our efforts and kept in touch with our staff by cell phone throughout the day. Power was restored at the Clubhouse late Friday evening, and on Saturday morning we opened as a staging area for the operations and a place for people to keep warm and to use the bathrooms. Also on Saturday, New Jersey State Senator Steve Oroho joined Jack McLaughlin, myself, former Trustee Jim Oroho and Security Manager Allison LaRocca for a tour of Highland Lakes so that he could see the devastation. He was, to say the least quite disturbed by what he saw. Senator Oroho had his staff take pictures of many of the areas and brought our situation to the attention of officials in Trenton. While an effort was made to have the affected areas in Vernon declared disaster areas, no aid was forthcoming and the effort was unsuccessful. On Saturday afternoon, Mr. McLaughlin and I, together with representatives of Barry Lakes and Lake Panorama neighborhoods that had also been hard hit by this storm, met with the Vernon Township Council, the Town Manager and Public Works staff, the Chief of Police, and Sussex Rural Electric to discuss the timetable for electric restoration in the affected areas as well as the status of blocked roads, and to exchange ideas on how to accomplish that. Of crucial importance to our General Manager was the urgent need to remove the limbs and debris in and along the roadways that would affect snow plowing in the event of a major snow storm. The Township Council agreed with this assessment, and voted that Vernon would undertake an emergency effort at Township expense to clear the roadways in these affected neighborhoods. The Council agreed to clean up all debris located along the roadways and five feet from the edge of pavement, but not the debris brought out by residents from their yards from trees that were back further. Working with the Sussex County Emergency Management Coordinator Skip Danielson, crews from other surrounding towns were mobilized by the following Tuesday to begin the cleanup process, and the Clubhouse was again used as a staging area for an early morning meeting chaired by Mr. Danielson, and attended by the Chief of Police and Vernon Emergency Management Coordinator Roy Wherry, Vernon DPW Director David Pullis, and Mr. McLaughlin and I. Crews came from throughout Sussex County including Lafayette, Sparta, Newton and Hardyston. Vernon awarded a contract to Bartlett Tree Experts on Wednesday, and Bartlett's crews were assigned to Highland Lakes. A fair portion of that debris was cleared up within the next two weeks and by the fourth week of January, more than 2,500 cubic yards of wood chips were stockpiled at the Clubhouse. Arrangements were made with a Sussex County landscaping supply company, which hauled the wood chips away at no expense to the Township. My concern remains the hanging branches and cracked trees that are everywhere. Some are very clearly hanging over the Town’s roads and will eventually come down. It is a fact of Murphy’s law that at least one of them will come down on an unlucky passing motorist. I urged the Council to make this a priority and the Mayor said that he will stress that to the DPW. Hopefully, that one branch hanging over Breakneck Road by the church just before going down the mountain will be taken down soon. My luck is running thin these days. We are responsible for our own roads and rights-of-way, however, and we also have some serious issues with cracked trees and hanging limbs and branches. Our Maintenance Supervisor Jim Zabrieski and Security Manager Allison LaRocca compiled a list of nearly five hundred locations for the General Manager, who has solicited bids from five tree companies for the work. He presented the projected estimate for this emergency project to the Voting Board at the January Meeting and asked for funds to be released from the Operations Reserve Fund to cover this cost.
This fund was established in 1993, after an extreme cold and snow event year that year, to cover any operational emergencies such as snow operations and/or other emergency situations. This fund was established to lessen any possibility of imposing an assessment on members in the event of an emergency. The time is right to tap into this $100,000 (base fund), which has accumulated over $200,000, so that we do not have to assess any member any additional funds to cover this operation. These limbs and trees are situated along the roadways and on other Club property and must be addressed as quickly as possible to reduce the risk of personal injury. The Voting Board approved this appropriation at the January Regular Voting Board Meeting. There will be a special meeting at the February Workshop to address additional funding if needed due to additional work that has been identified. In other Voting Board business, the Planning Committee gave a presentation to the Voting Board at its January workshop that explained the Highlands Act and its impact on Highland Lakes. Chairwoman Lyn Kaplan gave a broad view of the major impacts that pose the most threats to our ability to accomplish even minor repairs to our roads or right-of-ways without a lengthy permitting process or the associated fees and offered possible solutions to the problems, such as working more closely with the Township Officials that can intervene in our behalf. Committee member Paul Peters provided detailed background information for Board members to research on the plan, as well as some further information. The Ecology Committee had representatives in attendance for further guidance on their pursuit of septic management. The issue may be resolved in the Highlands Act and if so, their role would be more educational. In closing, I would like to extend a very large thank you to all the members who overcame their sense of “wow, what happened last night?” and went outside on Friday and Saturday to help their neighbors during that amazing force of nature in December. What a sense of spirit I got when I heard of the stories of neighbors helping neighbors. It was tremendous. I heard stories of roving gangs of men with chain saws (the Chain Saw Gang) walking around helping out their neighbors who had trees hanging over their houses or in their driveways or wherever. Some folks went over to their neighbor’s home and cooked for them, some provided generators to keep their neighbor’s ventilators or heat going, some brought over food for their neighbors. Some helped them get to the shelters in town. Most provided stories of co-pain to commiserate and lessen the pain. But, over all, most provided a sense of community. Thank you, Highland Lakers, for being the Community I wanted to live in when I moved here 26 years ago!
Sincerely, Jeanne Jameson, President
Dec 1 On behalf of the Voting Board I would like to take this opportunity to wish everyone the best of this holiday season. We have many things to be thankful for in Highland Lakes: community spirit, friendship, caring volunteers and the beauty of nature enveloping our homes. The Voting Board will be very busy during the next two months discussing various recommendations from Committees. The Ecology Committee will be reviewing Dr. Sousa’s year end water quality monitoring and lake assessment report from Princeton Hydro, as well as Princeton Hydro’s aeration system proposal for the Main Lake. The committee will then make a formal recommendation to the Voting Board for consideration. There are many considerations in a decision like this. For instance, is there a definitive benefit that can be predicted with reliability based on the scientific data from the past five years? Will the benefit outweigh the costs associated with a project of this magnitude? Have specific areas been identified to house the equipment necessary for operation, and what areas of the lake are expected to be influenced?The Planning Committee and the Ecology Committee have identified a common interest in developing septic management guidelines for the community and will continue to work together for a recommendation to the Voting Board. The Voting Board has expressed an interest in developing an educational program to steer members away from dependency on phosphate laden fertilizers and cleaning products and will be working with the Communications Committee to draft articles for the Newsette on how to accomplish that.The Road Committee will be working on identifying road projects for the spring and will make recommendations to the Voting Board about where to best concentrate the limited resources available. So, everyone enjoy the holidays while you can. Please remember to consider your neighbors during the harsh winter conditions. Stop in and check on someone you know who might not be able to get out very often. Make sure their heat is working and that they have adequate emergency supplies for those power outages that always pop up in severe weather. Jeanne Jameson, President Nov 1 From the amount of phone calls I receive, it would seem that charities, local and national, are hurting for donations. They are becoming more and more aggressive in their pleas for money, calling incessantly and interrupting my ability to get any meaningful work done both at home and at work. I was recently approached by a national charity to solicit my help in their campaign by doing their soliciting myself. I’m sorry, but I have neither the time nor the inclination to conduct their fundraising for them and I don’t envision my time opening up in the future for that venture. I give a lot to charities that I support and I do not feel that I am obligated to accept phone pledges because a paid staffer has called me to request such. I think every person has the same right and those that choose to contribute to a charity or fund should not feel pressured to help out by a phone call. That being said, of course, I would like to remind you of the Highland Lakes Country Club and Community Association Good Will Fund. Contributions to this fund are not tax deductible and are completely voluntary. No one will call you or send you letters requesting contributions. If you want to help, please do. If not, don’t feel guilty. The fund was set up a few years ago to assist Highland Lakers who have suffered a catastrophic event in their lives and need assistance paying their dues for a year. This assistance helps members maintain their membership status during a difficult time in their lives and demonstrates community coherence. At the present time the fund has a balance of about $1,600 and one application has already been received for assistance with 2009 dues. If you would like to make a small contribution to help out fellow members in their time of need (remember it is only for extreme catastrophic events), please feel free to send in a check or drop off that extra $10.00 in your pocket at the office. Change works too. I have a change jar and accumulate enough for a dinner in no time at all. At the October Workshop, the Voting Board discussed the petition submitted by residents at the southern section of the Main Lake about speeding on Lakeside Drive West. It is no secret that this roadway is used extensively by residents and non-residents alike as a shortcut to Canistear Road and that many of them are commuters going to and from work. Most are in a hurry but seem to forget that there are children and adults walking on non-sidewalk roads and they have to share the road. That particular area has some precarious winding curves and hills and every caution should be taken when rounding the curves. The Voting Board determined that this area needs to be addressed and has requested the Road Committee to evaluate the feasibility and the costs involved to put speed controls in place on that stretch. The Committee has been asked to report back to the Board by the February Workshop. The other item discussed at the October Workshop was whether or not to dedicate a significant amount of Capital Fund Road Improvement funds that were not used in 2008 to road projects for 2009. These funds will be added to the 2009 Capital Fund Road Budget and will be used to complete some drainage projects and to reconstruct other roads that have been pending for funding. As we work through the list, we have been accomplishing projects at a steady rate. Note, due to limited funding we are targeting areas that benefit a significant portion of members in the area and that not all projects can be accomplished if it is not a benefit to the general membership. Sincerely, Jeanne Jameson, President Oct 1 Without belaboring the point, the summer was a dry one in Highland Lakes. We had very few days of rain and those we had were sporadic and short. That weather pattern combined with the forces of nature produced some unpleasant conditions in our lakes. The green and blue-green algae surfaced in abundance this year, especially in the main lake around the edges and coves causing many lakefront owners distress. Their dissatisfaction is understandable, given past years’ clarity along the shores, but the factual situation cannot be ignored or over-treated chemically. Sometimes, we have to allow nature to cure its own problems, especially if we are monitoring carefully for any dangerous conditions. Our lake management consultant, Dr. Stephen Sousa, Ph.D. of Princeton Hydro has been in constant contact with Jack McLaughlin, General Manager and Allied Biological, the Club’s lake management firm, all summer and has been carefully monitoring conditions. Please note that the Ecology Meeting scheduled for October 9th has been moved to Tuesday, October 14th. Dr. Sousa will join the Ecology Committee for his annual water quality report. I urge all members to attend this meeting to hear his findings on this year’s water quality monitoring results. There will be a question and answer period following his presentation and you can ask your specific questions. I have attended quite a few of these presentations and have never been disappointed. From time to time I have been admittedly overwhelmed by the science involved, but with constant drilling of the information presented I usually leave with a sense of the situation. The Ecology Committee meeting begins promptly at 7:00 pm in the Lake Room, so plan accordingly. At the next workshop of the Voting Board, we will discuss traffic controls on Lakeside Drive West. The residents in the area have presented the Voting Board with a petition for some solution to the unsafe conditions on the road due to speeding by residents and non-residents alike. To our residents, I can only say what are you thinking? Slow down. There are children playing and riding bikes along the roadway and people out for walks. We have no sidewalks so they use the roadway the same as drivers. The stretch is not a long one, perhaps two miles so there is no excuse to drive over 25 mph. I personally think this should be a 20 or lower mph zone, but 25 is allowed by law. The roadway is narrow and made even more so by contractors parking in front of their client’s homes. Everyone should consider their actions wisely on all of our roads to ensure the safety of all and yourselves. Accidents are rarely pretty, so avoid them. Recently, precious time was lost by the Vernon Police, Highland Lakes Security and the Highland Lakes Ambulance Squad who were responding to a 9-1-1 call for a medical emergency. The victim’s home was not numbered and neither were the neighboring homes. It is imperative that emergency responders know how to identify your house when needed to save a family member’s life or your own. Vernon Township’s ordinance requires that all homes be numbered for emergency purposes. If you have not complied with this ordinance, I suggest that you get yourselves some inexpensive numbering decals at a local store (the General Store has them, Wal-Mart has them and RJ Mars has them) and place them conspicuously on your house. You can also order blue, reflective address markers for $15.00 from the Highland Lakes Volunteer Fire Department. The Order Form is printed elsewhere in this Newsette and available at the Club Office. The playground equipment at the Clubhouse is in the process of an upgrade to bring it into compliance with commercial playground standards. Mid-Atlantic Parks and Playgrounds, the supplier of our Beach 1 and Canistear Park play equipment, inspected the playground area and identified the proper and appropriate equipment that will bring us into compliance. Mid-Atlantic is working with our General Manager to replace the recreational equipment during October. At the September 19th meeting the Voting Board approved the appropriate funds to accomplish this task. Finally, we continue to work with Vernon Township on improving the crosswalk at Breakneck Road and Beach 1. We have hit a few snags, mainly budgetary on the part of the Township, and have requested that the Mayor and the Council adjust this line item to accommodate the important safety features that we, the Township Engineer and the Township Traffic Safety Officer feel necessary to incorporate into the design.
Sincerely, Jeanne Jameson, President
Aug 30 For anyone who missed the Annual Meeting this year, I would like to catch you up on a few of the highlights. Many of you will remember that at the August, 2006 Annual Meeting, an amendment to the By-Laws was adopted reducing the quorum requirement to 5% of the members in good standing, and this year we needed a total of 89 members in good standing to conduct the Annual Meeting. I personally asked you to attend several times this summer in this column. You responded as I hoped and the meeting began on time and with more than the necessary quorum. Thank you! The afternoon kicked off with a heartwarming opening conducted by Bob Kennedy and then the introductions of the Voting Board, the Committee Chairs and their Committee members and the Office Staff. Reports were delivered by me; Judy Norton, Chairwoman of the Board; Bob Hughes, Treasurer and Eileen McCarthy Born of Dolan & Dolan, General Counsel for the Club. There were no Amendments to the By-Laws and no New Business for discussion and voting, so the floor was open to the members. There were some very pertinent questions and good suggestions which were recorded this year by at least three Voting Board members and the Recording Secretary, so they have not been lost. Once again, the Voting Board will take each comment, suggestion, and question and discuss them during the coming year for validity and/or action. I was also asked by the Vernon Township’s Mayor to forward the comments and or suggestions to the Township Manager that pertained to township-owned roads or township issues so they can be addressed appropriately. When the members had finished, the floor was closed to discussion and we moved onto elections. I would like to congratulate Cathy Tansey, Section 1 Trustee, Judy Norton, Section 3 Trustee, and Jim Kensek, Section 5 Trustee on their re-election to a new term of office on the Voting Board. I also wish to thank outgoing Section 4 Trustee Jim Stoeckel for his help and support throughout the year. I would especially like to congratulate Steve Amato, Trustee for Section 4, on his first term election. Thanks for joining and believing in the team. The meeting was concluded by 3:30 pm, which I think may be a record. Senior Appreciation night followed the next Friday night and it was quite well attended. I think it’s fair to say that everyone had a good time, because I saw many smiles and heard a lot of laughter even before the comedians came on stage. My sincere thanks, once again, to Helen Fugett and her loyal crew for putting together such a nice evening for the volunteers of Highland Lakes. For anyone who would like to attend next year’s event, it’s very easy. Just volunteer 20 hours out of your 8,760 hours next year and you’re automatically invited. You even get a nice gift. This year, every volunteer got two nice cocktail glasses (and who couldn’t use one of those!) with the HLCC logo and Volunteer, 2008 etched on it. The Art Show kicked off this year with a very successful Professional Artist Show reception on Saturday evening. The room was nicely packed with appreciative viewers discussing the particularly elegant use of colors on this painting or the artful curving lines on that painting. Congratulations to all the artists and to Mary Ann Mastrangelo and her Committee for a wonderful evening. On Sunday, the entire Clubhouse was open to all the budding artists and craftsman to display their masterpieces and it was another success. Thank you all for participating. The Voting Board has a tough agenda coming up in September. We will be drafting, debating, revising and finally voting on our next year’s budget. For those members who do not know, the Club’s fiscal year runs from October 1 to September 30. You may or may not know that this community was founded as a summer vacation destination back in the early 50’s, with most expenses occurring during the summer months. The annual dues are assessed to the owners of record on January 1st of each year, and payment by the end of February permitted the Club to cover the upcoming summer expenses. Over the years, as we developed into more of a year-round community, our needs have changed and it has become crucial to have the cash stream begin much earlier to cover expenses such as snow plowing, insurance, and staffing salaries as well as about three quarters of the rest of the budget. And so the process begins next week. Our Committee Chairs have been asked to submit any budget requests, the General Manager has been gathering quotes from our contractors/insurance agents and is in the process of drafting a first round budget for review by the Administration Committee. That Committee will then sit down and discuss/debate each line item for inclusion or excision. Discussions will begin about next year’s budget assumptions at the next Workshop on September 3rd. The Administration Committee will hold several meetings before finalizing its recommendations. It is my guess that this year that the Voting Board will have at least one more special Workshop before the Regular Meeting on September 19th to finalize the budget. But we will not be satisfied until we know that we have given this budget the consideration it needs to weather this year of economic uncertainty. Enjoy the rest of your summer, members. The Farmer’s Almanac has predicted a rather chilly winter, so we could see a drastic change from the mild winters we have experienced in the past few years. Sincerely, Jeanne Jameson President Click for Annual Meeting address to the membership Aug 16 By now, every member in-good-standing should have received their personal invitation to the Annual Meeting on Sunday, August 17, 2008 at 2:00 pm in the Clubhouse. I hope that everyone has put the date and time on their calendar and are planning on attending. As I mentioned a few weeks ago in this column, the Annual Meeting is important for every member in this Community. It is three of the 8,760 hours in a year that you should devote to knowing as much as you can about the governance, finance and legal representation of your Community. I look forward to seeing all of you there and I especially look forward to starting the meeting at 2:00 pm sharp, because now that you know how important it is, I am confident there will be a quorum on the first count this year. I want to thank all the volunteers involved at this year’s Family Day. It was quite a nice turnout and everyone appeared to be enjoying themselves. The fireworks were spectacular and I’m sure everyone was delighted. It was a hard road to even having the fireworks this year due to the permitting process, which is getting more and more difficult to satisfy. However, it is possible that this was the final show if regulations become even more restrictive in the future.There are more things to come in the next few weeks that are unique to Highland Lakers and I hope that everyone takes full advantage of them. This weekend you can start out at the Clubhouse Dance on Friday night and keep the momentum on Saturday night at the Lakeside Café. Every third Saturday of the month, local musicians gather in the Lake Room for an evening of fun and music. Signups for the performers are at 7:30 pm and the music starts at 8:00 pm. Bring your own refreshments, but not too much because on Sunday you don’t want to miss the Annual Meeting at 2:00 pm in the Clubhouse.This Thursday, the Senior Club will hold it’s annual Senior Gala for their members. Membership in the Seniors Club is open to any member 50 years or older. They are quite a dynamic group with activities all summer long culminating in the annual Gala.Friday night is Senior Volunteer Appreciation night. The doors will open at 7:00 pm and dinner will be served at 7:30 pm. The entertainment follows dinner and appreciation gifts will be distributed as you leave. If you have devoted 20 hours during the year to the Club on a committee or in some capacity recognized as an activity and have not received an invitation, please call the office to check on your eligibility.On Saturday night, the Professional Art Show exhibit will open with a wine and cheese reception. Come down and meet the artists while tasting some of their talent with your eyes. It is a very soothing atmosphere and you won’t be disappointed. I will warn you, though, it is very difficult to leave without at least one print purchased at reasonable prices. And on Sunday, return to the Clubhouse for the full Art Show featuring all art submitted by all age groups and skill level. It will put a smile on your face, guaranteed.And just like that, the summer season will come to a close on Labor Day. The Voting Board will be back at work on the 3rd of September and the budgeting process begins once again. Committees should all be developing their wish lists for projects for the 2008-2009 budget and submitting them to the office as soon as possible so they can be considered in September. Our budget has to be developed and voted on before the October 1, 2008 fiscal year start date. That means that all proposals should be into the office before the Administration Committee begins its work in early September. Thank you to everyone for your advance cooperation. Sincerely, Jeanne Jameson President
Aug 2nd Except for this past week when I was trying to fly into and out of Atlanta, Georgia for a conference, the summer in the Northeast has been generally hot and dry. It’s been ideal for the children who have been having a great time swimming, biking, playing ball and generally doing what kids do when they are out of school for two and a half months. It’s also a big part of why we live in this lake community - outdoor activities. However, summer weather can and often puts considerable stress on our lakes. Members may have noticed either greenish or brownish colorations in the lakes, especially in Lakes 3 and 4. I want to stress that these discolorations are neither dangerous nor evidence of pollution. It is nature at work with a little help from humans. I am neither a scientist nor a limnologist, but I pay attention at the Ecology meetings when this subject comes up and I think after almost 20 years, I am beginning to understand it just a little. The ecological system of a lake is dependent on and affected by a variety of factors, some controllable and others best left to Mother Nature. On the manageable side is runoff control. This can be accomplished by carefully monitoring nutrient-laden product use, pollution sources and limiting development. The uncontrollable is weather and aging. Each factor plays an individual role and usually combines forces with others to produce positive and/or negative effects in a lake system often changing on a daily basis. Runoff is important to a lake system, especially one that is not fed by natural sources. When it rains, the water runs down the hillside and enters the lake bringing fresh water and oxygen. It also brings in the oil from our cars, the fertilizers we use on our lawns and the dirt and leaves in its path. Phosphorous (which is a key ingredient in many fertilizers) is a nutrient for plants and algae, encouraging growth and thickening. When those plants die off and begin to disintegrate, they in turn give off nutrients to the algae which begin to grow in large quantity causing algae blooms and discoloration. Weather plays a major role in the appearance and condition of a lake. In rainy, cooler weather the lake is refreshed often with a fresh supply of water that is churning the upper layer of the system and spreading the new oxygen around. It also cuts down significantly on sunlight inhibiting the growth of troublesome vegetation. Hot, dry and sunny weather will stratify the deeper lakes, meaning that there are distinct layers of water based on temperature and dissolved oxygen. The decomposition of organic material (decaying lake vegetation, leaves, etc.) releases nutrients to sustain the various types of algae, which grow nicely in the sun and on occasion creates a blanket on the lake. When this occurs, copper sulfate is applied by Allied Biological, and conditions usually clear up in a few days. Our lakes are characterized by their biology, and each lake’s characteristics differ. Generally, the only problematic algae are known as blue-green algae, and these are what typically cause algae blooms. Other algae found in our lakes include golden algae, green algae, and diatoms. Some algae impart the brown or green coloration that I referred to previously, though most do not approach the density to cause an algae bloom and a subsequent copper sulfate treatment. Many different types of zooplankton are also found, an essential part of the food chain necessary for a healthy fishery, and many are known to graze on algae, nature’s way of limiting algae growth. The Club staff and the Ecology Committee work closely with our contracted professionals; Allied Biological and Dr. Steven Sousa of Princeton Hydro, LLC to monitor the lakes’ conditions all year long and apply the proper treatments when warranted to manage the health of our lakes. Their services include the biological and related chemical analyses necessary to manage our lakes. I encourage our members interested in this subject to attend our Ecology Committee meetings that occur on the second Thursday of each month at 7:00 pm at the Clubhouse. Sincerely, Jeanne Jameson President July 26th It is four weeks until the Annual Meeting of the Membership. Every year it is a struggle to coax members into coming down to the Clubhouse for two hours on a sunny, hot, overcast, cool, or rainy, raw afternoon. It doesn’t really matter what the weather is like, people just don’t show up. There are almost 2,000 members and their families in Highland Lakes and every year we struggle to drag in 95 or so members to meet the quorum. I believe part of the problem is that many people are not aware of the significance of the Annual Meeting. First and foremost, it is a requirement of the By-Laws to hold an Annual Meeting on the third Sunday in August and that there must be a 5% quorum of the members in good standing present. A few years ago, the membership was surveyed to gauge interest in changing the day and/or time of the meeting and the majority of those responding wanted it to remain on the third Sunday in August in the afternoon. The second reason to attend is equally important and probably the least understood. Your Community Association is a corporation. Every corporation is required to have an Annual meeting. Closely held or private corporations have a meeting of the officers and public corporations conduct a shareholder’s meeting. The purpose of the meeting is to report on the corporation’s performance during the past year and to give projections for the future.The more you know about your corporation, the more likely you are to invest more in the gamble if you think the officers and Board of Trustees are doing a good job or pull out if you think they are not.The third reason to attend the Annual Meeting this year is to elect trustees for a term of office of three years. This year we have openings for Sections 1, 3, 4 & 5 and only members in these sections may vote for their candidates but it is important to understand the process for when your section is selecting your next trustee. A very important part of the Annual Meeting is devoted to members. It is during that time period that members can ask questions, relay concerns and offer suggestions. At last year’s Annual Meeting there were a series of concerns brought to the Voting Board’s attention and during the past year, I believe that the Voting Board has addressed them all. You can find my reports on the website (www.hlcc.org) in my columns for the Newsette.At the July Workshop, two items of concern were discussed. One concerned the Boat Livery Program. The policy had been to permit members and members of their family who were at least 18 years or older to borrow Club boats. Our idea was that 18 year olds were responsible enough to conduct themselves appropriately when using a Club boat. To my knowledge, no one has disappointed the Voting Board, but the Club’s insurance carrier had another viewpoint. Their requirements are 21 and older, so the policy had to change.The other policy was the lending of Club chairs and tables to members for private use at their homes. It was a quaint practice that helped members out in a pinch but that turned into a rental business without any compensation to replace worn or broken items. The practice of picking up a long table to hold the salads and a few chairs to complement the existing extra guests turned into a demand for as many as ten tables and 80 chairs needed for the day. Staff requirements also grew as the demand expanded, taking them away from other jobs to coordinate the availability, pickup, return and inspection of the property that had been borrowed. The Voting Board agreed with the General Manager that the practice should end altogether so that the Club’s equipment could have a longer life for all members and staff could do their jobs as intended. Thank you, members, for your understanding. Stay safe everyone and enjoy. Sincerely, Jeanne Jameson President July 19th New members and new summer residents are usually the last to know about many of the wonderful programs we have in Highland Lakes for their children and for their own entertainment. I’m not sure why that is, except that perhaps they are not aware of the information platforms that exist to tell them. So, I thought it might be a good time to discuss some of those programs and activities and explain about the options to find out about times and places to go. There are the obvious activities that everyone seems to pick up on quickly, such as swimming, fishing, boating and tennis. But, keep in mind that each activity has restrictions to protect the rights of all members. Swimming must be curtailed to hours of lifeguard protection and in designated beach areas only. These areas are inspected by the guards for hazardous material daily and offer the safest conditions for members. Lakefront homeowners are responsible for their guests and are not afforded any ritualized inspections. Fishing in the lakes is controlled by the NJ Department of Fish and Game and all regulations must be observed to avoid penalties and fines. In addition, only members in good standing (and their guests with guest badges) may fish in our lakes, so wear your badges at all times. Ignoring this rule may result in the loss of privileges for the day or the season. Our five lakes are stocked on an as needed basis and offer some of the finest lake fishing around, so help us protect them.The Club has never allowed combustion powered motors on the lakes for recreational boating and that tradition continues. The Voting Board, the Fishing Committee, the Boat and Dock Committee, the By-Laws and Rules Committee and the Ecology Committee stand firmly behind this rule and keep a close watch on the lakes. Sailing, windsurfing, row boating, canoeing and kayaking are the most popular for an afternoon on the lakes and small electric motors have surfaced on fishing boats in recent years. Every boat must display a current sticker and be stored properly when not in use, so please ensure that you are in compliance with the rules on this one. If you don’t own a boat, but just want to take an afternoon cruise on the lake, the Clubhouse has several boats that you can borrow for the afternoon. Please visit the Activities Center for information. Tennis is probably the ultimate country club activity and we have tennis courts. The courts at Beach One are the destination of many members on a Saturday morning for tournaments and other competitive meets, and in the afternoon and evenings the courts are usually free. We ask that you do respect the other players and that you not hog the courts, but beyond that, enjoy. Again, always display your badges on Club property.Those are the obvious activities. Now, let’s discuss some of the not so obvious activities that you might enjoy. There is a bowling league, a hiking club, softball leagues, bridge club, golfing groups, mahjong group and exercise group. The bowling league plays in Warwick, NY at Frontier Lanes by Pennings Orchard and is always looking for more members to join them. The hiking club has some very interesting excursions in and around Highland Lakes every few weeks. Their descriptive narratives in each Newsette beg the adventurous to join them as they roam the mountains and lakes in our area. And of course, there’s always the Lakeside Café that holds performances once a month in the Lake Room. This is my favorite activity. It involves nothing more than my attention and a glass of wine to listen to some of the finest (and sometimes not so fine, but the energy is there) music in the area. I personally have made some lasting friendships over the years that I cherish and consider it a great addition to our base of operations here in Highland Lakes. I mentioned that I would break the code on where to find information on these programs/activities and the many others that are offered, so here it is:The Newsette is published weekly during the summer months. You can pick up a copy at the Lake Wanda Store, the Highland General Store, Market Place Deli, office and the post office. You can also request that a copy be sent to your home for a nominal fee during the winter months. Please contact the office for these arrangements. The Highland Lakes Directory: The directory is published every two years by the Communications Committee and is a deep well of information. It contains the By-Laws, Rules and Regulations, maps of the area, a complete listing of activities and programs, names and phone numbers of the Voting Board Members and a voluntarily submitted listing of members’ contact information. The directory also contains advertisements from area contractors, suppliers and vendors which often include discounts with proof of membership.The Highland Lakes Website: This modern tool is one of the best and widely available information sources for all members of Highland Lakes. It is available 24/7 and easily accessible. All information is updated routinely and nicely coordinated for ease of use. The website address is: http://www.hlcc.org. If you need any other information about activities or have questions or concerns please don’t hesitate to call your trustee or any officer or the office staff. We’re all here to help. Sincerely, Jeanne Jameson President July 12th I hope everyone had an enjoyable 4th of July. It wasn’t the nicest day, weather-wise, but at least it was on the warmer side and the rain held off most of the day. We aren’t always so lucky. There have been more than a few 60 degree, rainy and windy days for me in the 25 years or so that I’ve lived in Highland Lakes, so I take what I can get. The rest of the summer should go nicely, though since most of us don’t have any other holidays left except for Labor Day, which by the way, is usually quite nice (it’s kind of like ” kick you when you’re down” time). From time to time, the Club opens its doors to the public to offer community service programs in conjunction with various service organizations or Township Departments. Information is made available to all residents from a variety of sources. Over the years, the Clubhouse has been host to numerous blood drives, candidate debates, and meetings with Town Council members, Bear Education Seminars, and serves as a polling place during every election and primary. In August, the Clubhouse will be open once again for another public service event, a Child Safety Day organized by Highland Lakes Security and the Vernon Police Department. This event will be open to the public and I am hoping that it will be well attended. Please look for information in the coming weeks for the date and time of this event and spread the word to your neighbors and friends. It is important that our children, grandchildren, nieces and nephews alike all understand how to get help when they need it, what to look for in an emergency and where to turn to if they find themselves alone and in danger. Remember, these are lessons they take with them to college and on spring break vacations and into their future. I have had some calls over the past few weeks from members with ideas and suggestions about either an activity not currently offered or cost savings ideas for Highland Lakes. I am very happy that members are thinking outside the box and bringing those ideas to the Voting Board and each will be considered. I would also like to encourage more participation by other members to reach inside themselves for ideas. I seriously doubt that there is any member that is not bracing themselves for a tough year ahead in both expenses and belt tightening. The Club is in the same position and I am anticipating that our expenses will escalate just like everyone else’s. Finally, please remember that guest badges are available at the activity center and can be purchased from the lifeguards. Each guest badge is $1.00 for the day and takes only minutes of your time to purchase. Do not lend your family or member badge to a guest. It could result in losing that badge for the day or the season (if warranted). Thanks for your cooperation. Sincerely, Jeanne Jameson, President July 5th: One of the items the Voting Board has been grappling with for the past two years is the enforcement of the Rules and Regulations that were established for the safety and welfare of the members. Most members have no serious issues following the rules and a reminder of the concerns behind a particular rule is all that is usually necessary to correct the problem. Unfortunately, some members do have issues with following simple basic rules and habitually break them infringing on others’ ability to enjoy their community. These are the folks who need a little more than a reminder to achieve compliance. Late in 2005, the Voting Board requested the Rules and By-Laws Committee to review the set of rules and the By-Laws, to assign penalties if needed, and to present them to the Voting Board for discussion. The Committee returned to the Voting Board in the spring of 2006 with a very comprehensive and detailed schedule of severity levels and proposed associated fines for each Rule and Regulation. The hours of commitment and devotion to this project by the Committee were commendable to say the least.Quite a few workshops were devoted to debates over the proposed schedule. By the end of the year in 2007, the Voting Board had formed many differing opinions on the scale of the project, and determined that some progress on the matter was required. They asked the General Manager to work with the Security Manager to identify the especially trying areas of behavior that need to be immediately addressed and to work with the Rules and By-Laws Committee to address them separately.Last month, the General Manager reported to the Voting Board that he and the Rules Committee have reached a general agreement on the five areas of immediate concern and presented those ideas to the Voting Board. There is a little work left to be done on the specifics and the Rules and By-Laws Committee, in conjunction with the Communications Committee, will explain them to the members when finally approved by the Voting Board. To give you a heads-up, however, here are the items of concern, in no particular order of importance:
These are really just common sense things so please consider this your final friendly reminder. Sincerely,Jeanne JamesonPresident
July 4th Edition: Now that the schools are recessed for the summer months and the beaches are open at least part time, the time honored tradition of packing everything into the beach bags and trudging down to the sandy shore of Beach One has begun. As always, the biggest concern of parents is the safety of their children when crossing Breakneck Road to get to the beach and at long last, I believe that we may have an answer to those concerns. Over the previous three months or so, Jack McLaughlin, HLCC & CA General Manager has been working closely with Township Engineer Lou Kneip and Patrolman Jason Haw, the township’s Traffic Safety Officer, on improving the crosswalk. Mr. Kneip has designed a safe-crossing zone across Breakneck Road. The plan calls for clearly defined crosswalks, proper signage and traffic striping, and traffic delineators mounted in the roadway leading up to the crosswalk in both directions on Breakneck Road. The design is intended to slow people down as they approach the intersection and the crosswalk so that pedestrians have ample time to get from one side of the road to the other. It is my hope that this small, but very important pedestrian safety measure is in place within the next couple of weeks. The fence repairs to the maintenance yard off Canistear Road have been completed and the area is considerably more pleasant than before. It will never be perfect given the nature of the site, but it is no longer shabby looking. Many thanks go to our maintenance staff who spent time cleaning and organizing the area and to our fencing contractor for the great job on the new fencing. For the younger sailors, there is a new feature at the Eckhart Sailing Center. Recognizing the difficulty transporting the sails back and forth to the lake for our younger sailors, it was suggested last fall that we install tubes at the center to house the sails. The sailors raised the bulk of the funds themselves and were advanced the balance by the Voting Board until it can be repaid so that the tubes could be in place before the season started. There will be a fundraiser on June 29th for this project and I urge you to support it. The event will be a brunch with music supplied by Highland Lakes own, Ralph Terra. It should be fun and fulfilling, in more ways than one. Please look for ticket information elsewhere in this week’s Newsette as only advanced tickets will be sold. Another big thanks goes out to the Jim and his maintenance crew and members of the sailing community for the great job they did installing the tubes. Finally, the new playground equipment for the Canistear recreation area is on site and construction will begin very shortly. This equipment will meet all current playground safety standards of the State of New Jersey, and the Building and Grounds Committee is to be commended for their diligence in dotting the i’s and crossing the t’s on this one. Bob Gellner, 1st Vice President and his committee of parents and children are to be especially commended for the time and effort they put into this project. I hope that everyone has an enjoyable summer and that you remember that you are invited to every Voting Board workshop and regular meeting held each month in the Lake Room. Please check the website, www.hlcc.org, for times and dates so that you know when each meeting is. Also, keep August 17, 2008 open on your calendar. That is the date of your Annual Meeting. You need to be there to vote, to hear about your Association and to voice your opinion. Sincerely, Jeanne Jameson President June First off, I want to take just a moment of your time and congratulate my daughter, Leanne, who was conferred with her Masters Degree in Special Education over this past weekend from Simmons College in Boston, MA. Leanne has been working towards this degree for three years and after many long hours and a lot of hard work, she has finally reached one of her goals. She works with autistic children at the New England Center for Children as an Education Coordinator for the children in residency ages 9-15 and believes that every child deserves and needs the educational and practical skills the school provides. I would also like to congratulate each and every member’s child who graduated from college, high school, junior high, kindergarten and pre-school this year. It is an accomplishment and one that should not go unrecognized. If you have a child who graduated this year, please let Lisa Ebers at the office know via e-mail or letter so she can include it in a special column next month. Now, back to Club information. This month, the Voting Board canceled the monthly workshop so that we could attend the Zoning Board meeting in Vernon Township. The Voting Board would sincerely like to see the Township Zoning Board start considering ramifications of their decisions a lot more closely than they seem to have been doing in past years. We fully appreciate the careful considerations that are taken into account when an applicant comes before the Zoning Board for a variance, but the fact is that in the past two or three years, according to the minutes posted on-line at www.vernontwp.com, very few variances have been turned down. That is not to say that folks walk into the application process with a clear shot at any variance, but there must have been a reason for developing the Township zoning code in the first place and variances should be granted only if the applicants meet the standards under the law. It is a fact that Highland Lakes was developed long before the zoning standards were developed and that many members face a difficult challenge when they look to improve their primary asset - their homes, and that hardships do exist for many expansion/re-design projects in our community. However, when any project begins to impact the neighbors or Association property, it is clearly the Voting Board’s responsibility to carefully consider the impact of that variance request. There are many situations that do not deny member’s rights to the full value of their assets and the Club has no interest in opposing those variances. But when it impacts our lakes, the members’ property or safety, we will take all necessary measures to ensure that the Zoning Board is aware of our opposition to any variance by exercising the Club’s right under the law to be heard by the Zoning Board. The Regular Meeting scheduled for May 16th was postponed due to a lack of a quorum by the Board. It is a very busy month for Board members, family-wise, and we need to respect everyone’s personal commitments. The meeting was rescheduled for May 21, 2008. I will catch everyone up in the next issue on any Board decision resulting from that meeting. Finally, I want to address a few issues with the Goodwill Fund that have surfaced lately. The Fund was established to help members in good standing in distress from a catastrophic event that occurred in their life and would prevent them from retaining membership standing and having full use of the Club’s facilities while weathering their emergencies. It was never intended to bail out anyone from foreclosure or help recover from stock losses or other economic events. The Fund is very low at this point and needs your help so that folks with true emergency situations can recover without worry that their privileges will be revoked for non-payment of dues. Over the course of the next few months, the Goodwill Fund Sub-Committee will be holding fundraisers and I urge you to support them. For those of you who regularly support the Fund with a small donation, thanks and keep up the good work. It’s not tax deductible, but it is a show of support for your neighbors. Welcome back to all the summer residents, and remember that there is information available through the Newsette, the website (hlcc.org) and by calling the office. If you have an extra minute when picking up your badges, please complete the survey conducted by the Communications Committee. They are trying to assess the information flow process and this survey will guide them in the right direction for dissemination of important information for all members. Sincerely, Jeanne Jameson President May I begin my message today with a very special thank you to two important committees and their members for the outstanding efforts they put forth during the last week of April. Their activities were especially commendable leading up to and during National Volunteer Week (April 27th to May 3rd). The Ecology Committee, co-chaired by Joan Ross and Brenda Susman, conducted their annual Clean-up Day in Highland Lakes and quite a few lakers showed up to pitch in and help. You may have noticed many piles of black garbage bags stored along the side of the roads throughout Highland Lakes. Thank you to the crew at the Vernon Department of Public Works who picked up the collected garbage and hauled it off to the landfill for the committee. Each and every volunteer deserves a debt of gratitude from all who benefit and we can begin repaying that debt by not tossing our garbage out onto the road or into the woods as we pass by. Please remember that after it leaves your car and lands in the woods, it stays there until someone else picks it up. Paper, bottles and cans do not disintegrate or go away on their own. They stay in place for everyone to look at until someone considerate enough comes along and disposes it properly. The Communications Committee held its annual New Member party on April 27, 2008 in the Lake Room. There were quite a few guests in attendance and several board and committee members on hand to answer questions and welcome the new members. The affair is a popular event because of all the time and effort put into planning and the elegance with which it is conducted. Please join me in giving a great big thank you to Sue Buruchian and Linda Kroeger-Wilson and their committee members for the extraordinary job they did with this party and the great presentation materials provided (they provided posters and laptop visual slide shows on the activities available for all members and they handed out new member bags with a lot of useful information and coupons). The Voting Board was quite busy during the month of April. At our workshop in early April, we discussed several items that will undoubtedly be of interest to some members in the community. The sailing community approached the Voting Board last September to request funding for a sailing tube storage system for our junior sailors at the Eckhart Sailing Center. At the time, the Voting Board was amenable to the idea and approved the concept that would be paid for by the sailing group. Their goal was to pay for the system with funds raised throughout the year. The time is appropriate now to install the system, but they are a little short of funds, so they asked the board to front the operation with full expectation of raising the rest of the money needed shortly. The Voting Board has granted that request for two reasons. One is that it is a positive move that will benefit members and the other is that they trust the sailing community to work diligently to fulfill their commitment. The Voting Board carefully considered the ramifications of a new ordinance adopted by Vernon Township regarding sex offenders’ banishment from all public areas where children congregate. These restrictions include recreational areas, parks, convenience stores and public libraries, as well as schools. The ordinance passed by the Township is specific on boundaries and applications but does not include recreational facilities owned by private lake communities. We, as a community, want to protect our children and our members from predators as much as the Township of Vernon, but we must balance our By-Laws and private property rights with efforts by the township to impose inappropriate regulations. The club has long guarded against the application of township ordinances to the club’s private properties. However, there are situations that suggest it would be appropriate for Highland Lakes Country Club and Community Association to voluntarily accept the application of ordinances to the club’s private property as well. As one example, in the 1960s the club requested the extension of New Jersey’s motor vehicle laws (known as Title 39) to the Club’s private roads. The application of Title 39 permits summonses to be issued by police officers for traffic violations that occur on the club’s private roads. The Voting Board decided to request that the Township of Vernon amend the ordinance to provide an option for private lake communities to be included in the ordinance if they so choose. We will make that request formal shortly to the Township Council. The only decision made by the Voting Board at this time is to request that the ordinance be amended. Whether the Voting Board is comfortable with the amended ordinance and determines to seek the inclusion of Highland Lakes has yet to be determined. The By-Laws and Rules Committee submitted a proposal to the Voting Board that establishes penalties and fines for the most popular infractions of our rules so that our security force will be able to cut down on problems that the Voting Board insists must stop but have plagued the community for many years. We, as members, co-inhabit this small community and if we don’t follow the rules it becomes very uncomfortable for others. The Voting Board has established a set of rules that guide us in communal harmony, but when one of us blatantly steps out of those boundaries, we all suffer. We can establish all the rules we want, but without some penalties backing those rules up, what chance do we have of enforcing them? There was a lot of discussion on this subject and a lot more work to be done, but it is my hope that before the summer, we are in a much better position to enforce our rules and make each member’s life a little better. Most of our rules are common sense items, but if you’re not complying, you’re breaking the rules. So, stop before you get a fine and have to pay up. Thanks for your cooperation. One last reminder, it is wonderful to clean up your property in the spring so that it looks nice during the summer, but remember to be considerate of your neighbor. Please wait until a reasonable hour to bring out the loud electric appliances to do your cleaning. Better yet, pick up a rake and get those leaves up. I know it’s hard work. Mike and I just did it this past weekend, and we’re both aching today, but it is more considerate to your neighbors. Some noise is appropriate, but 8 hours is overkill. Sincerely, Jeanne Jameson, President Highland Lakes Country Club and Community Association
April With April upon us, it seems that winter is slowly but surely fading into our memories. It has been a slower than normal ease into the warmer temperatures, but day lilies and other spring flowers are beginning to pop up, so there’s hope. Our snow budget for the year took a toll due to excessive amount of ice and sleet storms this year, but it does not seem that we will be in much of a deficit when the final numbers come in for the season. Of course, we have been surprised by major spring storms before so I’m not completely convinced we are finished for the year. I would like to take a moment, though and thank our maintenance staff and the staff of our contractor, Ray Bross & Sons for the great job they did for us this year during all the storm events. They were out there working while we were all asleep anticipating a rough ride in the morning. They were instrumental in keeping our roadways clear and ice free. Thank you! In the March Newsette there appeared the fourth and final article in a series done by Mr. James Schriner on the history of and current standards for building a home in Highland Lakes. I thought it was an extraordinary article when I first read it back in November, 2007 and was impressed with the extent of information that it included. Thank you, Mr. Schriner for taking the time and effort to inform and educate the members of Highland Lakes. It was a poignantly written series and will be utilized by future generations in the planning and development of their property. I am opening up a call to other folks to write articles for the Newsette that will inform and educate members on other aspects of home ownership, land ownership, boat ownership or even auto ownership. Let’s open up the lines of communication between those who have expertise and those who need it. Please submit all articles to the office at least 30 days in advance so that we can decide how to incorporate it (if appropriate) into future editions of the Newsette. At the March Workshop, the Voting Board heard a presentation by representatives of the New Jersey Division of Fish, Game and Wildlife on a program offered that is testing a nuisance bear solution through the use of improved bear resistant garbage cans. The investigative program was developed by the Cornell University and the proposal includes homeowners in Highland Lakes utilizing the new cans as well as increased tracking of nuisance bears. There were some concerns on the part of the Voting Board and those questions were forwarded to the division for further response, so no decision has been made. I hope to update this in future articles. In March, the Voting Board and friends celebrated and congratulated Marguerite O’Brien for her many years of service to Highland Lakes. Marguerite retired after nearly 13 years as Highland Lakes’ most cordial and congenial person in the office and we’ll miss her smile greatly, and we wish her the best of luck in her future pursuits. As most of you have already heard, Vernon is undergoing a tax revaluation after nearly 15 years. On the one hand, I welcome the revaluation. I think we have been rated too poorly based on the real estate market for the many upgrades we have accomplished in the past 15 years and feel that our worth as a community is certainly higher than 15 years ago. On the other hand, of course, are the consequences of paying higher taxes based on a higher appraisal. The Voting Board would prefer to pay lower taxes on a higher property value, but with today’s NJ tax structure that is not possible. The fairest approach is to have as accurate a valuation as possible and to push for more equitable tax levies as reasonable. There is a very useful article elsewhere in this edition of the Newsette written by Paul Peters, Past HLCC President that will be helpful to our members during this process and I encourage you to read it and pay close attention to Mr. Peters’ suggestions. Thank you, Paul, for taking the time to research and report it. The Voting Board has been struggling lately with a few zoning issues that have emerged. One of particular note is the issue of assuming that it is acceptable to build out extensions to a member’s home to within 2 ½ feet of member owned property. Many members abut Club owned property and regard unutilized space as vacant or disregarded. That is just not factual or practical. A lot of Club owned property is in its natural state for a reason. The Club values its open space and prefers to keep it in its natural state to protect the integrity of the ecological significance to the area. Remember, it is not just Club property, it is all members’ property. Please respect the zoning laws of Vernon that apply to all residents. As always, I invite your comments and suggestions so that the Voting Board, the General Manager and I know what you are thinking and how you feel this community should be run. Jeanne Jameson, President March Even though February is the shortest month of the year, this February seemed endless. It must have been all the dreary, wet and cold days but thankfully, brighter and warmer weather is on the way. Similar to many municipalities and lake communities, our Snow Operations Budget has been pummeled by storm after storm this winter particularly in February. There is good news, though. We have the $100,000 in reserves for situations like this and we will replenish that account with funds received from Vernon Township as part of the reimbursement agreement if we need to tap those reserves. So, sit back and enjoy the snow while it’s here, but relish the warmer weather as it comes around. The Voting Board has been very busy in February. As the deadline approaches for public comment on the Highlands Council’s final draft of the Regional Master Plan, the Voting Board is in the process of reviewing recommended comments from the Planning Committee, the General Manager and our General Counsel. We will submit our comments to the Council before the deadline, but it has been a long process getting us here. My thanks to all involved in working through this. In response to members’ complaints about the maintenance yard off Canistear Road during the January Voting Board meeting, discussions were held at the February Workshop. There is no doubt that the area would benefit from inexpensive remedies such as orderly storage options and regular removal of debris that accumulated from maintenance operations and our staff will take extra measures to accomplish that. Exterior improvements to the area are not inexpensive. The Voting Board reached a decision to dedicate more money to the replacement of the fencing and moved it up on the priority list of capital projects so that it can be completed before the summer months if possible. This was not an easy decision because all of the projects on the Priority List are crucial and just as important. As always, you are welcome and encouraged to attend our monthly regular and workshop meetings. We would like to see you there. Sincerely, Jeanne Jameson, President
February With the holidays a month behind us, it is now time to focus on the business at hand for Highland Lakes. The members of the Voting Board have a full plate in front of them of ideas and projects to consider and fund by the time summer rolls around again. Committees are hard at work planning projects and formulating proposals for the Board to consider and members are stepping up with ideas and suggestions. At the December Workshop, the Voting Board addressed two more questions/suggestions from the 2007 Annual Meeting. The first suggestion was to install a water fountain inside the Clubhouse for the children to use and to install a water fountain at the Beach One Beach Hut. I was unaware that there already is one at the Beach One area, so that was an easy subject to dismiss. Installing one in the Clubhouse was not so easy, however. It would be convenient to have a water fountain in the hallway at the Clubhouse, but it is no longer practical. Water fountains are disappearing from parks, libraries, public buildings and schools for much the same reasons: sanitary precaution and insurance liability. Both issues are becoming increasingly difficult to monitor so the Voting Board decided against installing a fountain at the Clubhouse. There will be cups available at the Activity Center for anyone who needs a drink of water and plenty of water available from the taps. The second suggestion was to increase the storage capacity for bicycles at Beach One so that bikes are not left all around for people to trip over them or to get stolen. It was agreed to add another rack that can accommodate twenty more bikes at the beach and it will be up to the parents to instill responsibility in their children to store their bikes when at the beach. At the December Voting Board meeting, emerging problems with the tennis courts at Beach One were discussed and steps will be taken to remedy the problems before the season begins in the spring. The Voting Board also cast their ballots to prioritize the Capital Projects list. Among the top ten projects selected, road and drainage projects received a high standing, reflecting our efforts to resolve localized drainage issues. Also high on the list is the security system we will be installing at Beach One. We have discussed this for several years, but it is imperative that we protect the investment that the members made at this location so we will pursue this project full steam ahead now. Other projects that need attention now are paving and regarding the Clubhouse parking lot to stem the flow of sediment into the main lake, improvements to the playgrounds to conform to State regulations and upgrading our computer system in the office. The project that came in as number ten on the list this year is improvements to the maintenance yard at the Canistear Road location. This has been a sore spot for the residents in the area for many years and the Club has done what little we can to maintain the area in an orderly fashion on an extremely limited budget. The maintenance yard has been in existence since 1977 and is an approved facility area by the Township of Vernon. However, with the shortage of funding, the fencing around the area has deteriorated and should be replaced with something that reflects the character of the neighborhood. Some of the debris that has been cached there will also be removed on a more regular basis to keep the area less congested. The recently accelerated program of abandoned/misplaced boat removal from Club property will continue to store the boats in the maintenance yard until a more structured program can be formulated. The Voting Board asks the residents in the area to be patient on this issue. The Club will try to maintain the storage of the boats in an orderly fashion to the extent possible. This will have to be a give and take proposition between the Club and the neighbors, so all must cooperate. If any member has a solution, please contact the Buildings and Grounds Committee Chairman or attend a meeting. When the Beach One project was in the design phase, there was a loud cry for an ice skating rink to be incorporated within the utility court. This was built into the design, but has not been able to happen yet. It is not for lack of trying. The court was designed correctly with expanding joints to let water drain, but that design does not seem to cooperate with filling in the court with water so that it can freeze. Our maintenance personnel, together with Bob Gellner, have tried several remedies to allow the water enough time in the frame to freeze, but nature and ultimately the structure are not cooperating. The last attempt was to line the structure with heavy-duty plastic but that appears to have developed a leak somewhere within the structure and has totally baffled all the experts. As with all problems, this too will be solved, but it is a matter of time, trial and error. My sincere appreciation to the Highland Lakes Fire Department, which has come to the “rescue” every time we have tried to fill the court with their tanker and hope that they are still willing to try again and again until we have it right. Thanks also to the guys who are trying to make this happen for everyone. By the way, the lake’s still there, if it doesn't’t work! There is a lot more happening on the Board level and on the Committee level, but I think I am limited to a twenty-five page diatribe. So, I will try to summarize some of the other important issues for you. The Communications Committee is trying to streamline the website and bring the members closer together and is looking for your input. It is important that you visit the website and offer your comments to them often and poignantly. The Planning Committee is working hard on evaluating the effects that the Highlands Act will have on our community and how we can help shape our ability to upgrade and maintain our homes and facilities. The Buildings and Grounds Committee is trying to escalate projects that have been shaping up for years to make them happen and the Ecology Committee is working diligently to make our lakes and streams the cleanest we can have them. Our By-Laws and Rules Committee is working on a revised system for compliance that can only improve our lifestyle while keeping the civility we all love about Highland Lakes and we should all help them out with suggestions and comments. Our Clubhouse Committee continues to bring you new and interesting programs that are designed to get you out of the house and into the community. Support all committees and consider volunteering. If you feel that I have left anything out, please feel free to contact me. I’m never available, I never answer phone calls after 6:00 pm and I don’t get home from work until 5:59 pm. There is no way to contact me at work and I don’t answer your e-mails. My mail has been cancelled. But I’d love to hear from you. Only kidding, please write, e-mail, fax or call me. I answer all and want to hear from you. Sincerely, Jeanne Jameson President December/January: Although it seems like ages ago, the Voting Board has been working diligently on addressing several questions/concerns raised by members at the Annual Meeting in August, 2007. One concern that was on everyone’s mind was the excessive blue green algae bloom that occurred in the first weeks of August. It was by far the worst outbreak many had ever seen in Highland Lakes and was deeply troubling to everyone. In response to several requests, the Ecology Committee invited the Club’s Lake Management Consultant, Dr. Stephen Souza of Princeton Hydro to their October meeting to help explain the mechanics of the bloom. The meeting was well attended by Committee members, Voting Board members and interested homeowners. Dr. Souza presented the audience with charts, graphics and scientific explanations that helped everyone present understand the power of natural forces and the repercussions of not paying attention to what flows into our lakes. All members should be using non-phosphorous products on their lawns, in their dishwashers and in their laundry machines. This is no longer a debatable issue. Phosphorous build-up in the lakes causes algae blooms and can be controlled. The Ecology Committee has been explaining this for years, has published articles in the Newsette about where to buy non-phosphorous products and the eventual harm caused by excessive build up. It’s now time for the members to cooperate. At the November workshop, the Voting Board responded to a concern raised over the replenishment of sand at the community beaches and the practice of some lake front owners to create mini-beaches in their back yards. The Club only replenishes sand on the beaches as needed. This is a long-standing practice and is carefully monitored by Club management. If the Club did not continue to spruce up the beaches every spring, I think there would be a lot more comments from concerned members. Lake front owners should be aware that title to your lake front lots extends to a point five feet from the high water mark. The land from that point to the water’s edge is owned by the Club, and any work on Club property without the Club’s permission is against the Rules and Regulations of this community. If you are unsure about where your property ends and Club property begins, or need a copy of the Rules and Regulations affecting your lake front property, please call the office. This topic will be discussed in more detail in an article in the spring as we move into the warmer months. The Voting Board also discussed whether or not to post an advance agenda for its monthly meeting. After much discussion, the idea was rejected. All Workshops are open to any member wishing to attend and most topics on which action is taken at the monthly Regular Meeting of the Board are discussed at the Workshop. Items referred to future Workshops are noted in the minutes and are usually discussed in this column. At the December Workshop, the Voting Board will discuss two more issues raised at the Annual Meeting. One is the necessity or lack thereof for additional bicycle racks at Beach one and the other is the feasibility/reasonability of installing water fountains at the Clubhouse and the Beach Hut. I hope everyone has a safe and happy holiday season this December. I look forward to any questions or comments you may have between now and February’s Newsette. Sincerely, Jeanne Jameson President November: The fall always brings interesting changes in Highland Lakes. The fiscal year began on October 1st and the sticker shock of inflation always hits around the middle of the month. We have not escaped the national trend of inflation as we saw recently in our dues, but as the Treasurer’s letter explained, an increase was warranted again this year. The Voting Board worked carefully on this year’s budget, but the bottom line was still affected by escalating costs and increase in dues to accommodate the membership’s share of common expenses. On the upbeat side of the equation, the Voting Board is anticipating an increase in the ability to collect dues from delinquent members in a more timely fashion than in past years, i.e. before the end of the fiscal year, through collection efforts that will benefit all members. The Voting Board also anticipates increased compliance from property owners in registering their tenants with the Club as required under the By-Laws. Since this has been a difficult requirement to enforce in years past, the By-Laws/Rules Committee and the Voting Board will be stepping up efforts to effect penalties for non-compliance in the coming months. Owners can consult the office for details regarding bringing their rental properties into compliance by contacting the staff during regular business hours. During the past month, a meeting took place between the Planning Committee, the Ecology Committee and the Building & Grounds Committee. Marking the first collaborative meeting of its kind in Highland Lakes, the outcome was remarkable. The topic of interest between the three committees was the parking lot at the Clubhouse. There is little if any difference of opinion that something has to be done to this area, so the planning has begun. What lies ahead is a study of the area, a professional design for the work, a financial plan to pay for the reconstruction and obtaining any permits that will be necessary under the Highlands Act. The goal is to minimize runoff into the lake, provide a better parking area and enhance the Clubhouse area. I will keep you advised of the progress as it happens. One of the ideas proposed by the Planning Committee during this meeting was other upgrades to the Clubhouse area. None of these ideas were fully developed, but were discussed as possibilities for future consideration by Building and Grounds and Ecology. Those ideas included creating a walkway from the beach area to the swim lane area and beyond to the park area, converting the maintenance building to a member use building and relocating the maintenance function to an offsite facility. These ideas were presented as wish list items only and not meant to be interpreted as a plan of action. For now, the only focus from this Committee coalition is on enhancing the parking lot at the Clubhouse. The Goodwill Fund has become an extremely important vehicle to helping members who have suffered catastrophic events recover while maintaining their member-in-good standing status with the Club. One of the problems that the Goodwill Fund has encountered is a significant lack of sustainable funding for this venture. Since the inception of this program, the Club has relied on (non deductible) donations from members and from limited-resource fundraising efforts. Everyone involved has nothing less than my utmost respect for their efforts in keeping the program going; however, in order to continue this worthwhile program we need some serious fundraising now. I offer this challenge to all of our committees and Club sponsored activities: Host one activity that will raise funds to supplement the Goodwill Fund. The proceeds of that one event should be earmarked for the Goodwill Fund. Only one per year is requested and no amount will be refused. It is staggering to acknowledge how many people in our small community suffer such personal tragedies and to help out just once is a good deed on our part. This year marked the 10th anniversary of the Lakeside Café at the Clubhouse. I mention this for several reasons. The first is obvious, my husband Mike has been involved with the committee since we first discussed it on a grassy knoll at a local open mic with Don and Sue Ross way back when. The second is that so many artists, from Highland Lakes and elsewhere, have crossed our doorways in the last ten years and enthralled our audiences that it’s deserving of the accolades. It should be noted that the small committee has produced this venue every month regardless of weather, adversity, scheduling difficulties, shortage of help and electricity (only once, but it was memorable). Thank you to their efforts. The future of Highland Lakes rests in the Voting Board’s hands but it also rests in the member’s hands. Your comments and suggestions are always welcome. Please feel free to contact your Trustee or me with any comments and/or suggestions. Sincerely, Jeanne Jameson President October: I would like to begin by thanking our recently retired President, Steve Hastie for 30 years of work as a Voting Board member, a volunteer, a dedicated person and a good friend. It has been a long haul for Steve and he deserves the rest he has earned, but if I know Steve, he will not stay too far in retirement for long. I am quite sure I’ll be bending his ear before too long seeking advice and guidance. From everyone on the Voting Board and Staff, thank you kindly, Mr. Hastie. It is my pleasure to welcome two new Voting Board members to the party, Sue Ross representing Section 7 and Ellen Rutkowski representing Section 8. I know you will find the next three years interesting, challenging and often enjoyable, so take a deep breath, roll up your sleeves and get ready to work. The Voting Board will be quite busy this year working on some policies that have been brought over from last year, such as revising the Rules and Regulations and defining a system that will better enable enforcement; increasing the rate of compliance with the By-Laws from owners who rent their property; and working with the Township officials to curb speeding on Breakneck and Canistear Roads. At the Annual Meeting some other concerns were brought up by members and those will also be discussed by the Voting Board this year. I will keep you informed of our progress as we go through the year and, as always, you are welcome to direct your questions to your Trustee or to me for more information or to voice your concerns. We are all listening. I would like to personally extend an invitation to all members to the Candidate’s night HLCC is hosting at the Clubhouse on October 12, 2007. The Club has traditionally opened its doors for public information forums and this has served the Community very well. Highland Lakes residents are among the best informed because of programs such as this. You will find details about the program in another article in this month’s Newsette as well as in several local newspapers. Please join us. Until next time, be well. Jeanne Jameson, President |
