Truesdale Lake  

South Salem, New York

Spring 2024 TEA Membership Meeting: Mon, April 15

March 18, 2024 by rob

SPRING 2024 Membership Meeting April 15th @ Horse & Hound

The TEA Annual Spring Membership Meeting is planned for Monday, April 15, 2024 at the Horse & Hound at 94 Spring Street. We also plan to have a laptop/camera at the meeting broadcasting over Zoom for TEA members interested in watching remotely.

Meeting will begin at 7:00 p.m.

Note: This meeting is for TEA Members only.

Email tea@truesdalelake.com to RSVP for in-person. If you want the Zoom Link please ask for it when you RSVP.

If you are new to the TEA or you want to update us on your information, please fill out the TEA Resident Questionnaire. Thanks!

Agenda
➡ President and other Officer reports
➡ Treasurer:

  • YTD FY2023-2024 Budget vs. Actual review
  • Proposed FY2024-2025 review and vote

➡ Beach Report / Lake Committee update

➡ Projects Update: Drawdown / Septics / Sewer
➡ Upcoming meeting schedule for coming year.

New Boat Rack for TEA Beach – for kayaks and SUPs?

  • -need volunteers from membership and families who want them
  • -ihooks and fastening points

Beach cleanup weekend – Saturday May 18th – weekend before Memorial Day.

  • Portopotties delivered before cleanup ()
  • Sand delivery before beach cleanup (Lawton Adams)

Moonlight Regatta – Full Moon Friday June 21 9:15pm 

  • Other full moons:
  • Sunday July 21 (Regatta Saturday Night July 20th)
  • Monday Aug 19 (Regatta Saturday Night Aug 17th) 

Kickoff Party – Second or third Saturday 6/8 Or 6/15? Kate and Sarah decide

Zelle – members payment – NEW direct electronic payment – live testing in 2024! 

Notes for TEA Board / Officer Membership

The TEA Officer roles are two year terms. At the end of 2024 the terms will end and we need to get ideas on who wants to fill the roles for the next 2 year (2025-2026) term.

Board members cannot be in the same role for two consecutive terms.

WE NEED SOME NEW BOARD MEMBERS! a lot of the same people are taking on the board and officer roles, some for many years. Fresh eyes and fresh energy is needed and valued. If you are new to the community and want to help, there are lots of ways to pitch in.

Current TEA Officers for 2023-24 (through end of 2024):

President (Jo Ann and George Ferrigno, co-presidents) – organizes & runs meetings, in charge of recruiting next president and officers. Can sign checks.

Vice President (Debbie Fink) – runs meetings when President can’t attend. Fills in other roles as needed. Can sign checks.

Treasurer (Ruth Vellensky) – deposits checks, writes checks, tracks and reports on income/expense and bank balances. Tax filing 990.

Recording Secretary (Howard Citron) – Takes meeting minutes, sends drafts to board and membership attendees post-meeting.

Corresponding Secretary (Rob Cummings) – Receives and replies to association correspondence.

Sergeant-at-Arms (Kate Grieve) – guards the door (or virtual door).

Formal roles for Officers are in the TEA Bylaws here:

http://truesdalelake.com/associations/tea/tea-bylaws/

At-large Board members (7-10 members needed) attend 4 standing meetings per year. Current board members are: Mike Vellensky, Lisa Capobianco, Glenn Capobianco, Harron Appleman, Melissa Scarlatto, Tom Houlihan, Ira Sanchick, Kathleen Ward Gallagher, Carol Gamez, and Wendy Daniels.

Sarah Polizzotto also on the board and took over as beach co-chairperson with Kate Grieve. Thank you Kate and Sarah!

Standing Association Meetings are on the following UPDATED schedule:
-TEA Membership Meetings (entire membership invited 2x/year):
—SECOND Monday of April (April 14, 2025, Spring Membership Meeting)
—SECOND Monday of November (Nov 11, 2024, Fall Membership Meeting, the one coming up)
-TEA Board Meetings (board members only):
—SECOND Monday of March (March 10, 2025)
—SECOND Monday of October (Oct 14, 2024)
Special Meetings can be called for association business.

Critical positions that don’t have to be board members:

Beach Chairperson – Hire and train lifeguards, coordinate beach clean-up, monitor beach conditions, keep an eye on beach things like electricity and trash service. Lots more! A lot of overlap with the Social Chairperson.

Social Chairperson – Plan and get volunteers for any social events – primarily the Summer Kickoff BBQ the second weekend in June. Some events can be at our beach while others we can coordinate with TLPOA. This position is all about fun!

Volunteer Opportunities & Committees:

Beach Clean-up Day – the Saturday before Memorial Day Weekend (May) each year. Lots of sand spreading, weed cleanup, general maintenance, and straightening up the beach getting ready for the first official weekend of summer on Memorial Day Weekend.

Floats and Dock installation, management, and winterizing – 2-3 people needed – at the beginning of the season, usually on Beach Clean-up Day, volunteers put out the floats and swim dock. 2-3 people. At the end of the season, this group pulls in the floats and winterizes & secures the swim dock

Lake Management Committee Member – be the TEA liaison to TLPOA Lake Manager John Gusmano and Pond & Lake Connection (James Gorman, main contact). Participate in email communications and bring any concerns to the TEA & TEA Board. More info: http://truesdalelake.com/lake-management/

CSLAP Testing Member (1 person needed) – We are looking to rejoin the New York State Federation of Lake Associations “Citizens Statewide Lake Assessment Program” which uses trained volunteers to sample the water conditions of Truesdale Lake and hundreds of other NY State Lakes. More info is at: https://www.dec.ny.gov/chemical/81576.html

Resident Canada Geese Registration and Egg Control program volunteers (2-3 people needed to go out to the islands in March and April) – Each year we get permits from the United States Fish & Wildlife Service (FWS) to oil and addle eggs in the nests of Resident Canada geese. 20+ years ago there were hundreds of Canada geese that would take up permanent residence on Truesdale Lake for the summer. This causes unhealthy conditions in the lake and on lawns. More information at truesdalelake.com/goose

Truesdale Lake Dock Committee (TLDC) – We have a joint TEA/TLPOA/Vreeland/Lake Shore Drive committee that accepts applications for new and renovated docks. The TLDC process is designed to help the homeowner comply with our requirements and the Town of Lewisboro’s regulations..

Truesdale Fishing Committee – fishing guidelines and signage around Truesdale Lake. Fishing information here: http://truesdalelake.com/lake-management/fishing/

Ad-hoc Building Committee – We built two boat racks at the TEA beach. These racks have 2 spots available for TEA members. If you are interested in a spot on the rack, the season rental is $100. If you are interested in helping build an additional boat rack at our TEA Gilbert/Lake Shore boat launch property let us know. Other projects of the Building Committee in 2022 will include the new shed installation including a proposed tiki bar.

Landscaping committee – anyone with ideas to beautify our already lovely beach let us know. We have ornamental grasses along the boat launch fence side. Always looking for additional ideas to make it look good.

In 2024 we are looking to replace or repair the following items at the beach:

  • Boat Launch Dock, bridge, and path
  • Storage Shed / electric

Anything else you can think of? Let us know…

Some helpful links for lake residents new and old:

TEA Map and Other TEA Resources Online
Map available at the website here: http://www.truesdalelake.com/tea

For residents new to the lake, download the TEA Welcome and Information Packet from this link above as well.

*If you are interested in volunteering for the TEA board or a specific activity, please email tea@truesdalelake.com or fill out this questionnaire.


Contact Information

Truesdale Estates Association
PO Box 363
South Salem, NY 10590
tea@truesdalelake.com

*if you are not current with your TEA dues, you cannot vote until your dues are brought current.

TEA Board Meeting – Notes Spring 2024 – SUMMARY OF ITEMS OF INTEREST

Drawdown 2023-24

Phragmites Treatment Fall 2023

  • -First time targeting these invasive
  • -Sprayed directly on Oct 4, 2023
  • -Individual homeowners should cut down stalks and remove seeds (burn if possible, but definitely bag and remove-don’t compost!) and add vinegar or topical herbicide to kill the roots of the phragmites.
  • -This is a multi-year program. One treatment will not eliminate these extremely hardy plants.
  • –https://truesdalelake.com/2023/09/restoring-balance-the-imperative-to-remove-phragmites-from-freshwater-lake-shorelines/
  • UPDATE: will consult P&LC (lake managers) to see what they thought about the application and next steps.
  • Lack of ice and failed drawdown over winter limited easy access to phragmites for cutting back.

Septic/Sewer Plan – Engineering studies (FUTURE)

  • -County/State/NYC initiative / funding
  • –https://truesdalelake.com/2023/07/cleaning-up-our-lakes-septics-sewers/
  • -3 lakes plus Truesdale involved
  • -Rippowam, Oscaleta, Waccabuc, Truesdale
  • -Treatment facility at recycling center
  • -Fully treated outflow into stream that becomes the waccabuc river
  • -See map in linked story for covered locations.
  • -estimated $40 million cost paid by NY state and NYC EOH grants
  • -VERY early stages of plan
  • UPDATE: Plan has been submitted – it is one of many grant proposals under consideration by NYC DEP. (Update from County) 

Septic Tank Cleaning Program (PRESENT DAY)

  • -Westchester County requires pumping every 5 years (?)
  • -Lake areas recommended every 2-3 years
  • -County has database of clean outs and maintenance – septic providers are required to report these to county when a cleaning or maintenance is done.
  • -Can see who is either not reporting their clean outs or who is not doing clean outs
  • -Publicity signs and mailing for lake area
  • -Special attention to those homeowners without a pump out on record for more than 5 years.
  • -Info to be posted to truesdalelake.com site soon.
  • -UPDATE: Info to be posted to truesdalelake.com site when we get it

Beach improvements

  • -Step repair – Thanks Mike!!
  • -Dock rebuilding – Corey (who did the step repair) will get us price. (UPDATE: Not received yet)
  • –Phragmites cut down. TEA landscaper did the south side of beach 4-5 years ago. Need to do for next to plunge pond/Boat Launch area.
  • –Shed replacement
  • -Electric meter move (since electric meter is on shed)
  • UPDATE: Who is spearheading this in TEA? 
    • Howard – assistant contractor & Ruth – general contractor

Dam Study – TLPOA

  • -Cost $11,175
  • -TLPOA is asking us to pay our “regular” share of it (34%) by household count
  • -$3,799.50 our share if we vote to contribute (recommend – present to membership Fall)
  • UPDATE: TEA did not vote to approve this expense at our FALL 2023 Membership Meeting. TLPOA went ahead with study. Result TBD 

Helps with eligibility for large construction grants (state, federal, etc.)

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