LAKE GASTON ASSOCIATION
Minutes of the Annual Meeting - June
14, 2008
Lake Gaston Baptist Church
Littleton, North Carolina
Mission: To identify lake issues
affecting our members and pursue resolution with the responsible
organizations.
Welcome
President John Cataldo
Pledge of Allegiance
Led by the President
Inspirational Message
Secretary, Joee Hoxter offered thanks for another year and a
moment of silence.
Introduction of Current Directors and
Officers by President John
Cataldo
Present
– John Boyle, Barbara Burgdoerfer, John
Cataldo, Patrick Dempsey, Pete Deschenes, Ralph Domach, David Duxbury,
Joee Hoxter, Doug Hughes, Larry Jolly, Fred Kneisel, Laura Kolb, Bill
Lindenmuth, Jack Saunders, Vernon Wilson and Executive Director, Moira
Underwood.
Absent
- Bill Bryant, Calvin DeShields, Johnna Fross, John Slaton, Lenny
Turner, and Quinton Qualls.
Visitors
– All five of our counties were represented and the visitors signed in
by county. They were welcomed by the County Directors and provided
updated information on Lake Gaston issues. Director David Duxbury
displayed “membership advantages” information. Bruce Johnson displayed
updates on hydrilla knowledge and facts on Lake Gaston. The President
thanked all of our visitors for their interest and attendance at today’s
annual meeting.
Introduction of Guest Speaker’s
Purpose and Topic – Jack
Saunders
Jack indicated the guest speakers this
annual meeting were selected because the LGA’s Planning and Development
Committee is discussing which policies to promote in the neighboring
County governments to ensure that sound land use and development
practices are employed. This would assist in guiding future development
in a manner which is protective of Lake Gaston’s predominantly rural and
ecologically sensitive character. As part of this we have identified an
Influence Zone around the lake and are interested in all potential
methods for gaining greater local voice over Planning and Development
around the Lake including investigations into the pros and cons of
incorporation for Lake Gaston.
Guest Speaker
– Susan B. Williams
Vice President Doug Hughes introduced
our guest speaker. Ms. Susan Williams currently serves as the local
government policy manager at the Virginia Department of Housing and
Community Development (DHCD). In this position, she performs the duties
of executive director to the Commission on Local Government as well as
duties relating to the oversight of planning district commissions.
Susan received her B.S. in Justice and
Risk Administration from Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU) in 1989
her J.D. from the College of William and Mary School of Law in 1997.
Before attending law school, she was a part-time student in VCU’s Master
of Public Administration program. Susan was admitted to the Virginia
State Bar in 1997 and to the Mississippi Bar in 2003.
Some of Susan’s comments are as follows:
- Cities
and towns are not the same and the qualifications to become
incorporated differ.
-
Cities are not part of the county, towns are.
-
Cities have more power than towns.
-
Reston, VA examined the
possibility of becoming a town and they did not qualify.
-
There is no process for incorporating across the state line. It
has never been done.
-
A law in VA was enacted in 1964 and made the creation of a new
town difficult to incorporate. No new towns were formed until 1990.
Thereafter only two new towns were formed and one later reverted back to
its original format.
-
There are currently 190 incorporated towns in VA.
-
The process to become a town requires: a) 100 signatures on a
petition, b) the involved area must have a minimum of 1000 persons, c)
the must be a plat showing the requested boundaries, d) there must be
advertisement to the total community before presenting an application to
the State and e) needs to be approved by the General Assembly.
-
Advantages:
a) provides community identity, b) can go directly to the State for a
charter which can be amended, c) quicker response from law enforcement,
d) eligible for funds from the State, e) legally organized body which
acts for the benefits of the residents, f) better planning and control
of the local area, g) supersedes VA laws, h) can provide urban
services, i) residents may have improved services, j) community may
obtain grants and k) town residents may remain a part of the county with
the county providing specific services.
-
Disadvantages:
a) need to show neglect by the county, b) operation by local government
can be expensive due to many uncertainties, c) need a sufficient tax
base to pay for services, d) town must also purchase liability
insurance, e) any service governed by the State is governed by extensive
mandates, f) town not eligible for collecting a portion of the county
revenues except under strict rules, g) revenue sources may become
unavailable, h) a new town may not get option sales tax until four years
after incorporation, i) new towns may cause a revenue loss to the
county, j) issue of double taxation, k) may cause friction among
neighbors, l) discussions on the role of the police force, m) who will
represent town to county officials, n) conflicts may arise between town
and county officials re: different philosophies on priorities on
spending tax dollars and o) utility lines – who is responsible and where
do the lines begin and end for town or county.
-
General Observations:
a) need Planning Commission, Water Department, Zoning Board, Police
Department , Waste Collection, b) if over 3500 persons in the town –
the town is expected to maintain the roads, c) county may continue to
provide the schools and d) towns may not provide social services.
-
Suggestions:
a) need a general consensus on whether or not you want a town, b) have a
good estimate on the population affected for a tax base, c) contact
other towns for a sample budget, d) contact Smith Mountain Lake – they
have looked into this possibility and e) discuss the possible
incorporation issue with county officials to determine the level of
support or non support.
Susan Williams responded to many
questions and comments from the audience. Our President thanked her for
the information provided to the LGA members.
The President, John Cataldo, introduced
Roland Beauchaine who summarized a previous presentation to
the LGA by David Lawrence. Mr. Lawrence was a guest speaker for the
LGA during our April 2008 meeting. Our Directors and members may
refer to the April minutes for a complete report on his
comments. Roland Beauchaine mentioned that Mr. Lawrence is a Professor
of Public Law and Government at University of North Carolina in Chapel
Hill, NC teaching in the School of Government. There is a booklet
available on Incorporation that may be downloaded for free or purchased
for $ 28.00.
Mr. Beauchaine reviewed the reasons why
citizens want to incorporate. The reasons are the following:
a) want and/or need improved services,
b) want to control zoning issues, c) want increased recreational
facilities, d) towns receive funds from the State, e) legislature
creates towns/cities - counties do not have a vote on the issue, f)
citizens must continue to pay county taxes, g) towns stay part of the
county and are subject to county taxes and receive the county services,
h) in order to incorporate, you will need 15% of the population to sign
a petition with a complete description of the area in question, i) after
incorporation – services will be provided within 3 years, j) must levy
tax a minimum of .05 cents per hundred property tax, k) only the
legislature may pass a bill to create a town, l) it is possible to
create a town with little or no cost to the people and m) towns may not
cross state lines. Mr. Beauchaine answered a few questions and was
thanked by our President for his presentation.
Secretary’s Report
– Joee Hoxter
The Annual Report for June 9, 2007 was
properly approved and is on file on the web page.
Treasurer’s Report
– Bill Lindenmuth
The Treasurer reported a balance of $
44,600, our income is $ 34,000 and our expenses were $ 14,000 (well
below budget). We are filing Form 990 with the IRS which will be done
by B & B Accounting Firm. William Weaver will review the books for
2007. The complete report is on file.
Committee Annual Reports
- John Cataldo
The Committee Annual Reports are
available on the table near the entrance. Each Chairman of the
committees was introduced to the visitors. An invitation was extended
to the members to feel free to join any committee in which they have an
interest. You do not have to be a Director to join in the activity of
our committees. Our current committees meeting times are Planning and
Development 3rd Fri at 8:30 AM, Nominating (as needed), Lake
Environment/Aquatic Weed 3rd Wed at 8:30 AM, Safety 2nd
Fri at 8:30 AM, Membership Development 2nd Fri at 10:00 AM
and Government Relations 3rd Mon at 9:00 AM. All meetings
are held at the Eaton Ferry Grocery and Grill on 903 in Littleton, NC.
The Executive Director also has an annual report for our members. Our
Executive Director, Moira Underwood extended an invitation to visit the
LGA office in Littleton or contact us by email at
Info@LakeGastonAssoc.com.
Nomination and Election of Directors
- Laura Kolb
First term:
Patrick Dempsey, Vernon Wilson, Bill LaMonte All were approved.
Second term:
David Duxbury, Jack Saunders, Doug Hughes, John Cataldo All were
approved.
All Directors recited the Lake Gaston
Association Pledge to renew their commitment to the property owners on
Lake Gaston.
The President’s Report was
briefly reviewed by the President, John Cataldo. He thanked the
Directors and Committees for all of their hard work during this past
year.
The President has special mention and
recognition for outstanding work provided to the LGA by a few
exceptional members.
a) Pete Deschenes served 2 years
to fill another’s term and 6 years of his term. Excellent service.
b) Bill Lindenmuth served as Treasurer
one year to fill another’s term and 2 years of his own. Excellent
service.
c) We all thank Judy and Pete Peters
for their hospitality again this year by providing the beverages and
rolls this morning.
Jack Saunders reminded everyone the
Safety Committee’s 911 emergency information cards are available to
the membership and the general public. They have been well received by
the lake community. Also, the Lake Gaston Water Safety Council trailer
is available on the parking lot for all to visit. It has excellent
water safety information for the lake community.
The meeting was properly adjourned at
11:20 AM.
Respectfully submitted,
Joee Hoxter
Secretary
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