Message from The Vice President July, 2017 Every
year we encounter the question of can we, and should we, do more with
Prices Bend and Valley Grove. In the years that I have been
participating with the POENB some of the proposed ideas that have been
presented included; •building a dock at PB •building a structure at PB that would include a gazebo, rest rooms and storage facilities •extensive landscaping and stone work in hopes of creating a country club atmosphere •build a dog run •re-occurring
organized activities such as; sailing lessons, swim lessons, yoga as
well as some other “camp like” guided activities (including an actual
day camp). Some
of these proposals gained notable support from the community. Others
were fleeting, but all would require the POENB to take a change in
course from the original agreement and commitment that granted ownership
of the properties to the Association. This is something that we are
legally bound not to do. Aside from this commitment, any project or
organized activity ,presents much to consider. Implications that are
often not considered are financial, quality of life, residents rights to
quiet enjoyment, ability to maintain our beaches, and compliance with
local, state, and federal law (TOH, DEC, DOH, NYS etc.). One of the
most important responsibilities we have is to comply with insurance
requirements and shelter our properties from exposure to liability. In
today’s litigious climate this is no small task. We are currently
settling a lawsuit that involved a swim platform that the community
voted for. The initial idea was not much different than those that are
being brought forward right now. On the front end they seem wonderful,
but down the road they take a turn. That settlement has an impact to
our ability to insure our properties, either through higher premiums, or
getting dropped and having to find new coverage. We are still unsure
of how this will impact our insurance going forward. This suit was a
turning point for the POENB as the concerns about exposure to liability
are no longer speculative but are now actual. As a board member, one of
the most common responses I receive while explaining to our membership
that we must take a conservative stance when deciding on permissible
uses of the Association properties is “What is the big deal, its just….,
we just want to enjoy the beach and have some fun doing….”. At times
it can be hard to convey a big picture perspective that is fair to all.
Hopefully this message will help bring some clarity. Prices
Bend and Valley Grove are two wonderful, amazing, and sacred places
here in our community. To say we are lucky to have them is an
understatement. There is so much to do and enjoy while keeping to our
core commitments. A day at the beach, a BBQ with friends and neighbors,
a place to sail, kayak, boat, a wonderful playground for our children,
the ability to host parties and gatherings for your families and of
course a few great Association events every year that brings our
community together. Every year the Board works to improve on what we
have and the results are tangible. We work very hard to do this while
keeping to our commitments and making sure the properties are fairly
used and accessible to all of our members. So the question we ask is;
Do we need to do more at the risk of jeopardizing the properties? Do we
allow activities that we know will increase our exposure to liability?
Is it really worth the risk? Imagine
life in our community without Prices Bend and Valley Grove. Imagine
the impact this would have on your quality of life and your property
values. Imagine if those properties reverted back the Town of
Huntington for public access. The Board appreciates ideas and cherishes
volunteers. We feel it is very important for the community to
understand the reason behind our conservative stances. Prices Bend and
Valley Grove are generational gifts. Our decisions, as a Board, seek to
be fair and balanced, but the goal is to always consider the impacts to
the beaches, liabilities, and keeping them in wonderful shape for all
members to enjoy. Please feel free to email the board with any questions. Respectfully, Ken Nye Vice President POENB |