A Board Meeting of the Raritan Yacht Club was called to order at 19:55 on March 14, 2006.

 

1.     Roll Call

 

 

N

D

J

F

M

A

M

J

J

A

S

O

N

Commodore Dave Frizell

n

X

O

X

X

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

VC Vicky Jo Neiner

o

X

X

X

X

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

RC Dennis Meichel

 

X

X

X

O

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

PC William B. Adams

m

X

X

O

X

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Jim Bauer

e

X

X

X

X

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Dennis Driscoll

e

X

X

X

X

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

PC Len Keating

t

O

X

X

X

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Bob Kennedy

i

X

X

O

X

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Ann Myer

n

X

X

X

X

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Skippy Paul

g

X

X

X

X

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Tony O’Reilly

 

X

O

X

X

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Peter Rebovich, Jr.

 

X

X

X

X

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Jerry Solas

 

X

X

X

O

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Dave Steward

 

X

X

X

X

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Roger Young

 

X

X

X

X

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

x = present, o = absent

 

2.     The February meeting minutes were approved.

 

3.     PC Jim Woller presented an historical account of the mooring field.  The area came into official being about fifty years ago with its designation by the US Coast Guard as a special anchorage 45A, according to the Federal Code of Regulations.  This applied to the surface of the water.  The surface of the land underneath the mooring field up to the mean high water line was taken by the State of New Jersey from the King of England in 1776.  Until recently, the State made riparian grants.  This area is further divided by a bulkhead line, which is located where the bulkhead ends, and a pier head line, which is located just beyond the North-South pier.  Thus, the USCG governs the top, including mooring balls, etc., and the State of New Jersey administers the bottom.  In 1993, the State decided to collect rents for the mooring field.  It does so through the Bureau of Tide Lands, which issues a license to put moorings on the bottom.  The NJ Department of Environmental Protection is also involved.  It requires a mooring field management plan and issues a waterfront development permit.

 

        In 1978, the law changed placing an effective limit on the number of moorings in the field.  RYC was allowed 221 moorings, and Barry Rosengarten was allowed 10 moorings.  Barry “gave” RYC his rights to 10 moorings, which brought the total number of RYC moorings to its current 231, the total amount in the field.

 

        According to the NJDEP, the owner of the upland generally has the first rights to that portion of the mooring field in front of the uplands.  As the City of Perth Amboy and RYC are the current owners of the upland, RYC will have to address any issues of the mooring field with the City.  The mooring field area is divided into zones 3P, 4C, 1PC, and 2C.  Zone 3P, a public area, lies west of the cable lines that cross the Raritan River and has no moorings.  The zone originally had 21 moorings, but they were moved into zone 4C.  Transients are allowed to anchor in zone 3P.  Zone 4C is the area occupied by RYC moorings, and it runs to about 100’ south of Gordon St.  Zone 1PC runs from there to Market St.  Zone 1PC may have up to 10 moorings, administered by the City.  RYC agreed to service these moorings as part of the mooring field management plan filed with the NJDEP.  Zone 2C is located inside the pier head line, and consists of granted lands and non-granted lands.  The granted lands is the area on which RYC has frontage and the City has a granted tract.  A license (Bureau of Tide Lands) is not required for granted lands, but a waterfront development permit (NJDEP) is.  RYC has several moorings in zone 2C.

 

        RYC decided it needs another 15 moorings.  These could come from the 10 at the north end (zone 1PC), the rights to which RYC had given to the City, plus another 5 in the granted lands area (zone 2C).  RYC is currently in discussions with the City concerning the 10 moorings.  As part of the agreement of understanding, the right to these moorings was given to the City on a temporary basis.  The City is actually using only 6 moorings.

 

        Dave added that RYC is looking into expanding the mooring field.  Len Keating initiated discussions with the City for 30 moorings, but Fleet Captain, Howard Paul, found sufficient depth for only 15 boats.  The City currently has 6 customers on moorings in front of the Armory, and RYC agreed to transport these customers to the City marina (Len noted that last year none of these customers requested RYC service).  According to RYC’s insurance agent, this is generally not an insured activity, and it is no longer insurable.  The City has been informed about this.  For the long term, Dave suggested that RYC should not be in this launch service business for non-members.

 

        Going forward, permits will be needed for the 15 new moorings.  It would be ideal if RYC could get the 10 moorings back from the City, but something will have to be done about the 6 customers of the City.  Servicing guests of RYC is an insured activity because it is considered a normal activity of a yacht club.  The City is looking into insurance issues.  By the next Board meeting, the position of the City should be known.

 

4.     Bob Morrison was absent, so his plan for the Grill room and Bar was not presented.

 

5.     Tom Higgins presented the Financial Report for the two months ended February 28, 2006, but computer problems prevented a complete statement.  Excess revenues over expenses YTD were $48,055.  For insurance reasons, the money that is currently in a single bank account will be spread between five accounts in five banks.  It was noted that every time there was an assessment, the initiation fee was raised.  Dave will take this up with the Finance Committee.

 

6.     Dave Frizell presented the Rear Commodore’s Report, in Dennis Meichel’s absence.

 

a.     The launch schedule was presented.

b.     A suggestion to winterize the plumbing in the yard heads was rejected.

 

7.     Vicky Jo Neiner presented the Vice Commodore’s Report.

 

a.     The new launch will be christened on Opening Day.

b.     Courses on the new boating regulations will be announced in TellTales.

c.     Two or three estimates for the house roof were received.  Flashing is needed for the skylights.  The roof itself should be good for another 5 years.

d.     Construction will begin on the cabinetry for the Ships Store, and work will begin on refreshing the entryway.

e.     The St. Patrick’s Day party will be held Saturday.  Rose Smith is being honored.  She was name Irish Person of the Year by the town of Woodbridge.

 

8.     Old Business.

 

a.     Jerry Solas has settled upon a computer program.

b.     The Board agreed that the current format for the RYC booklet should be continued.

c.     The Sailing Advisory Committee is working on a set of rules for RYC owned boats and is expected to finish by April.

d.     A personnel policy for the Club will be presented at the April meeting.

 

9.     New Business.

 

        a.     RYC should have an operations manual.  Dave will ask committee heads and other appropriate people for a page on what and when for their areas.  The manual will become a work in progress over 3-4 years.

 

10.   Committee Reports.

 

a.     Roger discussed items for TellTales.

b.     The Cruisers will have an event on Sunday, March 26th, in which the Port Captain will make a presentation and Tony O’Reilly will talk about the new requirements for licensing.

        c.     The Racers have an event scheduled for Saturday, March 25th, in which Dave Dellenbach will discuss race tactics.  The event is part of the Mount Gay Seminar Series.

 

11.   The meeting was adjourned at 22:00.

 

Respectfully Submitted,

Fred Hartner

Secretary

 

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