Annual Meeting Minutes 2026 – unapproved

Pine Orchard Association
Annual Meeting Minutes 2026
6 July 2026

Board Attendance
Present: Matt Barez, Thomas Roche, Andrew Ruff, David Scheer, George O-Dowd, Vincent Giordano, Karen Jubanyik, David Silverstone, Richard Greenalch, jr., Kerri Beckert Absent: Niall Ferguson

Meeting Called to Order by President Matt Barez at 7:04 PM
– Approval of the 2025 Annual Meeting Minutes
– A motion to approve the previous annual meeting minutes was made by Sue Barez and seconded by Barbara Colley.
– Vote: Unanimous approval. Motion carried.

Treasurer’s Report- George O-Dowd
The Treasurer reported the following:
– The Association is approximately $10,000 under budget.
– Property tax bills for 2025 have been 100% collected.
– 2026 tax bills were mailed on June 30, with the mill rate remaining unchanged.
– Projected revenue is approximately $114,000, consistent with last year’s spending.
– The Beautification budget was increased by $10,000.

Bylaws Committee- David Scheer
Matt Barez stated that no changes to the Association bylaws were proposed or made; a full review was completed in the last 5 years.

Zoning Committee -Tom Roche
– 19 permits were issued, generating $5,225 in permit fees.
– The committee is seeking three additional volunteers to serve on the Zoning Committee.

Shoreline Maintenance Report -David Silverstone
David referred members to the President’s letter which was sent out electronically for additional details and provided the following updates:
– Stairs on Selden Ave have been repaired with the help of the Canavan family.
– Repairs and upgrades to the wall at the end of Island View Avenue were completed before the recent storm.
– Additional Waterside Drive work remains and is scheduled for the fall.
– The damaged steps at the Chapel Street shoreline access have been replaced.

Beautification Committee Report -David Scheer
David reported:
– Progress at the Spring Rock Road shoreline access has been challenging.
– The committee has worked with the Town regarding irrigation and erosion control.
– A proposal has been submitted to Branford First Selectman Josh Brooks requesting installation of irrigation.
– The POA believes the Regional Water Authority owns the water service and hopes the Town will cover the cost of the water and meter.
– A private contractor has been hired to mow the Spring Rock Road access every other month, while the town of Branford does it in the alternating weeks.
– Replacement benches for Triangle Park have been purchased and placed thanks to the work of Tom Roche.

Building Committee Report- Andrew Ruff

– The Association is renting basement space in the POA building.
– Discussions are underway regarding long-term capital investments in the POA building.

Legal Report
Matt referred members to the President’s report for legal updates.

President’s Report- Matt Barez
Matt read his President’s letter and:
– Expressed appreciation to the Board and the community for their continued support.
-Thanked Vin, Andrew, and Tom for their service to the Board.
– Reaffirmed the Association’s mission under the charter, emphasizing infrastructure maintenance and neighborhood stewardship.
– Highlighted neighborhood safety and speeding as ongoing concerns and encouraged residents to obey posted speed limits.
-Thanked Susan Dahill for her efforts on behalf of the residents of Pine Orchard as a member of the community and the elected RTM official.
– Reported attending Town meetings regarding noise from leaf blowers.
– Provided an update on the Whibey legal case:
o Mediation occurred in October 2025, resulting in an agreement.
o The agreement was appealed by Whibey.
o In April 2026, the court upheld the agreement but remains unsigned by Whibey.
o The property will be permitted five rentals per year through 2030.
– Confirmed that the Association’s tax rate remains unchanged.
– Thanked the Scheer family for their work at Triangle Park.
– Reported that the Association spent approximately $20,000 more than it received in revenue during the past year.
– Discussed the POA building at 180 Pine Orchard Rd, which costs approximately $12,000 annually to maintain for five meetings per year and office use. Significant future expenses are anticipated, including the roof, boiler, and water heater. The Board has begun exploring options under the 1974 agreement with the Town. No decisions have been made.
– Announced his eagerness to serve another term as President.

Nominating Committee – Kerri Beckert
The Nominating Committee presented the slate of candidates and reported on the activities of the committee to encourage participation throughout the borough. Biographies of candidates were published and distributed before the meeting.
Matt Barez stepped in and invited each candidate to speak extemporaneously.
Candidates included: