Farmington Fish and Game Club
Member Meeting
Minutes
August 9th, 2017
The meeting was called to order by President Bob Chase
The Pledge of Allegiance was recited by those present
Roll Call for Executive Office and Directors was called
President Bob Chase
Vice President Mark Fuller
Treasurer Ernie Frongillo
Membership Rose Ham
Secretary Leann Fuller
Chris Dupont
Brian Fuller
Rob Joy NP
Bill Kaspriski
Tom Kovalik NP
Garrick Locke NP
Lou Matia
Tom Mynczywor
Ed Robinson
Dave Smith
Clarence Wyatt
Secretary’s report was read and accepted.
Treasurer’s report was read and accepted.
Chris Dupont raised a question regarding the cost of the website and it was stated that this was not a monthly fee.
Old Business: Rose brought up that at the director’s meeting in August it was discussed that only officers, directors will have the code for free guest passes and any R/O’s that would like one must go through a Range Officer that is on the Board. (REVISED FROM JULY MINUTES)
Memberships: 1009, 12 new, 1021 total.
Bob made a motion to accept new members as read, seconded by Lou. Motioned carries.
There will be a cap for new member orientation, only 35 per class, if there are 3 instructors. The email that gets sent out will mention to dress appropriately as they will visit shooting ranges. Guns are not required. Ed is no longer doing orientation, a third range officer will be found to fill that position.
Range Report:
RIFLE RANGE
Issues reported:
*5.56 cal. empties halfway to the 50 yd targets
* SHOOT FROM STATIONS ONLY
*12 gauge shot shell box #4 and box 7 ½ empties in waste barrel, wads on 50 yard range.
*USE SHOTGUN PELLET SHOT ONLY AT PATTERN RANGE AND SUPERVISED SKEET RANGE. USE SLUGS ON RIFLE RANGE.
RO TAKE NAMES & NUMBERS
Range useage:
Members – 149
Guests – 12
Pattern – 2
RO Visits – 20
Targets:
*No need to change targets, still in acceptable condition
PISTOL RANGE
Issues reported:
*.410 double 00 – home defense empties in trash
* WILL DISCUSS .410 JUDGE & GOVERNOR PISTOL USE WITH OFFICER/DIRECTORS
*Repair of sunlight shield holding up
Range usage:
Members – 252
Guest – 17
RO Visits – 31
Targets:
* Changed # 7, 8 – 7yd targets – These two get the most use.
SKEET RANGE
Shooters – 116
Rounds – 295
Clays – 7375
Mark asked if we thought we should move another target forward or if the two will do. Chris believes they are good where they are at. (Pistol Range)
Looking for volunteers for range officers and orientation instructors. Thank you to all R/O’s. Ed has done a great job, hopefully he will come back someday.
Bob asked how many range officers we have. We have about 13 Range Officers. 6 that are active. That will have to be addressed.
The shooting range are not to be used as a tactical range.
Archery: Barry changed out the foam on the 3 practice targets and doubled them up. There was someone shooting with a compound bow and it didn’t go through. That is a good note. Could use two more replacement targets. After this year, 1 a year to replenish. 35 targets now to utilize. Out of that, 7 are at the end of their useful life. 1 a year will last. The next shoot will be September 2018. Barry will be reaching out to vendors within three states for donations to raffle off. If anyone wants to put on a 3D shoot, Barry will gladly help. It was also mentioned that there are some areas of the road that needs to be cut back as well as some pines needs to come down. He also reached out to Tracing graphics to get some idea for shirts and hats for the archers. Talked to Bill Lionetta via email, sent him a pic of sign and gave him an idea. It will say Club Pond Archers with a guy shooting the bow. He is going to do a draft.
Bob Todd asked if there was a need to hire someone to take those pines down and Barry said there is not and that he can take it down with the help of someone.
Skeet: Trap machine is broken, Dave has not had time to work on it. There is a new wireless control for skeet machines. Wicked awesome. No cost for it as of yet.
Running Deer: Dates are on the calendar.
Facebook/Website: There are a ton of people liking Facebook. Rose spoke about how to access your account on the website for memberships. Obtaining a guest pass on the website is very simple as well.
Bill Kaspriski has how it differentiates from a regular member and a life member? Rose stated that it does show Life Member as an option and there is will be a code available.
NH FISH AND GAME COMMISSION: Barry spoke about the Public boat ramp at Lake Sunapee. Governor Sununu has pulled the Wetlands permit, which killed it. That throws away half a million dollars over a 24 year period to do everything that was needed to do to get this boat ramp. If he will not reinstate the Wetlands permit, then there may be nothing that can be done.
Other Business:
Mark spoke about the fence. Over the last few years we have had a lot of issues throughout the ranges, lots of concerns. Ernie and Mark went out and looked at securing things and improving the facility. There has been a lot of questions and comments that were put in. Some people have requested an electronic gate, for security purposes. They have looked into put a 6’ chain link fence, starting this year, if approved. The chain link fence will start at the end of the field, into woods 100’, come down, proceed along road 500’ then go to electronic gate. For the electronic gate, put in the code, drive through and the gate will close behind. That will record who went in and what time. That information will be held in the club house. Fence will go down to the gate at the skeet range, another gate will be replaced as a manual. Another key pad that will register who went out and time. One gate will be removed, placed over by end of the split rail fence, there will be a lock on it and will be opened when necessary. The only entrance will be through the front of the club house. There will be underground electronics from boxes down by the pistol range, 350’ to controls, 2 electrical and 2 communication underground conduit. Trees are cut out for next year, another 1200 feet. Electrical, excavation, trees, brush, misc, comes to just about $45,000. If we did continuation to finish it off, is another $22,000. There will be new conduit run to the gate. Out of 5 companies that were contacted, Mark and Ernie received 2 bids. There were no regulations in the By Laws stating that 3 bids are required. The bids that were received were from AAA Fence and 125 Fence. There was discussion regarding the electronic gate. Mark mentioned that there is a lot of money in hand labor as well as removing all the chain link fence. Mark will be speaking with the company about taking the old chain link fence down to the metal farm to receive money back for the club. Mark did say that the electronic gate was not broken out in the bid. He can only speculate that it was around $10-12,000. Mark felt that it is an obligation to our neighbors to secure these ranges.
Ernie spoke about being negligent if anything were to happen. Signs are signs, everyone can just walk by them. However, if someone has to climb a fence, that is completely different. We have to make a reasonable effort to secure the Club grounds.
Bob Todd spoke about Skeet and how they have to shoot a modified version of the course in order to shoot with lead. Dave mentioned that they elected to do this so they are not shooting lead into the pond.
Barry stated how this is about mitigating the losses. If you do nothing, the lawsuit will show you have done nothing. We have to take reasonable precautions to prevent something from happening. This accomplishes that. Most suits that are filed are filed with the intent of getting a settlement. The club has about $200,000 in assets. If this club folds, what happens to that money, the vested members get it. We do not create the prices, or electronics. We tried for 5 companies, 2 sent quotes. It is about mitigating your liability.
Ed spoke about the possibility of switching from a code to a card further down the road for the electronic gate. A member spoke about his experience with the gates and feasibility of that happening. He said that it is an easy transition on the gate to do so. The cost is unknown. Ed also brought up a concern regarding the manual gate being used as emergency access and whether it will be plowed out in the winter. General consensus was that it would not be plowed. Mark stated that the keypad system can hold up to 3,000 codes.
Brian mentioned that the most requested thing we have had is an electronic gate.
Clarence spoke about the electronic gate and asked if there will be a manual bypass in case of a power outage. That is a question Mark will make sure to ask the fence company doing the work. It could be a manual bypass or a battery backup or both.
Bob Chase has spoke with Police Chief Shawn Bernier and he agreed that putting up fencing and gates would be a good idea.
Mark stated that there is an 8% contingency figured in for the unknown.
A member who has experience with these electronic gates spoke about the keypads, if they don’t have battery backup, there is a chain at the box to open manually, easy to change from keycode to cards. They are reliable, they do not break often.
Bruce spoke about tabling this until the next meeting and Mark stated that if this goes out another month, that will put us into next year and that is not ok as we have an obligation to do this.
Barry disagrees with tabling this. Mark and Ernie will get the answers prior to the start of the work.
Tom Mynczywor stated that Phase 2 does not have to be a chain link fence. It is not visible so it could be 8 ft or 10 ft tall, with heavy gauge, 10’ pressure treated beams, could even use barbed wire.
Bill Kaspriski stated that he used the pistol range often. The pond is open to anyone. On more than one occasion he has seen little kids with parents fishing, they walk over to use porta pottie and if someone shot a 357 then that kid would be deaf for a week.
Barry made a motion to move the question, seconded by Chris Smith.
Barry made a motion to vote to approve Phase I of the security project, seconded by Chris Smith.
Ronald Thomas made a motion to move the question on the floor, seconded Tony Ford. Majority vote. 4 opposed. Motion carried.
Vote to approve Phase 1 of the security project:
Yay: 22
Nay: 6
Motion carried. Phase 1 approved.
Barry motioned to adjourn at 8:35am, seconded by Clarence. Motion carried.
