For Householders, Blainroe Estate                               

From Terry Neill, chair – Blainroe Estate Management Company board

March 8^th                                                                                       

BEMC status update

This is a status report following the March 1^st meeting of the board of BEMC.

February meeting of the 2022 BEMC board

The meeting, via Zoom, took place on Tuesday March 1^st at 19:00.

Amanda Collins, Pat Hinkson, Philip McEnroe, Katie Mooney, Gordon Murray, Terry Neill, Robert Patton and Craig Whelan attended. They were joined by Marie Byrne, Bernie Nelson, Billy Nelson and Anne Nugent

Main agenda items were

1. Minutes & correspondence
2. Finance
3. Water & Lighting Infrastructure
4. Sub committee updates
5. Plans for a special board “Future of Blainroe” session on March 18
6. Blainroe Trees – Arborist Associates presentation

1. Minutes & correspondence

The minutes of the January board meeting were approved. Items of correspondence were shared and dealt with. Actions agreed at February board were reviewed and confirmed as complete

2. Finance

Robert Patton provided a brief update and confirmed there were no issues of concern. Robert introduced a new reporting template which has the objective of providing a summary insight into the key elements of Blainroe’s finances.

3. Water & Lighting Infrastructure

Billy Nelson confirmed that wells upgrading – as discussed in February – will proceed. The approach has the support of Schnittger Bourne.

Billy reported that Blainroe water was recently tested (a biannial check) by Tellabs and passed fully.

TN comment. Our water supply is one of several aspects of Blainroe that is easy to take for granted. Blainroe’s water supply and quality is entirely the responsibility of Blainroe in general, and Billy Nelson in particular. It is complex and needs constant attention. We would take it for granted at our peril.

Billy reported that he has built a stock of light bulbs for the estate’s system. The board also agreed to add additional lighting in the tennis court area to improve safety and security.

4. Sub committee updates

The board heard substantive updates – all good work in progress –  from sub committee leads :

• Philip McEnroe (Operations)
• Pat Hinkson (IT/website/Facebook)
• Katie Mooney (Governance)
• Amanda Collins (Social)
• Board and subgroup nominations and recruiting (Philip McEnroe, Katie Mooney, Terry Neill)

5. “Future of Blainroe” meeting on March 18

Robert Patton outlined plans for a special, additional meeting of board and team members on March 18^th. The idea is to begin a process for considering the future of Blainroe. It would build on the strengths that we have today, and earlier planning initiatives. It will allow us to begin to think about potential areas of maintenance and development, and their possible financial implications

6. Blainroe trees

The board was joined by Felim Sheridan of Arborist Associates. With Bernie Nelson, they have done extensive analysis of Blainroe’s trees. Householders will have seen some outcomes as dangerous trees have already been culled. Unless there is an emergency, all tree culling now ceases – as required by law – for the nesting season.

Felim and his colleagues had prepared an extensive and detailed report. A summary was presented to the board.

Felim’s general view was that Blainroe has “a good mix of trees with some nice specimens”. He will continue to work with Bernie to develop a spreadsheet of suitable varieties and suitable locations.

The board suggested a ‘Trees event’ for all householders sometime in the summer, when Felim would lead a walk around Blainroe and its trees … as an education session. Idea agreed.

The meeting adjourned at 8:40pm