- What is Indian Lake comprised of and
what are its main assets?
- Where can I obtain a copy of the Indian Lake
Association Covenants? The Bylaws? The Rules and Regulations?
- What
is the Indian Lake Association Board, what are their
responsibilities, and who may attend their sessions?
- What are the financial
obligations of a lot owner to the Indian Lake Association?
- What
rules, regulations, etc. should a lot owner (or a potential
purchaser of a lot) in Indian Lake be aware of?
- What steps
are required by the Indian Lake Association to build
a house on a lot, or expand an existing house, or construct
an out-building (e.g. garage, shed, etc.)?
- What are the rules and regulations
regarding the rental of a home within Indian Lake?
- Who may
use the lake and pond within the private boundaries of
Indian Lake, and are their any restrictions regarding boating?
- What
are the rules and regulations governing the tennis courts?
- What
services are available to Indian Lake Residents (e.g.
mail, garbage, etc.)?
- What emergency services are available?
- What resources are available to help
me learn about Becket?
- What are the financial obligations
of a lot owner to the Indian Lake Association?
What is Indian Lake comprised of
and what are its main assets?
Indian Lake is a private
community established in 1980, and is comprised of 676 acres.
ILA (Indian Lake Association) is governed by Covenants, Bylaws
and Rules and Regulations. Indian Lake Association is made
up of one hundred and eighty three lots. Houses have been built
on more than half of them. The total acreage includes a sixty-eight
(68) acre lake, a five (5) acre pond, four (4) beaches, five
(5) miles of private roads and two (2) Har-Tru tennis courts.
The roads within the community are private and maintained by
the Indian Lake Association. Annual maintenance requires the
roads to be graded and raked each spring. The resurfacing of all of the roads within Indian Lake using a dense grade product commonly known
as Airport Mix was completed in 2008. Bonny Rigg Hill Road, which borders and also
cuts through Indian Lake, and Algerie Road, which borders Indian
Lake, are asphalt surfaces and are owned and maintained by
the Town of Becket. A map of Indian Lake is available to be
viewed at the Town of Becket Assessor’s office.
Where can I obtain a copy of the
Indian Lake Association Covenants? The Bylaws? The Rules
and Regulations?
A copy of each of the above documents is available
on this web site. Go to the appropriate web page to view or
print. It is strongly suggested all Indian Lake lot owners
review these documents periodically. Potential buyers should
also read and review these documents to ensure this community
is suitable to their requirements.
What is the Indian Lake Association Board, what are their
responsibilities, and who may attend their sessions?
The Indian Lake Association Board consists
of nine members, each of whom is elected for a three year
term (maximum of 2 consecutive terms) in “staggered” elections;
that is, three (3) members are elected at the annual
association meeting held on Memorial Day weekend. Overall,
the boards’ responsibilities
include but are not limited to enforcement of the Covenants,
Bylaws, and Rules of the Community as well as the upkeep, maintenance,
and management of Indian Lake Associations common land, structures,
assets, etc. Fiscally, the board is responsible for creating
a budget to be approved by the Indian Lake lot owners that
establishes the common charges for the year and any capital
assessments. A detailed list of the board’s responsibilities
is found in the “BYLAWS OF
INDIAN LAKE ASSOCIATION: Article VII”.
All interested parties may attend Indian Lake Association
Board meetings. They are generally held once a month at a place
convenient to the board members. The location, date and time
is included in the minutes of the prior meeting. Minutes of
the board meetings are available to Indian Lake Association
Lot owners by contacting the Secretary of the Indian Lake Association.
What are the financial obligations of a lot
owner to the Indian Lake Association?
Every Owner of Record of a lot automatically
is a member of the Indian Lake Association, and as such is
subject to the payment of annual common charges and special
Assessments as levied by the association. These charges and
Fees are determined by the Indian Lake Association Board and
may differ based upon whether or not there is a house on the
lot (Bylaws - Article III, section
2). (Initially the dues
for all lots, whether there was a house on the lot or whether
the lot was vacant were the same. Recently, lots with houses
have been subject to higher common charges). The funds are
used to build, operate and maintain roads, utilities, and recreation
facilities for the benefit of the lot owners and to comply
with state and local governmental requirements, and to pay
taxes, insurance, etc. (Bylaws - Article
IX.).
What rules, regulations, etc. should a lot
owner (or a potential purchaser of a lot) in Indian Lake be
aware of?
A new owner has the responsibility to be familiar
with the following three documents:
• “INDIAN
LAKE ESTATES COVENANTS AND DECLARATIONS”
• “BYLAWS OF INDIAN LAKE ASSOCIATION”
• “INDIAN LAKE ASSOCIATION RULES AND REGULATIONS”
These documents
will provide the potential purchaser or new owner with a
thorough understanding of the do's and don’ts
established for Indian Lake. The Covenants run with the land
and are a binding legal obligation of lot owners.
Please note, it is very important that the Indian Lake Association
Board be notified in the case of a purchase, so names and addresses
may be recorded to ensure new owners receive copies of the
above documents and can be included in all Indian Lake correspondence.
What steps are required by the Indian Lake Association to
build a house on a lot, or expand an existing house, or construct
an out-building (e.g. garage, shed, etc.)?
Indian Lake Association requires plans
and specifications be submitted to the Indian Lake Association
Lot Committee for construction of a new house, addition to
the exterior of a house, or addition of any structure. Prior
to the clearing of any vegetation, on the lot, or beginning
construction these plans and specifications must be approved
in writing (Covenants – Article
VI:) by the Lot Committee. Restrictions governing the size,
type of structure, placement and setback of structure within
the property lines of the lot, use of property, timing of construction
and completion of certain phases of construction etc. are detailed
and should be thoroughly reviewed prior to any construction
(Covenants – Article VII:). Depending upon what is being
constructed, there may be escrow as well as non-refundable
funds required. Also required will be approval from the Town
of Becket and possibly the Becket Conservation Committee regarding
wetlands preservation.
What are the rules and regulations regarding the rental of
a home within Indian Lake?
The minimum term for leasing/renting
a home is 30 consecutive days. (Bylaws Article
XI) In order to rent a
home, the “Notification
of Rental Agreement” form must be completed by both
the homeowner and the renter and submitted to the Indian
Lake Association Board. This is to insure that the renter
has been notified of the Rules and Regulations and all parties
agree to abide by them. (A copy of this form and the “RULES
AND REGULATIONS” are
available on this web site).
Who may use the lake and pond within the private boundaries
of Indian Lake, and are their any restrictions regarding boating?
All roads leading to the lake and pond
are private and considered common property owned and maintained
by Indian Lake Association. These Association roads provide
the only access to the lake and pond, (apart from private
lots that are directly on the lake or pond). Therefore, there
is no public access to these waters and hence are for the
exclusive use of Indian Lake Lot owners and their guests
(“guests” are defined in
the “RULES AND REGULATIONS”). The lake and pond
are very fragile assets, can be easily damaged and therefore
require very rigid rules and regulations to govern the usage
(“RULES AND REGULATIONS”). There are three (3)
common area beaches on the lake and one (1) common area beach
on the pond for the use of all Indian Lake residents. There
are no lifeguards, no bathroom facilities, and no garbage facilities
at any of the beaches. As a consequence the beaches are not
to be used for garbage or toilet facilities. Use of the beaches,
lake and other common property is at the risk of the user.
Only Indian Lake Lot owners may put a
boat on the lake, and this boat must be registered. A boat
may be registered by contacting the Indian Lake Harbor Master.
(GUESTS MAY NOT PUT A BOAT INTO ANY
OF THE WATERS OF INDIAN LAKE). Motors (except for
electrical motors) are prohibited on Indian Lake waters.
Because of the potential for the importation of noxious growth – a
serious problem in many Berkshire County lakes – before
a boat which has been used in a different body of water may
be placed in Indian Lake it must be washed thoroughly to
assure that no foreign seeds, pollens, algae, etc. are introduced
into the lake or pond.
Remember, your dues are used to maintain the dam and the lake,
and if is far less expensive to prevent damage than to correct
damage.
What are the rules and regulations governing the tennis courts?
The tennis courts are a valuable asset of the Indian Lake
community and are supported by the dues. The Tennis Committee
establishes the rules governing the access to and the use of
these courts. (“TENNIS COURT
RULES AND REGULATIONS”).
These rules have been established to insure fair and equitable
use of the courts by Indian Lake lot owners, as well as to
protect the courts. An Indian Lake lot owner may obtain the
combination to the lock securing the tennis courts by contacting
the Tennis Committee.
What services are available to Indian Lake Residents (e.g.
mail, garbage, etc.)?
Garbage: The Town of Becket maintains a Transfer Station in
which refuse and recyclables (including glass, plastic, paper,
etc.) may be deposited. This requires an annual vehicle sticker
fee as well as individual bag stickers (both of which are available
at the Becket Town Hall). An alternative is a private company
(BFI), who, once a week will pick up your refuse at the end
of your driveway. If garbage is left at the end of the driveway
for pick up it must be secured so that wildlife does not get
into and/or spread the refuse. In addition, the garbage may
not be placed for pick up except on the day before scheduled
pickup.
Mail: Mail will only be delivered if a mailbox is installed
on either Bonny Rigg Hill Road or Algerie Road. (The post office
will not deliver to private roads). An alternative is to rent
a post office box at the nearby Becket Post Office located
on Route 8.
Newspapers: Currently the Berkshire Eagle and the Wall Street
Journal may to be delivered to the driveway of your home (except)
during severe, inclement weather when the newspapers may be
delivered to your green box located on Bonny Rigg Hill Road
and Algerie Road. Also, the Country Journal (a weekly Hill
Towns newspaper) is available by subscription and is mailed
to subscribers. Some of the local country stores in the area
will allow arrangements to be made to reserve certain (Sunday
Times, etc.) newspapers.
What emergency services are available?
Indian Lake lots have been assigned addresses
(from the original lot numbers) that conform to the requirements
of the “911” emergency system that has been implemented
in Becket. The street and lot number provide sufficient information
for any of the emergency services (Police, Fire, Ambulance)
to get to where they need be. If there is reason to contact
any of these services without going thru the “911” system,
their phone numbers are as follows;
Police - 413 623 6010
Fire - 413 623 8760
Ambulance - 413 623 5027
What resources are available to help me learn
about Becket?
Becket maintains a Web site at www.townofbecket.org.
The web site contains information regarding its history, lists
the various town departments, public schools etc. and is very
comprehensive.
What are the financial
obligations of a lot owner to the Indian Lake Association?
Every Owner of Record of a lot automatically
is a member of the Indian Lake Association, and as such is
subject to the payment of annual common charges and special
Assessments as levied by the association. These charges and
Fees are determined by the Indian Lake Association Board
and may differ based upon whether or not there is a house on
the lot (Bylaws - Article III, section 2). (Initially the dues
for all lots, whether there was a house on the lot or whether
the lot was vacant were the same. Recently, lots with houses
have been subject to higher common charges). The funds are
used to build, operate and maintain roads, utilities, and recreation
facilities for the benefit of the lot owners and to comply
with state and local governmental requirements, and to pay
taxes, insurance, etc. (Bylaws - Article
IX.)
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