Webster Lake Association Meeting Minutes
December 9th, 2003

"Webster Lake Association is a non-profit organization dedicated to enhancing, preserving and protecting the quality of the lake and its watershed through the promotion of responsible, effective environmental & educational policies. We shall strive to strengthen and unite the Webster Lake Community through recreational, social and civic activities. Our mission is to preserve this regionally unique resource as a pristine legacy for future generations."

©2002
All rights reserved.
Webster Lake Association, Inc.

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WLA
P.O. Box 156
Webster, MA 01570-0156

 
 

 

 President's Report

  • Docks – We’re now working closely with Bob Craver, the Webster Town Clerk. The goal of the project is to raise money to fight weeds, keep processes hassle-free, and keep the level of enforcement to a minimum. Dick Cazeault, Gary Williams and Greg Bazinet comprise our current Dock Committee.

  • Cranston Print Works & Water Levels – There are a lot of people who would like to see us lower the water levels each fall. The reasons are that it would affect the weeds along the shore and it enables them to work on their property. We are working with CPW on that issue as well as measuring how ice raises the level of the lake in the winter. As of 2:00 today – lake level is 10.5 inches below the benchmark. CPW has permission to drop the level to 14 inches below the benchmark. If they lower it beyond that, they have to notify the town as it could potentially have an affect on the wells. We’re working on a proposal that would allow us to lower the lake every “even” year. More to follow……….

  • Sediment Control – We’re attempting to work with the Conservation and Planning Committees to ensure watchdog sediment control as it relates to new development. When meeting with State Secretary of Admin and Finance Eric Kriss, we were asked how we will prevent sediment in the future? It is through this working relationship with these committees that we will convince the state as to how serious we are on these strategies. We also are working with the town as to better street sweeping and cleaning storm drains.

Secretary's Report

  • Last Meeting’s Minutes – Motion made & Seconded – Report accepted.

  • Flags are still available. Contact Jane Hill (jmhill@charter.net) if interested. Remember they make great holiday gifts!

  • A Town Meeting was held Monday night. The Articles regarding the Police Boat and the Home Hazardous Waste were passed over. There was vote to change the zoning on Rt. 16 to allow a self storage facility and/or a car wash.

Membership

  • Membership is $20 per person

  • All paid members are listed on the website. If you don’t see your name there (http://www.websterlakeassociation.com/Association/Membership.htm), perhaps you owe dues for this current year?

  • Current Members:

  • South Pond – 101 people

  • Middle Pond – 159 people

  • North Pond – 65 people

  • Off lake – 23 people

  • Total 350 people

  • 87 joined last year but have not paid their dues this year.

Newsletter

  • The December newsletter went out last week. Please let us know if you did not receive yours.

  • The February newsletter will contain a Valentine section called “Why I Love the Lake”. We encourage you to get your kids involved.

Treasurer's Report

Financial Report - Motion made & seconded – Report accepted.

WEBSTER LAKE ASSOCIATION

12/2/2003

MONTHLY FINANCIAL REPORT

               

BEGINNING BALANCE11/4/2003                       $24,009.39

INCOME                            

50/50 income                                                     $210.00

Bank Interest                                                        $0.93

Calendar Advertising Income                                  $250.00

Flag Income                                                          $70.00

Junque Trunk Income - Sales & Tickets                  $3,797.00

Membership Fees                                                  $140.00

T-Shirt Sales                                                         $10.00

TOTAL INCOME                                                             $4,477.93 

EXPENSES                        

Calendar -Printing                                               $4,075.05

Junque Trunk- Point Breeze & Advertising                   $396.25  

TOTAL EXPENSES                                                         $4,471.30

Ending Balance 12/2/03                                          $24,016.02

FUN-draisers Committee Report

  • Junk Trunque

  • We raised $3500

  • We send a huge thanks to the Social Committee for all their hard work and to Mike & Sharon O’Brien, our talented and entertaining auctioneers.

  • We will hold this again so start planning for next year.

  • 2004 Calendar

  • We sold enough advertising to cover the printing costs

  • We would like to acknowledge Pauline Perkins – our top advertising sales person!

  • Now every calendar sold is pure profit and all the money goes to lake management project for next year!

  • Our thanks to the entire Association for helping us put this lovely calendar together.

  • If every member buys 2 calendars, we’ll sell all! Please remember that they make nice gifts

  • They are available for sale at:

  • Booklover's Gourmet

  • Colonial Restaurant

  • Point Breeze Restaurant

  • Clark Prout Insurance Agency

  • Windsor Paint

Environmental Committee Report (Tom Pezzella)

  • They bought copies of the GeoSyntec report for members. The report outlines the locations analyzed, the assessment of the weed population and the 9 water quality parameters.

  • Next Environmental Committee meeting is on December 15th at Point Breeze at 6:30 – all are welcome.

  • Field Guide to the Weeds – This is the document that GeoSyntec proposed to design for the lake. We’re looking at coming up with our own version to educate people on the weeds around the lake (Anyone business owners interested in sponsoring the costs?)

  • Stream Teams and Pond Teams – We plan to take over for Geosyntec and monitor the lake/streams ourselves. We want to continue with their plan of monitoring the same parameters and same spots. We need 4 water quality test kits – one for each team. Tom Pezzella showed what the kits look like. We would arrange training for those who would be doing the testing. Fairly simple color metric tests. A sign up list passed out for volunteers. Anyone else who is interested can email Tom Pezzella at tpezz@naisp.net.  We’re still deciding how often to test the water and how many locations should be. We’re also looking into purchasing (or borrowing) water quality testing kits.

  • Selecting & Prioritizing Upcoming Weed Treatments – We’re paying $700 for Geosyntec to come back with a recommendation as to where to start. Rough estimate $25,000 - $30,000 to do hotspots throughout the lake this year.  The company we hire to treat the weeds will also get the permits.

  • The cost of this weed project may come from 3 sources: Individual homeowners,  the Town of Webster, the WLA.  We have stepped up the bar and are investing in this lake. We’d like the Town to match these funds. More to follow……

  • This is an ongoing project. We will never defeat the weeds. Our aim is control them.

Old Business

  • Fall Presentation on the History of the Lake – Dick is trying to pinpoint a date with the author. We will notify the association of the date via email and a mailed flyer.

New Business (Q & A)

  • COLAP – check out this link: http://www.colapcentral.org/webster-lake.htm as our Lake is the Featured Body of water for this site.

  • COLAP will hold their annual Convention in January – will forward details when available.

  • The development at Indian Ranch fell through

Announcements

  • Next Meeting – February 10th

  • PB $25 GC – Marion Zimmerman

  • 50/50% - $56 to Donna Wojciechowski

Happy, Happy Holidays Everyone!!!