Minutes: Webster Lake Association Meeting
At Point Breeze
Tuesday, February 10th at 7:00 P.M.

President's Report

• Docks – Dick Cazeault is working with Bob Craver and will have an update for us at the next meeting
• Sediment Control Project – Dick Cazeault, Robin Leal and Paul Kujawski met with the State and gave a 2 hour presentation on what we have been doing and why we they should fund this sedimentation project. Previously this group had never heard of Webster Lake. Secretary Eric Kriss wants a policy to ensure that we won’t need future funding after they correct the sedimentation issues. Paul Kujawski stated that this issue is “studied out” and that its time to get going. On Monday there was a meeting at the town hall with the Dept of Conservation and Recreation. It was proposed that the state release $10K and the town matches with $10K for the design and permitting of the first 2 drains, one at Snug Harbor (near Union Point) and the other Action Marine. These were selected as they are on state highways. This project will lead into the next few drains and so on. They know we’re here and are impressed by our studies and surveys. With Paul Kujawski’s help we’re in Boston fighting for our needs. The state is supposed to return next week with a contract to get going on this project. We’re presuming that any signed contract will be pending the outcome and ability of the town to kick in $10k. We’re possibly putting in an article to get this money for the project at the next town meeting.
• Dick showed pictures of brown water flowing into Colonial cove recently when the rain was heavy.
• Dick brought up the length of the terms of the Board of Directors and suggested that these are reviewed at the next BOD meeting to ensure that they properly meet the needs of the organization.

Secretary's Report

• Last Meeting’s Minutes - Motion: Report Accepted
• Flags are still available – email jmhill@charter.net if interested
• Eleven members of the WLA attended a COLAP (Coalition of Lakes and Ponds) seminar in January to learn about what our neighbors are doing to preserve and protect their lakes and ponds
• Membership
  • North Pond – 68 People
  • Middle Pond – 173 People
  • South Pond – 107 People
  • Off Lake – 26 People
  • Not Paid this year – 65 People
• February Newsletter – This is going out soon. Thanks to all who have sent in articles.
• Webster’s Upcoming Symposium – We’re kicking around some ideas. All suggestions welcome.

Treasurer's Report

• Financial Report – Motion: Report Accepted

MONTHLY FINANCIAL REPORT

BEGINNING BALANCE 1/6/04 - $25,038.80

INCOME
Calendar Income - $45.00
Membership Fees - $260.00
TOTAL INCOME - $305.00

EXPENSES
Supplies - PA System, Copies, Stamps - $486.35
Junque Trunk Advertising - $80.00
Web Site - $79.02
TOTAL EXPENSES - $645.37

Ending Balance 2/3/04 - $24,698.43

FUN-draisers Committee Report

• 2004 Calendar – these are still for sale. The committee estimates $6K in profit on this project.
• Waterfront Gardening Seminar – this is being planned for May. More info to follow as things become finalized.
• Next Year’s Activities –
• A Raffle is planned at our June general meeting. We will sell $20K in tickets in April & May for a pontoon and motor. They are hoping to find one for less than $10K. Given that, we can make $10K and the dealer $10K
• A Boat Parade will be held on July 4th again. Last year’s was a fun family day and we look forward to doing it again.
• We’re planning another summer party at Indian Ranch. The price is $9.95 per person for a chicken dinner. And we are looking into activities for kids and checking to see if the Nipmuc ski club is available again.
• Another Junque trunk will be held on November 6th. We made $3K at the last one and it was a fun night.
• Dick added that the Pulaski brass band would like to play for us. More info as it becomes available.

Environmental Committee Report

• Selecting & Prioritizing Weed Treatments – Bob Couture
  • We paid GeoSyntec $700 to have them put together a map of their recommendations for the locations of upcoming weed treatment.
  • How they prioritized
    • 1st criteria – invasive non-native plant species affecting recreational uses
    • 2nd public recreation uses or boat access to shoreline properties
    • 3rd areas of moderate, dense plant growth where it is dominated by native species with pioneer infestations of invasive species
  • Nine areas were selected for treatment:
    • 2.5-acre area at Sucker Cove
    • 2.6-acre area at northeast sections of North Pond
    • 2-acre area at the northwest corner of Reid Smith Cove
    • 10-acre cove on the eastern side of Middle Pond
    • 5-acre cove on the northeast corner of South Pond
    • 6-acre area on the northeast corner of South Pond
    • 4-acre area on the western shore of Middle Pond
    • 2.5-acre area on the western shore of middle Pond
    • 1.4-acre area just southeast of the narrows between Middle Pond and North Pond
  • We may ask individual home owners to pitch in
  • Environmental committee met on the 12th to review pros and cons and decide on how to proceed. We need to educate the public and the Conservation Committee as to what our plans are.

 

• Water Quality Testing – Tom Pezzella
  • Eleven members of the WLA attended a COLAP conference. We learned what our neighbors are doing with water quality, weeds, dams, sedimentation. We learned that we are no alone and that they have all faced the same problems. We feel that networking with other groups will be beneficial to us in the long run.
  • The Water Quality Testing group is very busy and could use more help. Email Tom Pezzella at tpezz@naisp.net if interested. People are being trained to become water quality testers measuring nine different water quality measurements. We’re repeating what Geosyntec did for us only we’re doing it ourselves. We borrowed equipment for training but need to buy our own. We need to go to the same spots each time and measure it exactly the same way at the same time. If we do this right we can go after grants. If properly documented, the federal government can see that we ensure quality in our work. We also need a TAC (technical assistance committee) which is a review committee to ensure our technique over the years. Classes are scheduled for at Paul Turner’s house (end of Bates Point) on March 6th and March 13th.
  • Certificates were given to our recent Water Quality Testing graduates: Richard DeBeradinis & Merrie Shonbeck, Ernie Benoit, Gloria Ricker, Elaine & Dan Dunleavy, Bob Starr, James Alwaard and Ray & Jean Travis. WELL DONE!!!!!

Old Business

• Fall Presentation on the History of the Lake – Did you know that February is History Month? How appropriate! Over 100 people attended on Sunday including the Chairman of the Nipmuc tribe and Senator Moore. We will host this event again this summer for those folks who are away in the winter. We are looking into additional seminars including one on the Nipmuc Indians and Samuel Slater. We got lots of great press from the T&G & Webster Times (our thanks to Jean Hill and Ginger Costen!). Dick reiterated that understand our past is important as we mold the future of our great pond.
• We gave Dick a round of applause for his hard work on the sedimentation project.

New Business (Q & A)

• South Pond Board of Director – Election – Mike Costen elected. Congratulations and welcome aboard Mike!
• It was asked if we could kick in some $$ toward this preliminary sedimentation project? Robin stated that we have $6K that is not specifically earmarked toward lake management. However using this money would wipe out our administrative and water quality testing budget. She stated that we already paid $20K+ and that hopefully the town will recognize this. We’d like to see the town share the burden with us.
• Dick reiterated the hard work Paul Kujawski has done for us and his opinion of no more paper checks.
• Time frame? We’ll know more next week. The state may give us time to come up with matching funds. More info as available.
• Bob Couture stated that the town is required to do storm water work and that they are responsible for getting this fixed.
• Dick asked Bob Miller if the town will help us with water quality testing. Bob said that he would look into it.
• Lake Wickabog told us at the COLAP seminar that they get $20k from their town each year for water quality testing and weed control. Tom Pezzella stated that this is not uncommon
• Dick asked Bob Miller how we are perceived by the town. He says its time a lake this size has an organization. He stated that there is still some resistance still, but we as we get stronger and better publicized our perception will rise. Dick apologized for putting him on the spot.
• A member of the Master Plan Committee stated that they were putting together a questionnaire for the town including some that pertain to the lake. We agreed to forward this questionnaire to all of our members. Also he had questions regarding getting his neighbors together to treat the weeds in front of his house. Bob Couture stated that they were meeting this Thursday to discuss exactly that. He added that the best time for treating weeds is June and July. However he anticipated that the permitting process would be a big hurdle.
• Dick reiterated that we have done our home work and if we stick together this permitting process will become easier.
• Judy Morrison suggested a WLA column in the newspaper. Dick agreed to publish these 9 sites (hotspots) to urge people who live in these areas to join us. It was also suggested that we make use of the public access station.

Announcements

• Next Meeting – April 13th