Webster Lake Association Meeting Minutes Sept 10th, 2002

"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

 
 

 

Thank you to all who attended last night. We've started something pretty exciting here and with your continued support we should accomplish great things!

Welcome New Members - Dick Cazeault

Meeting Rules/Timing - Jane Hill

Review of Aug 5th Meeting Minutes - Jane Hill

  • Minutes accepted 

Membership Applications - Jane Hill

  • PLEASE BE SURE TO PUT YOUR NAME ON THE APPLICATION

  • Those who would like to advertise their businesses on our website can notify us via the application and provide any additional info to Jane Hill

  • Anyone who would like to post their email address on the website can notify Jane Hill via email

  • Those who rent houses can vote if their landlord gives them the authorization to represent that deed

Responsibilities of Committees – Dick Cazeault

  • Committees are formed based on the needs and interests of the group

  • If there are any other committees people may be interested in starting, please get in touch with the Exec Board

  • Committees are started and run by volunteers.

  • Once approved by the Exec Board they run independently although they will need to report to the Exec Board on their progress

  • They need to elect a Chairperson

  • They can be open to the entire WLA or limited to a smaller group

  • We’re extremely pleased with the success each committee has achieved so far

  • We are forming a quarterly (printed) newsletter and will form a committee at the October meeting if anyone would like to get involved

The BOS & Press - Scott Goulet

  • As we are in our “infancy” as an organization, we would like to be very careful about what is said publicly as we want to ensure it represents the entire WLA and is positive and professional. For that reason we are asking that only the Exec Board speak to the press, the BOS or any large group.

Non-Profit Status – Dick Cazeault         

  • Arlen Johnson (Tax Attorney from Middle Pond) has volunteered to be our “Clerk” and is helping us establish non-profit status

  • We are working on Articles of Organization and will eventually get a Federal ID number to file with IRS.

  • Our Certificate of Good Standing from the State has arrived.

  • We are making every attempt to get this process completed by December 31st such that your contributions can be tax deductible for 2001. However it is possible that it may take a bit longer than this.

Board of Directors - Dick Cazeault

  • To comply with the Articles of Organization we need to elect a Board of Directors

  • Arlen Johnson will be on our Board as a non-voting member with the position of Clerk

  • We are holding elections at the October meeting for nine additional Directors. We would like 3 people to represent each pond. Those that have volunteered to run for office are as follows:

    • North Pond:

      • Howard Raphaelson

      • Barbara Johnson

      • Gloria Ricker

    • Middle Pond

      • Paula Chauvin

      • Richard Rainey

      • Joan Wetland

      • Brian Houlihan

      • Dick Coes

      • Bob Wilson

      • Paul Turner

    • South Pond

      • Charles Parquette

      • Paul LaFramboise

      • Dave Rossetti

      • Gary Williams

      • Neil Parkhurst

  • From each lake we will select one Director to serve one year, another to serve 2 years and the last to serve 3 years. This is to ensure continuity from year to year. The same process will be applied to the Executive Board.

  • If anyone else is in interested in running for the Board of Directors, please email Jane Hill. If you would like you can put a short summary on our website explaining why you think you should be elected and we will ask you to briefly speak at the next meeting just before we vote.

Committee Updates - Environmental & Safety - Bob Couture

  • Objectives

  1. To remedy existing problems and concerns – sediment, weed, trash, etc

  2. To prevent future problems

  3. To help educate local commissions, state and federal boards

  4. To be the source of environmental education for residents on topics such as troublesome weeds and boating safety.

  5. To find what types of associations we can join to give our input, learn from their experiences and inquire if federal money is available for grants

  • John Desmond the Basin team leader for the French River Watershed from the Executive Office of Environmental Affairs has worked with us to help us understand the watershed that feeds us and what Webster Lake is feeding.

  • The Department of Environmental Management is coming to collect weeds growing in the lake and to educate us on the good and the bad.

  • We will put a team together to monitor quality of the lake.

     

Commitee Updates - Social & Charitable - Jeanne Rossetti

  • The aim of the Social Committee is to foster a feeling of community through social and charitable events

  • They are putting together a mission statement

  • They have created a “Wish List” of possible events including a luau, a photography contest, boat parade, holiday decorating/celebrations, etc.

  • Charitable recipients could include Memorial Beach, Local Food Shares, Scholarships, Hole-in-the-Wall-Gang, Armed Services, Elder Home Care

  • They are requesting that we “Light up the Lake” tonight at 8:00 in memory of the tragedy that took place a year ago today. Feel free to use candles, flashlights, whatever you have. 

  • Junque Trunk – On Sat evening, Nov 2nd. 7:00 they are hosting a garage sale/auction in the Pinnacle Room at Point Breeze. Please bring something you want to get rid of, something your neighbor covets, or something fun you’d like to donate. Mike O’Brien & “Vanna White” have volunteered their time as auctioneers. Price is $ 10.00 per person and hors d’oeuvres will be provided

 

Committee Updates - Dock By-Law - Dick Cazeault & Henry Neeser 

  • Several issues about the existing dock laws (state & local) were discussed.  People with further comments were invited to attend the Dock Committee’s meeting on 9-11-02 at 7 PM at the Webster Sailing Associations clubhouse. It is recommended that you travel there by car as there is limited parking.

  • The dock registration choices offered and discussed at the meeting were:

  • Maintain the existing bylaw - This leaves all fees, fines and regulations at the discretion of the Marine Supervisor with no recourse for lake residents.

  • Rescind the existing bylaw - This would mandate the lake residents to register with the state DEP.  All money would go to the state and all recourse would be through the DEP for lake residents.

  • Modify the existing bylaw – The modified bylaw would mandate that all money go back into the lake.  It would put control of the dock registration back into the BOS jurisdiction.  All fees, fines and regulations would be approved by the BOS and be in a written format.  The modified bylaw would allow all lake residents to have a means of recourse to an elected group of officials, the BOS.

  • By a majority vote Item 3, the modified bylaw, was approved and will be submitted to the town warrant for the town meeting on October 21, 2002.  The proposed bylaw had only floats and rafts included in the draft.  Docks will be added according to the wording of Chapter 91.

  • Contact will be maintained with the BOS over correcting the existing bylaws, including meeting with the DEP.  If the existing situation is corrected to the satisfaction of the WLA, the bylaw may be withdrawn at or before the October 21, 2002 town meeting. 

  •  We are voting to submit the amended by law.

Commitee Updates - Mission Statement - Judy Keegan

  • The Webster Lake Association Mission Statement was presented & approved:

    "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."

 

Democratic Primary - 9/17/2002 – Paul Kujawski

  • Paul Kujawski thinks we are a powerful and effective group. He had 2 reasons to attend our meeting:

    1. He will help get the DEP here to help us and he congratulated John Desmond on the fine work he does

    2. In 1999, CME Associates Inc (through the BOS) put together a comprehensive sediment control program. The original money was never released and it was then de-authorized. An Environmental Bond Bill passed recently with $4.35 million earmarked for Webster Lake Sediment Control Plan. Bob Durand (Secretary of the Executive Office of Environmental Affairs) will be at Point Breeze on Friday, September 13th at 8:00 AM to release the first $1 Million of the this money to the Town of Webster.  We are all invited to attend and to be very vocal as to how this money can be best spent to improve our lake

  • From Pam Landry: A Sediment Control plan deals with ways by which one can prevent silt, sand, pollution, debris, etc. from entering the lake via inlets.  Many times an increase in aquatic plant growth is related to an increase in the sedimentation of a body of water.

  • Please remember Paul Kujawski and the exemplary work he has done on behalf of Webster Lake when you go to the polls on Tuesday, September 17th. Please remember that anybody can vote regardless of what party affiliation they have or if they are independent.

 

Town Meeting - 10/21/2002 - Jane Hill

  • Jane Hill printed 1,000 flyers requesting lake residents to attend the October Town Meeting on Monday, October 21st to help support our amended Dock Bylaw.

  • The only streets we do not have coverage for are: Ernest St, Lakeview Rd, Indian Point Rd, Point Pleasant Ave, Hall Road, Ridgewood Rd & Wakefield Ave, Treasure Island, Thompson Road, Union Point Rd

  • If I missed anyone who volunteered for these streets, please let me know

  • If anyone would like to volunteer let me know that as well. The flyer is posted on the website (Dock Committee page), so you can print it off if you like.

New Business – Open

  • No new business

Next meeting is Tuesday, October 8th at 7:00 at Point Breeze. See you there!
 


"If we can prevent the government from wasting the labors of the people under the pretense of caring for them, they will be happy."

Thomas Jefferson