Forest Lake Maine

Cumberland | Gray | Windham

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Meeting Minutes – July 21, 2018 Annual Meeting

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2018 Forest Lake Association Annual Member Meeting
8:00AM Potluck Breakfast
8:30AM Meeting

Call to order and Welcome [Janene Gorham, President]
Meeting called to order at 8:33 AM. Janene welcomes everyone and welcomes/thanks trustees. Thanks Tellefsons for putting in the no-wake buoys.

Newsletter – note especially Gray Fireworks ordinance and other news.

Secretary’s Report [Debi Curry] – Debi summarized the notes taken at our 2017 Annual Meeting and called attention to the website where meeting minutes for both annual member meetings and Board of Trustee meetings are maintained.  Secretary’s Report accepted.

Treasurer Report [Ellie Schulz] – Activity of FLA General Fund – July 1 – June 30 $13,929. Includes “our” money and just under $6000 of Windham grant funds. $13,990.01 balance this morning. Ellie has details available for distribution to anyone requesting.

Encourages membership to add to our fund.

Invasive Plant Report [Janene Gorham]

  • John and Janene Gorham, Paula Curcio (secchi disk) are qualified plant patrollers. Janene directs to VLMP (Lake Stewards of Maine) website for details of water quality testing. Currently no invasive plants [2017 data] reported.
  • Testing with SECCHI DISK – checks for water clarity. Dissolved oxygen is also tested. Phosphorus is monitored closely, as “bad” levels can promote algae growth. PH levels monitored which can indicate which plants can grow successfully. Water testing always at the same place – deepest spot of lake [38′] just north of Long Island to provide continuity and accuracy of test.
  • Several online graphs showing these readings on the VLMP website were displayed and explained.
  • Water quality GOOD!
  • Invasive plant patrol classes are FREE and Janene encourages additional volunteers to become certified. FLA currently has 12 certified patrollers. A comprehensive survey is done in August when the invasive plant growth is usually at its strongest. We currently have NO invasive plants.
  • Photos of the plexi-bottom boat were shown; boat can be borrowed for use in plant patrols.
  • The eleven “MOST UNWANTED” water plants in Maine were discussed, and residents encouraged to report. DO NOT PULL these plants. Just report. Be watchful and ASK questions if you see something troublesome.
    Janene provided a brief summary of water/boating safety guidelines, including counter-clockwise rotation, no-wake zones, and watching for swimmers, etc.

Old Business

  • 2018 Watershed Protection Plan [Greg Schulz] 2017 Watershed Survey Report available on our website. Entire survey and protection plan are available. Summarizes watershed description and properties within the watershed. The 2017 Survey included 6 sectors, which 20 volunteers surveyed in April 2017. [77] sites were found to have a potentially negative impact on the lake. Of these, 33 sites were residential with a variety of issues.All site owners were sent letters to inform and educate in late fall of 2017. Reviewed sector-specific of issue categories found, and how to read the map in our survey report showing where each site is found.  Watershed Protection Plan developed as a result of survey report, focusing on “high impact” sites to promote mitigation. Currently looking at high priority sites in Windham, of which one or more will be selected to receive funds from the Windham grant. FLA working with the road associations to coordinate this effort.Protection Plan also addresses action items for the next 5-10 years. Included in our “action items” is a grant application for 319 funds for more remedial work in the watershed area, hopefully addressing additional high impact sites. FLA is committing funds as are Gray, Cumberland, and Windham as matching funds in the event that the 319 application is approved.  Part of the process is to compare sites found in earlier survey with those sites found in 2017 to be sure that the identified sites are not “repeat offenders” which would not be eligible for grant funds.  Questions/Answers re: road associations in planning process, how to mitigate/educate re: current problems, etc.

New Business

  • Liaison Committee Update [Ted Ney] Ted explains the purpose as legislative, zoning, municipal. Current focus on proposed quarry. Supporting Mineral Extraction Committee [Windham]. Comment from floor: Windham enacted moratorium BECAUSE room was overflowing with residents with concern. Keep up the attendance. Notifications via Facebook group.  Questions re: whether DEP is involved; whether Windham Town Council has authority to “stop” the quarry, etc.
  • Jason Wilson, Gray Town Council – Suggestion that the three lakes in the Town of Gray consider a coalition to meet regularly to discuss common issues. Question re: how is Town of Gray supporting the Windham process with proposed quarry development. Wilson suggests additional FLA public comment/request to support the process. Carder/Wilson suggest the process by which public comment might be submitted and heard. Start with FLA contact and work from there.
  • FLA Bylaws Amendments [Debi Curry] – Debi read and explained the proposed FLA Bylaws amendments.  Brief discussion, voted, and approved as proposed.
  • Elections
    • Officer Nominations
      • Janene, President
      • Greg Schulz, Vice President
      • Ellie Schulz, Treasurer
      • Debi Curry, Secretary
    • Trustee nominations:
      • Brianna Schoen
      • Ellie Schulz [re-appointed]
      • Ted Ney [from alternate to full trustee]
    • Alternate Trustee nominations:Paula Curcio talks about the benefit of being an alternate trustee to learn more about FLA and the work we do.
      • Debi Curry [from full trustee to alternate]
      • Antonio Rocha [nominated from floor]
      • Jan LaVallee [nominated from floor]
    • Discussion concerning Debi Curry filling role as secretary while serving as an alternate rather than a full trustee. Separate motion made to permit this arrangement for the following year. Voted/approved.
    • Slate of nominations voted/approved.
  • Discussion re: access ramp at the end of Island Ave/Hill Ave re: getting permission from Don Scipione or other resident before launching.

Business Meeting Closed at 10:15 AM  followed immediately by the raffle of door prizes from local business, resident, and artisan donations.