On Saturday, June 27th, the Lake St. Catherine Association held their second meeting of the 2020 season.

The Trustees gave their reports on many topics - Click here to see the full meeting agenda. Meeting minutes compiled by Kemi McShane Bostock.

June 27th 2020 Meeting of the Lake St. Catherine Board of Trustees

Google Meet - Online Meeting, 8:30 AM

Meeting Called to Order by President, Jim Canders at 8:40 AM.

Attendance: Jim Canders, Elaine Bagley, Frank Callahan, Jeff Crandall, Bob Williams, Jerremy Jones, Ken Abt, Ed Laird, Nancy Liberatore, Kemi McShane Bostock, Mary Jo Teetor

Absent: Martha Hicks Pofit, John Belnavis, Rob Nesbit

Prior to the meeting:

MJ will comment on a virtual meeting with Oliver Pierson concerning his position on this year’s lake programs.

Jerremy will discuss the disposal of the conveyor at Wescott’s Garage and payment.

Jim Canders, President called the Meeting to order at 8:40 AM.

Jerremy comments on his work with the LSCCF (Lake St. Catherine Conservation Fund) representative, Rick Newell about the potential LSCA/ LSCCF meeting. An outline / framework was established to manage the meeting. MJ recommended Gary Kupferer to be the moderator. He agreed to work for free for a non-profit organization. It was discussed with Rick about limiting the Q and A time. The Moderator would be in control and be able to mute the speaker if exceeded speaking timeframe.

Each group would invite scientific panelists to make a 20 minute presentation, then engage in a 60 minute alternating Q&A. The first 20 minutes would be reserved for the scientific panelists, then 40 minutes of open Q&A with panelists and board members. We will also solicit questions from the lake community to be asked and answered during this session.

MJ wanted to reach out to VT DEC - Misha to check and see if the format was OK. Misha is willing to attend the meeting, along with some colleagues to offer a critical view of aeration as a lake management tool to help Little Lake. Jennifer Jones is anticipated to be the invited panelist for the LSCCF offering her pro view on aeration.

The rules / outline will be run by Gary so he is comfortable with the format.

Board ok with the format to move forward to set a date for the meeting between the two groups. Have time to get comfortable with the technology and how to use it. Send a copy to Misha and establish who can attend. Hopefully get a meeting slated for late July / early August.

MJ meeting with Oliver Pierson, who is the new Lakes and Ponds manager. Discuss the funding and the AIS grant. See if the money is approved for distribution. Hilary has not heard and is too late to receive the money for the DASH and Greeters programs. Oliver wants mtg for storm water action plan and that is an important piece for future funding. Talk about dates for meeting, will be an hour long and will take Q&A.

Storm Water Action Plan: funding for AIS money could go elsewhere. Oliver oversees Misha and Hilary’s funding.

Oliver to be invited to the LSCA July meeting. Meet with him beforehand. Hope to set it up for Saturday, July 25th before our Board meeting.

Discussion for the Annual Virtual Meeting: voting issues, two-week advance notice for additions to the Slate of Trustees.

Bob discussed the incumbents’ as the Slate of candidates. Ed posted candidates for trustees to vote for and to contact Board if interested in running for the open slot. Jim, there is one position to be filled.

Hillary joined the meeting at 9:00. She discussed the storm water projects and wants Oliver to know the Action Plan is already in place and has received approval for 6 projects. Applying for funding to implement these projects. She itemized each project, the perspective plans and map, and the project design and the rationale behind each project.

Ferncliff Road- water crosses Rt. 30. There is instability and erosion into the Lily Pond. Goal to stabilize the area.

Ferncliff Road - Visible from the road, drainage from the yard, step pools (Dan Collins) before get to the Lake. Collects water from driveways, drainages from culverts on properties at Pope’s property.

State boat launch- wetlands coordinating with Fish & Wildlife. Design infiltration system in the parking area.,

Wells’ Town Park - erosion on properties to re-route the water at the entrance road to the Park. Collaborate with the Town as building a pavilion in the Park. Needs permits due to wetlands.

Lake Luccidian - sediment floods the road.

Quinn Cove - recreating drainage

Discussion of timeline for these 6 projects. Hope to accomplish all this summer; might have to wait on some for next year. Bob W. discussed the stormwater runoffs from the Butternut Hill Road from the condos and Gem Way.

Business Meeting began at 9:21

1. Secretary's Report: Minutes as presented, motion to approve the Minutes from May 23, 2020. Frank made motion, Second by Jeff. Any discussion? Vote all in favor? Opposed? Minutes from May 23, 2020 accepted.
2. Treasures’ Report: Current as of this date, June 27, 2020. Jim asked if the funds were available to pay the herbicide treatment invoice for $17,000.00. Questions. Motion to accept the Treasures’ Report as presented. Motion made by Frank, Second by MJ, Vote all in favor? Opposed? Accepted the June 27, 2020 treasures’ report.
3. DASH - Jeff recap of the ten sites that will be treated by DASH team. ProcellaCOR treatment took place on June 24, 2020. Discussion about the possibility to treat the LL next year, $32,000 for largest allowable treatment area of 40%. Would work to garner support for the treatment from LL folks including contributions. Frank: discussion about the weeds getting worse, Little Lake residents question why the LSCA doesn’t do anything to help. Jeff: addressing milfoil problem helps the entire Lake system.DASH - educate the whole community to help with milfoil. Discussion DASH team out on Lake today, first day out and Jerremy posted to remind boaters to give the team a wide berth for safety.
4. Greeter Program - written report submitted by Martha Hicks Pofit - Pollution Grant. Can’t meet face to face as a result of the COVID virus. Lake Wise projects to do. Stormwater Projects. Oliver meeting. AIS - and loss of funding. State Park - Greeters Program - establish a pilot program. Jeff discussion as to the deliverables- evaluate change. DASH to do work in the Channel. Greeters - John will know when the team is in the area. List of Fishing tournaments. Motion to accept the written report, MH made a motion, Second by Frank. Motion passed to allocate $2,000 for pilot program at State Park for Greeter Program. 1,800 boats launched there each season. All to accept the motion - all in favor - any opposed - Motion approved.
5. Publicity - Jerremy - Membership to date have 305 paid members. Posting reminders, at the end of last year had 350 paid members. Always trying to increase the membership. Working on the Fall newsletter. Lots of information regarding the work being done and how we are trying to reconnect with the LL.
6. Safety - Frank- Markers for the Lake; need 3 more buoys; Forest House Bay, Channel, and entrance to the North Bay. Boat safety course may be held this year, only allowing a small number of attendees.
7. Nominating Committee - Bob - discussion about lake resident serving on both the LSCA and LSCCF boards as a joint member. Ed raised the concern of a conflict of interest if a board member served on both boards. - would be competing for the same funding, and from the same municipalities. It was agreed that there is a conflict of interest to serving both on boards, funding issues and policies/philosophies. Jerremy to inform interested property owner.
8. Boat Parade - Kemi - unfortunately she was muted from the meeting so Jerremy reported for the Boat Parade. To date 9 boats registered. New guidelines to follow. No judges stand, no prizes to be awarded. Same format for the route, 4 theme categories, and this year pictures will be posted and a virtual vote will be held.
9. Annual Meeting is set up for July 25, 2020 and will be a virtual meeting. Will update our slideshow from last year with up to date information. There will be a slide show, it will be recorded and posted for viewers to watch on their own time, the meeting will be posted on YouTube, FB and our website. Questions will be solicited from membership and they will be answered in Q&A time during the presentation. The Slate of candidates will be posted and a voting procedure will be established. List of all events taking place on LSC will be posted. Jerremy working on the procedure to manage the virtual meeting. Ed reminded the Board of the by-laws with a to do list to check and follow the correct protocol. Bob discussed the concern for members only able to vote.

Old Business - Fireworks discussed. Will look into this and confirm date and time. Slated for July 3, 2020 late in the evening.

New Business - Frank has a 3D carving of the LSC map. Charlie Holcomb makes them. Possible item for a fundraising/raffle prize. Bob discussed concern for the confusion of the 911 numbers for the Lake. MJ stated that the municipalities are responsible to update the addresses and numbers. MJ reported that the heat wave and weather conditions caused a cyanobacteria bloom. People and animals should stay out of water when occurring. Jerremy reported on a SOLitude webinar.

A motion to adjourn the meeting was requested. Frank made a motion to adjourn the meeting Second by Jim, All in favor. The meeting was adjourned at 10:33 Saturday, June 27, 2020.

Minutes respectfully submitted by the recording Secretary, Kemi McShane Bostock