Lake Management Committee Meeting Minutes

Minutes of meeting held June 23, 2016, 7:00 P.M. at Town Hall College Highway, Southwick, MA, with attendance as follows:

 

        

2. Buoys and Dive Team – Rick spent the day with our Dive Team.  They were able to repair the center dock at North Ramp, but were not able to repair the new dock because the original helical anchors were installed incorrectly by the contractor.  New anchors will have to be installed to correct the situation.  They were able to put in four helical anchors for buoys, one each for green, red, danger, and no wake buoys.  They also cleaned out the area in front of Babb’s Beach and plan to come again to clear our more! We’d like to say a Big Thank You to all involved!

3. Lake Level -  224.1 MSL

4. Weir Gate – Someone apparently used a pipe wrench to lower the weir gates and consequently let out a lot of water before we were alerted by an anonymous source.  The lowering of the gates coupled with lack of rainfall has created hardship for some homeowners.  Tampering with the weir gates is a serious matter and is something that the Town and the DEP take very seriously.

5. We are in need of a part time ramp employee.  If anyone knows of someone needing a few extra summer hours have them get in touch with Sue Hepburn.  Thanks.

6. LPP Vessel Stickers – Several members observed that there are only a very few boats at the two marinas (Tri-PBJ & Saunders) that had boat stickers on boats moored at their docks.  If all 150+ at the marinas had their stickers, that alone would represent $6,000 in the LPP fund, annually.  They also noted that a large percentage of registered vessels on residential docks did not display current stickers.  If all complied, it should bring in an estimated $13,000 to $15,000 annually.  Members accordingly requested enforcement of the moored vessel stickers.

7. LPP Structures - Several members similarly commented on the lack of stickers on docks, floats, and private buoys on Congamond.  If all such structures were duly permitted, it is estimated that would bring in another $8,000 to $10,000 annually.

8. PWC’s on North Pond – Following a “lively” discussion, members voted unanimously to recommend that the two PWC’s currently moored at the end of Lakemont St. in North Pond be removed immediately as PWC’s are not permitted to operate on waters of the Commonwealth less than 75 acres (North Pond 46 acres) per MGL 90 B Section 9A and Prohibited … towing of anything or anyone through the culverts interconnecting of the lakes through the marked boating navigation channels … “ per TOS Bylaw 76.2 Section 1.  Members are now receiving complaints from residents of North Pond and in the past, owners of PWC’s in North Pond were told to remove them.

9. Docks at Pavilion property behind The Cove – “DOCK SPACE FOR RENT” signs have been on three docks added to this 9 Lakeview St. property.  Members questioned how formerly commercial property with no home on it can have three docks with rental signs on them as the LPP permitting process is valid for residential properties with up to 10 vessels moored at a given piece of property.

11. Our next scheduled meeting will be held on July 14, 2016.

Respectfully submitted,

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Susan A. Hepburn - Secretary