Contoocook Lake Area Preservation Association (CLAPA)

P.O. Box 125

Jaffrey, NH 03452

Board Meeting Notes, October 10, 2009

Attendance

8 of 12 were present, including: Ted Covert, Bev Covert, Fred Cochrane, John Fries, Amy Pfeil, Carolyn West, Elizabeth Titus, Tonya Albee (for part of the meeting)

Board Changes

• Kim Cochrane submitted a letter resigning from the Board.
• Amy Pfeil was reappointed to Board.
• Fred Cochrane remains on the Board but resigned his responsibilities for the Diver Weed  Removal program and the Lake Host Program due to burn out and competing demands.

Board Decisions

• CNBRLAC  Contoocook and North Branch Advisory Committee (CNBRLAC) recently requested a copy of CLAPA mailing list so they could deliver a watershed-wide  survey to residents.  The CLAPA Board decided not to comply with this request.  Ted will ask to review the survey and will share information with the Committee about CLAPA’s lake testing.
• A draft letter to all Contoocook Lake Area Property Owners  requesting town’s support of CLAPA and support of chemical treatment for milfoil was reviewed by the meeting attendees.  The Board approved the text of the letter.
• Board unanimously in favor of decision to chemically treat milfoil in 2010 and of payment of the $750 down payment required.
• Board unanimously in favor of continued payment of state Lake Association dues.
• Board unanimously in favor of continued support of CLAPA website.
• Board unanimously in favor of continued support for VLAP.
• Board unanimously in favor of continued support of the Diver Weed Removal Program.
• The Board tentatively decided to cancel Lake Host program and to discontinue rental of portable toilet at Boat Landing for 2010 season.  In discussions, these two issues were linked.  Note that due to a variety of opinions expressed on these issues, and to low Board attendance, consensus on this may be characterized as weak. 

Budget Review

The 2009 budget was summarized and reviewed by the Board.  2009 closed with a positive balance ($1,400). 

CLAPA has $80,000 in reserves.

The 2010 proposed budget was summarized and reviewed by the Board.  Due to the expectation of reduction or absence of state co-funding for chemical treatment of milfoil in 2010 and for Lake Host program support, the budget is uncertain, and the expectation is that the budget will end with a negative balance ($11,000 if no state aid).

State funding amounts available to localities for the Lake Host program have historically been tied to previous year’s tally of boats inspected.

Action Items

• Tonya to ask Mrs. Ferron of Nashua if interested in maintaining CLAPA website.
• Schedule Board meeting sometime prior to May, 2010 – preferably meeting in person or via phone before year end 2009.
• Fred Cochrane to make diving program equipment available.
• Caroline to update contact information (phone and email) for Board members.
• John Fries to review and recommend revisions to bylaws.
• Board to arrange mass mailing – hearing on chemical treatment - on chemical treatment before year end 2009.
• Board acknowledges and expresses sincere gratitude to Fred Cochrane for his dedication and passion and contributions that made the Lake Host and Diver Weed Removal programs successful.
• Board members are encouraged to join NH Lakes Association as individuals.
• Board agreed to post Board member contact information on website.

Summary of Discussion

Milfoil Status.  Milfoil increasing in the river – between campground and boat ramp and in town. 

Diver Weed Removal.  Fred Cochrane strongly recommends use of “dash unit” to facilitate weed removal.  A joint venture with the NH Lakes Association ( Andrea Lamereaux Outreach Director from NH Lakes) may be possible. Fred reviewed success in Wolfeboro (8 dives, 4800 gallons of milfoil, with use of dash unit) in comparison with Jaffrey ( 8 dives, 580 gallons, used dash unit once).  Fred further recommends coordination of diver removal and chemical treatment.  Recommendation is to defer diving for 3-4 weeks after chemical treatment. CLAPA does not currently have good estimate of total cost (including in-kind time and incidental expenses for this program).Fred estimates 50-60 hours per summer. Pontoon boat, crews of rowboats needed during dives, 8-10 buckets on the pontoon boat; dives typically require  7 hours per day time commitment, plus  2 hours per dive to prepare reports to Amy Smagula.   Divers require financial compensation. While Fred can no longer lead this program, he expressed willingness to train a replacement.  Fred provided further recommendations for continuation of this program, including: Ted Aldrich, only person in state certified to train divers, is counting on income, is a top flight guy, and should be retained.  Others involved in 2009 include Al Tencati, Jim Noel, 4 people brought in through Ted Aldrich, related to divers (volunteer).  All names of people involved are in reports.  Not CLAPA people except for Al and Jim.  Fred has names of people who were in dive program from last year, but did not call because Ted A. had contacts.  TedA. has been doing training on the lake.  Fred has provided boat for Ted A’s training.  Bob Karney also very helpful.  Can confirm scheduled dives about a week before dive.  Need the smallest pool of volunteers possible for scheduling.  Dash unit worker gets paid.  Provider of pontoon boat must be willing to accept that their boat “gets trashed”.  Diving must take place not before 1.5 weeks after chem.  (3^rd week of June) and no later than mid-August.  Easier to see plant when bigger.

Chemical Treatment of Milfoil.  State aid for chemical treatment uncertain. $ 750 down payment for Aquatic control required.  Suggestion was made to request an extra line item for milfoil contribution on the dues form in an effort to defray costs.

Tax status, 501 3c.  Only one status allows people to take it as a charitable contribution.  At the moment, we don’t have any.  Have claimed we are 601 3c.  Tax status should be identified on the dues notice, but before we add line for voluntary contributions for milfoil treatment to dues, we want to make sure of tax status.  Bob Carney has arranged non-profit status for many organizations; Bev has consulted him on this, but further exploration of the CLAPA tax status may be needed. 

Lake Host Program.  The Board reviewed the 2009 and 2010 proposed budgets for the Lake Host Program.  The Board also reviewed requirement for the Program.  It is necessary to apply February or March for state co-funding.  The  level of guaranteed funding from the state is based on number of boats checked/recorded in the previous year.  Up to 500 boats to get $1500.  The program stipulates that the organizer – “point person” - can not be paid, although lake hosts can be compensated.  Lake hosts must receive training; that consists of 3.5 hours in Concord, N.H. To date, Ted Covert has served as the unpaid organizer (signing off on reports, sending them to the state)  and Fred Cochrane has been the program manager as well as one of several lake hosts.  Note that Fred Cochrane has only been compensated for his time spent on lake host duty.  The level of compensation is 12$/hour.  Last year – total inspections 492; no milfoil taken off; milfoil awareness appears high among lake users/boaters visiting from public access ramp.  Large traffic weekends were: 6/7, 7/4.7/5, 8/16, 8/12, 7/25, 7/12-13.

Discussion on the pros and cons of this program followed.  Benefits of the program include PR for CLAPA and prevention of spread of milfoil to other lakes. The observation was made that lakes without milfoil are in favor of this program.  Some lakes operate it Memorial Day and then July – August.  No others guarantee wages.  The Board felt that the portable toilet should continue to be available at the landing when/if the Lake Host program is in operation.  Some Board members discussed PR value in posting signage about milfoil awareness and CLAPA at the landing in conjunction with the portable toilet, possibly including requests for donations.

Drawbacks of the program include concerns about the program’s budget in the face of expected increases in other weed treatment/management expenses.  Ted Covert asked Bev Covert to express her opinion on the Lake Host program, and Bev expressed budget concerns.  Ted then read a letter he had solicited from Jim Noel concerning this program.  The letter expressed concerns about the budget. 

Tonya, Caroline, Jim, Amy and Elizabeth discussed/explored contingencies and strategies that would allow the program to continue possibly with a lower budget.  Suggestions included spending up to the state match, seeking volunteer lake hosts, requesting Board members donate time to serve as lake hosts on peak weekends, payment of lake hosts for holiday weekends, or maintaining lake host presence only on high volume weekends.  Before Tonya left the meeting, the Board supported continuation of the portable toilet in 2010.   In discussion after Tonya left , Fred proposed that the Lake Host program be discontinued due to burn out from the personal demands of this and other activities, lack of Board support, and due to his skepticism based on his experience, about reliance on unpaid labor.  The Board members in attendance decided that the portable toilet rental and Lake Host program decision should be linked.

Other Topics.  Board members discussed pros and cons of the idea of picking up trash at public beach as a voluntary effort good faith gesture, with coverage in the local paper to build awareness versus expecting taxes to take care of beach maintenance.

Ted Covert and Fred Cochrane announced their plan to attend the Jaffrey Selectman meeting on Monday, October  12.

Tonya suggested  that lake association info be posted on Town Beach bulletin board.  She further suggested using Steve’s Lettering (Steve Regopolous) to create a sign – and offering in kind membership in exchange for signs.