Town of Hinsdale, Massachusetts Home COVID19 CONTACT DEPARTMENTS AGENDAS & MINUTES NEWS CALENDAR MORE LAKE MANAGEMENT COMMITTEE Agendas, Minutes, and other Documents Find Next Meeting Lake Management Committee Meeting Agenda / December 7, 2021 at 4:00pm-5:45pm Meeting Remotely until further notice posted at 8:30am on 12/2/2021 PLEASE NOTE: The LMC has gone back to all remote meetings for the near future. To join remotely online or by telephone use Zoom.us. Please register in advance for the meeting at: https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZEtce2uqTMjHtVA4nC_JtigpPOAas6qhU0h. After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the meeting with an online link or by telephone with the phone number provided. Open meeting Secretary’s Report – Approve the November meeting minutes. Plunkett Reservoir Continue discussion around Northgate’s newly submitted proposal for RV Park at Camp Emerson. Open public comments on other issues not on agenda pertaining to Plunkett Reservoir Ashmere Lake Open public comments on any issues not on the agenda pertaining to Ashmere Lake Discuss the next LMC newsletter Discuss any topics related to lake herbicide treatments and Solitude Next meeting dates and future agenda items – Canceled Dec. 14, 2021 meeting. Any new business not reasonably anticipated before posting agenda Meeting Adjourn Lake Management Committee Meeting Agenda / November 18, 2021 at 4pm-5:45pm Meeting Remotely until further notice posted at 8:30am on 11/14/2021 PLEASE NOTE: The LMC is going back to all remote meetings for the near future. To join remotely online or by telephone use Zoom.us. Please register in advance for the meeting at: https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZ0tfuGoqzwvHdQcNxNOCnBb0-Opn7bYEnWo. After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the meeting with an online link or by telephone with the phone number provided. Open meeting Secretary’s Report – Approve the November meeting minutes Plunkett Reservoir Continue discussion around Northgate’s newly submitted proposal for RV Park at Camp Emerson – Compile LMC’s response to ZBA’s request for inputs Open public comments on other issues not on agenda pertaining to Plunkett Reservoir Ashmere Lake Open public comments on any issues not on the agenda pertaining to Ashmere Lake Discuss the next LMC newsletter Next meeting date Any new business not reasonably anticipated before posting agenda Meeting Adjourn Lake Management Committee Meeting Agenda / November 9, 2021 at 4pm-5:45pm Meeting Remotely until further notice posted at 9:50am on 11/04/2021 PLEASE NOTE: The LMC is going back to all remote meetings for the near future. To join remotely online or by telephone use Zoom.us. Please register in advance for the meeting at: https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZUpde2qrTIvHdXAcYKMZBBsm6ngR2CpPoK8. After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the meeting with an online link or by telephone with the phone number provided. PLEASE NOTE: This is a Zoom new link for the meeting so EVERYONE will need to reregister. You are invited to a Zoom meeting. When: Nov 9, 2021 04:00 PM Eastern Time (US and Canada) Register in advance for this meeting: https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZUpde2qrTIvHdXAcYKMZBBsm6ngR2CpPoK8 After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the meeting. Open meeting Secretary’s Report – Approve the September meeting minutes – Review remote meeting voting and protocol Plunkett Reservoir Continue discussion around Northgate’s newly submitted proposal for RV Park at Camp Emerson – Compile LMC’s response Any updates on the lake drawdown process Review algae bloom notification process Dredging the retention pond at Plunkett Open public comments on other issues not on agenda pertaining to Plunkett Reservoir Ashmere Lake Updates on Ashmere Island abandoned properties – The State’s plan to address the issue – Tabled from last meeting Provide results of meeting with State Representative Paul Mark regarding proposed development of Ashmere State Park. – Tabled from last meeting Open public comments on any issues not on the agenda pertaining to Ashmere Lake Discuss the next LMC newsletter – articles Continue discussions about safety/policing on our lakes. Any alternatives to severely limited Environmental Police? Continue discussions related to herbicide treatments at both lakes including: Review of 2021 process and compile recommended inputs for Select Board, Winter review process for updates to Plunkett and Ashmere OCC. Discuss using benthic barriers (mats) as an alternative to herbicides for treatment of invasive weeds in both lakes. Addressing the Milfoil in Retention Pond – Include In OCC. Set a winter schedule to address these and all other issues related to Solitude and the herbicide applications. Updates regarding sewer and water issues around the two lakes The committee’s self-assessment against goals Next meeting date Any new business not reasonably anticipated before posting agenda Meeting Adjourn The Lake Management Committee meeting scheduled for Tuesday October 12 at the Town Hall has been cancelled. Lake Management Committee Meeting Agenda / September 14, 2021 at 4pm-5:45pm Downstairs Community Room, 39 South St., Hinsdale MA 01235 posted at 8:40am on 9/09/2021 The public may attend this meeting in person. To join remotely online or by telephone use Zoom.us. Register in advance for meeting: https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZUqcuuqqT0uE9GYVFUkbdITWobLvVRT-g1t. After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the meeting. Open meeting Secretary’s Report - Approve previous minutes Discuss any updates related to herbicide treatments at both lakes Discuss the next LMC newsletter - articles Plunkett Reservoir Continue discussion around Northgate’s proposed RV Park at Camp Emerson – LMC’s response Update on the resident’s tax abatement – not due to low lake level Open public comments on other issues not on agenda pertaining to Plunkett Reservoir Ashmere Lake Discuss two recent incidents resulting in environmental police reports Updates on Ashmere Island abandoned properties – The States plan to address the issue Open public comments on any issues not on the agenda pertaining to Ashmere Lake Updates regarding sewer and water issues around the two lakes Provide results of meeting with State Representative Paul Mark regarding proposed development of Ashmere State Park Discuss using benthic barriers (mats) as an alternative to herbicides for treatment of invasive weeds in both lakes Any new business not reasonably anticipated before posting agenda Review LMC correspondence Meeting Adjourn Lake Management Committee Meeting Minutes / September 14, 2021 at 4pm-5:45pm Downstairs Community Room, 39 South St., Hinsdale MA 01235 posted at 6:50pm on 11/19/2021 Members present in-person: Monica Montferret (MM), Rick Koch (RK), and Cynthia Grippaldi (CG); Members present on Zoom: Bill Logue (BL); Members Absent: Paul McMahon (PM), : Andy Hagadorn (AH), Duane Bruce (DB) Others present: Caleb Mitchell Zoom meeting link: https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZUqcuuqqT0uE9GYVFUkbdITWobLvVRT-g1t Opened meeting at 4:04 pm. Secretary’s Report - Approved minutes from August 10, 2021 meeting with a change to update the acreage of Plunkett (73) and Ashmere (217). (Motion BL, seconded RK: Passed CG, MM, BL, RK) LMC will provide the select board with monthly approved minutes since the committee’s task is to be the sounding board for lake issues within the committee and communicate that back to the select board. Herbicide treatments at both lakes – In August, LMC sent an email and Bob Graves followed up with an email to Dominic Meringolo from Solitude. LMC was looking for information on the company’s post June treatment survey results, whether a second August treatment at Plunkett was necessary and if so, what herbicides would be used and lastly, to discuss a September treatment of phragmites at Ashmere and the recommended herbicide for that. To date there has been no communications from Solitude. The phragmites at the Skyview Grove Association beach have come back with an abundance after 3 years of non-treatment and LMC was hoping to get Solitude to perform this treatment in September, but first the herbicide must be determined and approved by Conservation Commission. (Picture of phragmites shown during meeting is included below) LMC newsletter – A template for the Newsletter was discussed. Members agreed the Newsletter should have an intro paragraph, typically three recurring sections, Stay Safe on Our Lakes, Protect Our Lakes, and Herbicide Treatments with occasional other topics and end with our LMC’s next meeting date. The Newsletter is almost ready and with the additions of some inputs from Bill and Monica/Andy it should be ready to publish. Plunkett Reservoir Continue discussion around Northgate’s proposed RV Park at Camp Emerson – Dave Prickett Consulting will be conducting an independent water and sewer investigation for the town. However, at this point the firm should be examining the Belmont watershed but will NOT be reviewing the Plunkett watershed. If this project proceeds, it will be up to Conservation Commission to request a study of the entire Belmont/Plunkett watershed in its entirety. Update on the resident’s tax abatement mentioned at a past meeting - The reason a Plunkett resident received a 9% decrease was NOT due to the low lake water levels. Ashmere Lake Discussed two incidents over the summer resulting in environmental police reports – On the South basin a report involved a speed boat swamping a kayaker who was fishing and became tangled in their fishing line. Boat return to ask for if help was needed, laughed at the struggling man, and then sped off. The other incident on the North basin involved a camp boat where the boat left their dock and drove intentionally through the large flock of geese with young goslings that could not fly. The boat then circled back hitting them again. A dead goose was later seen floating by a kayaker. LMC was told Hinsdale does not have harbormaster and they don’t plan to appoint one because the lakes are not great ponds. Rick will talk with his friend, Lee Hauge, the harbor master at Pontoosuc Lake to get more information. Updates on Ashmere Island abandoned properties – Tabled until Andy can report on this. Updates regarding sewer and water issues around the two lakes. It’s been 20 years since Phase III Sewer has been installed at the lakes The Sewer and Water Committee will try to determine if there is a list of users who converted from septic to sewer. No one is checking on Title V systems to see if they still meet code unless the house is being sold. Results of meeting with State Representative Paul Mark regarding proposed development of Ashmere State Park - Tabled until Andy can report. Discussed using benthic barriers (mats) as an alternative to herbicides for treatment of invasive weeds in both lakes. LMC will need to make a recommendation to Select Board to submit this idea to conservation commission for an OCC change for both lakes. In addition, the timing needs to be solidified in the OCCs so Solitude will be contractually obligated to report back to the town in timely intervals. Meeting Adjourned at 5:30PM. (Motion CG, Second RK; Passed CG, MM, RK, BL) Respectively submitted, Monica Montferret Lake Management Committee Meeting Agenda / August 10, 2021 at 4pm-5:45pm Downstairs Community Room, 39 South St., Hinsdale MA 01235 posted at 1:40pm on 8/04/2021 The public may attend this meeting in person. To join remotely online or by telephone use Zoom.us. Register in advance for meeting: https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZUqcuuqqT0uE9GYVFUkbdITWobLvVRT-g1t. After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the meeting. Open meeting Secretary’s Report - Approve previous minutes Discussion related to 2021 herbicide treatments at both lakes Discussion on August LMC newsletter - articles Plunkett Reservoir Continue discussion around Northgate’s proposed RV Park at Camp Emerson – LMC’s response Open public comments on other issues not on agenda pertaining to Plunkett Reservoir Ashmere Lake Discuss two recent incidents resulting in environmental police reports Open public comments on any issues not on the agenda pertaining to Ashmere Lake Review LMC correspondence Meeting Adjourned Click to read: Solitude Surveys of Ashmere and Plunkett June 2021 posted at 4:45 pm on 6/29/2021 Lake Management Committee Meeting Minutes / August 10, 2021 at 4pm-5:45pm Downstairs Community Room, 39 South St., Hinsdale MA 01235 posted at 10:30am on 11/08/2021 Members present in-person: Andy Hagadorn (AH), Monica Montferret (MM), Rick Koch (RK), Duane Bruce (DB), and Cynthia Grippaldi (CG); Members present on Zoom: Bill Logue (BL); Members Absent: Paul McMahon (PM), Others present: Holly Logue, Diane Eulian; On Zoom: Fred Wang Zoom meeting link: https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZUqcuuqqT0uE9GYVFUkbdITWobLvVRT-g1t Opened meeting at 4:03 pm. Secretary’s Report - Approved minutes from July 13, 2021. (Motion DB, seconded RK: Passed, AH, MM, DB, RK) All members except PM were sworn in before the meeting began. 2021 Herbicide Treatments at Both Lakes – There was no response from LMC’s email to Solitude. Results from the post June treatment survey are needed to determine if an August treatment is needed. LMC received several complaints from residents at Ashmere Lake following the June herbicide treatment. Scott Rodman complained about weeds in front of his residences at 115 White Birch Lane (this area was not a proposed treatment spot) and other members from his association stated weeds were reaching the surface at 144 and 150 White Birch Lane. On the north basin, in the area behind the island that is not normally treated but had a small patch of proposed treatment area identified, Mike Viner said the boat did not appear to enter the cove far enough to reach the identified area. LMC would like to investigate the use of a pleated mat to cover the tape grass near the Plunkett North shore. Fred Wang is willing to purchase the mats as a pilot program if permission is granted by Conservation Committee. Fred Wang reported that the big forest of milfoil by the town beach and Romacca marina has been treated and appears gone but the untreated milfoil in the settlement pond is very thick. If left untreated this area will keep spreading under the causeway to the larger lake. He did state there is a lot of likely naiad on the bottom of the lake about a foot high but soft. An ugly algae was seen in the quiet water areas of Plunkett. Plunkett Reservoir - Discussion around Northgate’s proposed RV Park at Camp Emerson - Members expressed concern about RV campers bringing motors boats to Hinsdale. At two of their other RV parks, Mi-Te-Jo on Milton Pond (684 acres) and Westward Shores on Lake Ossipee (3200 acres) their websites encourage campers to bring their boats and they provide trailer storage and rented dock slips. Both parks are smaller than the proposed 317 sites in Hinsdale and their lakes are much larger than Plunkett (73 acres) and Ashmere (217 acres). Even a few additional motorboats on Plunkett would be a safety issue. Only two boaters pulling skiers or tubers could legally operate simultaneously at Plunkett. Andy stated the Hinsdale Zoning Bylaws do not allow for a RV park. BL and Fred Wang would like Conservation Committee to get independent confirmation on the health of the Belmont and Plunkett watershed. Fred Wang stated the LMC should inform the town of the crisis with the Plunkett watershed and reservoir lake level as witnessed the previous two years. Plunkett was down 22 inches in September 2020 with the valve locked shut all summer and very low lake levels were experienced in 2019 also. RK said it must first be determined how much potable water is in Belmont before adding 1000 users. Fred Wang stated the town should not consider taking large amounts of additional water from the Plunkett Watershed which includes the Belmont Reservoir when the needs of Plunkett Reservoir were not met the previous two years to maintain the lake at its normal level. It was stated this could affect the tax base and result in possible lawsuits from residents. Other lake related concerns are contamination of the Hinsdale ponds, rivers and lakes with invasive species. No Lake Management Plan has ever been conducted for Plunkett Reservoir, and finally the increased boat traffic and foot traffic at the Ashmere State Boat Ramp and the Ashmere Island State Park. Ashmere Lake – Time did not allow for a discussion on the two recent incidents resulting in environmental police reports. August LMC newsletter – Articles discussed for inclusion: the Solitude Midsummer Survey Results, Fertilizer Impacts from CG, and Boating Safety. In addition, members should send concerns with the proposed RV park centered around the Hinsdale rivers/lakes to AH, who will compile them. BL stated what he felt were the two most important ones. The need for a hydrologist to evaluate the Plunkett Reservoir watershed and motorboat safety (detailed above). Articles for the newsletter will be approved by submitting to town manager and select board chairperson. Meeting Adjourned at 5:41PM. (Motion CG, Second DB; Passed AH, MM, DB, RK, BL) Respectively submitted, Monica Montferret Lake Management Committee Meeting Agenda / July 13, 2021 at 4pm-5:45pm Downstairs Community Room, 39 South St., Hinsdale MA 01235 posted at 6:00 pm on 07/08/2021 The public may attend this meeting in person. To join remotely online or by telephone using Zoom.us. Register in advance for the meeting: https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZUqcuuqqT0uE9GYVFUkbdITWobLvVRT-g1t . After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the meeting. Open meeting Secretary’s Report - Approve previous minutes Follow-up discussion on the July 1, 2021 herbicide applications. Review herbicide treatment OCC’s changes before Conservation Commission Follow up on newsletter communications. Discuss the next issue. Discuss the status of sewer compliance near both the lakes. Plunkett Reservoir The Beach and Boat Launch / Plunkett Beach Committee Plunkett Dam / Spillway update Open public comments on other issues not on agenda pertaining to Plunkett Reservoir Ashmere Lake Update Ashmere Island / abandoned properties / DCR discussion Steps for second Solitude treatment Open public comments on any issues not on the agenda pertaining to Ashmere Lake Discuss the status of sewer compliance near both the lakes. Discuss proposed RV Camp at Camp Emerson Discussion of LAPA West algae bloom program Review LMC correspondence and discuss any important matters for LMC that arose after the agenda was posted Meeting Adjourned Lake Management Committee Meeting Minutes / July 13, 2021 at 4pm-5:50pm Downstairs Community Room, 39 South St., Hinsdale MA 01235 posted at 7:45pm on 8/15/2021 Members present in-person: Andy Hagadorn (AH), Monica Montferret (MM), Rick Koch (RK), Duane Bruce (DB), and Cynthia Grippaldi (CG); Members present on Zoom: Paul McMahon (PM), Bill Logue (BL) Others present: Melinda Walton, Marie Cole, Ron Cole, Gary Moquin, Donna Coughlin, Mark Pierson, John Burrows, Craig Walton, Valerie Campbell, Joseph Horton; On zoom: Jodie Oimette, Steve Wambach Zoom meeting link: https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZUqcuuqqT0uE9GYVFUkbdITWobLvVRT-g1t Opened meeting at 4pm. Secretary’s Report - Approved minutes from June 8, 2021. (Motion DB, seconded RK: Passed, AH, MM, DB, RK, Zoom: BL, PM) On July 1, 2021, both lakes were treated for herbicide applications. This treatment was delayed two weeks from the initial date. Bob Graves contacted the Solitude district leader and received good feedback and was hopeful for better communications in the future. The letter sent to Select Board in May addressing all the recommended changes to the OOC’s was condensed and the committee members agreed to include one addition item. LMC would like to determine if milfoil in the retention pond can be treated. This might require a new OOC if retention pond is not considered part of Plunkett Reservoir. The Plunkett Reservoir OCC will be rewritten. The LMC newsletter currently has 225 registered emails and some of the areas without associations are better represented. The newsletters have about a 70% open rate with a 14% click rate. AH was told that to the best of everyone’s knowledge all homes on the lakes are hooked to sewer. However, it does not appear there is documentation to confirm this. There is at least one Title V system not hooked up at Ashmere. Ashmere Island also does not have sewer. Larry Turner had performed testing of the gravity hookups to discover sump pumps that are hooked the sewer. It was reported that at Ashmere Landings the sump pumps go into the sewer. Plunkett Reservoir The Plunkett Beach Committee - They are not meeting and have no agenda. AH will ask DPW to install a post for the Zebra mussel sign to be posted at the boat launch. Plunkett Dam / Spillway Update – Bob Graves is trying to get an engineering study completed with limited town funds before applying for grants. Open public comments – Gary Moquin asked about the maintenance status of grinder pumps. It was reported that the town has resumed maintaining, repairing, and replacing them and spares have been ordered along with the larger grinders for the pumping stations. Ashmere Lake Update Ashmere Island / abandoned properties / DCR discussion – was tabled Steps for second Solitude treatment – also tabled No public comments. RV Camp Proposal at Camp Emerson – There were many residents from the Plunkett Reservoir area who came to the meeting to voice their concerns with the RV Camp Proposal. The schedule and process for the planning board meetings were explained and people were encouraged to attend. AH welcomed written comments via mail or email be sent to LMC or Planning / Select Boards. LMC will copy and distribute any letters/emails received then distribute them to the Bob Graves who will distribute to the Planning and Select Boards and any other departments involved. Bill Logue wants the town to request any environmental impact studies for this project and to clearly understand how those impacts could drive cost for the town. As these studies are conducted, he wants LMC to review closely, especially those related to the lake’s watershed. He encouraged residents to speak and have their comments included in the LMC minutes. Marie Cole brought up many issues including the poor drainage from Longview to Michael’s Rd to Bonnie Dr. and how during heavy storms the silt and water runoff enters the lakes. She felt the 300 concrete RV pads would further contribute to runoff issues. She raised concerned about the kayaks coming from all over the country and the possible spread of invasive species and zebra mussels. The community beach is often maxed out with 30 local children. This is a commercial enterprise and the little strip of land that Emerson has on Plunkett is not commercial. Marie wanted to understand what is in it for this town and would like to see the tax assessment analysis. Since many buildings would be torn down, she did not expect a huge tax benefit from this project for the town. Jodie Oimette was concerned about boat and water safety. The visiting people’s lack of knowledge of lake rules and practices would be an issue. She talked of the trash that is left behind by current visitors. She cleans it up now and cannot imagine what that would look like with so many visitors to the area. She talked of the silt and runoff into the lake. Jodie felt this proposal would compromise the quality of our lake and the environment. Additionally, she did not see a large tax break to make it worth our while. She stated the neighborhood is made up of generations of families and this proposal could commercialize our little town. There will be noise issues and traffic issues. Her safety concerns were speeding, safety at the causeway for fishermen and pollution. This project will bring a whole lot of problems and she does not believe the benefits to the town will be worth it. Andy Hagadorn stated he was worried about how this project could tax the town’s infrastructure and its residents’ quality of life. He has questions about the revenue benefits to the town. Craig Walton read a letter and that is attached to these minutes. To summarize, he was concerned about the pedestrian safety and traffic congestion in the neighborhood, the overcrowding at public beach resulting in increased liability for the town, the negative environmental impacts to Plunkett Reservoir and Welch Brook, with the preservation of the quality of the lake being paramount. He finished with, “The general infrastructure of the Town of Hinsdale is not suitable for an additional 600 transient visitors who have no financial, moral or ethical ties to the community. The additional expenses to the town for police, fire, emergency, road maintenance, security for Belmont Reservoir, environmental impact, water usage and sewer disposal as well as trash far outweigh any financial advantage to the town. Duane Bruce questioned Northgate’s marina use and hopes the planning board will not let them get away with that ambiguous use statement? Valerie Campbell stated Plunkett is not a healthy lake as it is. AH replied that the town is trying to rectify the invasive weed issue. Steve Wagenbach mentioned it’s bigger than the impact on the lake. It is the impact on the community also. He would like to see this property go to someone who would be invested in the community. Joseph Horton clarified that the Belmont Reservoir Road is owned by Camp Emerson. His safety concern centered around Belmont and the access point, camper trespassing and how recreational vehicles currently access that area. He mentioned the narrow roads and difficult corners, even coming off Rt. 8, that will need to be navigated around to get to the campground. He feels it is a major traffic infrastructure problem. He reported that after an accident with a camp motorboat pulling a tuber, the environmental police told him the size of Plunkett Reservoir legally only allows for two motorboats to operate simultaneously while pulling a skier/tuber. John Burrows, who lives directly across from Camp Emerson, stated this project is too big for the size of the neighborhood. It looks to him like they will be removing a lot of trees. He cannot fathom over 1000 vehicles a day going in and out of that one driveway. Bill Logue asked if Northgate is a franchisee or the owner? The documentation states they are family-owned with 19 other campgrounds. The town website will be kept up to date and residents were encouraged to visit it often for updates. Discussion of LAPA West algae bloom program was tabled Meeting Adjourned at 5:38pm. (Motion CG, Second BL; passed) Respectfully submitted, Monica Montferret Lake Management Committee Meeting Agenda / June 8, 2021 at 4pm-5:50pm Downstairs Community Room, 39 South St., Hinsdale MA 01235 posted at 2:15pm on 6/3/2021 Please note: the public may attend this meeting via Zoom.us online or by telephone. Register in advance for this meeting: https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZUqcuuqqT0uE9GYVFUkbdITWobLvVRT-g1t After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the meeting. Open meeting Secretary’s Report - Approve previous minutes Updates on Annual Town Meeting requests Follow up on the 2021 herbicide process Review the first newsletter progress and preparation for distribution Welcome – Submittal/Publish Date Herbicide treatment – Bulletin on June 8/9th ATM lake management articles Other Plunkett Reservoir Discuss the Plunkett spillway/dam updates The Beach and Boat Launch Open public comments on other issues not on agenda pertaining to Plunkett Reservoir Ashmere Lake Discussion of abandoned properties on Ashmere Island and at other possible locations Open public comments on any issues not on the agenda pertaining to Ashmere Lake Discuss status of sewer compliance around both of the lakes. Review LMC correspondence and discuss any important matters for LMC that arose after the agenda was posted Meeting Adjourned Lake Management Committee Meeting Minutes / June 8, 2021 at 4pm-5:50pm Downstairs Community Room, 39 South St., Hinsdale MA 01235 posted at 1pm on 7/18/2021 Members present in-person: Andy Hagadorn (AH), Monica Montferret (MM), Bill Logue (BL), and Rick Koch (RK) Members present on Zoom: Duane Bruce (DB), Cynthia Grippaldi (CG) Member Absent: Paul McMahon (PM) Others present: Stan Walczyk, Holly Logue, Gunther Breitmaier, Jeff & Tara Reynolds, and Gary Moquin Zoom meeting link: https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZUqcuuqqT0uE9GYVFUkbdITWobLvVRT-g1t Opened meeting at 4:09 pm Secretary’s Report – Approved minutes from May 11, 2021. (Motion BL, seconded RK: Passed, AH, MM, BL, RK) A Lake Management email bulletin, with the June herbicide treatment date and public notice post, will be emailed to the public when the date is confirmed from Solitude. Survey maps and treatment maps will be distributed when available. Feedback can be solicited. Requesting changes from the Conservation Commission to the orders of conditions are necessary to receive timely responses from Solitude. The town newsletter and the lake associations did a good job getting members to join our newsletter’s email list. Areas that are lacking don’t have lake association and include people from the Lenore Drive area and the area near George Schnopp Road and Shore Drive. Efforts will be made to get the word out in those areas. MM provided information to those present detailing the Annual Town Meeting’s Lake Management budget items and Article 15 which seeks funding for the second, August herbicide treatment at Plunkett. Plunkett Reservoir It was mentioned that the spillway has been cleaned up by the DPW and the brush and trees downstream have been cleared. Also a tree near the spillway was removed. AH will contact the chair of the Plunkett Beach Committee. A joint meeting to understand their agenda and who is monitoring the public areas, the beach and boat launch, is needed. Gary Moquin and LMC members commented about the need for beach and boat launch rules, Zebra mussels/boat cleaning signage and signs stating basic boating rules, i.e., proper boat travel direction. Ashmere Lake AH and PM surveyed the south basin Ashmere Island properties. It appeared there were two rough, abandoned cottages. They could not tell if there is a pollution element entering the lake. AH has been in contact with DCR about this issue and they are investigating what should happen. There are also 2 properties abandoned and collapsed on the north basin of the lake. These properties would fall under the town’s jurisdiction. AH will talk with the Hinsdale Sewer Department to determine the state of compliance of non-sewer users around the lakes. Meeting Adjourned at 5:44PM. (BL motion, RK seconded: Passed unanimously) Respectively submitted, Monica Montferret Lake Management Committee Remote Meeting Agenda / May 11, 2021 at 4pm-5:50pm posted at 10:30am on 5/7/2021 Remote Zoom Meeting, Hinsdale MA 01235 Please note: the public may attend this meeting via Zoom.us online or by telephone. Register in advance for this meeting: https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZUqcuuqqT0uE9GYVFUkbdITWobLvVRT-g1t After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the meeting. Open meeting Secretary’s Report - Approve previous minutes Updates on the Lake Management’s budget requests for the Annual Town Meeting Review the first newsletter progress and preparation for distribution Follow up on the 2021 herbicide process including contract, sign location mapping Plunkett Reservoir Discuss the Plunkett spillway/dam updates Open public comments on other issues not on agenda pertaining to Plunkett Reservoir Ashmere Lake Open public comments on any issues not on the agenda pertaining to Ashmere Lake Discussion of abandoned properties on Ashmere Island and at other possible locations on both lakes. Discuss status of sewer compliance around both of the lakes. Update on returning to in-person, town hall meetings beginning in June. Review LMC correspondence and discuss any important matters for LMC that arose after the agenda was posted Meeting Adjourned Lake Management Committee Remote Meeting Minutes / May 11, 2021 at 4pm-5:50pm posted at 1pm on 7/18/2021 Remote Zoom Meeting, Hinsdale MA 01235 Members present on Zoom: Andy Hagadorn (AH), Monica Montferret (MM), Duane Bruce (DB), Cynthia Grippaldi (CG), Bill Logue (BL), Rick Koch (RK) and Paul McMahon (PM). Others present: Vivian Mason Zoom meeting link: https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZUqcuuqqT0uE9GYVFUkbdITWobLvVRT-g1t Opened meeting at 4:04pm Secretary’s Report – Approved minutes from April 8, 2021, March 30, 2021 and February 9, 2021. (Motion BL, seconded CG: Passed unanimously) The Hinsdale Annual Town Meeting will be June 9, 2021. Bob Graves asked for a short explanation for the warrant article requesting funds for the second herbicide treatment at Plunkett Reservoir. The plan is to publish the first Lake Management Newsletter the week or so before the herbicide treatments of the lakes on June 15, 2021. The newsletter would include the poster notice, preseason survey and treatment maps provided by Solitude. MM will publish email bulletins/newsletters and other members will provide the articles. A Mailchimp account has been created and residents can sign up and maintain their own contact information. A link for signups has been placed on the Lake Management page of the town website, hinsdalemass.com, under the Departments/Lake Management tab. 187 email addresses have been collected. The herbicide posters notices will be placed in sheet protectors and attached to new stakes with wood backing built by AH. They will be distributed to members who will post in their areas on June 6th, 11am at town hall. Members should review the list of current posting location for each lake and provide feedback to AH. DB will email a notice to the camps and the campground with tentative herbicide treatment date, June 15th. Plunkett Reservoir Bob Graves had applied to FEMA for a grant to repair/replace the spillway. Vivian Mason noted they were told Hinsdale would not receive a grant because not enough people downstream would be affected if the spillway were to give way. Bob will continue to look for other grant options AH suggested purchasing a remote camera and mounting it outside to capture the water level daily. He will research it more and discuss with the select board. Ashmere Lake AH contacted DCR to discuss the abandoned properties on the South basin island of Ashmere Lake. They appreciated LMC looking into this and asked to be informed of any abandoned properties/debris. Vivian Mason noted an ATM article was suggested to fund dealing with dilapidated properties. She stated the BOH requested it be removed because the town could be liable if contaminants or other hazards were discovered. AH noted that the report from the fish tissue sampling that occurred last Fall will not likely be released this Spring as previously stated. The state has instituted some rule changes on data releases. Lake Managements inputs were not published in the 2020 Town Report. Vivian Mason apologized and said she would try to rectify the error. Meeting Adjourned at 5:39PM. (RK motion, BL seconded: Passed unanimously) Respectively submitted, Monica Montferret Lake Management Committee Remote Meeting Agenda / April 13, 2021 at 4pm-5:50pm posted at 1pm on 4/8/2021 Remote Zoom Meeting, Hinsdale MA 01235 Please note: the public may attend this meeting via Zoom.us online or by telephone. Register in advance for this meeting: https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZUqcuuqqT0uE9GYVFUkbdITWobLvVRT-g1t After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the meeting. Open meeting Secretary’s Report - Approve previous minutes Plunkett Reservoir Discuss the Plunkett spillway/dam emergency Open public comments on other issues not on agenda pertaining to Plunkett Reservoir Ashmere Lake Open public comments on any issues not on the agenda pertaining to Ashmere Lake Discuss any changes to the Lake Management’s budget requests for the Annual Town Meeting Follow up on the 2021 herbicide process Take steps to build out our mailing list/ contact info for our newsletter/ notification network. Establish sign posting protocols and lake locations. Develop a purchase supply list. Discussion of abandoned properties on Ashmere Island and at other possible locations on both lakes. Discuss status of sewer compliance around both of the lakes. Review LMC correspondence and discuss any important matters for LMC that arose after the agenda was posted Meeting Adjourned Lake Management Committee Remote Meeting Minutes / April 13, 2021 at 4pm-5:50pm posted at 10am on 5/18/2021 Members present on Zoom: Andy Hagadorn (AH), Monica Montferret (MM), Duane Bruce (DB), Cynthia Grippaldi (CG), Bill Logue (BL), Rick Koch (RK) and Paul McMahon (PM) Others present: Fred Sears (FS), Paul Bazanchuk Zoom meeting link: https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZUqcuuqqT0uE9GYVFUkbdITWobLvVRT-g1t Open meeting at 4:01 Secretary’s Report – no minutes to approve. Plunkett Reservoir During the thaw, large chunks of ice were pushed across the lake and likely the cause of the damaged batter boards. AH explained that Bob Graves applied for a grant to repair the spillway. DB asked the committee to send the Select Board a 2-part letter of support from the LMC. Part 1. thank and support Fred Wang for all his help and meticulous observations and information that he has provided to the LMC and town. Part 2. since his information is beneficial to the town, he should be given access to the dam and spillway to continue his lake water level measurements. The committee feels Fred was unjustly treated and his actions have been educated and identified several critical issues and problems. He tried to warn the town by sending the town a recommendation to lower the lake level below the batter boards expecting a large snow melt and high damaging winds. It was his observation that first alerted the town of the damaged batter boards. DB and BL will work to craft the letter. BL stated we need a public statement stating the LMC is not responsible for the lake level and is not participating in the dam/spillway management. To date LMC has not received any gate logs or SOPs. The Plunkett lake monitoring is now done by the Hinsdale DPW. RK will reach out to talk with Bob Graves to communicate our concerns directly. The LMC is moving forward with plans to publish a periodic newsletter. Committee members need to get their association’s contact info. LMC will create a mailchimp signup form and plans to send the signup link out to camps, associations, through the towns newsletter list and add to the town website. MM will investigate mailchimp and set up the signup form. PM and AH plan to access the abandoned properties by the island near the Ashmere Lake dam and other properties around the lakes. AH will contact Dom Sacco. In addition, the LMC should follow up an any lake dwellings not hooked to sewers. AH will review the local and state mandates. This is all part of our committee’s commitment to work towards improving our lakes water quality. Committee members should review the poster sign locations around both lakes to determine if sign locations are adequate. AH will purchase more stakes and add plywood for behind the 8x11 posters. MM will look into “Lake Closure” sandwich poster signs for the causeways. These signs are used for herbicide treatments and lake closures such as algae blooms. Meeting Adjourned at 5:37PM. (PM motion, RK second) Respectively submitted, Monica Montferret Lake Management Committee Remote Meeting Agenda / March 30, 2021 at 4pm-5:50pm posted at 12:30pm on 3/25/2021 Please note: the public may attend this meeting via Zoom.us online or by telephone. When: Mar 30, 2021 04:00 PM Eastern Time (US and Canada) Register in advance for this meeting: https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZUodu2trT4tHdTXNE9xOaXdI5tyJhia3c2k After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the meeting. •Open meeting •Approve LMC meeting minutes provided by the secretary. •Continue discussions on this year’s herbicide treatment at both lakes. Dominic Meringolo from Solitude will join the meeting to answer questions or concerns pertaining to upcoming herbicide treatments. LMC will review proposed changes in Solitude’s contracts reflecting multiple treatments. Committee to create a list of recommendations to pass on to the Select Board. •Discuss lake management’s public communication efforts including BOH’s recent request for LMC involvement. •Discuss any Lake Management ATM budget requests updates. •Open public comments on any issues not on the agenda. •Review LMC correspondence and discuss any important matters for LMC that arose after the agenda was posted. •Meeting Adjourned Lake Management Committee Remote Meeting Minutes / March 30, 2021 at 4pm-5:50pm posted at 10am on 5/18/2021 Remote Zoom Meeting, Hinsdale MA 01235 Members present on Zoom: Andy Hagadorn (AH), Monica Montferret (MM), Duane Bruce (DB), Cynthia Grippaldi (CG), Rick Koch (RK) and Paul McMahon (PM). Members absent: Bill Logue (BL), Others present: Fred Wang, (FW), Caleb Mitchell, Dominic Meringolo (Solitude) This meeting’s Zoom links: https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZUodu2trT4tHdTXNE9xOaXdI5tyJhia3c2k Opened meeting at 4:03 PM OLD BUSINESS Dominic Meringolo from Solitude joined our meeting to discuss the herbicide treatment process and answer question. The penciled in date for this year’s first herbicide treatment is June 15, 2021. Dominic agreed that increasing the notification timeline is possible. Solitude will do the early spring survey two weeks before the intended treatment date. This allows them to prepare the survey and application maps and provide them to Conservation Commissions a week before the treatment date. They will also submit draft abutter/poster notices and the newspaper ad 2 to 3 weeks before for proofing. Solitude sends out the public notice to the newspaper two weeks before intended date. Last summer, LMC received several resident’s complaints concerning a hardy nuance tape grass and a bladderwort species that were taking up the whole water column in the North cove. In addition, along the shoreline of the rest of the lake, an increased abundance of brittle naiad carpeted the bottom surface with a large bushy biomass. Should the town choose to treat Plunkett for the non-native spiney brittle naiad, the tape grass and bladderwort, then a second late July/early August treatment would be needed. This requires an Orders of Condition, OCC, change. In addition, tape grass requires a low concentration of copper-based chemical that will need approval by Conservation Commission. This chemical will be used in combination with the Diquat to target these three species. If the Phragmites treatment is necessary at Ashmere then the chemical will need to be approved by Conservation. Dominic talked about the need to balance between beneficial plant life and controlling non-native and invasive plants. Left untreated they will out compete native plant species and take over. The goal is to manage native plants only as much as necessary to allow the safe uses of the lakes such as swimming and boating. FW asked a question, Should the settlement pond should be surveyed for milfoil, could this be the source? It’s not believed to be part of the Reservoir but possible to do if allowed. Milfoil is often called a phosphorus pipeline. Its roots pull phosphorus from the sediment and disburse it into the water. Dominic best recommendation for Plunkett is to also treat last week in July/first week in August. CG asked about algae blooms seen after herbicide treatment. Dominic responded that this is possible, especially if the lake is not treated regularly and there is a large biomass present. The treatment will kill off the biomass which then decomposes and adds to the nutrients in the sediment and water column. The goal is to keep the plant life density under control and to treat earlier in the growing season, so the biomass is lower. Dominic noted the best way to deal with algae blooms is to regularly monitor algae population and water nutrients, mainly phosphorus levels. Dominic recommended it’s important to do water quality studies in addition to algae monitoring. Dominic stated he could revise his FY22 Plunkett contract for a second treatment. Basically, a firm price on the first treatment and an optional second treatment that will use the survey to decide the herbicide application acreage. A second treatment for Ashmere this year is basically covered by the FY22 contract so that one will not change much until next fiscal year. We ask Dominic for contract submittal soon to incorporate into ATM budget. The Plunkett lake level is refilling and currently about 8 inches below the top of the boards. With the lake levels up it does not appear the town will be modifying the spillway boards. However, FW indicated the boards appear to be damaged some now that the ice has come off the lakes. LMC will ask the Select Board to discontinue the herbicide treatment letters to direct abutters. Electronic notifications, sandwich boards and upgraded signage should be more effective and reach more people. MM attended the recent BOH meeting and offered to help them with posting signs at public locations around the lake. LMC will also make our email list available to notify resident about health concerns such as an algae bloom. PM would like to address the issue of abandoned properties around the lake and be proactive about clean up. This item will be added to future meeting agenda. Another add, will be a review of lake homes not on sewer. The committee agreed to continue to have a Zoom only meeting in April Approve LMC meeting minutes for March 9, 2021 with one date typo change. (RK motion, PM second; passed: AH, PM, RK, CG, MM, DB-lost sound) Meeting adjourned at 6:08 pm. Respectfully submitted, Monica Montferret To read a summary of the March 9 phone call with Dominic Meringolo, click here. Lake Management Committee Remote Meeting Agenda / March 9, 2021 at 4pm-5:50pm posted at 8:25pm on 3/3/2021 Please note: the public may attend this meeting via Zoom.us online or by telephone. Topic: Hinsdale Lake Management Meeting Time: Mar 9, 2021 04:00 PM Eastern Time (US and Canada) https://us02web.zoom.us/j/89134851039?pwd=amNOektyY3JQUnBhNVhOdkhtQnhSZz09 Meeting ID: 891 3485 1039 Passcode: 213183 Open meeting Secretary’s Report - Approve previous minutes OLD BUSINESS Discuss Lake Management’s budget requests for the Annual Town Meeting Continue to address the Solitude herbicide process and develop recommendations Discuss public communication efforts for Lake Management issues, (newsletter, email list…) Plunkett Reservoir Discuss updates with the Plunkett Dam and Spillway operations Discuss lake water levels Open public comments on other issues not on agenda pertaining to Plunkett Reservoir Ashmere Lake Open public comments on any issues not on the agenda pertaining to Ashmere Lake NEW BUSINESS Review LMC correspondence and discuss any important matters for LMC that arose after the agenda was posted Meeting Adjourned Lake Management Committee Remote Meeting Minutes / March 9, 2021 at 4pm-5:50pm posted at 9:25am on 5/3/2021 Remote Zoom Meeting, Hinsdale MA 01235 Members present on Zoom: Andy Hagadorn (AH), Monica Montferret (MM), Duane Bruce (DB), Cynthia Grippaldi (CG), Bill Logue (BL), Rick Koch (RK) and Paul McMahon (PM) during the early meeting Others present: Fred Wang, (FW) This meeting’s Zoom links: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/89134851039?pwd=amNOektyY3JQUnBhNVhOdkhtQnhSZz09 https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZIpcOCgrjIpG9cJNkGQLJYgLkdyZE8SUDzC Opened meeting at 4:00 PM Secretary’s Report – Minutes approved for February 25, 2021. Motion DB, 2nd RK - Members polled in favor RK, CG, BL, DB, AH, PM and MM. OLD BUSINESS Lake Management’s Annual Town Meeting budget requests were submitted to Bob Graves. AH and MM will attend the joint meeting between the Select Board and the Finance Committee on 3/13/21 at 11:30 AM. AH sent emails to Select Board and Finance Committee in support of an engineering study to address the upgrades and redesign of the current spillway at Plunkett. AH will ask Bob Graves if the 2020 Dam Safety report is available. BL and FW will reach out to local engineering firms for advice on the spillway needs and they will seek copies of recent Dam Safety inspection reports from the state. MM will forward joint budget meeting email to LMC. MM recapped an hour-long call with Dominic Meringolo* from Solitude to discuss ways to treat the abundance of weeds seen last year at Plunkett Reservoir and to discuss the FY22 contract with possible modifications for single/multiple treatments. It was noted during the meeting that the chemical suggested to treat tape grass in the northern cove does not seem like one that would be considered acceptable due to fish concerns. Dominic accepted LMC’s request to attend a Zoom meet in March or early April with the entire committee. Attached is a brief summary of the phone conversation. About an hour into the meeting, three rude and disruptive people showed up and the Zoom meeting was shut down. All the original attendees were emailed a new Zoom meeting notice and shortly thereafter the meeting continued. AH has had ongoing talks with Bob Graves concerning a public communication pipeline for Lake Management issues. The plan is for LMC to have their own notification platform and build a contact list using MailChimp. Once established, LMC will use for periodic newsletters, emergency notifications such as algae blooms, and important updates such as herbicide applications. Meeting adjourned at 6:01 pm. (CG motion, RK Second) Respectfully submitted, Monica Montferret * To read the notes from the phone call, click here. Lake Management Committee Remote Zoom Meeting Agenda / February 25, 2021 at 4pm-5:50pm posted at 4:45pm on 2/22/2021 Please note: the public may attend this meeting via Zoom online or by telephone Topic: Lake Management Committee Meeting Time: Feb 25, 2021 04:00 PM Eastern Time (US and Canada) Join Zoom Meeting https://us02web.zoom.us/j/6378217520?pwd=Mms3SjZwaGh4K3JITkdqVlNiZ0ZUUT09 Meeting ID: 637 821 7520 Passcode: 198082 One tap mobile. +16468769923,,6378217520#,,,,*198082# US (New York) +1 646 876 9923 US (New York) Open meeting Secretary’s Report – Review and approve previous minutes OLD BUSINESS Discuss Solitude herbicide treatments at Ashmere and Plunkett. Decide on a list of recommendations to forward to the Select Board. Discuss the newsletter/inputs/distribution list Update on the Lake Management’s ATM budget requests submitted on 02/22/21 NEW BUSINESS Review LMC correspondence and any new business not reasonably anticipated before posting agenda Meeting Adjourned Lake Management Committee Remote Zoom Meeting Minutes / February 25, 2021 at 4pm-5:50pm posted at 10am on 5/6/2021 Remote Zoom Meeting, Hinsdale MA 01235 Members present on Zoom: Andy Hagadorn (AH), Monica Montferret (MM), Duane Bruce (DB), Cynthia Grippaldi (CG), Bill Logue (BL), and Rick Koch (RK). Not present: Paul McMahon (PM) Others present: Fred Wang, (FW) This meeting’s Zoom link: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/6378217520?pwd=Mms3SjZwaGh4K3JITkdqVlNiZ0ZUUT09 Opened meeting at 4:04 PM Secretary’s Report – Minutes approved for January 12, 2021. Motion RK, 2nd CG - Members poled in favor RK, CG, DB, AH, and MM. BL & PM not present. OLD BUSINESS The LMC discussed some changes they would like to implement with herbicide treatments at Ashmere and Plunkett. MM took an action to contact Bob Graves concerning how expenses have been billed in past years. She will also contact Dominic Meringolo at Solitude to get a better understanding of Solitude’s typical timeline for the herbicide treatment process, more information around an August treatment at Plunkett and a few financial clarifications. RK will talk with Caleb Mitchell concerning changes/clarification to OCC notification process and how best to document them. The LMC decided they would prefer to create their own newsletter rather than include articles in the town wide newsletter. A main factor in this decision was needing to create an email database for other times when lake residents need to be notified, such as the algae blooms that occurred the previous years. The Town did not want Code Red used for algae bloom notification when asked. AH and CG will take the lead on looking into Mail Chimp, its forms and the logistics needed to initially set up an email database. The LMC was provided with the attached copy of the Lake Management Budget Worksheet submitted by MM on 2/22/21. Meeting adjourned at 5:55pm Respectfully submitted, Monica Montferret Lake Management Committee Remote Zoom Meeting Agenda / February 9, 2021 at 4pm posted at 5:25pm on 2/3/2021 Open meeting - Lake Management Committee has invited you to a Zoom meeting. When: Feb 9, 2021 04:00 PM Eastern Time (US and Canada) Register in advance for this meeting: https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZ0sdO2gqzoqGd3jOf1JqV-tnw-cxrLb5m_e Meeting ID. 891 3485 1039 Passcode 213183 Please note: the public may attend this meeting via Zoom online or by telephone. Zoom attendees must register the first time attending a LMC meeting via Zoom, so please do this a few minutes early. After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the meeting. Open meeting Secretary’s Report – Review and approve previous minutes OLD BUSINESS Discuss and finalize Lake Management’s ATM budget requests Discuss Solitude herbicide treatments at Ashmere and Plunkett. Decide on a list of recommendations to forward to the Select Board. Follow up on the joint meeting with the Select Board Plunkett Reservoir Updates on the Plunkett spillway, drawdown, and gate valve operations Open public comments on other issues not on agenda pertaining to Plunkett Reservoir Ashmere Lake Open public comments on any issues not on the agenda pertaining to Ashmere Lake NEW BUSINESS Discuss joining LAPA West Review LMC correspondence and any new business not reasonably anticipated before posting agenda Meeting Adjourned Lake Management Committee Remote Zoom Meeting Minutes / February 9, 2021 at 4pm posted at 10am on 5/18/2021 Members present on Zoom: Andy Hagadorn (AH), Monica Montferret (MM), Duane Bruce (DB), Cynthia Grippaldi (CG), Paul McMahon, (PM), Bill Logue (BL) and on phone: Rick Koch (RK) (4:40). Others present: Fred Wang, (FW) This meeting’s Zoom link: https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZ0sdO2gqzoqGd3jOf1JqV-tnw-cxrLb5m_e Opened meeting at 4:09 PM Secretary’s Report – No minutes to approve today. The Lake Management’s budget from the previous year was provided and the items reviewed. The Committee is considering joining LAPA. Those dues are $100 and will be budgeted from LMC funds. We are waiting for Solitude’s FY22 inputs. Slight increases for Ashmere but a more significant one expected if a second herbicide application is pursued at Plunkett. LMC recommends the town returns to yearly dredging of the Plunkett settling pond. Two contractors were contacted for quotes and that item was level funded from previous years. In the future, we will need to discuss the more significant cleaning of the silt from the retention pond which is currently scheduled for $100,000 capital expense in FY2025. The causeway side of the lake has significantly filled with silt washing through the culvert. However, for now, the committee feels the spillway redesign is the higher priority capital expense compared with the major dredging of Plunkett retention pond. The solidified budget numbers need to be submitted to Select Board and Finance Committee by 2/22/2021. LMC proposed sending two letters off to the Select Board. First letter recommends the Plunkett spillway batter boards be repaired soon before the lake starts to refill and removal of the bushes/trees from the spillway basin. LMC was told this work would likely be done/overseen by the highway department. A second letter to Select Board would request there be four lake managements items included in the future capital expense plan. The capital expense proposals are 1. Plunkett Spillway Redesign and Rebuild, 2. Complete dredging of the Plunkett retention pond, 3. Plunkett Lake Management Plan, 4. Ashmere Lake Management Plan. Little time remained to discuss the Solitude herbicide treatments. It was suggested the town eliminate the letters of certificate to direct lake abutters. (A small percent of overall residents receives them because most are not considered direct abutters. No Pine Cone Lane residents get letters). Treatment notices need to be more visible and LMC plans to seek other avenues of notifying people. The timeline should be more than 2 days. LMC received the Ashmere OCC but not Plunkett. Bob Graves said the OCCs will be scanned and posted on the town website. The committee will add a future agenda item to create a list of changes they would like to see in the lakes OCCs to improve notification and timing. The town should be posting the Plunkett SOPs and gate valve log around the middle of February. Meeting adjourned at 5:52pm. Respectfully submitted, Monica Montferret To see the LMC FY 2022 budget worksheet click here. SELECT BOARD & LAKE MANAGEMENT COMMITTEE JOINT MEETING AGENDA / January 27, 2021 at 6pm Community Room, Downstairs, Town Hall, 39 South Street, Hinsdale MA Posted at 7:45am on 1/25/2021 Public may attend meeting by zoom: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/85634405303?pwd=NUg2SEFpc3h1dUQ1SWxwZTB6RDZVUT09 Meeting ID: 856 3440 5303 Passcode: 5501235 Discuss Committee Mission Statement; items of interest Discuss the Select Board’s expectations for the Lake Management Committee; Committee parameters Discuss Communications Discuss Lake Management Budget / ATM / Contract Responsibilities Discuss Solitude Contract Enforcement / 2021 Changes to Contract Public Comments Adjournment to regularly scheduled Select Board Meeting at 7 p.m. Lake Management Committee Remote Zoom Meeting Agenda / January 12, 2020 at 4pm posted at 10:45am on 1/7/2021 Open meeting - Lake Management Committee has invited you to a Zoom meeting. When: Jan 12, 2021 04:00 PM Eastern Time (US and Canada) Register in advance for this meeting: https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZ0sdO2gqzoqGd3jOf1JqV-tnw-cxrLb5m_e Secretary’s Report - Approve previous minutes OLD BUSINESS Discuss LMC/Select Board meeting on January 27, 2021 Discuss Lake Management ATM inputs Plunkett Reservoir Discuss status of Plunkett Dam and Spillway – gate valve repairs/DPW/Future Repairs & Funding Discuss lake drawdown and water level chart Discuss future efforts to warn public of algae blooms – coordinate with BOH, HPD & Emergency Management Open public comments on other issues not on agenda pertaining to Plunkett Reservoir Ashmere Lake Open public comments on any issues not on the agenda pertaining to Ashmere Lake NEW BUSINESS Discuss new LMC member applicant letter Review 2020 Fall Survey Report-Hinsdale Lake Management from Solitude for both lakes and discuss 2021 options Solicit input from LMC members regarding how our committee should go forward Review LMC correspondence and discuss any important matters for LMC that arose after the agenda was posted Meeting Adjourned Please note: The public may attend this meeting via Zoom online or by telephone. Zoom attendees must register the first time attending a LMC meeting via Zoom, so please do this a few minutes early. After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the meeting. Lake Management Committee has invited you to a Zoom meeting. When: Jan 12, 2021 04:00 PM Eastern Time (US and Canada) Register in advance for this meeting: https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZ0sdO2gqzoqGd3jOf1JqV-tnw-cxrLb5m_e Lake Management Committee Remote Zoom Meeting Minutes / January 12, 2020 at 4pm posted at 9:15am on 2/26/2021 Members present on Zoom: Andy Hagadorn (AH), Monica Montferret (MM), Duane Bruce (DB), Cynthia Grippaldi (CG), and on phone Rick Koch (RK). Others present: Bill Logue (BL), Fred Wang, (FW) Gunter Breitmaier (GB), Caleb Mitchell (CM), Vivian Mason (VM) This meeting’s Zoom link: https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZ0sdO2gqzoqGd3jOf1JqV-tnw-cxrLb5m_e Opened meeting at 4:00 PM Secretary’s Report – Meeting minutes for December 8, 2020 were accepted and approved by DB, PM, AH, CG, MM. OLD BUSINESS There was discussion on the upcoming LMC/Select Board joint meeting to be held January 27, 2021 was centered around proposed agenda items. LMC would like to understand what our function is according to the Select Board and regroup after that. MM explained to the committee how lake management budget request process works leading up to the annual town meeting. The LMC would like to resume removing 99 yards of silt from Plunkett retention pond. LMC should prioritize the big tickets items including the engineering study for spillway redesign before presenting to Select Board and Finance Committee. Attached budget worksheet shows line items discussed. Plunkett Reservoir Caleb Mitchell explained the town requested the Conservation Commission issue an emergency drawdown permit to do a late drawdown and stated that anyone who disagreed had the opportunity to contact and discuss it with MA DEP. The Commission approved the permit because they felt the winter ice would damage the batter boards. Hinsdale DPW personnel will be trained to work the valve to maintain the lake level. Fred Wang has been keeping Plunkett drawdown water level data and AH showed the committee the data chart, attached. Members of the public are looking to see the SOPs and Bob Graves has indicated that this and value management log books will be posted soon on the town website’s lake management page. AH will send an email to follow up. AH discussed future efforts to warn public of algae blooms. Board of Health and LMC wanted to use Code Red but Hinsdale Police Chief and Emergency Management do not want to use this tool for an algae bloom. In the past, signs were posted, and lake residents' doors stuffed with notices by BOH. The LMC will continue to explore further options. Ashmere Lake No issues to report pertaining to Ashmere Lake. NEW BUSINESS A motion was made (AH) and seconded (MM) that LMC’s recommendation be the Select Board appoint Bill Logue as LMC’s newest member. The Select Board is expected to consider this appointment at their meeting on 1/13/21. Members polled: yes votes: AH, MM, DB, CG, PM, and RK. In the remaining time, a quick discussion occurred around the 2020 EOY Reports supplied by Solitude. Caleb Mitchell was concerned that surveys before treatments were not provided in a timely manner and will send Dominic an email reminding him of the information and communication as outlined in OCC that should be supplied to Conservation Commission directly. The commission needs this information, especially pre and post treatment maps, in a timely manner. Goal of herbicide treatment is to do less over time once vegetation is under control. The LMC plans a future meeting to discuss all parties' responsibilities. CM will send out copies of OCC and MM will send out the Solitude contract for review. Meeting adjourned at 5:59pm Respectfully submitted, Monica Montferret Archived Minutes Archived Agendas Other LM Documents Lake Management Agendas Jan-July 2020 Lake Management Agendas Aug-Dec 2020 Lake Management Agendas Mar-Dec 2019 Lake Management Agenda 11.13.18 Lake Management Agenda 9.26.18 Lake Management Agenda 3.30.18 Lake Management Minutes Jan-July 2020 Lake Management Minutes Aug-Dec 2020 Lake Management Minutes Mar-Dec 2019 Lake Management Minutes 12.11.18 Lake Management Minutes 11.13.18 Lake Management Minutes 9.26.18 Lake Management Minutes 1.11.17 Plunkett Draw-Down Permit 3-19-2019 LM-DPH-Fish-Advisory-06.09.2021 LM-Fish-2021Complete-Fish-Advisory-June21 LM-Fish-Advisory-AshmereDCR-06.09.2021 LM-Fish-Advisory-AshmerePoster.2021 LM-Fish-Advisory-PlunkettDCR-06.09.2021 LM-Fish-Advisory-PlunkettPoster.2021 TOWN HALL | 39 SOUTH STREET | HINSDALE, MA | 01235 | 413-655-2300 Please send information and photos to: website@hinsdalema.gov Please allow 3 days before publication . 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