President Walter Broughton called the meeting to order. Comments and welcomes were made. The bike race was a success, some of the roads were repaired thanks to Barbara Beanes letter to PennDOT, and it is planned to be run again next year.
Coming events
6/25 Margaret Hull presentation on maple sugaring, at the dam site 7 pm
7/16 Eric Brown presentation on Iroquois rail/trail progress, at the dam site, 7pm.
7/23 Toe Tapping with Alan Thatcher guitar music and singing, dam site, 7 pm
7/30 Lake Carey Day separate mailing will be sent out via email from Chris Ziemba
8/13 Birds of Lake Carey Joe DeMarco, local award winning bird expert, 7 pm at the chapel
Executive Board
Walter has asked four people to serve on the associations executive board to act with the officers for the association in winter months. The board has not met in many years; it is a fall-back measure to act for the LCWA in an emergency. The By Laws place a $500 limit on the boards spending. Walter said he sought members who are year round residents, are long term members who have served the association in the past, and are of sound mind. Nominees and their terms are:
Paul Brown 1 yr
Pat Bernet 2 yrs
Patty Skrynski 3 yrs
Mary Jo Irvine 3 yrs
Sally Willoughby made a motion to accept the slate, seconded by Ed Hetzel, approved unanimously.
Conservation plan for Lake Carey
Walter repeated his belief that we must use multiple tactics to address the problems of water quality and development the first two purposes of the LCWA. He then introduced the Joint Conservation Plan for Lake Carey. Walter noted that:
This will enable land-owners who wish to preserve all or some of their land from development to donate the development rights to the Conservancy in an easement
The value of development rights will be tax deductible
Conservation easements are rare at resort communities because they are often densely settled, but Lake Careys watershed is only 5% developed, 90% is farm/forest, 3% is lake
Easements have been used successfully on Nantucket Island to protect its open spaces; they began with a village lot in the 1960s and now 50 years later protect 30% of the island
Both the F X Brownes management plan for Lake Carey and the Lemon/Tunkhannock Comprehensive Plan call for the use of conservation easements to protect Lake Careys watershed
We approved the joint plan 2 yrs ago in principle, see p 13 of the document for details of the plan specifics
We will discuss and vote on it in July
Walter handed out copies of the document to those in attendance and briefly outlined its contents; it will also be posted on the website.
May Minutes
Minutes of the May meeting were read. Chris Ziemba mentioned that well water testing to establish a baseline before gas drilling begins is available to individual residents at a $600 group rate from Brian Oram of Wilkes University. The minutes were moved by John Fassett, seconded by Ed Hetzel and approved unanimously.
Treasurers report
$20,637.37 in checking $31,671.58 in savings
Motion to approve the report was made by John Fassett, seconded David Rinehimer, and unanimously accepted.
Operating Budget Presentation
Lou Bierly noted that There are 74 current members of the LCWA, more are needed to cover expenses to achieve the $5500 in membership dues the budget is based on LC day made $1045 last year , the budget projects a similar net this year The budget is balanced with $10,000 total income and $10,000 in expenses, including insurance, welcome signs, and water testing
Marcy Pitkin motioned to accept the budget, Bob Spigharelli seconded, unanimously approved.
Chris Ziemba noted this information will be available on line.
Audit Committee
A discussion initiated by Lou Bierly followed. LCWA has approximately $20,000 in a checking account earning no interest and another $30,000 in a savings account currently earning 1.4% The officers recommend investing $10,000 in a 5 year CD at 2.5% and another $10,000 in a 2 year CD at 1.5%. There is a penalty for early withdrawal. This would bring in $600 per year in interest income. This is known as a ladder; it would keep $30,000 in reserve that could be drawn on at any time without penalty. It was noted that we have not had to tap into our funds for emergencies in decades. A discussion followed in which it was noted by John Fassett that rates were likely to go up.
A motion was made to put $10,000 in a 5 yr CD and to transfer another $10,000 from checking into the savings account. Motion made by Bob Spigharelli, seconded by Pat Bernet, vote 14-7, 1 abstention, passed.
Discussion followed that it would not be to the LCWA advantage to invest in the 5 yr CD interest wise. David Rinehimer moved to rescind the previous motion, it was seconded by Ed Hetzel and passed 11-9, with 2 abstentions. We will not invest in a 5 yr CD, but $10,000 will be moved from checking to savings.
Lake Carey Day July 30th!!!!!!! Chris Ziemba reported that activities will be extended
Kick-off at the LC Inn on Thursday
Fri Meet your Neighbor, LC Inn, Bingo at the fire hall
Sat/Sun kayak and paddleboat rentals from Susquehanna Kayaks at Franks
Sat kayak race and paddle boat race, poker run, boat parade, chicken BBQ, dance with Borderline at the fire hall
Sun chapel service
Local businesses will solicit prizes to be raffled, the winners will be announced at the dance and the prizes will be distributed on Sunday at the Sportsman pavillion
Membership Committee
Lou Bierly reported for Lynne there are 74 members, in 2007 there were 150, a goal to shoot for this year. Reminders in the newsletter worked. Lynne Bierly will accept memberships at the Pinelands Antique Shop.
Property Committee
Ron Tanner reported that the welcome signs will go up in July and he needs help to dig the holes. They will be placed on Rt. 29 at both entrances and at the dam site lake entrance. They are a polyurethane composite, will be mounted on 4x4 posts and read: Welcome to Lake Carey Please Drive & Boat Safely. More property committee members are needed to maintain the dam, dam site, catchment basins, etc.
Ed Hetzel reported that the dam passed state inspection but they want work done on the spillway to increase capacity.
Safety Committee
The LC Inn has been asked to remind their patrons of the need for safe and sober driving around the lake. Suggested to request signs from the state for safety on the roads, hills, and intersections. Pedestrians need to be reminded to walk facing traffic where possible and to walk no more than 2 abreast in traffic; bikers ride with traffic. Be aware!
The LCWA would like to reinstate the counterclockwise requirement for boating on the lake. It was thought that a vote of residents might need to be conducted. The Safety Committee will pursue this.
Water Quality
Milfoil party 6 people met at the dam site last Saturday. Others returned to their own property to pull. It was noted that the Keefe method of pulling one plant at a time gently will get the roots. $5000 is available to address the milfoil problem. A chemical treatment could be made in the spring, but the cost would be greater than $5000. It was proposed that another party be held on 6/18 with Bob Spigharelli, Ed Hetzel, Chris Ziemba, Ron Tanner, and Walter Broughton at the helm.
Water Testing
David Rinehimer suggested that a baseline test of the lake be done before gas drilling begins. George Turner suggested that tests be done at Meade Brook inlet, the creek on Shore Drive (by the Davis/Tidball land), and a third spot @$1000 test. The tests should be put out to bid for competitive pricing and David will talk to George and Brian Orem. Ed Hetzel said there are 4180 acre feed and 1.5 trillion gallons of water in the lake. He felt that if there were a gas well related spill it would take 60 tankers @ 2pts/trillion and that wouldnt contaminate the lake. D. Rinehimer motioned and Bob S. seconded, to test 3 sites with competitive bids for no greater than $3000. We should take no action until DEP and Penn State are contacted to see if this would be a valid test that would stand up in court. Motion passed with 13 affirmative votes.
New Business
GeoKinetics requested permission to do a seismic test on the dam site property to survey for underground mapping of the Marcellus Shale. $25 will be paid to LCWA. The proposal died for lack of a motion to approve.
There is interest in holding a common yard sale around the lake with a contribution going to LCWA. Chris Ziemba made the motion, seconded by Marcy Pitkin, so moved. A committee will be formed.
Meeting adjourned at 12:35.
Kathi Keefe substituting for Ginny Tinner