Lake Carey Welfare Association Meeting September 12, 2010

President Walter Broughton called the meeting to order and presented gifts to the out-going officers. He thanked them for their service under trying circumstances. Their service was applauded by the members. He stated there will be two presentations after the meeting regarding well testing before fracking begins.

Walter spoke of some misconceptions about the Association. The LCWA is a voluntary association with no paid staff. If you propose an idea, you should be prepared to help with that idea. The Constitution & By Laws are very sensible, although quirky in some respects. They call for the use of Roberts Rules of Order when conducting business, and we can appoint a Parliamentarian if we want to. We are supposed to have a Board of Directors that meets during the winter months to handle any problems, but there has been no board for at least 10 years. (There is not enough time to establish one this fall.) The identified purposes of the Association when established in 1938 were to: keep the waters of the lake clean; develop recreation and enjoyment in the area, while controlling development; promote safety on the roads and water; and to promote the welfare of the community generally. The vision statement prepared by the Association a few years ago was very similar. Its goals were to: improve water quality, prevent excessive development, promote safety, develop good governmental relations, and promote neighborliness. Decisions must be made collectively. A motion introduced from the floor must be seconded, and then discussed before the vote. If there is insufficient information or time to make good decisions, then a motion can be tabled and brought up at a later meeting.

Present Problems

Walter feels the association has a bad case of single issue politics. We are divided into those who are for or against central sewers. Divisions into we and they are very dangerous. We have lost sight of the complexity of the issues as related to our vision statement. There can be multiple approaches to the same problem. We need to get more facts and information in order to make good decisions. The situation has been made worse because each position is found in a slightly different group at the lake; we need more events that bring us all together. It has also become worse because the Act 537 planning has been poorly managed by the townships.

Two Initiatives

Walter proposed two initiatives to the membership. The first is a slate of officers that is balanced regarding the issues. Both sides need to talk and work together, not trying to convert the other side. Different perspectives are okay. Walter will be meeting with three out of the four more vocal members at a later date.

The second initiative is the establishment of a Membership/Outreach Committee. This committee will work to maintain communication through the newsletter and the web site. Debbie Tierney has agreed to keep editing the newsletter and together with Chris Ziemba they will work on the website. The committee will welcome new residents and encourage them to join the association. They will plan summer events with the help of Dick Daniels. The committee will be welcoming and hospitable to all visitors coming to the lake.

Walter welcomed any comments regarding his remarks either through e-mail or meeting at his home.

The Association has sent condolence cards to both the Place and Prawdzik families.

Walter drafted a letter to DEP regarding the association’s position on well drilling. Also in support of a House Bill that supports issuing no more permits for drilling wells.

Walter is meeting with the county Planning Commission to ask that they stop listing Lake Carey as an area for development. He is approaching other organizations to gain their support. He will present this to the commission on September 22, 2010, if he has received support from other organizations by then.

Walter has been working with the Endless Mountains Visitors Bureau on the idea of applying for a grant to make a brochure for a self-guided walking tour of the lake. The deadline for the grant is September 25, 2010. He called for a motion to apply for the grant. John Fassett made the motion and Chris Ziemba seconded the motion. A call for a discussion brought a number of questions. Kathy Keefe was concerned about the cost of graphics for the brochure. This is covered by the grant. Will this bring in busloads of people? Walter expects an increase of walkers of only 10-15 at first. This may be good for Frank’s business. He makes a great hoagie! How they should walk around the lake needs to be in the brochure. The website address can be in there and where to park. Trash cans along the route was another idea. The brochures will be distributed through the Visitors Bureau. Should the grant be opened ended or just a trial? Dave Rinehimer made a motion to limit the time, the motion did not pass. A motion was made to move forward with applying for the grant. The motion passed with one opposed and no abstentions.

Walter discovered that the Visitors Bureau grants can also be used to pay for signs welcoming people to the lake. He stated there are four possible locations for these signs. An estimate from Sign card Company was for $1,800.00 per sign, with a 5% discount for multiple signs. He went for a second bid. A motion was made to apply for a grant for no more than $2,000.000 for one sign or two depending on price. The sign will need maintenance every 10 years. The motion was made and seconded; the motion passed unanimously. Kathy Keefe stated she had contacted PennDot about a Lake Carey sign on the back road. They will be doing signs in about two years.

Growing Greener II - Ed Hetzel reported that we have a grant of $300,000.00. So far $5,499.00 has been spent. There will be one baffle box, one catchment basin, and one other type of water quality control device. The plans will be submitted to PennDot and construction will begin next year. We may have to ask for an extension due to the grant running out in June 2011. We will not be applying for a grant this year.

Princeton-Hydro is interested in working with the LCWA on a Growing Greener grant to install a demonstration on lot waste water disposal system, probably a peat system. This is being postponed until next year. We will discuss this at the June 2011 meeting.

Walter has found an insurance company that will insure the officers, and the LCWA property for liability. The cost is $1,660.00. Our current policy expires in December 2010. A motion was made to take out coverage to include the officers when the present policy expires. John Fassett made the motion and Chris Ziemba seconded; the motion carried unanimously.

Walter sent around a signup sheet for volunteers for the various committees. They are: Audit, Membership/Outreach (Debbie Tierney and Lynn Bierly, cochairs) Property, Safety, Lake Carey Day (Gene Skrynski and Chris Ziemba, co-chairs), water quality (Ed Hetzel, chair), and Planning.

New Business

Chris Ziemba passed out a letter addressed to DEP from Tunkhannock Township regarding the 537 plans. The officers have not reviewed this letter. John Tidball presented a map from the planning Commission. (It was noted that the two-township Comprehensive Plan includes protections against development.) Hettie Baiz asked for members to join her in sending out five letters to legislators. Again the officers have not reviewed this letter.

A motion was made to adjourn and the meeting was adjourned.

Respectfully submitted, Patty Skrynski, Acting Secretary

After adjourning, Brian Oram of B. F. Environmental Consultants, Inc., and George Turner of GET Consulting, each discussed the geology of gas wells and water tables. Each described the well water testing they recommend to home owners who wish to obtain baseline data which can be used to assess contamination from future gas drilling activity