Present:

• Roxanne McCaffrey, Chair
• John Loiodice
• Michael Buffoni
• Pat Kennelly
• Patrick White
• Jim Wilusz via Zoom
• Michael Nathan via Zoom

1. June 17 minutes approved as corrected; July 1 minutes approved as written
2. Kennelly read the six SBA initiatives as follows: SBA will assist the Town in working with GZA (consultant) to finalize the plans for the dredging process; SBA has agreed to help the Town obtain a more robust mechanical harvesting permit; SBA will continue its partnership with the Town to monitor and hand harvest the invasive water chestnut; SBA will begin a pilot program, offering financial assistance for our member lakeside residential organizations to hand pull invasive and nuisance vegetation; SBA has decided to not utilize the current final superseding order of condition — no fluridone or full lake treatment to combat Eurasian Watermilfoil — instead SBA has decided to pursue the use of ProcellaCOR for spot treatment of Eurasian Watermilfoil; SBA will establish a program to protect our small parcel of old growth trees in Bullard Woods as well as initiating a project to remove invasive plants from the forest.
3. Steve Roy, GZA: what is necessary to complete Lake Management Plan (LMP) — Monitoring, Maintenance, and Improvement
   1. Monitoring of Lake for endangered species, aquatic plants, and bacteria —
   2. Bacteria from septic systems and fertilizer – storm water run off
   3. Maintenance — hand pulling and harvesting weeds/invasives
   4. Improvements, for example, list sewer expansion, septic replacement with sewer hook ups, road construction, and land use changes which are anticipated development, and/or land protection plans
   5. Apparently, GZA expects Tri-Town Health and the Town to gather this information and give to GZA. ConCom hired Dr Coote to catalogue aquatic plants; Tri-Town oversees septic systems, etc.
4. White suggested a meeting for input from “stake holders” including the 8 beaches, 6 communities, camp, Tanglewood, etc around the lake. Who reaches out? GZA or SBSC?
   1. GZA silent
   2. McCaffrey said that was part of Outreach and Education
   3. White said that happened at end, but this should be at beginning
   4. Wilusz, for Tri-Town, said they explain best practices and have jurisdiction over septic systems — at time of sales or if there is a back-up
   5. There are ample previous reports and studies of The Bowl
5. Discussed information-gathering completion by end of July — gathered by SBSC and submitted to GZA? Include SBA six points?
6. Public comment: Anita Schwerner concerned about including SBA six points in a Lake Management Plan (LMP) submitted by the Town to DEP because the Town does not support use of herbicides. White responded that harvesting and dredging were the priorities. McCaffrey said plan could include “all options” not just what Town endorses.
7. Discussion of dredging. Completed process for permit to dredge is “still a ways out”, according to GZA
8. Wilusz mentioned materials he received from Environmental Justice.

Meeting adjourned

Editor’s note: 1. The LMP is a 3 – 5-year plan requested if not required by DEP and is “appropriate for setting overall management goals and laying out the techniques that will be used to achieve those goals.” LMP is not a catalogue of all options available but “a laying out of the techniques that will be used…” 2. Environmental Justice, part of the Environmental Protection Agency, is the fair treatment and meaningful involvement of all people, regardless of race, color, national origin, or income, with respect to the development, implementation, and enforcement of environmental laws, regulations, and policies. This goal will be achieved when everyone enjoys: the same degree of protection from environmental and health hazards, and equal access to the decision-making process.