bring the observers to do it in person. No. >> Yeah, that's a person that I don't I can't really understand. >> Hi Mark. Hi. Good morning. Good morning, man.
>> Yeah, I think we're good to go. Let's see. Good morning everybody. This is uh Lake Bola Advisory Committee. uh start off by introductions to everybody. Uh here at the town hall is uh uh
Walter, John Dory, Tom Seafir, Mary David, guest Lawanic here, Katherine's here, Art uh Howard is here. Um, also guests are are John over
here and um and Audrey and online is is General Wallace and Judy and online is Terry Smith and Tracy is just checking in. So
on the line >> and you just came in >> and Jean B. Oh, okay. >> And so I think I got everyone introductions done. Did I miss anybody?
We do have a quorum. We can go on with the meeting. Uh I'll start off with the review of the agenda. Uh so we'll do the meeting. Um we're going to have a period of public comment as always. Um uh we'll review the minutes uh from the
last meeting. Uh there's some changes that I haven't made yet that Tom gave me and much which are much appreciated. Uh update on dam dam activities. Uh discussion or looking for a volunteers for someone to join the storm water
mitigation and implementation committee. uh issues with Randall Road Bow ramp uh and a uh committee membership uh and little we're working on still a definition of members. Um
and then of course at the end any items that forgot about that we couldn't reasonably anticipate. I uh does that make sense to everybody online and and here still no one waiting so we're all good to go.
Um so let's first open up with public comment. Are there any public is there any public comment? Usually what happens in the meetings for we don't usually attend is we have a period of public comments and then after that it's the the conversation tends to be restricted to the committee members. Uh we can open
it up to other people but you know depending upon time and how things go. So right now is there any public comment from anybody? I I don't Tracy has her hand raised. So Tracy, why don't you go ahead? >> Yes. I would like to request that if there's going to be a discussion about
the makeup of the membership of the committee that it's imperative that it be opened up to anybody who's on this meeting because your very first charge is that um you are a liaison between the
lake community and the town and we are members of the lake. >> Thank you very much Tracy. I'm gonna let Bob Douglas here's unwind. Okay. Uh that's the end of is that's the end of
the public comments. Good. Thank you. Um, so now we want to review the minutes of the March 21 or last month's meeting. Um, give everybody a chance to kind of take a quick look at them. I know Tom has already given me some ch some minors. I
don't think I think we can still approve them with this. I do have a question though after we I'll make a motion to approve the minutes of March 21st, 2026. >> Second. >> And the um little edit I mentioned to
Mark was just adding an ed to the word motion in um section six. The last vote the it says Katherine motioned to table the discussion the discussion Catherine motioned to table
the discussion is what I suggested and then in that table of the votes I um wrote a note to Mark that said um where it says until our next meeting that wasn't actually in the motion it was just a motion to table and then in the
discussion it was called cancelling the discussion of membership Um, so I suggested striking until our next meeting. >> Good. Good. Um, so we have a motion on
on the table, I guess, and seconded. So we have a vote for everybody for everybody. Uh, we're going down the list now or as usual. Uh, >> yes. Uh, Bob, >> yes.
>> Uh, John, >> yes. >> Catherine, >> yes. >> Art, >> yes. >> Howard, >> yes. >> Uh, Mark, yes. Tom, >> yes. >> Jerry, >> yes. >> Uh, Eric is not here.
And Walter, >> yes. >> Okay. So, I'll make those edited seven. Tom suggested um and get them up to the web committee hear the stuff now. All right. Uh
next item on the agenda is an update on dam activities. Um uh I don't have any official uh information about where things are progress is going. name Howard or SW you guys have >> the trash rack is in place
they haven't completed around it the wing walls and stuff they did uh take one of their bags out of the coffer dam and uh so it's in a little bit of water go through like I
said to him Monday >> they didn't trust their pump to maintain the flow down the stream over the weekend turned off. >> Yes, the pump was turned off and they took one of their bags out and
had the water just go through the coffer dam straight through the dam that we got. So, I took a couple pictures of the uh trash rack. The spacing's a little bit wider than the uh the one that they just pulled out, but you know, so it does
still look kind of narrow to me. I did bring that up, but it showed up >> pretty good because you can get your hand. >> Yeah, it's 4 in instead of two and a half. >> Plus, I talked to when they first set it in there, they had hardly any angle to it and they did increase it. So, it's I
think it's 16 in difference between the bottom and the top. >> Do they have anything on the sides? >> Not yet. >> I don't know if they fall. Hey, we do it later. Um, I'll do it later. >> Yeah.
>> So, it would have been nice for a little more spacer, but it's >> I mean, it's close to the original one. I mean, the original one, it wasn't it wasn't huge spacing. It was but it was bigger than what this trash rack was. >> Yeah. But I didn't I used my phone for
the tape measure app. I didn't have a tape measure on me. So, but it does look about 4 in space. So, >> and the old one was two and a half. I mean, the only one you that can only get like three fingers in between each thing. If you can put your whole hand in, that's
>> Yeah, it seems like they left early Friday cuz I showed up at 1:00 and they weren't ready to leave. So, uh I would imagine they're on on on their own schedule. So, probably by the end of next week, you know, looking to start letting
them gradually. Well, >> so far everything's going good as far as everybody knows. Yeah. So that that's excellent. Um um keep our fingers crossed. >> Yeah. >> Um I have a note on about the staff gauge. Uh I did order the staff gauge.
Uh I don't have delivery date yet. I should have one this week. Um but I'm assuming it's not going to come in in time to put it up. Uh, so it may be got I wonder if it's the possibility of just putting the pole in while
this would be the perfect time to put it in. >> Yeah, that's that was my thinking. Yeah. >> And you can always, you know, if you have to, you know, we can adjust it like we did with the other one from above. You know, it doesn't take much to, you know, hammer it down a half an inch or
so to get the spacing just right for the for the mounting holes, but you know, to put it in completely would be really tough. This would be the time to do it. Have you have you talked to Dave about getting one of the street sign poles? >> Uh, no, I haven't. Let me talk. >> That would be a good thing to do. Make
sure he has them. >> All right. >> He does. Yeah. >> Then then you can just, >> you know, if I don't see why he wouldn't let you take We did last time. That's That's where we got it from. >> Yeah. is just take one of those cuz they're they're a heavy duty pole. They're galvanized and they're pretty long.
>> Yeah. >> So, if you know he'd let you take it and >> yeah, >> they did have a stockpile of them out there. I don't know how many they've gone through. >> All right. All three years. But, >> uh, one thing is their copper dam is not very big. It's pretty close to the whole
inlet. Okay. >> I don't know if they're going to like compost right in the middle of where they're working right now. I don't know. >> It's going to be off to the side. >> Be off. Yeah, but uh >> be in the middle >> would have to be all a joint talk. Obviously, it does. I mean, he's got he
want to swing his excavator bucket in there and there's probably a rope for just two esavator buckets and they're behind the coffer dam. So, but yeah, I can go talk to Dave and I >> even if the post is outside the coffer dam, you know, but working around there.
>> Yeah. Then do it rather than when the lake is full again. >> Yeah, true. So, all right. Yeah, I'll talk to Dave on Monday. >> They may be even able to help you set it. So, if they can take a bucket and kind of >> Yeah. it down or something. >> Yeah, I I'll ask him that. And uh I want
to put it in the right location where everybody agrees on. So, uh before we put it in, I'd like to talk to you and Howie outside while we're there doing. So, on that trash rack, by the way, they did
galvanize it. So that's a good thing. >> Sprayed galvanized $35 a can. That's good stuff though. >> They spray that wasn't tipped. I didn't look at it that closely. >> Yeah. It's now wood.
>> It's made of metal instead of wood. >> Yeah. >> Okay. Was the original one was made of wood. >> Is it like bar stock or round stock? >> No, it's like bar stock. >> Okay. >> Okay. Uh >> Bob has the hand raised.
>> Thank you, Bob. Bob, go ahead. >> Yes. Yeah. Thank you, Mark. Um uh I don't think that the um the poll will need a a permit. It certainly is going in a resource area, but it's just just small and I don't think that would be alteration, but I'm just sending a quick
uh text to Beth to get her thoughts on it. Can you just just so that that I know um uh can you describe the pole to me? It's like a a 4 inch aluminum pole or and it'll be driven in by whatever. >> Bob, you know what they see like the
street signs on? It's like a U channel post. >> Upost. Yep. >> Yeah, that's that's what it is. It' be one of those. >> Perfect. >> They're what all the street signs are even down around the lake and all that because that's where we we bought them from the company the same company that
they the highway department gets their post from are very similar. So, it's just like any any street sign post, the U channel heavy duty U channel post that's probably about 12 feet long or so. >> Excellent. That that seems like uh uh
solid to me. And >> yeah, so the only the only disturbance is where it goes in is just driven in. There's no digging involved. It's just driving the post in. >> Yeah, that thank you. That no no no cement block or anything. So, I I will uh >> I'll just just for the sake of uh
getting an answer, I I'll text Beth and I should her hear back by the end of the meeting, but I I would say please go ahead with it. Sounds great. >> Thank you, Bob. Okay. Any other uh discussions about the uh about the Dan activities? Any
comments, questions for everybody? Um see here discussion of the basically the town is looking for your consumer. Okay.
>> Uh so going back to the agenda here, um uh the town is is trying to create a storm water mitigation and implementation committees. Uh I think Jen is s sort of the the the official point contact this point. Uh
but so the town is looking for a volunteer from the lake advisory committee. So a member from this group to park to join that committee. Uh this was the request from Haley the T administrator. Uh
Jen, do you want to add something to that? Yeah, I could say that this the select board decided to create a townwide storm water uh mitigation, you know, how to deal with problems and implementing
infrastructure to correct those problems after the report they got from our task force. So, uh that was one of our recommendations. It was a recommendation of Furcog that there be a an ongoing group that can attend to observing and
proposing solutions for storm water problems. And the select board said, you know, we have a lot of storm water issues throughout town. So, we think it should be a stormwide committee. uh the work of that committee will depend on
you know what issues come up but immediately not immediately but imminently is the a report from the engineers who are studying the watershed around Lake Wyola and proposing um conceptual designs for how to mitigate
uh storm water sedimentation into the lake. Um there are also interactions with the highway department around various roads in town that are having trouble. So um I think the select board is is looking to establish this
committee so that there is a group that can be not only apply for more grants um and also troubleshoot issues as they're coming up around town. We applied for a municipal vulnerability preparedness grant just a month ago and some of the
work of the committee will be in working throughout the community on education around the impacts of climate change and storm water to uh individual properties as well as the lake as well as other um conservation areas etc around town. So
that's the gist of it and um I know the select board is looking for other members and that's what that's about. Thanks. >> So if you participate probably meeting once a month probably >> probably. Yeah, I would say >> and that could be by Zoom.
>> Oh yeah, sure. >> There might be site visits. there probably would be site visits but I don't know that there's an obligation that you know that would involve everybody but you know it it kind of will it whatever is revealed will
require certain actions but most of our meetings would be online and and in person >> questions for for for Jen we have is anybody interested do we have a volunteer
I know everyone's pretty tapped out on all their other um commitments and also, you know, life things, but uh it's I'll say that I've learned from Furkcog that Shootsberry is the only town in Franklin
County that has a sustained and devoted interest to dealing with storm water. and we've built up quite a momentum to uh to continue to focus on that and we have had very good responses from the
state on different grant opportunities. So, uh it's a great thing to keep that momentum going. Um if Bob was on, he could speak to the energy of our task force. um very very
much camaraderie and and actually fun and we enjoyed each other's company. So it shouldn't be a big chore and it would not be a big time commitment. So I hope someone and it's important for someone from Elwack to be on the group. So please give it some thought and I'm
available for any questions you might have outside of this meeting too. and I'd kind of like to participate, but I really don't want, you know, extend myself any more than what I'm doing right now. So, uh, so I'm going to pass on it for now.
It doesn't sound like there's rousing interest from the group at this moment, but I hope you'll give it a second thought because um you know there the way that I look at it is that we we see problems and we have complaints about problems but
every problem also is an opportunity. So, um, working together is a cool thing and I hope someone will give it some thought. >> And this Tom, go ahead. I'm sorry. >> Um, Jen, I just wanted to say I think there is interest here. I think people
might just be thinking about how it fits in or not with themselves. Um, I don't want to stay silent and, you know, and give a sense of no interest. I do find it very interesting and important. Um, I've talked with our town administrator
about the SNMIK and um, I am aware of its current state and whatnot. So, I am trying to keep on top of it and just uh, look at my timing if if it would work out. So, >> yeah, I know you have a lot of committee assignments, too. And you can speak to
the task force. I mean, I think one of the things that uh, I feel really glad about the stormwater task force. It's not a committee that's kind of a deadend kind of committee where there's a lot of meetings and nothing happens. It's I think both Tom and Bob could attest to
the fact that it's very much goal and task oriented and we get stuff done. We we have something we want to do and then we make sure it gets done and things have gotten done. So >> yeah. So I think that would be the energy behind this committee just not
endless meetings for for just talking but really more goal and and problem solving orientation. >> Yeah. >> Also growing up the whole community that's part of what if we get this MVP grant that's the big goal is to um bring
all elements of Shootsbury together to start thinking about and dealing together about climate change impacts um and that's a positive thing for the whole community. So, sorry Tom, I didn't mean to interrupt. >> Oh, no worries at all. No, I would just confirm like from my experience, the
task force was really um productive and satisfying to be a part of I think for everyone. Uh not very long either looking at the big picture and a lot got done. So, yeah, I I'm hopeful for SMIC.
Also, uh, one thing that there's additional resource that we can tap into now, and that's, uh, the GCA engineers, um, they have a person on staff whose job is to apply for grants. And so, as we apply for something for for funding,
this all comes down to money. And as we apply for funding, um, we can utilize their skills and contacts to to help get that that funding approved. >> Agreed. I u
anybody else any comments? Uh give it to your consideration and um uh we'll go from there. We'll I'll put this on the agenda for our our next meeting. Bob has no u uh Bob, you have your hand raised.
>> Yeah, sorry. I thought we were in between. Um, I just wanted to say that I did hear back from uh Beth and uh as long as it's put in in by um hand uh it would not require a permit. So, Walt, I'm I'm going to watch you. I don't want to see a drill rig out there. Okay.
>> Okay. >> No excavators or anything like that. >> They're already Okay. Uh the next item on the agenda is uh just a just a issue with Randall Road boat
ramp. I'm going to see if I can share my screen here. I have Can you guys uh see my screen? say too long. All right. And let's see if I make this big. All right. So, let's uh Can you can
everyone see that? Can anyone see that? >> Yes. >> Okay. Good. Thank you. All right. So, what we're looking at here is uh the program ramp, right? This is normally 5T underwater. Uh this down so we can
really see it. Um we can see my mouse here. Okay. And so what we have here is um you know here's the normal shoreline up here and u uh here's basically a big pile of gravel. It's about 2 feet high.
So it's about 3 ft below the water line. And here is a big hole. And so what happens is over the years as as you know boats go in and out uh trailers go in and out it pushes gravel out the uh the edges here and um um and creates this
hole which makes it harder for people to get their boats in and out. Um uh I had hoped that we could do something quick and and dirty to fix it and just let a lady just bring a a backhoe down and smooth it out, pull it
back in. um that didn't work out. Uh and so all I'm saying all all we need to do is keep in mind this when we do the next draw down that we need to get a notice of intent or the town needs to get a notice of intent so that we can properly
fix the go. Um, and I think then I'm not 100% certain, but I think the next draw down will be when they rebuild the dam in 27 maybe 20. At some point in the future, there's going to be another draw down. This this
will be dry again. This my thoughts was this is an excellent time to do it because you can there's just no no environmental damage by by raking that smooth. But didn't work out that way. And so just uh in back of your minds, we
need to uh get the town to budget for uh notice of intent and to do the repair work here during the next draw down. >> Well, it's just with gravel. It's not I don't see it really lasting very long. No, >> it'll be it'll last for a few years. I mean, we they this has been fixed
before. Same thing with people power loading boats and it's, you know, when they get on the trailer and really gunn it, the the current created digs the hole and displaces the the gravel. >> Um, had we gone ahead, the town gone
ahead and done, you know, let the >> um fish and fisheries and wildlife the the boat ramp and all that, all this would have been taken care of. But >> that's what I was wondering. Could the state help in any way? >> Sure. >> Uh uh yeah. Yes, the state can help. We
could we could apply for a Terry can give us probably better comments than that, but basically there's a a land agreement, land management agreement where the state would come in rebuild the program. Uh and uh really no cost to us. Um but uh you know there's a
downside in that and that's the um uh this town the lake will be listed on on a website with nice boat ramps. All right. I think that's what what it comes down to. And at the last at time um I think Becky and Kown were kind of uncontable
doing that >> and so we just we just u didn't go any further. Is that is that probably a reasonable summary? Right. >> So that in that area is actually under the conservationship committee. >> Yeah. >> To to do decisions and make decisions
about >> That's right. Yes. >> That's their re That's uh >> so I don't know if anybody sent that to them too, but that's uh >> Well, I did check with the I did check with Kong and they were uncomfortable doing it as an emergency certification. They wanted it. They said got to do this
the right way. uh and um and it just would take too long to get a notice of intent and done now before the wild wall is drawn down. So, it's got to go through uh it's got to a bunch of different organizations including natural heritage and there's just no way
it gets done in a week or two. So uh and and just so it's just I I just want to put I'll put this picture in in the minutes just so we have a reference and you know someone who's ever you know on on Elwack and just you know talking to the finance committee about budgeting
for the when they do the dam include this thing include this in it. Do you know who at the state or departmentwise like if >> it would be the the department of voting access? >> Maybe it' be worth asking again or or is it
>> it was they were willing to do it. It was a town who didn't want it done. >> Oh. Oh. >> At the time and this was probably four years ago. Um, and >> Mark, it was the >> it was in 2017
and I don't believe the land management agreement was drafted um by my predecessor. Um, now I am the acting director of that fishing and boating act access organization that was
involved in this. And there was a lot of there was a lot of um interest from the town and then there was I'll call it um concerns with the con from the conservation
commission because they I I don't think the information was really understood or explained but they'd be happy to meet with the town and explain it a little bit in more detail if they were interested because this is a common situation
and what was proposed to the town um you know that piece of property the state has provided grant monies for the composting toilet that was there. There's been money that has gone been put in by the state before into the facility, but there seemed to be a
reservation over this because it was at the same time that the town was memorializing the area in memory of Bill Elliot. And I don't think that this ever made it to the select board level when
it was presented in 2017. I think that it was handled only by one individual or a couple individuals on committees in town as well as the town manager or town administrator at the time. I don't believe it ever went to the select board
who would would be the ones that would actually have to sign the agreement with the state. Um, but that was my recollection of it. But I'm happy to have those conversations again. the concerns that people brought forward of the facility
being um advertised on the state's website and all of this. Right now, you have an uncontrolled public access point that has very little management by the town and you have no regulations other
than the town's local bylaw, bolding bylaws that even apply to the facility. So when issues arise down there, unless it's, you know, local policing matters for noise ordinances and things like that, there's no regulations that are
specific to the facility other than a couple that are listed in the voting bylaws. So there really be no change. And it's a great pond of the Commonwealth that the citizens of the Commonwealth have a vested interest in just like everybody that lives around
the lake. So, um, it's worth considering, but I I don't really see a downside of it. >> And he's right. The big concern at the time was if you do it, then they advertised it on the Massachusetts
website, which would bring more people from out of the area here using the lake. And there was a lot of concern from people that that would increase boats on the lake. And, >> you know, that that was the concern. >> Yeah. and and and and all anyone has to
do is Google. Just go and Google yourself and look up Lake Wyola boat ramp. It's already all over the internet and stuff. But what the town doesn't have is they don't have regulations that are specific to this. That's where the
regulations of fishing and boating access come into play. There's about 19 prohibitions that go along with the facility management in the property which actually adds to whatever the town has. So it could be beneficial. Um town
of Sunderlands has a facility like this. Um working on agreements right now at Lake Lake Madawa in Orange. Lake Roa has a facility like this. There's plenty of facilities like this. with the thoughts and how it got bro, you know, kind of
blown out of proportion in my opinion um that it would become the public would become more publicly aware of it. Just Google Lake Wyola boat ramp and you'll see that there's all different organizations that publish stuff about
it already. So, um I I I don't don't think but it would be something that would, you know, basically be paid for by the state um and and help the town. What the town could appropriate the money as part of the dam repair project
as well and you know and then residents of the town could build a similar style boat access and just keep it town managed. That's an option too. Thank you. >> One of my concerns about the the situation here is related to safety of
of uh access to getting on and off the lake quickly, especially by emergency vehicles. Um if there's an accident on the lake, um the the ambulances usually come down to the boat ramp. And so if we have to be a time of year in the summer when the water is low, let's say down a
foot, all it's so there's only like two feet of clearance there at that point. Uh it's it could it could be a problem for someone trying to get uh get to an ambulance if they have an accident happened on the lake and which is which happened a couple years ago and uh and
you know fortunately you know it was no problems but just one of those things it's just something that people should be aware of that if they're going to they're going to go ramp they should they need be aware
>> what uh what does it entail to fixed, right? Is it going to be paved all the way out the way with the neck? >> Yeah. What's the definition of having it done right versus just minimalized like pulling the gravel out?
So when Mark when Mark inquired to the conservation commission recently about the um about trying to get emergency certification requests if if this had been within the state's fishing and boating access
program or when you know when fishing and boating access um has to deal with these same type of propw wash protections there's memorandums of understanding with D that are in place um not requiring ing chapter 91 licenses for an existing gravel boat ramp. And in
this case, part of the boat ramp is paved, but there was a stamped engineering plan that was pro uh provided to Mark um and into the comm uh I think back in 2017 and then and then a
more recent version. Um it's basically pre-cast concrete planks that are 12 ft wide, 3 ft long. Um it involves excavation and grading, regrading of the boat ramp. Um a crush stone base that's about 6 to
8 in thick and then the pre-cast pads are set um are set on the crush stone base. It extends out into the water about the same distance as to where the end of the propw wash hole is like where that mound starts. Um the difference is
here is the town had the opportunity for this to be done in the dry. Now if it was to have to be done um and it wasn't as low of a draw down as it is now it's done underwater.
Um, so it's a little more complicated, but it's something that, you know, it's something that actually like myself and my staff, um, does on a, you know, really frequent basis. Um, we just
completed one, um, Thursday in Plymouth under emergency certification request that was approved by the conservation commission and stuff. So um so again this is something that's like a balance of okay is it more environmentally
sensitive if it's an environmentally sensitive project is it make common sense to do it in the dry when the lake is down or do it underwater when it becomes more complicated machines can't reach as far because the water's up
higher so um so anyways but there is a detailed plan that Mark had requested in information from my office for um so that plan was stamped and it has all the details of this type of typical construction. >> Yeah. Having concrete pads going out be
a lot nicer for the fire trucks to pull out to the water. I hate watch the wheels start sinking in while we're still away from the water. >> I never thought so. It would be nice to see concrete there. Yeah, it's actually um that's actually a
a a good point. There was a similar one that was built in Athl last year on the Miller's River. Um and actually these these serve as important points when you don't have a municipal water system for the for the fire departments to be able
to draft off of. So So that that is a good point. That's a point I can raise with the conservation commission at the time. >> That would be that'd be nice not not seeing the wheels sinking into the muck when we're going up to the wa backing into the water or driving into a water
to pull a draft. It's so it's kind of a toss up. How far do we want to get to the water to, you know, how less we want to see the wheel sinking in the dirt? So, that would be nice. fun >> that that type of ramp just to give, you
know, a cost idea for planning purposes. If if the town was to do it themselves, it'd be in the order of with the about a dozen of the concrete planks, which would go out about 40 ft from the normal water line. Um would uh it'd be it'd be
in the order of probably 45 to $60,000. We wouldn't need the pave up to that coming down. Correct. We could just leave that all the same, right? >> Yeah. Mark has a Mark has the detail of it. There be there be um about 12
concrete planks that would be from the normal water line into the water which should get out to about where that propw wash hole is which would provide propw wash protection so that if people do power load um that it doesn't make that
hole again. Um, and then above that there's a con a cast inplace concrete anchor slab that the length of it varies. So that would basically replace the broken up batuminous pavement that's there now. And then it's and then it can
just be gravel um above that. So um Mark has a good detail of it. It's it's not something that's really complicated to build. You don't have to you don't have to bolt everything together underwater. I basically what we use is a pipe rail
system and uh set the planks down right at the shoreline and then use a um a track loader to push it like 3 ft at a time. So you put one pad down at the shoreline, push it 3 ft, bolt up the next pad, push it, and you can push
about 12 to 14 pads with a like an ordinary size uh bobcat track bobcat from the shoreline. Um it's just a little it's just work to regrade to get the boat ramp on the correct slope and
um and that but the materials get that get ex excavated they go right into a truck so they de they can dewater um and and be disposed of offsite. So it's pretty clean operation. It takes about um about a week to to you know to build
this type of ramp. Sounds good. I would like to see that just to just pull a draft for the fire truck out on concrete instead of quick sand. So this is I guess you know I'm still thinking this is probably best to do this next draw
down wait a couple years and do it like it is now. So it's much simpler um and probably cheaper to do. um whether we the town does it themselves uh and or the town has uh the state you
know do it it's kind of a a select board decision at that point but you know at the same time where we're going to be rebuilding the dam and that's going to be you know a pretty good chunk of money and so this is not
big add-on to that I think >> it may get lost in around and we have the GCA guys who who could do the notice of intent and uh you know so it's kind of all dovetales together it's just two
projects I want to take advantage of what the next the next big draw down >> Mark >> yes >> what would be the next steps to put that in motion those steps >> um well you know my thought is I would send a note off to to
Haley uh with this picture and with a summary of the of the discussion here and and say you can you include money in the in the uh in the F law it's a 2027 budget
so add money to the budget ahead of time so that uh it does it's not an issue and just so that it it so that no long business the finance committee can can budget it could be
approved a town meeting. Uh, you know, they just do it the slow way as opposed to just, you know, the quick way. And then maybe at some point the select board should have a discussion about uh
is it something that the town wants to take take on or is it something that they want uh Terry's group to take on and that that should be a discussion too. How wide are these concrete planks?
>> 12 ft wide. 12 ft wide. 12. They're about 3 ft long. 12 ft. I'm gonna stop screen share. Oh, we um J has a question. I I >> Yeah, I hope it's okay to ask a question in the middle of your discussion, but
this um was brought up in the furcog watershed report as well as the habitat evaluation report which was in 2019 I think. So, and but my question as someone who's out there with the weed watchers looking for invasive species in
that area is if these cement plant goes out to the end of where the gravel um pile is now that water is pretty shallow there especially towards the end of the summer. So, if boats are going in there
in relatively shallow water, are they just going to make a new hole at the end of the cement um ramp? Does it just kind of make the hole further into the lake rather than create a situation where no hole will exist? I don't know how the dynamics work, but that's one thing that
came to mind. I wonder if anyone has a thought on that. It should not if the if the ramp goes out far enough it's beyond the point that they're loading. So it you know they're going to be loading at the same point whether the ramp is there or not. So it's going to be about the
same place. If that's all cement there then they won't displace the gravel because there'll be cement. It's not it's not going to make them load their boat further out. If the ramp goes further out is where they load is dependent on the water level >> and it depend dependent upon the fact
you got a trailer on back and the trailer is the same length as it always go back your car up >> so the point where the wheels >> I got it okay good point >> Yep. Okay.
Any other comments? Any action for that this committee need we think this committee needs to take other than just to inform the uh the select board and uh about our discussion. >> Should we tell Cong? Yeah, it needs to
go to Com takes it to select board because that area is under Com's supervision to to because it's actually part of the that it's all part of the whole >> conservation area.
>> Grand conservation area there. >> That good comment, Bob. You have your hand raised. >> Yeah, I agree. it, you know, it does need a a notice of intent. And it sounds to me that if Terry has a um an engineering plan that it's the most expensive part of putting a a notice
like this together. So, uh I did talk to Beth uh a year or so ago when I came on board and she said that uh she would be interested in helping out um put this uh NOI together. So, uh just wanted to share that information.
>> Thanks, Bob. Okay, any other comments? That put on a lot longer than I expected, but it was good conversation, good discussions. Thank you, Terry, for your input. And Len, thanks for yours. That was very significant uh issue about
the fire trucks that I kind of see that wheels sink in. It's just like, all right, can't get that close to it. >> All right. Um the next item on the uh uh the next item agenda is the committee membership
definition discussion. Uh we've been going at this for >> months three months now, four months uh or four meetings I think. Um uh at our last meeting we uh Katherine had a proposal sort of a compromise
which didn't which didn't pass. Um, I'd like to uh get a flavor of the committee's feelings right now. Um, but and and I make a motion, if it's okay with everybody, uh, to do another vote and, uh, and vote were just to leave
leave things as they are. Um, uh, so I'm so I'm making a motion to leave the membership definitions just as it is. >> So good. And so we have a second from
Howard. Let's have a discussion on that. >> Didn't we do that last meeting? >> No, we the last meeting we uh um Catherine proposed to have the six uh people from the >> I mean we we we tabled the discussion at the last meeting >> for Yeah.
>> about the committee membership leaving it as is. >> No, we we that's right. I guess we we did as a result of because Katherine's motion failed. >> We didn't make any changes to the existing committee.
>> Um but I'd like to get I guess we could just stop the discussion and leave it like it is and say we're just going to leave the committee membership as it is. I guess that's a possibility in which case we don't need I don't need to make a motion. >> Um >> well except the motion's on the floor. >> Can I antie or can I
>> You can withdraw your >> withdraw it. Uh, I'm going to withdraw my motion then. Um, I did I guess Tom's absolutely right. We don't have to do anything and we could just leave things as they are. Not to drag it out because fully man,
I'm tired of discussing this. Did the select board give any or has it gone to them about any indication of whether this should stay an ad hoc committee or become a standing committee? And if so, does that then change?
And do we just worry about it till they do that? >> Leave it to leave it as it is till till they decide to change the >> It hasn't gone to the select board and I I don't think I mean we could we the select board could take it up at any time. Um
the committee membership's been this way forever since >> Did you read the email that um the town administrator sent to Mark? >> I did read that. Yeah. >> Okay. I think that's the most we know
>> how she put it in her email. >> I'm going to leave it as it is. Moving on. >> Uh I think we can end the discussion then. How about any other comments? Okay. Uh so we're just we leave things
as they are until the select board decides that they want to change something. Everyone seems to be okay with it. We get that hour. Okay. Excellent. All right. Um >> yes.
>> All right. I make a motion to appoint Mary David to the committee to fill one of the open seats. >> Okay. That's the uh very appropriate. Yes. Um so D game retired now or left the meeting because he's very he's got a lot of commitments going back to school
going for his law degree I think and um uh and uh so that that his position opened up and so Mary has David who used to be on this committee and used to be on concom uh has requested to come back on the committee. >> Point of order. Yeah.
>> Um we have 11 full seats for 11 members currently. >> Yeah. So there's not an there's not a 12 seat. >> Well, there is because David David Green >> I mean if you look at the current committee structure there are 11 seats. It's an 11 person
committee. >> There's an open there's there's an open position >> that David I hear that but there are 11 people on the committee for 11 seats. I mean to that's the
>> uh so what would happen I think is we could we could just that Mary be adding committee it has to go to the select board at that point and the select board could say okay we want to 12 add that person they could also address
you know they could also if they chose to address the issue that Katherine brought up is you know we want to have someone from the storm water mitigation implementation committee >> sure sure >> so there's I have, but there's there's an open position from there's one open position
that has been there for months. I I been there >> since David when David was on. So now he left what was it 12 because of the special >> I think. I think it uh when the select
board added you to the committee because of your expertise with Dan uh uh then it be on the phone they never change the >> no um when they added uh Walter and Howard. >> Yeah. >> They converted it to 11. >> Um because they folded the dam
management community it's called into the lack. >> Yeah. >> And that added two to the nine. And if you read the minutes of that select board meeting, it does use the word 11 as the number of committee members on LWAC. That's my reference. >> No, no, then you're absolutely right. So what happened then was um Walter retired
from the fire department or from the emergency management team uh and Lenny joined the committee as a member of the uh management team. So now we have so >> Walter was also kept on as a member. So he didn't so his so a seat was still occupied. So there are still 11 occupied
seats that >> he was kept on as an assoc he was kept on as an associate >> that that's not the case. There was never a role for that and so he was actually kept on as a full voting member. >> I don't think that that's how it happened but >> well I mean there's no such thing as a
special member for Elwack in definition yet. I mean we talked about >> but they thought there was and that's why they put him in that position to do that. But the positions >> well my position had already been filled by >> right but you continued as a voting member of the committee. That's why I
was always questioning am I voting am I not voting myself >> there was always a and it's a the position that was open is if you kept the structure as it is it's an LWA position >> and that >> I have concerns about the fact that it
says 11 we have 11 now perhaps we could check into that >> and see if it's actually a double question of maybe one are we asking to convert it to a 12 person committee and then two are we suggesting a person for that 12th role I might like >> and it seems as though we haven't
actually ironed out the first question. >> Um well I think select we can't iron that out. >> Well I sure but we >> the select board can right >> and so I think we should we should vote on Mary's addition our recommendation that Mary be added to the committee and then it would normally go to the select
board for their approval. At that point they can address the membership total numbers and address the storm water mitigation implementation person if they want to. It's really their control. We're we're >> just feels awkward to me suggesting a 12th member for an 11 person committee.
I don't know how I could make that math work, but it's >> well it was that up until the point that David left, we officially then had 12 members on for an 11 person committee
>> and I um I don't think there have ever been more than 11 on it than Roings members from the history I've looked at. Well, then I mean Lenny took the position that I of my position on here
being a planning board representative member at that point >> there there was a lot for there has been right along it just wasn't in that position. You can easily look at this and find the history. >> But you can look at it. The planning board membership was always there. It
just was not filled just as several other fil. So it's not counting the numbers, it's counting the positions >> and the fact that like I said Dave Green was on there resigned. There was a still an open position. >> Yes, there might have been but now there
isn't is what I'm pointing out. >> So um I agree there. I agree that >> select board need to figure it out. >> The select board needs to figure this out. That's exactly right. And they're they're they're more than capable handling. >> Well, but probably the select board will
do whatever we ask them to do. If we ask them to change this from an 11 member committee to a 12 member committee and make that 12 member Mary David, I don't see any reason why they would refuse. So, it's really it's kind of up to us, I think.
So, um, Jeffrey, you have a comment. You have your hand raised. >> Yeah, just to say if and it would be great to have a storm water person on Elwack. I've advocated for that, but then now you have a 13 member committee
if you're going to add someone from storm water. And also to say that having an odd number on a committee is a good thing to break a tie in voting. So just to give that perspective, it may not um end at saying, oh, we're going to have
12 members, whoever they might be, but perhaps it is in the select board's court to rethink how they want to constitute Elwack if we're adding um even even another member from storm water, for example. Thank you. >> Thank you. All right. So um
>> is it more difficult to get a quorum if we have more members or vice versa? What's >> we never seem to have a problem getting a quorum? >> The quorum for 12 would be one more. It would be seven. >> Yeah. >> But there's for some reason there's a lot of interest in this committee and so
with getting a >> never we've never had to cancel a meeting for us. >> All right. So, all right. Why don't you uh so let me let me receive your uh your motion. The motion is to propose to the
select board that we go from an 11 member committee to a 12 member committee uh and add Mary David into that slot. Is that is that a is that a reasonable uh restatement of your motion? >> Sure.
>> Well, you can restate it. Uh, so we need a second or or will it be better just to wait until the next opening and then >> Well, I I I uh
don't have a good I don't have a good feeling how to answer that. That's someone else's call. It seems likely the select board is also going to be talking about a conversion to a standing committee quite soon and they're going to incorporate a committee membership structure. Um, in the town administrator's email, she talks about
that point. So, um, there could be value in seeing where they go, how it goes. >> And we'll start slow, >> right? I know. I know. I know. That could be years from now. I've seen that
happen. All right. So, where are we? >> So, it also still just to be fair, it doesn't address that. You know, I applied months ago and we've been waiting to have these discussions which all the way came back again.
>> Well, if if we if we vote to have Mary come on committee to fill the spot that David left, >> y >> then it's up to them. You know, they got to vote her in or not. They've got to decide whether they want to change the committee or not.
>> Well, at least we've taken this step and forced the issue of anything. >> I I agree. >> So, if we just go with with Art's original motion to nominate or propose or Mary to fill the slot of David Green
and leave it at that and let them figure it out, >> they can choose not to respond. They can they can try. >> They they can choose to do whatever they want. But at least we're we're moving forward with it and we're not taking things, you know, >> I mean like with normal politics taking
three or four months to get a simple thing done. Let's just put it in their hands. We make our vote. Again, it's up to them to make the final decision. Moving on. So, Mark, can we rephrase the motion to nominate Mary to fill the slot mic by
David Green? >> I'll second that. >> Okay. All right. So, let's uh let's vote on it. Um Oh, so we we're about to have any more discussion on it?
Okay, good. Um so, let's vote. Uh, Len, >> yes. >> Uh, Bob, >> yes. >> Uh, John, >> yes. >> Catherine, >> yes. >> Art, >> yes. >> Howard, >> yes.
>> Mark, yes. Tom, >> I'll abstain. >> I make you a different column here. Terry, >> yes. and Walter. >> Yes.
>> All right. So, the motion passed and so I'll send it uh I'll rank committs here and I'll send a note off to the select order with this motion other than we'll let them pass that pass it down the road. All right. Um any other items? I'm not
in the agendas. Any other items that we can anticipate? >> I've got something to tell. It's not really business item. just that um a friend of mine picked up a tick on um the the uh state beach a couple of days
ago and it looked pretty suspicious and I and I said I gave it to um Andrew Lover who's the tick guy in mass and he's going to look at it. It's possible that it's a lonear tick and Andrew said that lonear ticks have been
um spotted in athol and that they get moved around by birds. So it's not like they're walking all the way from a >> um so just be careful and when I hear back from Andrew I'll let you know what he said. They're
not as bad as lime, aren't they? >> Worse, actually, because they can give you that that alpha gal syndrome, which is a of an allergy to red meat. And Andrew told me that there has in fact been a fatality from that analytic
shock in the in the night and the person died. And that could be the tip of an iceberg because that's only just become a reportable disease. So they are worse in that way and they um they are more aggressive than the deer and dog ticks
that we're used to that just wait for you to come by and then kind of you brush against them and then they're on your these ticks will actually seek out a person. They won't actually chase you. >> So So put peromethine on your on your
you know outdoor gear and just be really careful. I have another really. >> Is there an option for preventing >> preventing them from being out in the >> spreading or killing it? Yeah. >> Is there an option?
>> Not that I know of. Some some ticks I don't know if they are um if they are repelled by the cedar oil. People use cedar oil as a natural tick repellent on their property and has to be re renewed
um fairly frequently but it's apparently effective. >> Well, aren't they're doing it uh Sarah Fiskus is doing like a class at the library at some point. >> She is. Yeah, she's gonna do >> Yeah. Check >> Tom.
>> Yeah. >> I Let me check that out for you. >> Did it only tell white email? >> Uh that or it was on the Friday 5. >> Here it is. that um that Tik Tok is going to be on Thursday, May 7th at 6:30 p.m. and it's
going to be in our library. She's going to provide bug repellent, tick identification cards, fact sheets, tick removal kits as while they last. Um, so I'm not going to put anything in the minutes on this or should I should I
put something in the minutes on this or should I wait till you to get confirmation of that it's a lone star? >> Um, I I don't >> I'll put something part of our discussion. >> It doesn't have to be true if it happened maybe, you know, we're just
reporting what we said. All right. Um, so now we have I think kind of at the end of our meetings, but Tracy had first person. So Tracy, you want to be brief appreciated? >> Yeah. I just wanted to say that uh you can look up an image online clearly, but
the Lone Star tick has a specific like white dot on its body. So that, you know, distinguishes it. And I guess my understanding is is that they like most sticks kind of move slow, but they they run they move fast. So if they get one on you, they kind of like like run fast.
Um, and I can say that living, you know, over here at the lake and walking just in my yard and also walking in the woods all around here, you know, both Fisk Pond and the trails behind the State Beach parking lot and on Camp Anderson's
property to constant ticks over the last month. And um, just to say, you know, there's more than just this Lonear um, sickness and lime. The other thing that's very big in our area is anoplasmosis, which I ended up with two
years ago and it was I've had lime and it was much worse than lime and I Bob might be raising his hand to tell a story about a friend of his that came close to death. It's so there's lots of very scary things and the peromethine. So, um, uh, you can either order
clothing that has permine already in it, or, um, Judy Rimmel, who's just stepped away, but what she, the other thing that she's recommended and she does and I'm doing is you get an outfit that you spray with permine out in your yard, leave it dry. I think it's 24, 48 hours, I can't remember. And then, you know,
you just that's what you wear. I ended up getting like a a um like a sweatuit kind of thing, light light big so that I can just pull it on over my clothes and so I have that to go out in because I think it's I think it's getting you know worse and I
think we're in a really bad area for ticks. >> Thank you, Bob. >> Yeah, I to reiterate what um everybody said, this has been a record year for ticks. Uh we had the the perfect storm
of uh wet season uh being followed by uh warm warm season and and they're out lots of them in record numbers. Um but what I wanted to say is just as an exercise it might be fun for us to uh take a look at the weeds this year. Many towns don't uh do um weed management.
They just do deep draw downs and then that uh soil is exposed to the cold um kills off the the weeds. Um, so unintentionally we've done that this year by having the the low winter draw down. Um, be interested like to see what
people find with weeds later on this summer. >> Thank you. >> Any other comments? That was good discussion. Um, so I think that's the end of our agenda. Uh >> move to adjurnn.
>> No. Catherine's moves to adjurnn. Len seconds it discussion. No discussion. Len. Yes. Bob. >> Yes. >> Yes. John. >> Yes. >> Catherine.
>> Yes. >> Mark. >> Yes. >> Howard? >> Yes. >> Mark. Yes. >> Yes. >> Uh Jerry. Yeah. Yes. >> Yes. Okay. Thank Eric is not here and Walter is here.
Yes. All right. Thank you everybody. >> Thanks everyone. >> Thanks everybody. >> Boy, I didn't realize >> star. >> Yeah. Yeah.