Minutes of the Friends of Morses Pond (FOMP) Annual Meeting held April 28, 2005
The meeting was held in the
The chair moved to accept the new FOMP by-laws proposed and circulated by the Rules Subcommittee. The motion was seconded and approved by acclamation.
The Chair moved to accept the recommendation of the Membership Subcommittee that $10 per family dues be instituted as a prerequisite for voting privileges. The motion was seconded and approved by acclamation. All members 18 or older of paid-up families will be eligible to vote.
The chair then called upon
The Chair called on Susan Hurwitz to give an update of the funding for the Morses Pond Management Study:
The
calendar for presentations by Ken Wagner of his study is as follows:
April 6,
at Town Hall, Ken presented to FOMP.
May 2,
8:30 am, Ken will present to the Town inter-board meeting.
June 6,
8:30 am, Ken will present to other Stakeholders. Location: TBA.
June 16,
7:30 pm Ken will present at the Public Hearing.
Location: TBA.
It was
pointed out that the Public Hearing was important for FOMP members to gather as
many attendees as possible to show
“grass roots” interest. Also, it was suggested that attendance at any of
the other Town meetings where Morses Pond is discussed, is highly valuable for
visibility and to demonstrate active interest on the part of many. All the Town meetings are open to the
citizens and their times/places are published in the Townsman and on the Town
web site.
Susan then wrote a chart on the whiteboard of
the current and anticipated funding for Morses Pond work:
I.
$150K approved by Town Meeting 2004(TM
04) for spending in FY2005 to fund the current study and recommendations for
the Morses Pond Management Plan.
Depending on the outcome of that study the following tentative schedule has been set for future funding requests:
II.
$500K Engineering/Permitting: presented at TM 06
for FY07 spending
III.
$3-$9M Implementation: presented at TM07 for FY08,09,10
IV.
$100K Ongoing Management: TM07 for FY08
V.
$45K Erosion Control Program: TM08 for FY09
Susan explained that these items are all considered Capital Expenditures, and their approval will be subject to other capital demands and limitations on the Town finances. Some of the project funding may be eligible for consideration under the Community Preservation Act. Much will depend on the nature of recommended plan, other available funding, and what the longer-term maintenance costs will be. The presentation to Town Meeting in March 2006 is critical.
To move things
forward, we need to make the case that the town should take care of its assets.
The pond has been neglected and its decline accelerated by human activities
(e.g. excessive phosphorus and introduction of milfoil). We need to make two
cases for funding, the first being that Morses Pond has been neglected and is
rapidly declining. In 20 years or so the northern part of the pond will be gone
(wet lands). The second is that the Pond is a valuable asset for the town – it
provides drinking water and is used for recreation.
Susan Hurwitz also
reported on the Weed Harvester:
·
With the
current operating budget, it’s not clear if the newly rebuilt town harvester
will be used. To ensure its use we need someone from FOMP work with the town to
ensure it is used – currently this responsibility appears to fall on the FOMP
Officers.
·
Use
harvester in a "planned" way. Current harvester isn't big enough for
the pond, thus needs to be done in a limited area.
Carol Hildebrand reported that the Outreach Subcommittee has been in contact with the Townsman to consider a series of stories about the pond, and is working on a brochure about the pond. The outreach committee is also attempting to participate in the May 22 “Wonderful Weekend” parade.
There was discussion of the timing of the FOMP annual cookout, now planned for May 15. Some felt that postponing the cookout until June would create more interest, since swimming would be possible then. It was suggested that the Executive Committee take this under advisement at its next meeting.
The chair made a motion to accept the Nomination Subcommittee’s proposed slate of new officers:
Chairman Barry Herring
Vice-Chairman Tom Hodge
Secretary Sarah Green
Treasurer Kent Fox
The motion was seconded, and the slate was elected by acclamation.
There was a well-deserved round of applause for outgoing officers Fred Fortmiller and Susan Hurwitz.
Miguel Lessing, at the request of the new Treasurer, then
made himself available to collect dues from those members who wished to sign
up. For those who wish to sign up by
mail, please send dues to Kent Fox, 30R
The meeting was adjourned at 8:55 pm.
Respectfully submitted by Barry Herring, outgoing Secretary