HLC Board Meeting-2007_11_03
Published on Huntsville Lakes Council (http://www.huntsvillelakescouncil.org/)
HLC Minutes
Date: November 3, 2007
Location: Robinson Independent Grocer Community Room
Present:
Bill Somers - Chair - Lake Waseosa Ratepayers Association
Bruce Howlett - Treasurer - Lake Waseosa Ratepayers Association
Burr Atkinson - Secretary - Walker and Pells Lake Association
Mary McCulley - Director - Chub Lake Property Owners Association
Ted Mercer - Director - Otter Lake Association
Tonia Di Sabatino - Director - Oxbow Lake Cottager's Association
Michael Young - Director - Hidden Valley Property Owners Association.
Dan Kerr - Director - Mary Lake Association
Bill Jolley - Director - Buck Lake Ilfracombe Association
Morris Eccles - Director- Lake of Bays Association
Ian Hastie - Director - Lake Vernon Association
Rob Zingel - Director - Fairy Lake Association
Dwayne Verhey - Webmaster - Lake Waseosa Ratepayers Association
Regrets:
Elaine Jackson - Director - Fox Lake Association
Dan McKeon - Director - Peninsula Lake Association
Barb Stronach - Director - Federation of Ontario Cottagers Association
Jeanne O'Neill - Director - Harp Lake Association
Wendy Olan-Director - Bittern Lake Association
•1. Call to Order: Chair, Bill Somers, opened the meeting at 9:32 AM welcoming all members and guests.
2. Approval of the Agenda: Motion by Mary M. and seconded by Ted M. that the agenda be approved.Carried.
3. Approval of the Minutes: Motion by Burr A. and seconded by Ted M. that the Minutes be approved as amended.Carried.
•4. Treasurer's Report: Bruce H. - The Treasurer's Report was provided to the Directors. Bruce H. pointed that the fee for our monthly meeting at Robinson's Community Room is now $26.50 for 2 hours and 30 minutes. Bruce H. stated that since taking over the Treasurer's job he has not sent invoices out to the Lake Associations, but will send them out this week to the Secretaries of the Lake Associations that have not submitted their fees. A discussion about when HLC fees were due each year and regarding the method of invoicing the Lake Associations was discussed. Bill S. pointed out that our By-Law state that "annual fees are due within two months after our AGM and, if they are not received by then, the Lake Association in arrears will not have a vote at the HLC meetings". Further discussion about the Invoices and regarding the wording in the Invoices sent out to the Lake Associations was put off until our January or March meeting. Motion by Bruce H. and seconded by Rob Z. that the Treasurer's report be approved. Carried.
- Comments from the Chair :
The following HLC Board meeting dates have been secured with Robinson YIG, Huntsville, for 2008 between the hours of 9:30 AM and Noon:
January 5, March 8, April 5, May 3, June 7, July 5, August 9, September 6, October 4, and November 1.
After discussion, it was agreed to put a disclaimer on the HLC Steps to Incorporation and then put this on the website, available to all.
6. Lake Association Concerns / Reports:
Oxbow Lake Cottage's Association ; Tonia D. - At this time there is nothing new to be concerned with, however, while the legal case with Camp Olympia is finished, the possibility regarding it being brought up again are of concern to the OLCA. Tonia D. suggested that a "Summary" of the case might be put on the HLC Website for the general public to view. Tonia D. and Dwayne V. volunteered to put a summary together and put it on the HLC website for the general public.
Chub Lake Property Owners Association; Mary M. - Nothing new.
Buck Lake Ilfracombe Association; Bill J. - This Association has concerns about a dam being "chopped up" and about the effect of water levels resulting from this action. Mary M. suggested that this Association should keep a diary of the water levels and pass that information on to Elaine J.
Hidden Valley Property Owners Association: Mike Y. - Nothing new
Lake of Bays Association; Morris E. - Mentioned that John Kenny would like to stay in contact with the HLC and fill in for Morris E. if, for some reason, Morris E. could not make a meeting.
Fairy Lake Association; Rob Z. - FLA has lent its support to the application for a 1.18 hectare severance on Antler Island with the understanding that the remainder of the island (an additional 15 acres in addition to the existing 3 acre property) is not suitable for development and that the owner(s) express intent to maintain the remainder of the island in a natural state. Bill S. mentioned that this will be brought up again by our Policy Committee and asked that comments on it be introduced at that time--- everyone agreed.
Lake Vernon Association; Ian H. - Reported that the application for fractional expansion of Peacock Bay , etc. are on hold. Also stated that this Association has purchased one buoy from the U.S. for $93.00 and will pass it on to Pipefusion to see if they can replicate it and test it.
Otter Lake; Ted M. - Need 50% membership to form an Association and have identified potential concerns to form a Lake Plan once the Association is formalized.
Walker & Pells Lakes; Burr A. - Nothing new to report other then our Association has a new Secretary (Bob Lawson) and I will E-mail that information to Tonia D.
Mary Lake Association; Dan K. - Studies on water levels are being conducted.
Lake Waseosa; Bruce H. - Severance issues with OMB are still of major concern. The Association's Board of Directors has submitted its application to a Judge to see if it could be heard in Divisional Court and arguments for it being heard in Divisional Court will be presented on January 15, 2008.
7. Committee Reports:
(A) Membership Committee: Bruce H.-The Report was distributed and a question regarding the fact that neither the Tasso, Toad, Camp and Blue Lake Association nor the Dickie Lake Association has appointed representatives to the HLC was addressed. Bill S. stated that he would contact the Presidents of these Associations and see what he could do about getting representatives from these Associations onto the HLC.
(B) Communications
(i) Website; update & meeting report -Dwayne V. - Board web training - Bill S. - On Friday the 19th of October 2007 at 10:00 AM in the Huntsville library a Website tutorial was held by Dwayne V. for the Directors of the HLC. The tutorials appeared to be successful and, if necessary and/or desired, a similar tutorial could be held in the Dwight library for those in the Township of the Lake of Bays.
(ii) Advertising/Promo/Social; Bill S. stated that he would act as the Chair for this committee until Dan M. returns.
December social; Bill S. agreed to host our December Social at 10:00 AM in his home on Saturday December 15th. Although the social would include a short meeting of the HLC (10:00- 12:00), the Directors were encouraged to bring their wives/friends to the social following the meeting. Bill S. said that he would send a short memo out to everybody as a reminder.
(iii) November Forester article - Rob Z. said that he was preparing an article for the November Forester on ‘Green' technology. Rob Z. stated that the future articles could be about subjects other than "green technology" and a number of suggestions were considered. Tonia D. stated that a woman on her Lake might be interested in writing one of these articles and would approach her about it. Dwayne V. suggested that we place these and past articles on our Website for others to read. This suggestion was met with favor! Other suggestions for articles included articles about different lakes written by members of that lake and reviewed by Rob Z., an article about our Website, an article about the HLC, an article about ‘fractional ownership of our lakes, etc.
(C) Special Projects:
(i) Insurance - Ontario Nature program; Mary M. - Mary M, said she was in contact with a lady from Ontario Nature regarding insurance but still has not heard back from her. Mary M. will let us know her results at our next meeting. Bill S. was in contact with the insurance agency for FOCA and received the following information: $250.00 for 3 Million in General Liability; $200.00 for 2 Million for Directors and Officers; that is $450.00 for Full Coverage. Whatever the case, it was decided that we need insurance but we also need the money to pay for it each year and some ideas to make money for it were presented. Finally, the HLC decided to wait until Mary M. hears back from her source before making any decisions and, therefore, scheduled further discussion of the insurance problem and the means to pay for the insurance until our December meeting.
(ii) Navigational buoys; Mary M. - Mary M. had asked Lisa Smith to send her a statement that the Town owns and its insurance covers the buoys presently in the lakes. Mary M. felt that Ms. Smith memo to her "did not get it right", but would follow up on this matter with Ms. Smith.
Mary M. stated that the Lake Vernon Association has purchased one, 5 foot buoy from the U.S. and will pass it on to Pipefusion to see if they can replicate it and make it at a cheaper cost. On the other hand, Bill S. said that he had talked to the President of LVA who stated to him that if Pipefusion cuts into the buoy that they are buying then we, the HLC, must replace the buoy or cover the cost of replacing the buoy. The discussion following this statement by Bill S. ended when Bill S. said that the Department of Fisheries and Oceans (DFO) in Parry Sound has offered to give us a buoy, one that can be left in the water over the winter and/or dissected by Pipefusion, for which we will not be charged. The HLC Directors agreed to accept the buoy offered by DFO and Bill S. said that he would go ahead and make the arrangements to get the buoy and pass it on to Pipefusion.
Finally, according to Mary M., the Mayor felt that the Town should cover the insurance for buoys put in the Huntsville lakes, however, she was not sure what restrictions the Town and/or the Town's insurance agents might put on the buoy(s) selected. At a meeting with the Mayor (hopefully) in February, the insurance issues, as well as the cost of buoys and Town's ability to help in the purchase of these buoys, will be addressed.
(D) Policy:
(i) Zoning By-law Review Cttee; Mary M. - Still waiting for the new draft of the by-laws. Mary M. stated that she will keep us informed on the progress of this draft.
(ii)Antler Island Severance Application; Mary M. - An application for severance on an island in Fairy Lake (Antler Island) was permitted by the Town and agreed too by the Fairy Lake Association. Mary M. suggested that HLC should write a letter to the Town stating that while the decision seemed reasonable, the HLC felt that the Town should not make it a practice of going against the Zoning-By-Laws in the Official Plan. After some discussion, the Directors of HLA agreed and Mary M. was asked to write a letter to the Town stating the position of HLC on this decision.
(ii) Environment Cttee; Mary M.
The Sound -Sorb issue has not been resolved because the data sent to the Ministry of Environment for review has not come back yet. Mary M. presented a number of issues being considered by the Town's Environment Committee including the presentation of two awards from this committee.They also brought up the fact that the Environmental Advisory Committees (EACs) from across the Province meet yearly for a symposium and suggested that the Town's Environment Committee think about sponsoring the 2009 Symposium. If so, the Environment Committee would need help and suggestions for a suitable speaker(s).We agreed to help as we could. Changes to Main Street lighting will be deferred to spring as costs to do this in winter are too high. Drilling test wells on the Fire Hall part of the old tannery site will be presented to Council for its approval. Discussions are ongoing on the Huntsville anti-idling by-law. Mike Y. Will review based on his expertise. Education though is the key to effectiveness. The EC was told that Town does use Bullfrog power as it contracts with the Association of Municipalities of Ontario and AMO's power contains a percentage from Bullfrog. Bill S. brought up the fact that Mary M. needs help on the Policy Committee and asked for volunteers ---Tonia D. and Mike Y. agreed to help her, and Ian H. agreed to help in the next year (2009).
. 8. New Business:
(A) Newsletter: A Newsletter is going out in December and articles for it would be appreciated. Suggestions for the type of articles for this issue and subsequent issues were discussed. For example:
- navigation Buoys - Mary M.
- website - Bill S.
- Comprehensive Zoning By-law - Mary M.
- dam removals - Mike Degazio (Bill J. to co-ordinate)
- Lake Waseosa's current dealings regarding the Peiper severance - Bruce H./Bill S.
- Olympia's problems with Oxbow Lake - Tonia D.
- Status of the Pen Lake opposition to the quarry - Dan M.
- a summary of the OMB hearings - Dwayne V.
•(B) Strategic Planning: At this time, Mary M. did not have anything to report on
the availability of someone to conduct and/or guide a meeting aimed at planning for the future
goals of the HLC (i.e. strategic planning). Ian H., however, mentioned that he new someone who
was very good at conducting such a meeting and would contact that person. Mary M. said that
she would provide Ian H. with a list of parameters of the HLC objectives to pass on to that
individual .
9. Adjournment: Motion to adjourn by Bruce H. and seconded by Ian H.
Carried and adjourned at 11:35 AM.
Next meeting - Saturday, December 15, 2007
Prepared by: Burr G. Atkinson - (Secretary) November 30, 2007
