HLC Board Meeting-2008_06_07
HLC Minutes
Date: June 7, 2008
Location: Robinson Independent Grocer Community Room, Huntsville, ON
Present:
Bill Somers - Chair - Lake Waseosa Ratepayers Association
Bruce Howlett - Treasurer - Lake Waseosa Ratepayers Association
Mary McCulley - Director - Chub Lake Property Owners Association
John Kenny - Director- Lake of Bays Association
Jeanne O'Neill - Director - Harp Lake Association
Tonia Di Sabatino - Director - Oxbow Lake Cottager's Association
Elaine Jackson - Director - Fox Lake Association
Bill Jolley - Director - Buck Lake Ilfracombe Association
Morris Eccles - Director- Lake of Bays Association
Shane Baker - Director - Tasso, Toad, Camp and Blue Lakes Association
Michael Young - Director, Hidden Valley Property Owners Association
Dan Kerr - Director - Mary Lake Association
Ted Mercer - Director - Otter Lake Association
Mike Greenfield - Director - Mary Lake Association
Dwayne Verhey - Webmaster - Lake Waseosa Ratepayers Association
Eric Tenn - Guest - Harp Lake Association
Regrets:
Burr Atkinson - Secretary - Walker and Pells Lakes Area Association
Ian Hastie - Director - Lake Vernon Association
Wendy Olan - Director - Bittern Lake Association
Dan McKeon - Director - Peninsula Lake Association
Kim Small - Director - Hidden Valley Property Owners Association
Rob Zingel - Director - Fairy Lake Association
1. Call to Order: Chair, Bill Somers, opened the meeting at 9:35 AM welcoming all members and guests. He mentioned the recent knee surgery Dan McKeon had & wished him a speedy recovery. A framed photo of Mary M. receiving the Huntsville's Environmental Award from Claude Doughty was presented to Mary. In the absence of Burr Atkinson, Jeanne O'Neill will be recording the Minutes.
2. Approval of the Agenda: Motion by John K. and seconded by Mary M. that the agenda be approved. Carried.
3. Approval of the Minutes: Elaine J. stated that item 8 a. regarding name change vote was not recorded in the minutes of the vote count. The recorded vote was 5 for, 2 against & 3 abstentions. Motion by Dan K. and seconded by Bill J. that the Minutes be approved as amended. Carried.
4. Treasurer's Report: The Treasurer's Report was provided to the Directors. Bruce H. pointed out that the HLC March balance is $1,697.90. Dickie Lake Association's membership fee remains outstanding. Bruce H. reported that website fees have been paid. Elaine J. questioned Bruce H. regarding their web status. As Fox Lake has paid for web space in 2007 but have not yet created a website, Bruce H. agreed to hold onto Fox Lake's web fee until such time as Fox Lake's website is up and running. Motion by Bruce H. and seconded by Elaine J. that the Treasurer's report be approved. Carried.
5. Comments from the Chair: Bill S. introduced guest, Eric Tenn, President of Harp Lake Association & each Director was introduced to Eric.
Bill S. apologized to the Board for the handling of the "name change" motion at the last meeting. The fact that time was running short left little time for debate.
Bill S. attended Harp Lake Association's AGM, Sunday, May 18th. New Preident, Eric Tenn; Secretary, Janet Crocker were installed. Jeff Nugent continues as Vice President & Jeanne O'Neill continues as Treasurer.
Thanks to those who contributed to the newsletter & to Jeanne O. for preparing the newsletter. We received newsletters from Lake Waseosa Ratepayers Association, Mary Lake Association, Otter Lake Association, Lake of Bays Association & Muskoka Watershed Council.
Thanks to Mary M. & Mike G. for their contribution to the Greening Huntsville supplement in the May 28th edition of the Forester. Thanks also to Don Baker & members of LEAF for their contribution.
Thanks to Mary M. for her research & subsequent letter to the District Chair regarding the Sewer & Water debt.
Thanks to Kin S. for her Forester article "Visiting Nature".
Bill S. attended LWRA's Board meeting on June 1st. Canada Post has a movement afoot that could affect the location of many of our association members' members' mailbox.
The Strategic Planning committee held a meeting on June 2nd with Lynn Sharer & planned the strategy for the June 13th meeting. It is imperative that most everyone attend this meeting.
Mary M., Mike G. & Bill S. attended the Huntsville Town Council meeting on June 2nd regarding a hydro power plant at Port Sydney. The applicant made a presentation to Council following which Council suggested a public meeting in Port Sydney later this month.
There is some action relating to the Marnoc Conservacy. Morris E. will comment on this later in he meeting.
WRAFT/CAPTR sent out another update which was forwarded.
LOBA forwarded a letter from Muskoka Lakes Association regarding the Distric't view of assessing rural residents for sewer & water. It was given to Mary M. for consideration.
In the May 31st issue of the Toronto Star on page H6 is an article dealing with noise & access to landlocked land. The author reports that "under Ontario law, (Road Access Act) if a property is landlocked with no deeded rights to get to the nearest public road, the owner of the property is entitled to travel to it over an access road on someone else's land". For general interest to anyone in a landlocked situation.
Go Green Ontario - Climate Change Projections for Ontario - Very interesting. www.gogreenontario.ca/maptool.php
Town of Huntsville contact list was forwarded to all Directors for their information.
Bill S. asked for a Nominating Committee. This would be Mary M. & Elaine J. as Past Chairs. Mary & Elaine felt they should also have representation from LOB. John K. Volunteered & it was suggested the other should be Burr A. It was suggested that when calling to get a feel for what people would be willing to do.
Bill S. Asked for an Audit Review Committee - 2 people required for July meeting. Dwayne V. & Mike G. Volunteered.
6.) Committee Reports:
a) Stewardship Committee Report: No Report
b) Communications: Kim S. did an article for Forester and forwarded it to Rob Z. for consideration.
c) Special Projects:
(i) Navigational Buoys - Mary M. reported they are enroute & should be here Tuesday, June 10, 2008. They are looking into decals. The Town has asked that some form of record keeping be made for the Buoys. Bruce H. suggested a book so all can follow same format. Tonia D. suggested the town takes care of it. Bill S. said he would look into it.
(ii) Strategic Planning; - A survey was taken of those present as to who would be able to attend the Friday, June 13th Strategic Planning meeting. Since many were not available, it had to be cancelled. Since most were able to attend our next HLC Board meeting, it was suggested we have the Strategic Planning meeting that day. Bill to look into whether Lynne S. can attend. We will also need a Board meeting at another time before the Annual General Meeting in August.
(iii) Website: Dwayne V. (our Website Administrator) summarized the status of introducing high speed wireless towers and service into the Huntsville area. Towers are approved under Zoning By-Law.
(iv) Water/Sewer Comments: Mary M. has written a letter regarding this subject. She has heard back from 6 Associations. Few changes have been made to the letter.
d) Policy:
(i) Zoning By-law Review Cttee: Mary M. told us that the new Zoning By-law was passed last Monday night by Council. It is not perfect but better than the old one. Although this new By-law has passed, it will not be implemented for another month.
(ii) Environment Cttee: Mary M. Discussed the Tannery Project. There are some problems with the test results. Two tests were conducted with two very different results so a third test should take place. The report from Aurora on stormwater ponds indicates toxicity retention and how it affects wildlife. The Director of Public Works, Peter Brown, requested a copy of this report.
(iii) Muskoka Watershed Council: Elaine J's report is posted on the website under June 7th Agenda.
e) Fund Raising:
(i) Robinsons BBQ: Jeanne O. reported that the dates are Friday, August 22nd 11 a.m. to 6 or 7 p.m. - Saturday, August 23rd 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. - Sunday, August 24th 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.
f) Contact List: Tonia D. Reported that the contact list in done and will be sent out soon. It will be posted in Word & Excel.
7) New Business:
a) Marnoc Conservancy: Morris E. reports there is an old fifteen foot wide colonial logging road beyond Williamsport Road which cuts across a portion of his property in the vicinity of the Marnoc Conservancy. At present, there is a new road being built in this area to access a logging area supported by the Marnoc Conservancy and approved by the MNR. Parts of this road is much wider, in places were they have permission, than the normal logging road and bears monitoring.
8) Association Reports:
a) Lake Waseosa Ratepayers Association - Bruce Howlett - discussed Canada Post going to Community mail boxes - OMB going to court Dec. 1st at Osgood Hall - Town dock needs repair with some minor repairs already done but more needed - update on septic re-inspections - High Speed Internet - AGM July 12th. - Dwayne Vehrey - spoke on boat Course they are conducting - June 17th at Camp Huronia 10 a.m. & July 24th at Hunts Road 10 a.m. - Cost $45 non member - $25 member - Just test $25 non member - $15 member - Course includes test & card.
b) Harp Lake Association - Eric Tenn - discussed going forward with Lake Plan - AGM was May 18th.
c) Chub Lake Property Owners Association - Mary McCulley - discussed going to Council about development behind Chub.
d) Buck Lake Association - Bill Jolley - discussed the donated beach & the problem of people putting boats in from beach. They are putting poles up to prevent this.
e) Oxbow Lake Cottager's Association - Tonia DiSabatino - AGM June 28th
f) Lake of Bays Association - Morris Eccles - discussed that the old Britannia property (85 acres) is for sale.
g) Mary Lake Association - Dan Kerr - discussed lake levels - Lake plan completed - generators at dam - AGM July 5th.
h) Tasso, Toad, Camp & Blue Lakes Association - Shane Baker - reported that their association is new & they are meeting the basics - one newsletter - no major issues - test lakes for water quality - spoke on taxes - AGM August 31st.
i) Otter Lake Association - Ted Mercer - Constitution being presented at AGM August 16th - invited Rebecca Wilson from MWC to attend their July 12th meeting.
j) Fox Lake Association - Elaine Jackson - watching lake levels - kick starting Lake Plan with Randy French for strategic planning - talking to Town of Huntsville about portage route between Fox Lake and Lake Vernon - Canada Post - AGM July 19th from 2 to 4 followed by first "Rib Fest".
9) Motion to Adjourn: Motion to adjourn by Bill S. and seconded by Elaine J. Carried and adjourned at 11:55 a.m.
Next meeting - Saturday, July 5, 2008
Prepared by: Jeanne O'Neill - (Acting Secretary) June 10, 2008.
