HLC Board Meeting-2008_09_06
Published on Huntsville Lakes Council (http://www.huntsvillelakescouncil.org)
HLC Minutes
Date: September 6, 2008
Location: Robinson Independent Grocer Community Room, Huntsville, ON
Present:
Tonia Di Sabatino - Chair - Oxbow Lake Cottager's Associatio
Bill Somers - Past Chair - Lake Waseosa Ratepayers Association
Bruce Howlett - Treasurer - Lake Waseosa Ratepayers Association
Burr Atkinson - Secretary - Walker and Pells Lakes Area Association
Mary McCulley - Director - Chub Lake Property Owners Association
John Kenny - Director - Lake of Bays Association
Elaine Jackson - Director - Fox Lake Association
Ted Mercer - Director - Otter Lake Association
Dan McKeon - Director - Peninsula Lake Association
Shane Baker - Director - Tasso, Toad, Camp and Blue Lakes Association
Ian Hastie - Director - Lake Vernon Association
Rob Zingel - Director - Fairy Lake Association
Peter Van Buskirk - Fairy Lake Association (Guest)
Regrets:
Kim Small - Director - Hidden Valley Property Owners Association
Jeanne O'Neill - Director - Harp Lake Associat
Morris Eccles - Director - Lake of Bays Association
Mike Greenfield - Director - Mary Lake Association
Wendy Olan - Director - Bittern Lake Association
Michael Young - Director - Lake Waseosa Ratepayers Association
Dan Kerr - Director - Mary Lake Association
Brian Markham - Bella-Rebecca Community Association
Roger Staig - Clovelly Point Cottagers Association
Bill Jolley - Director - Buck Lake Ilfracombe Association
1. Call to Order: Chair, Tonia D., opened the meeting at 9:32 AM welcoming all members and guests.
2. Approval of the Agenda: Motion by Ian H. and seconded by Dan M. that "the agenda be approved and that the Chair in the future be the one who sets the priorities, bearing in mind the sentiments of the people". Motion carried.
3. Approval of the Minutes: Motion by Burr A. and seconded by Bruce H. that "the amended Minutes of the Directors on August 9th HLC be approved". Motion carried.
4. Treasurer's Report: Bruce H. - Bruce H. reported that 11 Lake Associations paid dues at the AGM and that invoices have been sent out to 10 of the other Lake Associations that were members of the HLC last year. Bruce pointed out that Clovelly Point Association (an Association on the Lake of Bays that is in Huntsville) has joined the HLC. Thanks were given to Jeanne O. and the other members of the HLC for the fine job they did in this years Barb-B-Q (raised $731.50). Finally, Bruce noted that Buck Lake Ilfracombe Association paid for two years; 2009 and 2010. Motion by Bruce H. and seconded by Ian H. that "the Treasurer's report be approved". Motion carried.
5. Comments from the Chair; Plans to return to grass roots regarding the Constitution and the Directors Responsibilities and Roles. She wishes to organize the website in a centralized, more meaningful manner by stressing the identity of HLC rather then the people involved in it. To initiate centralization, Tonia has set up a website (document.write(String.fromCharCode(60,97,32,104,114,101,102,61,39,109,97,105,108,116,111,58,109,101,109,98,101,114,115,104,105,112,108,105,115,116,64,104,117,110,116,115,118,105,108,108,101,108,97,107,101,115,99,111,117,110,99,105,108,46,111,114,103,39,62,109,101,109,98,101,114,115,104,105,112,108,105,115,116,64,104,117,110,116,115,118,105,108,108,101,108,97,107,101,115,99,111,117,110,99,105,108,46,111,114,103,60,47,97,62));">) to which what the HLC has done and is doing (in terms of up-dates) will be posted. She used the recent Sewer and Water Debt Reduction as an example of an issue that needs to continually up-dated. She would also like each Director to forward to the Membership List on this website their up-dated list of the Executives in their Lake Associations before the next meeting of the HLC.
6. Lake Association Concerns;
A. Lake of Bays Association; John K. - John K. stated that the upcoming property taxes will be a concern of people in the Lake of Bays Association.
B. Fairy Lake Association; Rob Z. - Rob reported that while the by-laws prohibit boathouses on Fairy Lake this Association is having a debate on this issue. Peter Van Buskirk (a guest from Fairy Lake) brought up the fact there is a major concern on who is responsible for navigational hazards on the canal between Peninsula Lake and Fairy Lake. While it appears that no one (the Federal government, the Provincial government, the District and the town of Huntsville) wishes to take responsibility for this canal or for anything that might occur on it or around it, the question of responsibility remains to be answered. DFO was suggested as a possible source of information on this issue. Whatever the case, after some discussion the Chair asked Peter Van Buskirk and Dan M. (an HLC Director from Peninsula Lake Association) to look into this issue and report to the HLC on their findings.
C. Chub Lake Property Owners Association; Mary M. - Mary M. felt that the Huntsville Planning and Developing Committee passed changes on Chub Lake (e.g. septic system setbacks, etc.) that should not have been passed.
D. Fox Lake Association; Elaine J.- Elaine J. stated that her Lake Association sent proposals out for conducting Lake Plans on Fox Lake and is hoping to make a decision by their next AGM (mid-July of next year). She also mentioned that they were looking at Stewardship issues and issues that might concern the sale of 37 acres on a river lot that contains wetlands.
E. Tasso, Toad, Camp and Blue Lakes Association; Shane B. - Shane B. stated that they had their AGM last week. He commented that his Association was still concerned with the Water and Sewer Issue. He also was interested in the fact that Mary M. stated that the Town of Huntsville informed a representative from the HLC about any developmental changes occurring in the properties on the Huntsville Lakes, while the Township of the Lake of Bays did not provide that information to the HLC. After a discussion regarding this discrepancy, members of the HLC considered the idea of lobbying the Area and District Councillors in the Township of the Lake of Bays for changes that encourage the Township to inform the HLC of any developmental changes occurring in properties on the lakes in the Township. Whatever the case, the HLC Directors decided to put off further discussion on this topic until after the Strategic Planning Process.
F. Peninsula Lake Association; - Dan M. - Dan M. said that his Association is updating their Lake Plan. He also pointed out a number of changes that will occur in the Peninsula Lake area in preparation for and during the Iron Man Triathlon next Sunday.
G. Lake Vernon Association; - Ian H. - Ian H. mentioned that his Association had its AGM and that 90 of its 124 members attended the AGM. A report on water quality (from a consulting firm) presented at the AGM showed that Vernon Lake was healthy. He also mentioned that he gave a report on the HLC to his Association and that his report was well-received.
H. Otter Lake Association; - Ted M. - Ted M. stated that his Association had a general meeting and the Constitution was passed. He added that they now have a set of Directors for their Association. He mentioned that earlier in the summer they had a base-line study of benthos and that the results will be posted on the website. His Association, he said, is planning to edge their way into a Lake Plan and Elaine J. said that she, if needed, would be glad to help them.
I. Walker & Pells Lakes Area Association; - Burr A. - Burr A. said that they completed the Benthic studies on Walker Lake and the results showed that the Lake was healthy. He reported that presentation of the severance issue on Pells Lake (brought to HLC by Cory Wilson earlier in the year) to the Lake of Bays Township Council was put off until November 25, 2008.
J. Lake Waseosa Ratepayers Association; - Bruce H. - Bruce H. reminded us that this Associations Divisional Court meeting will be held in December and they will find out if the original decision by the OMB will be upheld or that they must go back and for another ‘full blown' OMB case. He stated that his Association has 92 members out of the 230 residents on the four lakes that make up this Association. This Association has reorganized its Fish Committee, and with the help of the Ontario Federation of Anglers and Hunters are attempting to get the MNR to re-designate their lake and stock it with lake trout. He also mentioned that the one and only camp (owned by Canadian Diabetes Society) on their lake would like to expand their campers, buildings etc., and that this Association supports their expansion and is working with them on planning the expansion. Finally, he mentioned that their Lake Plan Committee is reviewing their Lake Plan and will present it soon to their Association.
K. Oxbow Lake Cottager's association; -Tonia D. - Tonia D. said there is nothing new to report, except that everyone is anticipating the introduction of high speed internet on Oxbow Lake.
7. New Business:
A. Muskoka Heritage Foundation/Muskoka Watershed Donation: Elaine J. reported that the Muskoka Heritage Foundation (MHF) and the District of Muskoka cosponsor the Muskoka Watershed Council (MWC). She made the point that the MHF depends on donations and, since we depend on the MWC so much, she felt that we (the HLC) should donate some money to this worthy organization. After some discussion regarding ‘donation versus membership', Burr A. motioned that "the HLC donate $100.00 to the Muskoka Heritage Foundation in appreciation, particularly, for the fine work accomplished by the MWC" which was seconded by Shane B. Motion passed.
B. HLC Representative/Contact on the Muskoka Watershed Council: Elaine J. announced that she could no longer serve as the HLC's representative/contact on the MWC. Following Elaine's announcement discussions occurred regarding (1) the necessity of designating only one individual as our representative/contact on the MWC and (2) the role of a representative on the MWC. Since additional information is required to answer these questions adequately, Tonia D. requested that Elaine J., with the help of our website master (Dwayne V.), set up a folder on the website (visible only for Directors) in which she puts all of the Muskoka Watershed information.
At this point Tonia D. wished to have other committee/organization relationships identified in which HLC members serve as representatives/contacts of the HLC. At this point, the HLC Directors identified only two other committee/organization relationships in which HLC members serve as representatives/contacts of HLC.
i. Mary M. stated that she serves on the Huntsville Environment Committee as a representative of HLC and that her alternate is Michael Y. This committee meets in the Huntsville Town Hall on the third Tuesday of every month at 7:00 PM. Mary M. said that she is willing to serve this role until the Strategic Planning Process is completed.
ii. Mary M. said that she is also the contact from HLC for receiving the Huntsville Planning and Development Applications.
C. Strategic Planning Initiative; Tonia D. reminded the HLC Directors that Strategic Planning Committee met with our facilitator (Lynn Sharer) on June 13th and, since that time, Lynn has provided us with her proposed agenda for conducting the Strategic Planning Exercise. Acting as Chair of the HLC Tonia met recently with Lynn and, believing that the Strategic Planning Committee had completed its work and that there was no change in their priorities, agreed to have the Strategic Planning exercise scheduled for our October 4th and, perhaps, November 1st HLC meeting(s) at Robinson's Independent Grocer Community Room. At this point in her presentation, other members of the HLC had issues with the presentation and thought that the Strategic Planning Committee might meet before the October 4th HLC meeting and finalize the agenda for the Strategic Planning Exercise. Tonia D. stated that, if everyone agreed. she that would set up a meeting with the Strategic Planning Committee in the next two weeks and that prior to the October 4th meeting this committee should promulgate any changes they make in the agenda.
D. Letter from Bill Paterson regarding Lake Plan Template for the Bay Lake Property Owners Association: -Burr A. asked that this information be sent to Mr. Paterson.
8. Meeting Adjourned at 12:12 PM
Next meeting - Saturday, October 4, 2008
Prepared by: Burr G. Atkinson - (Secretary) September 23, 2008
