Huntsville - Lake of Bays Lakes Council

Published on Huntsville Lakes Council (http://www.hloblc.org)

HLC Minutes

Date: August 1, 2009

Location: Robinson Independent Grocer Community Room, Huntsville, ON

Present:

Tonia Di Sabatino - Chair - Oxbow Lake Cottager’s Association

Burr Atkinson - Secretary - Walker and Pells Lakes Area Association

Dan McKeon – Vice Chair - Peninsula Lake Association

Morris Eccles – Director - Lake of Bays Association

Ted Mercer - Director - Otter Lake Association

Shane Baker - Director - Tasso, Toad, Camp and Blue Lakes Association

Ian Hastie - Director - Lake Vernon Association

Ken Sharer – Guest from Lake Vernon

Regrets:

Bruce Howlett - Treasurer - Lake Waseosa Ratepayers Association

John Kenny - Director - Lake of Bays Association

Jeanne O'Neill - Director - Harp Lake Association

Michael Young - Director - Lake Waseosa Ratepayers Association

Roger Staig – Director - Clovelly Point Cottagers Association

Dan Kerr - Director - Mary Lake Association

Mike Greenfield - Director - Mary Lake Association

Peter Van Buskirk – Fairy Lake Association

Wendy Olan - Director - Bittern Lake Association

Brian Markham – Director -Bella-Rebecca Community Association

Rob Zingel - Director - Fairy Lake Association

1. Call to Order: Chair, Tonia D., opened the meeting at 9:35 A.M. welcoming all members and guests.

2. Approval of the Agenda: Motion by Tonia D. and seconded by Burr A. that “the agenda be approved”. Motion carried.

3. Approval of the Minutes: Motion by Burr A. and seconded by Morris E. that “the Minutes of the June 6, 2009 HLC meeting be approved”. Motion carried.

4. Treasurer’s Report: Bruce H. is ill and sent his regrets. Tonia mentioned that she will get his report and attach it to these Minutes. Moreover, Tonia said that she has added to our Website an up-date reflecting the fact that the dues for membership to the HLC have increased this year from $25.00 to $35.00 per year.

5. Old Business: Follow up items from last HLC meeting-

A. Tonia D. reported that she sent our awards, recognizing Barb Stronach’s achievements in the HLC, by mail to Barb’s home.

B. WebPage Design Status: Tonia reported that she has been unable to have a one-to-one interaction with Dwayne and she felt that her access to make changes in various parts of our Website has been blocked. After some discussion, regarding changes in our Website and the possibility that we might consider moving it to an outside consulting firm (such as the one suggested by Shane Serra), the Directors suggested that Tonia meet with both Dwayne and Shane and discuss the pros and cons of such a move with them. The Directors thought that after her meeting with Dwayne and Shane she might be prepared to present a motion regarding any changes in our Website at the AGM. However, since we had a sufficient number of Directors (i.e. 6) at this meeting to entertain a motion, Tonia motioned and Ian H. seconded that “we engage Shane Sharer, if he is acceptable to take on the responsibility of the Webpage, once we co-ordinate efforts with Dwayne”. Motion passed.

C. Membership up-date: Since Bruce H. was unable to attend this meeting and the membership up-date was put off until our next meeting.

D. Transition of Lake Plan Template: Tonia reported that she has started putting this document in a software package so that it is available online either as a PDF or as a workable document. Once this is complete, it should be up-dated if necessary. Tonia asked the Directors if we should continue to charge for a copy of the Lake Plan Template. After some discussion, it was suggested that we might offer it free, but state that a donation of $20.00 or more would be appreciated. Although everyone appeared to agree with this suggestion, Tonia decided to present a motion regarding this aspect of the Lake Plan Template at our AGM.

6. Lake Association Reports/Concerns:

A. Tasso, Toad, Camp and Blue Lakes Association: Shane B. mentioned that a person on Limberlost Rd. (i.e. the road leading to the Lakes in this Association and other Lake Associations) has been feeding bears in the area and that this action presents a serious, potential problem to the people on or visiting our Lakes. The Directors agreed with Shane B. and asked that the dissatisfaction of the HLC be included in a letter concerning this matter that he planned to write for inclusion in the Forester.

B. Otter Lake Association; Ted M. reported that his Association is still concerned with doing Benthic Studies on his Lake. Burr A. said that he would send Ted information regarding the person he should contact (i.e. Casey Cook) to do these studies.

C. Walker & Pells Lakes Area Association; Burr A. reported that his Association’s AGM was held on June 27, 2009 and that it was very successful. He mentioned that the Limberlost Artist Tour is going to be held on August 16, 17 & 18.

D. Lake of Bays Association; Morris E. reported that they had their AGM in July and that they had a ‘full house’ for the meeting, and that Tonia was there. At a different Meeting the Hon. Tony Clement spoke to them about the up-coming G8. The Lake of Bays Association is planning to have a meeting on the 14th to look at the organization of their Association and, perhaps, reorganize the way they operate. Morris was asked how many members are in his Association and how many were at the AGM. He said that they had about 1400 members and approximately 150 were at the meeting. Finally, he mentioned that dues for their Association are $50.00 per year and that they have in excess of $300,000.00 put away ---much of this money comes from donations.

E. Lake Vernon Association: Ian H. mentioned that they had their 19th Annual Lake Regatta on July 15th, presented awards and had a successful barbeque. This Associations AGM will occur on Sunday of the Labor Day weekend at which a new set of officers will be voted on. Ian H. felt that he would be asked to Chair the Association and, if so, he said that he would be resigning his position on the HLC. He presented Ken Sharer as his replacement on the HLC and co-chair of the Planning and Land Use Committee.

F. Peninsula Lake Association: Dan M. reported that this Association’s AGM is on the first Monday in August and that they are having a Square Dance tonight.

G. Oxbow Lake Cottager’s Association: Tonia D. said that they had their AGM and it went well. The Executives are the same as last year. The President of their Association has been running a ‘Boat Safe Course’ for which he charges $45.00. He plans to run another course on the 26th of this month and if anyone is interested please let Tonia D. know. Tonia D. commented on the appropriateness of a pamphlet from the Lake of Bays called “Boat Right Be Polite” and said that she was passing it out to people on her lake. This Association’s Social will be held tonight and a Regatta tomorrow.

7. Committee Updates and Reports:

A. Environmental Committee: Michael Young & Rob Zingel- No updates.

B. Muskoka Watershed Committee: Tonia reported that they had a meeting in June at which they did a tour of Gravenhurst and looked at the changes (i.e. clean up) made at the lakeshore. Tonia said that it is beautiful--- unbelievable commitment to the environment.

C. Planning and Land Use Committee: Ian Hastie, Morris Eccles & Ken Scharer reported that 6 applications came in and that none of these appeared to be contentious. Ian H. said that at this time no Lake Association has asked for us to be engaged on their behalf in any planning matters or land use. On the other hand, Ian H raised a question regarding the role of his Committee if a Lake Association does not raise an issue, whereas his Committee might see an issue. He felt that we had a responsibility for overall stewardship of our environment and his sense was that we are obligated to take a stand on our own, if necessary. The Directors agreed with Ian H.’s thought.

D. Local Government and Taxation Committee: Shane Baker & John Kenny reported that at the District Council Meeting the decision on Development Fees ended up being set at 13%.

E. Communication and Membership: Tonia called around to find out which Lake Associations are remaining associated with the HLC and what, if any, changes have occurred in the people occupying their Executive positions.

8. New Business: The Annual AGM is set for August 15, 2009. Tonia hoped to have two speakers for the AGM and it was agreed that there would not be a regular meeting of the HLC after the AGM.

9. Motion to Adjourn: Motion carried and meeting Adjourned at 11:55A.M.

Next Meeting –Saturday November 7th at 9:30AM in the Robinson Independent Grocer Community Room, Huntsville, ON

Prepared by: Burr G. Atkinson – (Secretary)