Updated: Wednesday, October 30, 2002 11:44 AM

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Fall 1997 Newsletter

Election Of Officers

The Executive Board met on August 19. 1997 at 7:30 pm and re-elected the same officers as last year.

Items approved at the Annual Meeting were discussed and were as follows:
COLA dues this year are $210. The President will send copies of the Spring Newsletter questionnaire results to the City Manager, Tim King, and the City Councilors. He also set up a Road Committee meeting with the City to discuss various Road Association concerns. It was approved by the Board that the Newsletters will be mailed by November 1 and June 1 this fall and next spring. It will continue to be mailed not only to members of the BPA but also to all existing known Branch Pond property owners. The President was authorized by the Board to offer up to $100 to a person willing to edit and mail the Newsletter for spring and fall, if needed.

Membership Report

The Treasurer reports 115 members at present.

Road Report

There was a meeting of the City Road Committee at the request of Sargent's Drive and Cove Road/ Orchard Road on September 29, at City Hall. The basic question was what level of improvement will be adequate for City standards. City officials decided that Sargent's Dr. required no further improvement, from the City's view. Tim King said he and Myron Grant would take a look at Cove Rd./Orchard Rd. to assess the level of improvement, if any, needed. Cove Rd./Orchard Rd. has also requested winter service through the whole road, rather than make a "U" turn from each end. Larry Blethen intends to schedule a face-to-face meeting with Tim King to discuss the fine points of the situation.

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DAM REPORT

The BPA received a few calls from Lake residents about the fall water levels. We contacted Larry Wilson from the City Water Department and got him to speak with Ron Brokaw's office at The Fish and Wildlife Office Department in Machias. Some adjustments were made. The City Water Department is willing to be cooperative with the BPA and the Fish and Wildlife Dept. requests for water levels. We might need to appoint a committee to research what levels are appropriate for best ecological results.

COMMUNICATIONS

- Laura Wilson Update:
Branch Pond Watershed Project Update
Laura Wilson is on board as of October 1 and has recently attended the Americorps Volunteer Leader training as well as additional training. She will begin organizing volunteers to become water monitors, sample takers, camp road "Experts" and also to involve as many people as possible in an early spring Watershed Survey. All training will be provided! If anyone has any questions or would like to volunteer, you can reach Laura at the Water Research Institute at 581-3244. There will be all types of volunteer opportunities to fit almost anyone's schedule. Do your part. Volunteer! Watch for announcements of this program soon in the BDN and Ellsworth American newspapers.

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SPECIAL THANKS TO

Anne Haves, Volunteer COLA rep.
Union River Lobster Pot, Lucern Golf Club, and Past Ages for their generous BPA Annual Meeting door prize donations.

ANNUAL MEETING

The Branch Pond Association Annual Meeting was held at City Hall in Ellsworth Friday July 25 with 61 in attendance. The Social Hour started at 6pm with refreshments by Muriel Jones and Joyce Marshall. On display again for the third year were the Lake Week Art Contest pictures.

Guest speaker Laura Wilson spoke about a proposed Water Shed Project around Branch Pond and answered questions.

The Secretary's report was accepted as read. The Treasurers report was also accepted as read with a total of $10,007.99 in the account and 81 members of the association paid. No volunteers came forth at the meeting to help audit the Treasurer's books as is required in the bylaws for once a year. The board will continue to try to find people to do that.

Gloria DeAngelis gave the Loon count with 10 Adults and 2 Chicks by the official loon count day.

Anne Hayes spoke about the Annual COLA meeting and brought handouts to share, VCR tapes to loan to Road Organizations.

Paul Wight gave the Regatta report with 6-8 boats competing at each race, and has invited Camp Jordan to join in the races.

Dick Jones gave the Fish Report and spoke of a proposed fish limit of 1 daily except 2 Togue, public hearings will be held this fall.

Brett Johnston gave the Dam and Roads Report. Water levels at present are 7 feet and the City plans to keep it at 6.8-7 feet until after Labor Day. At that time the levels will drop somewhat. He announced to the group that the lawsuit was settled against Bangor Hydro concerning the Dam and Ellsworth does own it. The Dam Committee still has the same members: Brett Johnston, Tim Smart, Joe Flanagan, and Norman Smith. He also announced that the lawsuit against non-paying members of the Branchview South Organization lost. The BPA lawyer, Mr. Gilbert said the reason was because of the way they assessed and charged each member. Some residents from Sargent's Dr. requested COLA be contacted to ask them to send us any information they may have on Road Organizations collections of money and an update placed in the BPA Fall Newsletter. They also requested a list of other lake associations who are members of COLA. Brett Johnston will do that.

The following Motions were made, seconded and approved by majority vote that evening:
            Dues for COLA membership to be paid by BPA.
            $188. additional toward the court cost for the Branch View South case, to be paid.
            50% of or up to $500. to be paid toward another court case involving non-paying members of a road association, if needed this winter.
            Up to $2000. toward the BPA Water Shed Project proposed by Laura Wilson.
            To give the results of the Spring Newsletter questionnaire to the City Councilors
            For the Board to explore options for an alternate boat landing and report at the next Annual Meeting or if necessary in a separate mailing to members.
            The following were elected to the Executive Board for the next three years: Ron Soucie/Phillips Way, Gay Flanagan and Brenda Hopkins/Sargent's Dr., Calvin Anderson and Terry Jordan/Branch View South, Brett and Doris Johnston/Wilson's Way.
            Door Prizes were won by Charlotte Lewis/BP canvas bag, Phil Hopkins/BP cap, Anne Hayes/tee shirt, Dorothy Thompson, Fran Pazereckas, and Martha Radkee/BP mugs, Lucem golf certificate/Laura Wilson's husband. Lobster Pot lunch certificates/Linda Higgins and Johnny Wilson.
            The meeting adjourned at 9:30 pm.
            Thank you notes were sent to the Union River Lobster Pot, Lucem Golf Club, and Ages Past on 8/4/97 for their generous door prize donations.

Respectfully Submitted,
Doris Johnston, BPA Secretary

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REGATTA

The Commodore, Paul Wight ran the season from July 6 to August 10 this summer and the winners of the yearly trophies were: Ron Fitzpatrick in the Multihull class and Van Terrell/Brett Johnston and Glen and Dr. Blaine Curtis tied for the Monohull class. Congratulations to all!

COLA INFO ON ROAD ASSOCIATION COLLECTION PROBLEMS

(To follow, COLA hasn't returned calls yet)

MESSAGE FROM THE PRESIDENT

I hope you all enjoyed a beautiful summer! I am sending a letter to the City, informing City officials of the results of the BPA Survey and requesting that they take the results under consideration for a possible ordinance about the use of vehicles over 1000 Ibs on the lake after ice in. I will be working with Laura Wilson on the Water Quality Management program and will keep the membership up to speed with any developments. I want to thank the Executive Board for all their help over the past year and look forward to working with the new members this year. I hope you all have a good winter season, and will see you all on The Lake in '98.

Sincerely,
Brett Johnston