This year's annual meeting is scheduled to be held on Friday evening, July 28, 1995 at 7:00 pm at Ellsworth City Hall. An informal social hour will start at 6:00 pm for those who would like to chat.

Welcome to the summer of '95! Memorial Day has signaled the beginning of everything most of us enjoy about Branch Lake with the exception of a few pesky things like black flies, mosquitoes, potholes plus a few others not prudent to mention.

First, I would like to thank Anne Hayes for her unwavering effort in resolving the situation around 28 Acre Island and the City of Ellsworth. The lake won a major victory for clean water and responsible development. The hours Ann spent in research and documentation were a big plus in keeping an upper hand in the settlement procedure.

Second is the dam. Bangor Hydro has taken the position of desiring to rid itself of the structure and land surrounding. We have a letter giving the BPA first refusal while we research the pros and cons of assuming the burden and responsibility of the dam.

The major factors in the acquisition are whoever owns the dam gets all of the water and power generation rights. This could cause wide fluctuations in the water level or, should the dam go into disrepair, we may be forced to maintain the dam for someone else. On the other side is the liability and expense to the association should we accept the gift of the dam from Bangor Hydro. Any decisions will be made by the entire BPA membership. Please give as much thought as you can and be prepared to discuss this situation at our annual meeting. I hope to have a guest speaker to help with some of our questions and supply us with background information at our annual meeting on July 28, 1995 at 7:00 pm. There will be an informal hour at 6:00 for those who would like to mingle and chat.

Finally, I wish to thank all who have supported the association and the executive board as we try to protect the investment you have in the future of Branch Pond.

Sincerely,
Robert Murray, President

Commodore Paul Wight has written from Florida.

THE RACING SEASON (Our tenth) will start at 2:00 pm on July 2nd, followed by a social gathering at the commodore's cottage. The season will end on August 13th.

A settlement was finally reached in the long-standing land use violation brought by the city of Ellsworth against Stephen LaFreniere et al. The Branch Pond Association and the Phillips Beach Road Association were added as parties to the settlement last fall and added much to the final agreement.

A summary of the agreement includes the following:

LaFreniere will pay a fine, costs and attorney's fees.

Herbert C. Haynes (who had purchased the back land from LaFreniere) retains 279.1 acres of back land.

The City of Ellsworth shall receive 292.0 acres of land including a 7.1-acre shore front lot with 650+/- foot frontage. This shore front lot shall be held by the city in a nature conservancy status.

Back land to the rear of lots 22 thru 42 on Phillips

Beach Road may be purchased by shore front abutters, with a restriction that the land may not be developed without the approval of the Ellsworth Planning Board, except for drinking water wells or wastewater disposal systems and may not be developed in conjunction with any water front lot to give access to the lake.

Twenty-Eight Acre Island may not be sub-divided by more than four lots. Additionally, three shore front lots next to the island narrows shall be limited to only one additional lot as a part of lot 3. All of these lots and sub-divisions are for single family residential use with no motor homes, RV's , tents, trailers, campsites or platforms permitted.

Details of road maintenance, including a payment of $500 by LaFreniere, were worked out to the satisfaction of the Phillips Beach Road Association.

2 camps owned by the Lyons' available for weekly or monthly rental. Located in the Cove. Sleep 4 and 6. $350 and $400 per week. Call Mike at 866-3868 (or 667-7090 later in summer.)