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CALL TO ORDER Dave Pratt, President, brought the meeting to order at 9:15 a.m. Fifty-eight members and associates were in attendance. A few minutes were allowed for the members present to read the minutes from the 9/2/00 meeting. John Peck corrected page 2 regarding dogs, to read that the "property deed has covenants regarding proper control of your dogs". Nancy Allen and Paul Nestork made and seconded the motion to accept the minutes with this correction.
TREASURER'S REPORT Dave Bartholomew presented this year's report, thanking Jim Del Salvio for doing the audit again this year. As of 6/30/01, assets amounted to $21,820. The restricted funds totaling $19, 310 with $830 of this amount reserved for fish stocking. Unrestricted funds total $2510. Dues totaled $4265 plus interest which equaled $5341. We have 151 members (down 2 members from 2000) and 38 associate members (up 14 from 2000). Disbursements were 1.) Website - $465 (paid up through March 2002) 2.) Misc...buoys purchased this past year. A surplus of $1111 will be rolled over into a CD. Other income / expenses of note: Annual dinner - $89 income; Fish stocking - expenses (fish study plus the stocking) = $5089; Income = $2824.70.
Charlie Bennett made a motion and Russ Hogue seconded, to accept the budget. The vote to accept the budget passed. Liz Pratt made a motion to transfer $1000 into a CD seconded by Kathy Henry. Motion passed.
PECK FAMILY REPORT John Peck gave an update on Orion; the contact person with Orion is Rob Easterly from Syracuse. He is responsible for the real estate that Orion owns. Orion is grieving property taxes on its holdings since its smaller holdings are losing money. Bleeker has granted a tax reduction to Orion but other towns (Johnstown, Stratford, Ephratah) have refused. Consequently, Orion is suing. Orion has indicated that they would sell the Ephratah operation is an offer was made.
Litter at the far end of the lake. Posted signs are up. If lake residents notice activity in this area, please let the Peck family know so that they can police the lake.
Wellington Peck welcomed the new residents and "old timers" on the lake. He said that this has been a good summer. The weather has been great, the lake level held up given the lack of rain. He indicated that the Peck family modified the canoe and kayak rules this year. Sadly, he reported 3 lake residents passed away over this last year: Charlotte Peck, Hal Neal, and Ted Hoye. Our sympathy to their families. On the happy side, Ashley Charlotte Peck was born this year to Alan and Laurie Peck.
Kathy Henry had heard that some ducklings were run over on the lake and asked if there is anything we can do. John indicated that he doesn't know how we can control people's behavior.
A question was also raised regarding milfoil in the lake. John indicated that he has no confirmed report of Eurasian milfoil in Peck Lake.
BLEECKER REASSESSMENT John Peck reported that the county wide assessment of 1989 had many problems (inaccurate information).The state suggests reassessment every 5 years but it has been 12 years since the last in the town of Bleeker. The equalization rate is a % established by the state to establish equivalencies among the property assessments of the various municipalities around the state. The equalization rate is an indicator of how your assessed value compares to the real market value. This year the equalization rate has dropped from 86% to 83%. Since the property values are up and the equalization rate is down, the town has decided that it is time to reassess. The county must hire data collectors - they may hire from the outside or may use their own people and hire extra under the direction of Peter Galarneau. Data collection will involve individuals going to the property owners and taking an inventory of the # of rooms in the house, condition of the home, etc. The data will be collected this fall. Informal hearings regarding the new assessed value will be held next year. Not everyone's increased assessment will result in increased taxes. John Peck and John Mars want to keep communications open during this process. After the reassessment, we should go back to 100% assessment. Johnstown's equalization rate went from 100% to 95.5% this year.
TOWN OF BLEECKER John Mars reported that the town needs to complete the paving of the South Shore. September 22 and 23 is the Bleeker clean up days. Dumpsters will be at the end of the road by the dam. Clean up days occur twice a year, once in the fall and once in the spring. Posters will indicate what materials may be placed in the dumpsters. The town anticipates the construction of a new town hall. Land has been added. A modest building is planned. Money has been put aside over the past 10-15 years. The existing town hall is not handicap accessible and there is a critical storage problem among other problems.
WATER QUALITY Stu Smith reported that for the past 10 years, we have participated in the CSLAP. From 1992 through 1996 we were in the full program and a sample of the lake water was taken every 2 weeks and sent in for analysis. Since 1997 we have been in the CSLAP light program. The ph level of the lake is still neutral but is on a downward trend. We may go back into the full program. The state may charge this time but money has been set aside for this purpose.
Milfoil: The state came in and analyzed weeds in Beaver Bay. We may harvest weeds or use mats to control them. Larry Doubleday reported that in some lakes, a frame is built and black plastic is stretched over the frame then the frame is sunk into the lake. The weeds will die but will eventually come back.
Residents were encouraged to test their septic tanks. Kits are available from Dave Pratt.
Buoys: Chuck LeMaitre purchased and brought back from Cape Cod the new buoys on the lake. Emilio Muscolino put them in the lake and has been replacing those which have come loose. Thanks to Emilio and Chuck for their time and efforts.
FISH STOCKING Bill Nitsche provided a brief synopsis of the Fish Study completed in 2000; That walleyes are in the lake, there are 2 classes, 16"-17" and 2"-3" (these are reproducing); It is not recommended to put trout in the lake due the warm water temperature; the ph level is 5.46-7 is a good ph for fish.
Lori Tratta recommends that:
In the spring of 2001, the committee decided to stock:
Thanks to the Warren & Grace Decker and Emilio Muscolino for all of their work. Emilio suggests that we continue to stock minnows for feed. Lori Tratta's Fish Study is on the PLPA Website. A suggestion was made that perhaps we could provide forms to the fishermen to keep track of the fish caught and to track results. Be aware that you DO NEED A LICENSE to fish in Peck's Lake.
HISTORICAL SOCIETY Alice Peck reported that the Schoolhouse is open every Wed and Sat . They have had groups of anywhere from 2-20 people visit this past year. A $50 donation was made by one of the visitors and old photos have also been sent. Damage occurred to the nature trail due to a storm. A culvert was installed for drainage. There is a need to continue to advertise. Visitors mentioned seeing ads for the Schoolhouse. Paul Nestork has also written a web page for the Schoolhouse. The spring membership drive was successful but they need more hosts and trail guides. There is Schoolhouse notepaper for sale.
COMMUNICATION COMMITTEE Larry Doubleday pointed out that PLPA guidebooks, directories and colored maps are for sale at $3 each. The Website (www.PLPA.org) has an updated directory. A new directory may be PRINTED in a next years. Larry expressed his thanks to Warren and Grace Decker for being such great liaisons with the campers. Four newsletters are published each year. The next newsletter will be out at the end of November. Call Kathy Henry if you have any articles or suggestions. Newsletters can be sent via the Internet using e-mail. See Kathy Henry or Larry Doubleday.
On the Website you can obtain bylaws, fish info, photos, links, maps, directions to Peck Lake, Historical Society information, lake history. Larry mentioned Paul Nestork, our webmaster, has done an outstanding job. Thanks Paul! Plans for the future.... lake cam, videos, "frequently asked questions" section.
Over the past 1.5 years there have been 40 new families on the lake. Just since January, there have been 9 new residents. The welcoming committee visits the new residents and provides them with information, maps of the area, brochures, etc. There is a need for a volunteer, PLPA Historian. If interested, contact Larry Doubleday or Dave Pratt.
ELECTIONS The nominating committee presented nominations for officers and directors for the next year:
| President | Dave Pratt |
| Vice President | Kathy Henry |
| Treasurer | Dave Bartholomew |
| Secretary | Lorraine Carlson |
| Director 2001 - 2004 | Maurice Cea |
| Director 2001 - 2004 | Robert Ireland |
| Director 2001 - 2004 | Joanne Wheelock |
NEW BUSINESS New lake residents at the meeting introduced themselves:
Other Business: S. Aman announced that there will be a breakfast on the Pontoon boats Sunday, 9/2. By Rock Island at 10a.m. and that there will be a sail boat race on Monday, 9/3, at 10 a.m. starting at 584 North Shore (the Doubledays).
A motion was made by Nancy Allen and seconded by John Peck to adjourn the meeting at 10:50 am.
Respectfully Submitted,
Lorraine Carlson, Secretary
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