Eagle Lake Committee

Meeting date: 
Wednesday, November 8, 2017

Eagle Lake Committee

Meeting Minutes

November 8, 2017

Opening

The regular meeting of the Eagle Lake Committee was called to order at 7:05pm on November 8, 2017 in Starboard Building by Mark Aucoin and seconded by Stephen Isabelle.

Present

Gerald Kersus

Dan Marinone

Mark Taubert

Stephen Isabelle

Mark Aucoin

Earl Nezuch

Tim Ethier

 

Approval of Minutes

The minutes of the November 1, 2017 meeting were reviewed. Stephen Isabelle made the motion to approve the minutes with no corrections, and Dan Marinone seconded the motion. All members voted to approve the minutes.

Old Business

Gerald Kersus asked the committee members responsible for the three main areas of study by this committee, to report their progress.

Recreational Use of Eagle Lake and the public park area. Dan Marinone provided a written report for the committee members of the Eagle Lake: Recreational Uses/ Holden’s Only Four-Season Resource. This document was reviewed and in compiling the information, Dan Marinone visited the site several times. On the most recent visit he observed and spoke to residents of Holden both fishing and kayaking at Eagle Lake. It was also documented that brush was chipped up and the area cleaned out by the dam and future condos were being worked on also by the dam.

Within Dan’s report were “Items Needing Attention”. The Chair asked Dan to seek more information relating to the dredging of the lake and its associated costs and options to eliminate the weeds on the lake. Dan will check with Sarah to determine her work done so far on this topic.

Relating to the improvement of the lake and surrounding area, Mark Taubert reviewed with the committee the definition of Habitat Connectivity. This term had been used by the Conservation Commission as the main justification for allowing lowering of the water of Eagle Lake, but is felt by the Eagle Lake Committee to be at odds with the use of the property. The definition is provided as an attachment to this report.

Eagle Lake Recreation Area. Stephen Isabelle further reviewed the future work needed at the park site, along with the crew needed to clean up the site, the type and choices of sand needed, painting, lumber, and man hours. This estimate will be delivered by him at the next meeting.

Stephen Isabelle, Gerry Kersus and Mark Aucoin met with the HDPW on site to gain access to the building and talk about what would be needed to bring it up to shape for future use.

An immediate need was expressed for the removal of branches hanging and surrounding power lines on the property, as well as improving the security on the property by police patrols, a locked gate or chain, and proper signage indication police patrols and no trespassing after dark, etc. The committee chairman stated that he would follow up on these topics with Town Selectman, Bob Lavigne before the next meeting.

Eagle Lake Dam. Earl Nezuch reported on the subjects relating to the current dam. He reported on options for inspecting the dam and various ideas relating to inspecting the dam. Some options were the possibility of rehabilitating the gates of the dam and that most issues are downstream on the embankment. The possibility of using an earthen dam to relieve the pressure on the main dam was discussed. Mr. Nezuch was asked by the Chair to consider the cost of putting in an earthen dam for the next meeting. As part of the possibility of doing a survey of the state of the dam, and its rehabilitation, the use of a bulkhead to hold back water for the inspection.

It was proposed for the committee to ask what help Alden Research could bring to bear for this project. The Chair indicated that he would get the name of a contact there and provide it to Earl to consider it further. The status of the Phase I or Phase II studies needs to be reviewed.

After reviewing the current information provided to the committee and after reviewing the status of the dam, it is determined that a full study of the current condition of the dam may be needed no matter what decision is made by the Town Board of Selectman. Mr. Nezuch will look into that and report at the next meeting.

The committee discussed the benefits and liabilities of passing dam ownership to the Town of Holden.

New Business

  1. Get public involvement for public awareness strategies for use of this property.
  2. Future scheduling of meetings. (The next meetings are on November 15, 2017 and November 29, 2017.

Adjournment

A motion was made to adjourned at 8:40pm by Mark Aucoin and seconded by Stephen Isabelle. The next general meeting will be at 7:00pm on November 15, 2017, in the Starboard Building.

Minutes submitted by:     Mark Aucoin

Approved by:                   [Name]