Chautauqua Lake and Watershed Management Alliance
Minutes of the Board of Directors – Work Session
Thursday, January 16, 2025
4:30 p.m. at the BWB Building, 201 West 3rd St. Jamestown, NY 14701 & via Zoom
Directors Present: Pierre Chagnon, Ellen Barnes, Don Emhardt, Martin Proctor, Paul (P.J.) Wendel, Jr., Jim Andrews, Janis Bowman, Jo Dee Johnson (Zoom)
Directors Absent: Mike LaTone
Staff in Attendance: Randall Perry – Executive Director, Jay Young – Communications Coordinator
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I. Call to Order
D. Emhardt called the Board Meeting of the Chautauqua Lake and Watershed Management Alliance (Alliance) to order at 4:32 PM. A quorum of 7 out of 9 Directors was present at the start of the meeting.
II. Approval of 12/12/2024 Board Meeting Minutes
J. Andrews made a motion to accept the minutes from the 12/12/24 Board Meeting. The motion was seconded by M. Proctor and was passed unanimously.
III. Financial Report
R. Perry indicated that the meeting packet includes an updated financial summary report for December. R. Perry noted grant payments received by the Alliance as well as those paid to Members.
R. Perry provided an update to the Board on progress toward adjusting the Alliance bank accounts to achieve full Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation coverage, as recommended by the Alliance Auditor. R. Perry thanked M. LaTone for providing information on sweep account services offered through Northwest. R. Perry indicated that he was also inquiring with the current primary bank, M&T Bank, to see if it could provide a similar service.
Discussion included the anticipated fees associated with the sweep account and the expectation that increased interest would adequately offset those fees.
After discussion, P. Chagnon made a motion to move all funds from M&T Bank to Northwest and establish a sweep account at Northwest, unless M&T Bank provided a similar option, in which case funds would stay at M&T Bank and a sweep account would be established there. The motion was seconded by E. Barnes and passed unanimously.
E. Barnes made a motion to accept the financial report as presented. The motion was seconded by M. Proctor and was passed unanimously.
IV. Committees Updates
R. Perry indicated that a Lake Management Committee meeting is scheduled for April.
V. 2025 Alliance Consolidated Local Funding Program Update
R. Perry indicated that all applications for the 2025 Consolidated Local Funding Program have been submitted to the local foundations. R. Perry indicated that he, P. Chagnon, and D. Emhardt are scheduled to meet with the Chautauqua Region Community Foundation (CRCF) on 2/4/25. R. Perry indicated that funding decisions from the CRCF and Sheldon Foundation are anticipated by the end of February.
R. Perry indicated that separate from the consolidated foundations grant, applications have also been submitted by the Alliance to the Hultquist Foundation since 2022, with funding awards ranging from $75,000 to $100,000.
R. Perry indicated that prior grants were used to support the Chautauqua Lake Partnership-led municipal herbicide program. R. Perry indicated that the deadline to apply is typically around the end of February.
Discussion occurred regarding the possibility of incorporating starry stonewort management into the 2025 grant request, the types of chemical and physical controls being planned, the current level of funding already secured for that work, the other new chemical management approaches being used by CLP and the municipalities, and the value of flexibility in the management of invasive and nuisance species.
After discussion, the Board indicated their support for incorporating starry stonewort into the grant request, while still including the overall chemical management program for invasive and nuisance plants that had been funded in the past.
M. Proctor made a motion authorizing R. Perry to submit a grant request of $100,000 to the Hultquist Foundation for the 2025 CLP-led municipal herbicide program. The motion was seconded by E. Barnes and was passed unanimously (Abstain: J. Johnson).
VI. 2024 Alliance Consolidated Local Funding Program
a.) Consider No-Cost Time Extension(s) for Member grants with funds remaining
R. Perry indicated that there are $4,215.08 in unexpended funds for the Town of Chautauqua 2024 Mobitrac near shore cleanup grant and $5,135 in unexpended funds for the Chautauqua Lake Partnership 2024 Algaecides for Starry Stonewort grant. R. Perry indicated that in the past, the Board has considered no-cost time extensions to allow Member grants to be used for the same purpose in the following year.
E. Barnes made a motion to authorize a no-cost time extension through 12/31/2025 for the Town of Chautauqua Mobitrac near shore cleanup program grant and the Chautauqua Lake Partnership Algaecides for Starry Stonewort program grant. The motion was seconded by J. Bowman and was passed unanimously (Abstain: D. Emhardt, J. Johnson).
b.) Chautauqua Lake Association 2024 additional funding request
D. Emhardt provided an update on communications with the Chautauqua Lake Association since the 12/12/24 Alliance Board meeting, regarding the CLA’s request for an additional $54,000 in funding for 2024 operations and the Alliance Board’s interest in receiving additional details before making a decision on the request. D. Emhardt indicated that discussions focused primarily on labor time paid by CLA and that he did not have any additional details from CLA to share with the Board.
Discussion occurred regarding the type of information being sought and the likelihood that it would be readily available, plans for follow-up communication, the fiduciary role of the Alliance Board, and the importance of reviewing the details prior to making funding decisions.
P. Chagnon thanked D. Emhardt for his work to engage the CLA on this issue.
VII. Lake Management Consultant Update
P. Chagnon provided an update on the Alliance’s letter seeking professional consulting services related to lake management. P. Chagnon indicated that the letter was issued to multiple consultants or other contacts by R. Perry beginning on 12/19/24. P. Chagnon indicated that the distribution list was generated based on information provided by the North American Lake Management Society, the New York State Federation of Lake Associations, and the Pennsylvania Lake Management Society, along with others known to R. Perry. P. Chagnon indicated that around 35 entities were contacted, and that around 30% responded to the inquiry. P. Chagnon indicated that seven expressed interest and asked for more information, and R. Perry has had preliminary discussions with all seven. P. Chagnon indicated that the seven firms expressing interest were Anchor QEA, Barton & Loguidice, GEI Consultants, Princeton Hydro, Restorative Lake Sciences, Rooney’s Aquatic Biologists, and Stantec.
P. Chagnon indicated that of the seven firms, he suggests having further conversations with four of them, all of which have Certified Lake Managers on staff and appear to be well qualified. P. Chagnon suggested as a next step that he, D. Emhardt, and R. Perry speak further with the four firms, and then make a recommendation to the Board of who to speak to. P. Chagnon indicated that the other three firms appeared to have good capabilities and qualifications as well, but they did not appear to offer as strong a fit for what the Alliance Board is seeking at this time.
M. Proctor asked if ranking the four firms would be helpful.
P. Chagnon suggested that further discussions be conducted first.
E. Barnes asked if input and potential questions from the Board would be helpful.
P. Chagnon indicated that was a good idea prior to the full Board discussion. P. Chagnon indicated that he would like to schedule the discussions in the next month or so. P. Chagnon thanked R. Perry for his work on this task.
J. Andrews asked if any cost information had been discussed with any firms yet. P. Chagnon indicated that it had not.
P. Wendel indicated that it is important to document each step of this process for transparency.
E. Barnes indicated support for seeking assistance from well credentialed lake management firms.
J. Johnson indicated she was pleased by the responses to the letter.
Discussion occurred regarding the disclosure of past or current relationships with the seven firms by members of the Board and Staff. No conflicts of interest were identified.
R. Perry indicated that he will coordinate with P. Chagnon and D. Emhardt to schedule the next round of discussions.
VIII. Other
R. Perry indicated that the Alliance’s next work session is scheduled for 2/13/25 at 4:30 p.m.
Discussion occurred regarding a letter addressed to the NYS Department of Environmental Conservation, the Alliance Board, and others that was prepared by representatives of the Chautauqua Watershed Conservancy, the Chautauqua-Conewango Consortium, and others. The letter included comments on the North Carolina State University Chautauqua Lake management plan.
Discussion included the authorship of the letter, its intent, how or if it was requested by the DEC, the distribution process, and alternate approaches that may have been used to provide feedback to the report’s author.
P. Wendel indicated that it would be a good idea for J. Johnson and J. Bowman to meet to discuss the issue of scientific review and the potential role of the Data Analysis and Research Committee.
P. Wendel indicated that Chautauqua County is in the process of scheduling a Lake Symposium on March 22 at the Chautauqua Harbor Hotel.
A discussion followed regarding the status of work on the lake being performed or planned by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, the Department of Environmental Conservation, and other research groups.
J. Johnson indicated that the Board should discuss the DAR Committee and what they want from it.
P. Chagnon indicated that he would be interested in any suggestions from J. Bowman and J. Johnson.
Discussion occurred regarding the committee, the value of different expertise for different questions, the approach of others addressing scientific and technical questions, the utilization of information provided by the committee, and past challenges.
R. Perry indicated he would work to coordinate a meeting with J. Bowman and J. Johnson.
IX. Adjourn
P. Wendel made a motion to adjourn the January 16, 2025 meeting at 6:14 PM. The motion was seconded by J. Andrews and was passed unanimously.
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The Alliance Board of Directors passed a motion to approve these 1/16/25 Meeting Minutes on 2/13/25.