Chautauqua Lake and Watershed Management Alliance

Chautauqua NY

You are here: Home / Minutes / 2020 / October 2020 WS Minutes

October 2020 WS Minutes

By

Chautauqua Lake and Watershed Management Alliance

Minutes of the Board of Directors – Work Session

Thursday, October 22, 2020

4:30 p.m. via ZOOM

Directors Present: Pierre Chagnon, Ted McCague, Mike Jabot, Bruce Erickson, Jim Andrews, David Shepherd, and Mike Latone

Absent: Rob Yates, Paul (P.J.) Wendel, Jr.

Staff in Attendance: Vince Horrigan – Alliance Interim Executive Director, Randall Perry – Alliance Project Manager, and Taylor West – Alliance Communications Coordinator.

I. Call to Order

P. Chagnon called the Board Meeting of the Chautauqua Lake and Watershed Management Alliance (Alliance) to order at 4:31 PM. A quorum of 6 out of 9 Alliance Board Members were present at the start of the meeting.

 II. Approval of 9/10/2020 Minutes

B. Erickson made a motion to accept the minutes from the 9/10/2020 Public Board Meeting. The motion was seconded by T. McCague and was approved unanimously.

III. Alliance Committees Update

a.) Alliance Lake Management Committee Update

R. Perry indicated that the Chautauqua Lake Partnership (CLP) shared a summary data report prepared by Bowling Green State University (BGSU) with the Alliance. R. Perry indicated that the report was also distributed to M. Jabot, Chair of the Alliance DAR Committee. R. Perry thanked M. Latone and the CLP for sharing the report with the Alliance.

D. Shepherd asked if anyone is measuring potential road salt contributions to the salinity of Chautauqua Lake.

P. Chagnon indicated The Jefferson Project could be a great resource to Chautauqua Lake based on their experience with road salt in the northern part of New York.

b.) Alliance Watershed Management Committee Update

V. Horrigan indicated that the Committee does not have any updates at this time.

c.) Alliance Data Analysis and Research (DAR) Committee Update

Jabot indicated that the DAR Committee shared their meeting minutes and recommendations regarding the prioritization of research initiatives put forth by The Jefferson Project. M. Jabot indicated that the Committee also provided feedback regarding the state of nitrogen and phosphorus sensors around the lake. M. Jabot indicated that the Committee held two very productive meetings since the Alliance Board last met in September.

T. McCague congratulated M. Jabot and the other Committee members on their early accomplishments and indicated that he supports M. Jabot’s approach to organizing and leading the Committee. T. McCague indicated that he is thankful for the Committee’s recommendations.

D. Shepherd indicated that he agrees with T. McCague’s comments supporting the work that the Committee has accomplished to date.

M. Jabot indicated that the Committee was able to have purposeful and thoughtful conversation regarding the two Board-provided tasks due to the clarity and specificity of those tasks.

R. Perry indicated that M. Jabot is doing a great job chairing the Committee.

P. Chagnon indicated that he is appreciative of the collaborative work that the Committee is executing.

IV. 2020-2021 Consolidated Local Funding Program (originally Agenda Item VI but moved to Agenda Item IV)

a.) Overview of Applications Received and Technical Review

R. Perry shared a presentation with the Alliance Board, which gave an overview of the 28 grant applications the Alliance received through the 2020-2021 Consolidated Local Grant Program. A discussion ensued between the Alliance Board members regarding potential funding allocations.

b.) Board Discussion of 2021 Recommended Project Funding

P. Chagnon asked R. Perry to present the Alliance Staff’s recommended funding allocations to the Alliance Board.

R. Perry shared a presentation with the Alliance Board, which detailed the Alliance Staff’s recommended funding allocations and the rationale for those allocations.

Further discussion ensued among the Alliance Board and staff regarding the staff’s recommendations.

D. Shepherd made a motion to approve the recommended funding allocation as presented. M. Jabot seconded the motion.

B. Erickson asked if the Board would accept a group grant application for potential future herbicide treatments on behalf of the municipalities.

M. Latone indicated that he would support this effort.

P. Chagnon thanked B. Erickson for his recommendation.

B. Erickson thanked the staff for their work on the presentation.

M. Latone indicated that it would be good to get municipal representatives more involved in the process next year.

P. Chagnon called for a Board vote on the motion to approve the recommended funding allocations as presented. The motion carried with unanimous support.

The recommended funding allocations are as follows:

    • Town of Chautauqua Mobitrac Operations – $50,000
    • Town of Chautauqua Mobitrac Shoreline Cleanup Program (purchase new Mobitrac) – $75,000
    • CLA 2021 Operational Support – $247,000
    • CLA 2021 Pre-Season Curly Leaf Harvesting – $36,000
    • 2021 Chautauqua Lake Herbicide Treatments (pending NYS DEC permit approval(s)) – $90,000
    • RTPI Aquatic Invasive Species Volunteer Task Force – $6,000
    • CLP 2021 Weed Survey of Chautauqua Lake – $25,000
    • CWC Chautauqua Lake Watershed Forest, Wetland and Tributary Conservation and Enhancement Program – $20,000
    • CWC Our Water, Our Lakes…One Community – $50,000
    • CLP 2021 Nitrogen Study on Chautauqua Lake – $52,000
    • Lakewood Fairmount Stormwater Basin and Watershed Improvement Project – $3,000
    • North Harmony Ball Creek Stabilization Project – $36,000
    • Total Foundation Request: $690,000

V. 2020 County 2% Agency Allocation – Remaining Funds (originally Agenda Item IV but moved to Agenda Item V)

V. Horrigan indicated that there is $18,415 left over from the 2020 County 2% Agency Allocation. V. Horrigan asked the Board if they would entertain a motion to allocate the remaining $18,415 towards The Jefferson Project on Chautauqua Lake.

D. Shepherd made a motion to allocate the remaining $18,415 towards The Jefferson Project on Chautauqua Lake. B. Erickson seconded the motion. The motion carried with unanimous support.

VI. 2020 Consolidated Foundation Funding – Remaining Funds (originally Agenda Item V but moved to Agenda Item VI)

V. Horrigan indicated that there is $15,742.41 in 2020 Consolidated Foundation funding remaining. V. Horrigan asked the Board if they would entertain a motion to allocate $15,000 towards The Jefferson Project on Chautauqua Lake and $742.41 towards the Ball Creek Stabilization Project (Town of North Harmony local project).

T. McCague made a motion to allocate $15,000 to support The Jefferson Project on Chautauqua Lake and $742.41 towards the Ball Creek Stabilization Project. The motion was seconded by M. Latone and carried with unanimous support.

VII. Executive Director Transition Update

V. Horrigan indicated that the Alliance is headed in a good direction and is proud of the Staff’s work. V. Horrigan indicated that his last day as Interim Executive Director is 10/30/2020. V. Horrigan indicated that the Alliance is in incredible hands going forward with R. Perry as its Executive Director. V. Horrigan indicated that he appreciates the Board’s support during his time as Interim Executive Director and indicated that the Executive Director transition period will be complete effective 10/30/2020.

Members of the Alliance Board thanked V. Horrigan for his service to the organization.

VIII. The Jefferson Project at Chautauqua Lake – 2021 Planning

V. Horrigan indicated that The Jefferson Project is looking at alternative ways to fund the Chautauqua Lake vertical profilers due to their high initial construction costs. V. Horrigan indicated that he is optimistic The Jefferson Project on Chautauqua Lake can continue next year. V. Horrigan indicated that the funding allocated through the actions of the Alliance Board at this meeting may help to keep the program going in 2021. P. Chagnon indicated that the Alliance DAR Committee reviewed the tentative future work plan for Chautauqua Lake and prioritized items within the work plan in order to help chart an effective course into the future.

IX. Other

P. Chagnon indicated that the Alliance designates an Audit Committee to review the audit of the Alliance’s books. P. Chagnon indicated that the 2019 audit is not yet complete, but it is in the process of being completed in the near future. P. Chagnon asked for the Board’s approval to appoint J. Andrews, M. Connelly, B. Erickson, S. Hays, and P. Chagnon to the Audit Committee.

M. Jabot made a motion to approve the appointment of J. Andrews, M. Connelly, B. Erickson, S. Hayes, and P. Chagnon to the Audit Committee. The motion was seconded by T. McCague and carried with unanimous support.

V. Horrigan indicated that the Alliance intends on giving a presentation to the Alliance’s membership at the November Board meeting to detail the Board’s recommended funding for 2021 Alliance Member-led Projects/Programs.

J. Andrews indicated that he is very pleased with, as well as amazed at, the growth of the Alliance over the past few years.

X. Adjourn

P. Chagnon made a motion to adjourn the October 22, 2020 Board meeting. The motion was seconded by B. Erickson and was passed unanimously. The meeting adjourned at 6:00 PM.