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Meeting Minutes September 6, 2022

Lake Zoar Authority

P.O. Box 931

Southbury, CT 06488

Email: [email protected]

Member Towns

Monroe-Newtown-Oxford-Southbury


The regular meeting of the Lake Zoar Authority was held on Tuesday September 6, 2022 at 7:00 pm at the Southbury Town Hall.


Commissioners Present: 

Gary Fillion, Chairman 
Jerry Kozera, Vice Chairman
Frank Cavallo 
John Downs
Bill May, Treasurer
Barbara McWilliams
Lesley Pires
Dick Speer


Absent:
Herbert Garber
Mark Saksa


Chairman Gary Fillion called the meeting to order at 7:04 pm.


Secretary’s Report:

A motion to accept the minutes with from the August 1, 2022 minutes, was made by Bill May, seconded by Dick Speer; the motion was passed unanimously.


Public Comments:

None.


Correspondence and News Clippings:

None.


Treasurer’s Report:

Bill May, Treasurer, presented account balances, with cash on hand equaling $146,090.77. There are remaining fuel and payroll bills to be paid, but the rest of the season’s invoices are paid. A motion to accept the treasurer’s report was made by John Downs, seconded by Barbara McWilliams; the motion was passed unanimously.


Marine Patrol Report:

Marine Patrol Coordinator Dan Semosky reported for the month of August, there were 7 evening patrols and A total of 73 enforcements. A majority of violations were for passengers who did not have PFDs, unregistered vessels, and drivers with no safe boating certificate.  18 vessels towed for breakdowns to the closest facility. Three of the patrols were on Tuesday evenings during Oxford concerts. Of note, the last concert had more than 80 boats in attendance and there were some violations enforced. On August 21, there was another LZA safety check point at the Southbury boat launch, 20 vessels were inspected. There was another fisher caught fishing in the exclusion zone of the Shepaug Dam. He was made to leave and s not arrested after saying he didn’t know he couldn’t be there. A second fisher was caught later, who also said he didn’t know he couldn’t be there. CT state law section 15-121-B13 states, “no person shall operate a vessel within fifteen hundred feet of the downstream side of the Lake Housatonic Dam in Derby or the Shepaug Dam in Southbury,” and signage prohibiting occupation in the area is posted. It is illegal to fish in this area from a boat. There is a fence blocking foot trespassing on FirstLight’s shoreline. Violation is a misdemeanor offence. In continued coordination with FirstLight, the patrol drivers have been marking a lot of debris and trees along the lake. Photos were taken and sent to FirstLight and debris is being removed. Marine Patrol officer again docked at the sandbar and did safety walks, interacting with recreationists. One call from a concerned citizen was made to CT State Police Troop A to complain someone was playing Shania Twain music too loudly on the lake.  There is still a missing buoy from the north end of the lake. On August 28, at approximately 9pm, there was a call to the state police for a search and rescue regarding a deflating kayak in the water. When rescue arrived, no one was in the water and the driver was located on the shore.


In regards to the entire season, Dan reported that water safety improved, with two accidents in May and none the rest of the summer. The PFD and whistle program was successful. Police officers on LZA Patrols did an amazing job this year, especially Oxford officers Jose Taverner, Michael Roach, and Anthony Cipriano, Monroe officers Jay Torreso and Mark Caufield, and Newtown officer Felicia Figol. These officers enhanced safety on Lake Zoar and selflessly volunteered to work additional shifts to support the community.


Publicity/ Public Awareness:

Lesley Pires reported that there are two openings on the LZA commission for Monroe and Oxford, and possible collaboration with the towns to post recruitment media online will be explored.


Water Quality / Grants Report:

Gary Fillion, Chairman, reported the first weed treatment seemed to be effective but there was a regrowth. The post treatment survey is delayed due to short staffing with the research agency. The report will be submitted this as soon as possible, this week. A second weed treatment will be scheduled for this month for the targeted areas with regrowth, estimated at one quarter of the total acres treated. Improved signage has been requested to alert residents of the second treatment. The Cyanobacteria Monitoring Program at Western Connecticut State University continues this month, with results continuously low. For the week of September 2, 2022 results were 0.569ppb in Eichler’s Cove, 0.262ppb in Jackson’s Cove, and 0.276ppb in Kettletown State Park, meeting the U.S. EPA and CT DPH currently Microcystin threshold of 8.0 parts per billion (ppb; μg/L) for recreational waters. FirstLight has indicated they are willing to consider bill back for the patrol boats removing future debris on Lake Zoar, and will consider an increase in grant funding. The navigable channel under I-84 will be closed from September 19 through October 5, 2022, except for weekends for continued bridge construction. Additional closure signage will be installed prior to the closure in accordance with the approved boat safety plan.

Boats and Motors Report:

Dick Speer reported Boat number 2 does accelerates much slower than boat 1. The propellers need to be checked. A replacement is $197. The boat will be pulled so the unit can be inspected.


Grants:

Barbara McWilliams reported seven large boxes of life jackets arrived from the SeaTow grant for the life jacket loaner stand at Lakeside Marina. They will be stored for the winter and put on a new stand next season.


Unfinished Business:

None.


New Business

None.


Adjournment

A motion to adjourn was made by Bill May and seconded by Frank Cavallo. The motion passed unanimously. The meeting adjourned at 8:20pm.


Respectfully Submitted,


Lesley Pires

Secretary

The minutes are not considered official until approved at the next regular meeting of the Lake Zoar Authority to be held on October 4, 2022 at 7:00 pm at the Monroe Town Hall.

 

Click here to download the 09-06-2022 Minutes

Click here to preview the proposed agenda for the 10-04-2022 LZA Meeting