Annual General Meeting minutes July 17 2009

Municipal Hall – Lac des Seizes Iles

The meeting was called to order at 7:15 P.M.. There were about 60 members in attendance. David Gray approved the adoption of the minutes of the last annual meeting and John Dutton seconded the motion. Carried.

Committee Reports

Membership :

2008

• Year ended with 111 memberships representing 200 people up from 104 memberships in 2007.

2009

• As of July 17, we have 63 memberships representing 116 people,(As of  August 17 we have 93 memberships representing 185 members).
• The season for the entire lake community has gotten off to a slow start, and with the sunshine, we expect more memberships to come in tonight and at the council meeting tomorrow and at various club activities.
• We wonder if emailing our Spring newsletter instead of mailing it this year, might have cut down on early renewals. It is definitely a convenience for us to be able to send them off so easily, but we’ll have to see if it impacts our total membership or just delays the renewals.
• Our membership form was once again placed in the club packet along with a copy of our Spring newsletter and meeting announcement.
• We anticipate reaching and exceeding last year’s membership numbers.
• The importance of the influence of large membership numbers cannot be underestimated when we present the municipality with our requests and concerns especially in this election year.

A big THANK YOU to Tim Boswell for creating our beautiful calendar for a second year. Sales have been brisk and we only have a few left if you haven’t already bought one.

Financial:

Annual Financial Report June 30 2009

Balance June 30 2008

• $10191.15

Revenues:

• Members
• 2008 (39)  1170.00
• 2009  (44) 1320.00
• Donations
• 2008 170.00
• 2009 593.62
• Sale Calendars / Totes 1425.00

Total Revenues:

• $4678.62

Expenses:

• Bank Charge  53.68
• Misc. Copies (Spring Newsletter) / Courrier 456.04
• Professional Services- R. Lapalme 500.00
• Printing/Imprimeries Club Packet 98.75
• Registration Quebec 2008 (NEQ) 32.00
• Membership “Eau Secours” (2009) 25.00
• Native Plant Society (2008) 20.00
• CRE Laurentides 30.00
• Raffle Basket 67.36

Total expenses:

•  $1184.08

Balance June 30 2009

• $13685.69 (Includes Tom Clasper Memorial Fund $1052.66)

Notes:

Commitments:

• Biofilia  $6354.97 ( $1906.49 chequeissued)
• Miscellaneous $200.00
• Book Balance 12/7/09  $12164.20
• Balance after unpaid commitments $7515.72

Pieter Folmer, Treasurer

David Gray moved that the financial report be adopted and Jacques Causse seconded the motion. Carried

Environment :

Friends/Amis Environment Committee Report

July 17, 2009

The summer season is into full swing at 16 Island Lake and Mother Nature is testing us again. Heavy rains and high water levels have created challenges for lake residents. Add to that, increased development, heavy shoreline use and boat activity and  it is imperative for us to realize that we must all be stewards of the lake and work hard to reduce the impact on 16 Island Lake.

Friends/Amis has commissioned an environmental study of the lake littoral ecosystem to be started this summer. This study is being done through the Environmental Committee and the environmental firm of Biofilia has been hired to direct the study. We would like to thank member Corina Lupu who is coordinating the study.

This spring there was an unfortunate environmental event on the lake. A contractor hired by Hydro Quebec to replace the electrical poles down the west side of the lake caused a lot of damage. The damage was to the right of way under the hydro lines, through the woods and more importantly there was muddy run off into the lake.

Inspections are presently underway by the MRC to check septic systems. Our Lake is one of a number of lakes in the MRC that reported Blue Green Algae and this resulted in funds available from Quebec to the MRC to conduct the survey. This visual survey is being done to classify the septic systems in to three categories.

Category A:  Everything appeared good and the records were up to date.

Category B: Everything is not totally correct and further checking is required.

Category C: There appears to be problems and immediate action is required.

In some cases, soil samples are taken near the shore to test for a high coli-form count indicating a defective system.  The MRC is working with the municipal inspector and a report will be issued this fall.

Green day had some informative speakers. Representatives from the MRC outlined the septic survey and testing they were about to do. There was also an interesting presentation on composting, how and why it works and how to do it. We encourage all members to compost to reduce the quantity of garbage going to the landfills.

A number of Friends/Amis members and their children hiked up Blueberry Mountain on Sunday, July 12.  The hike was led by Bob Zinck and all managed to scale the summit and enjoy the vista of the lake. The youngest was 3 months old, the oldest pushing 70. A great time was had by all.  Friends/Amis is always in need of volunteers to help with such activities.

Special thanks to George Calder, Geoff Cresswell and Lise Laurin and their team of volunteers for their creative planning and hard work to build the attractive protective wall and plantings at the village. A second tier is planned for later this year. These walls not only improve the appearance of the village but play an important role in preventing runoff to the lake.

Volunteers will be needed on Saturday, September 19 to build the second wall. Contact George Calder if you can help, even for part of the day or just show up.  450-226-5946

Please check the Enviro Board at the Clubhouse for information pamphlets and current environment news. We will try to keep you up to date with interesting items.

Respectfully submitted,

Geoff Cresswell on behalf of Penny Love

Geoff Cresswell elaborated on the Hydro Quebec project

Lois Hollingsworth raised a question about the septic systems in Hammonds Bay.

It was suggested that a list of responsible, environmentally friendly building practices be developed for cottage owners to have in hand when hiring contractors or building on their own to ensure that all is being done to protect the lake.

La Pepiniere Rustique has offered a 10% discount on plants and services to our association members. I’ve attached a copy of their offer.

Municipal :

Chris did a brief recap of items in our Spring Newsletter, such as the 2008 petition to merge Sixteen Island Lake which was diffused when an Ad Hoc committee was formed to discuss the reasons for the petition and reported back to the council

He also spoke about the municipal budget as well as the provincial law stating that all new builds in Quebec must be accessible by road. As previously reported Friends/Amis made a submission to the MRC hearing supporting an exception from the requirement of a road. Friends/Amis also wrote all the mayors of the MRC as well as MNA David Whissel and the Minister of Municipal Affairs in Quebec. (Last week, we received the good news that Sixteen Island Lake has been given an exemption from the roads law by Quebec).

The problem of illegal boat launching on the lake was once again discussed and a committee was formed under Bill Clelland to draft a possible by-law for Sixteen Island Lake based on the by-law approved by the Quebec courts in favour of St Adolphe d’Howard. This will be prepared in time for the August Municipal Council meeting.

Concern was once again expressed by members about the frustration with the water levels on the lake. This has become an annual pattern which is causing environmental damage as well as damage to property. Friends/Amis should be able to work with the council to find a solution.

We are preparing for Friends/Amis annual submission and discussion held each fall with the municipal council. From talking to our members we get a better understanding of your concerns.

Land Use Planning

Dave Logan reported that the Municipal Council passed a new lot size by-law. The new lot frontage for lakeside properties has been increased to 65 meters (213 ft). Properties in other zones, by and large, have not been changed.

Dave also reported on Land Trusts. It has been decided that to introduce residents to land trusts as a method of preserving the lake and watershed, a mailing will be sent out this summer to members to inform them about Land Trusts.

Initiative for the Environmental Study of the Lake 

Corina Lupu explained Friends/Amis’ lake study project which she will coordinate with the environmental consulting firm Biofilia. This will be the scientific gathering and analyzing of data from which will be developed an Environmental Health Index for our lake. This will provide us with information to develop the tools we need to legislate and protect the lake.

The study will be in the littoral zone, that is from the high water mark on the shore into the lake to where light no longer reaches the lake floor. This information will be gathered by divers and the lake will be divided into 40 sections to study with special attention given to spawning beds.

The study is already underway and a preliminary report should be available for our Spring newsletter. It is being funded by Friends/Amis and the environmental consulting firm Biofilia will access available grant money to help with future funding. As part of this study Friends/Amis will gather data from fisherman about the fish being caught in the lake. Fish surveys forms will be distributed to lake fisherman and will be available at the municipal launch area and parking lot at the foot of the lake, and a box will be installed at each location for the completed forms. This information will be very important to the lake study.

Executive Positions Open

Friends of the Lake are in need of a recording secretary and someone to take over the communications portfolio. Please contact Mary Campbell or Penny Love if you are interested. Remember this is a volunteer organization.

Elections 2009

2009 is once again election year in our municipality. Through the efforts of many, especially our counsellor, George Calder, we will be able to “Vote by Mail” in November. This gives all of us, including the seasonal residents, a voice in our community. The municipal council is as good as the representatives elected to serve. Some are excellent and dedicated to the preservation of the lake and the watershed ….. some are not as committed. Friends/Amis would like to encourage the best to run for election or re-election. We need help from our members to recommend individuals who would be good and might consider running for office. Please let us know who you think might be a good candidate. Email us or call us with your suggestions. You may be surprised by who will step up and volunteer to serve. This is an opportunity to participate in an area that directly affects the future of the lake.

Vote by Mail

• If you have never voted in an election in Sixteen Island Lake, you must register to vote, whether it is by mail or otherwise, to ensure that your name is on the Electoral List.
• A packet has been mailed by the municipality to your permanent address with all the information required to Vote by Mail.
• In that packet will be a form you must sign and send back indicating your intention to Vote by Mail. (If you do not go home until later in the Fall you can sign your form at the municipal office).
• Upon receiving your form, the municipality will put you on their list of residents who will receive the ballot in the mail.
• Before the election in November, you will receive another envelope in the mail. This will include your ballot and three envelopes.
• Fill out your ballot and place it in the designated envelope and seal it.
• Then place your identification in a second envelope separate from your ballot.
• For Quebec residents your identification is a copy of your driver’s license or other government issued ID.
• For all others, you must have a copy of your Canadian passport. Expired passports are valid.
• Place both envelopes in the third envelope and send back to the municipality as quickly as possible to ensure that your ballot is counted!

It was moved by Bill Meldrum and seconded by Lenny Folmer that the meeting be adjourned. Motion passed.

Respectfully submitted,

Mary Campbell

Secretary