Steering Committee Minutes 12/1/05

In attendance:

Aimee Ayers, Lake Sunapee Protective Association; Andy Chapman, NH DES; Terry
Dancy, Town of New London; Peter Dzewaltowski, Upper Valley Lake Sunapee
Regional Planning Commission; Deane Geddes, Town of Newbury; June Fichter, Lake
Sunapee Protective Association; Kathryn Holmes, Town of Newbury; Ken Lawson,
Town of Springfield & Kolebrook Lake Protective Association; Bill Thomas, Town of
Sutton; Robert Wood, Lake Sunapee Protective Association.

June Fichter opened the meeting at 5:30 p.m. The Steering Committee addressed two
main areas of business before adjourning to the full Coalition meeting.

Watershed Advisory Committee

June Fichter reported on the initial meeting with Jen Palmiotto of Granite State Rural
Water Association, during which it was agreed that this would be an ad hoc committee to
serve for a term of twelve months. At this meeting, the Steering Committee agreed with
Jen Palmiotto’s recommendation that membership of this ad hoc committee be limited to
between 11 to 15 persons, and in order to assure that no group with a stake in the health
of the watershed will be left out of the plan development process, the ad hoc committee
should consist of at least one representative from each of the six towns in the watershed
(possibly drawn from this Steering Committee), as well as from other interested groups
including fishing and boating associations; real estate; building, contracting and
construction industries; agriculture; area businesses (Chamber of Commerce); non-
residents; a licensed forester. Members of the Steering Committee were assigned to
approach these groups regarding interest in serving on the ad hoc advisory committee.
Early November is the target date for the first meeting. Upon receiving input from the
members representing the interested groups, Jen Palmiotto will provide a draft for review
by SAWC.

Review of the “Organizational Structure & Terms of Reference” Document

There was brief discussion of the revised draft of the “SAWC Organizational Structure
and Terms of Reference” document, but final approval was deferred to the full meeting
later this evening. Peter Dzewaltowski noted that he included in the general description a
reference to SAWC’s objective of raising community awareness, as well as an
organization chart. After brief discussion, particularly in reference to the sentence allowing
the coalition to establish additional subcommittees as it deems necessary, Steering
Committee members agreed that some language could be added to that paragraph,
referencing the formation of ad hoc subcommittees (such as the one discussed in the
above paragraph), but since these ad hoc subcommittees will be formed for a designated
purpose and with a limited time frame, they need not be drawn onto the chart.

Terry Dancy opened some discussion of the definition of SAWC “member.” He asked if
membership should include anyone who attends meetings, whether or not he or she takes
an active role. Should membership be defined to include people who attend meetings
over the long term and who, when called upon, are available to work on a subcommittee?
He noted that right now, SAWC is not a formal organization, and most decisions are
reached by consensus rather than by vote. In the future however, when the coalition may
be entering into budget discussions or other matters with towns and agencies, there should
be a formal process for voting, and that would imply a definition of membership.

Andy Chapman pointed out that a larger membership would serve the coalition well, when
it is advocating issues. Several Steering Committee members concurred that there is no
liability in having a larger membership, and there will likely be benefits, noting that
education is a primary goal of the coalition. The Steering Committee agreed to add
language to the paragraph under “Membership” on page two of the Terms of Reference,
to indicate that membership will include but is not limited to those groups listed.

Meeting adjourned at 6:30 p.m.

Respectfully submitted,

Sarah A. Denz
Recording Secretary