Category Archives: announcements

Lake Buel District Board Meeting September 1, 2020

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Lake Buel District Board Meeting
July 16, 2020
Outside of 807 Mill River Southfield Road, Mill River
Members present: Peter Hagen, Kyle Pierce, Chris Hassett, Mark Amstead, & Wayne Dolby.
Meeting was called to order by Chairman, Mr. Hagen at 7PM.
A motion was made, seconded and so voted to approve the Annual Meeting minutes May 23, 2020 as prepared.
A motion was made, seconded and so voted to approve May 14th minutes as prepared.
Tax Rate:
The Board review the new tax rate of .90 per thousand set by Department of Revenue, which is an eight (8%) increase from last year rate. After the brief review and discussion a motion was made, seconded and so voted to accept the new rate of .90 per thousand.
New Business:
Ms. Shannon Poulin, Biologist appeared before the Board to review and discuss the Cyanobacteria testing done in the lake. Ms. Poulin mentioned that testing is done every other week now and in August testing will be done each week. Ms. Poulin mentioned there is some blue/green algae and a few are toxic and that they looked white hairs by the camp. Ms. Poulin also said that they are doing cell counts this year. Mr. Hassett inquired on where are the locations in the lake for the testing being taken from. Ms. Poulin mentioned that they have used the area by the docks at the camp in the past, but since the camp is closed this year they will use a boat to go out a depth of 30 feet for testing. Mr. Hagen inquired on what depth is required for testing completed. Ms. Poulin said that the testing is done about 12 feet down and a net is used to assist with the sample, then put the sample under the microscope and samples are sent to EPA for more in depth testing. Ms. Poulin mentioned that Mr. Mike Germain has order a kit for testing. Ms. Poulin mentioned that the Lake is in better condition that Lake Garfield. Mr. Hagen mentioned that the Lake is fed by springs and inquired if the Board could receive more results. Ms. Poulin said that she will continue to email the reports to Mrs. Pierce. Ms. Poulin mentioned that there is a proposal for next year to purchase a new more advance kit, which the cost can be shared with four other Lake communities. It was mentioned that Lake Garfield has purchased the testing kit and lets the Lake Buel District use at no cost. Mrs. Pierce inquired if the Board is interested in purchasing the kit with the other Lake communities. Yes the Board is interested but would like to wait to see if any grants can be obtained. The Board thanked Ms. Poulin for all the information provided.
The Board received a letter from the New Marlborough Fire Department regarding obstacles to providing emergency response to the District area. Mr. Hagen mentioned that he was asked to mention this concern at the Annual Meeting since it is a concern in some of the areas. It was mentioned that the Board/District will have the letter put on Lakebuel.org.
Mr. Amstead mentioned that the Harvester machine now has five oils booms.
Mr. Hagen mentioned that he has submitted another beaver permit to the New Marlborough Board of Health. Mr. Hagen will inquire if it is possible that Mr. Ives can spend some more time opening up the dams.
Old Business:
Weeds: Mr. Hassett mentioned that the Harvester is doing a fine job. It was mentioned that the Harvester takes two full loads of weeds away a day. Mr. Hagen mentioned that the weeds seem to be growing quicker this year
Complaints:
There has been a few complaints about loud noises from two boats with skiers that have loud speakers.
Some residents have complaints about air b & b’s and if they are allowed in the District. It was noted that there’s nothing the Board can do about air b & b’s, it’s a property owner’s decision and responsibility.

Next meeting is scheduled for December 1, 2020 at Mr. Dolby residence 28 Corashire Road.

A motion was made, seconded and so voted to adjourn at 8:24PM.

Respectfully submitted,
Kathy Chretien, District Clerk










Notify NM select board via USPS

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Hello friends of Lake Buel. Thank you all for your support in our efforts to fight the proposed cannibas industrial complex in Hartsville. There has been quite a surge of support with our efforts to stop the New Marlborough select board from granting a special permit to Campus Oasis the proposed Industrial Complex. However we remain very concerned that our elected officials are in favor of this proposal. It has come to our attention that “any email letters sent to the select board voicing an opposition to this special permit are not considered valid & may not even be read”.
Despite the concern & opposition from those who have attended the select board & planning board meetings on this subject, we have concerns that the select board may rule in favor of the permit. That decision will probably be made at March 12th open meeting. I strongly urge you to send a letter via USPS to the select board opposing the special permit submitted by Campus Oasis, ASAP! Only letters addressed to the board & mailed by the US postal service can be considered.

Opposition to Industrial Complex Buildout

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February 28, 2018

Dear Selectmen,

Board of Selectmen
807 Mill River Southfield Road
Mill River, MA 01244

I am writing to you as a board member of the Lake Buel Restoration and Preservation District (LBD). The LBD, created approximately 25 years ago, is a unique municipality representing all property owners with access to Lake Buel. The Board represents both New Marlborough and Monterey landowners.
It has come to our attention that a Special Permit Hearing is scheduled for March 12, 2018 to consider Mr. Setiz’s application to construct an Industrial Complex in Hartsville. The application survey shows that the complex will consist of over 110,000 square feet of covered space and indicates future expansion to include a Solar Farm, Lodging of some sort, parking spaces planned for 48 vehicles, and creation of a new access road.

Passage of this application will bring dramatic change to Hartsville with increased traffic, and potential adverse affects to wildlife, environmental and other impacts we may not foresee today. The processing of Marijuana produces many by-products, both liquid and solids, that need to be labeled Hazardous Waste. Oversight by the town would need to be comprehensive and expensive.

The legalization of marijuana is not a closed issue, as the Federal Government still lists Marijuana as a controlled substance. As you know, the areas that lie below the proposed project are sensitive wetlands as a ride along Adsit Crosby road will demonstrate. These wetlands receive drainage from the mountain above and then drain into the Konkapot River. The Konkapot River over the last 15 years has flowed backward into Lake Buel at least three times. Contamination of these wetlands backing up into Lake Buel could have very negative consequences. These sensitive areas should be protected and the construction of a large Industrial Complex will pose serious problems.

Aesthetically, the project will be a disaster to the beauty of New Marlborough. Being perched on the hillside, visible in all directions, is not how we want to grow Hartsville or New Marlborough. Future plans for lodging will only bring further blight to that area. Lake Buel landowners, who represent a very significant portion of the taxes raised in New Marlborough, currently pay a large premium for the views of the lake and surrounding hills and mountains. The proposed project would be visible from most of the Lake and even worse, 24 hour security lighting will create severe light pollution!

Lake Buel is a significant asset to New Marlborough which attracts tourists and second home owners that demand very little from the towns’ resources. Let’s try to keep this asset intact and allow future generations to appreciate it as it is today.

In conclusion, let it be clear that the Lake Buel District Board, representing landowners of New Marlborough and Monterey who have access to the lake, strongly oppose the construction of this large Industrial Complex at the currently proposed site. Your negative vote will help protect Hartsville, the environment, and preserve the unique beauty of our community.

Respectfully,
Cc: New Marlborough Conservation Committee
Peter Hagen, Chairman
Lake Buel Restoration and Preservation District Board

New feature: Lake Stories

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We’ve added a new feature to this blog: Lake Stories, a place where you can post stories and memories of life on the Lake.

This feature was inspired by a message from Steve Hall who came across this site while editing his father’s memoir. He gave us permission to post a memory of Camp To-Ho-Ne and the Guest Camp in the early 1940s.

If you have something you’d like to post, the Lake Stories page has contact information.

Thanks, Steve, and we look forward to hearing more stories of the lake from all of you…

Fireworks – 2017 !

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Whether you view it as the end of summer, or the beginning of a spectacular Autumn in the Berkshires, the Lake Buel Labor Day weekend fireworks display will be this Saturday starting around 9:00 PM. In the event of rain, unlikely based on current weather forecasts but we all know New England weather’s predictability, the fireworks would shift to Sunday evening.

Enjoy!

Administrative note: A new way to get to this site

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You’ve been getting to this site by going to LakeBuel.org. Now you can also get here by going to LakeBuel.com. Same site, just one more way to get here.

The LakeBuel.com site became available, so we scooped it up and set it up so that going there automatically takes you to our .org address.

Note that it doesn’t matter how you capitalize these or whether you prepend the www. E.g., http://www.laKEbuEL.com should work just fine for those who want to keep an even “KEEL,”  wwW.lAKEbuel.com will work for those who want to leave something in their “WAKE,” and LAkeBuEL.org should work for those who like to “LABEL” everything.

Wired West Sign-up period is open!

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It’s been years in development, and Wired West is at a critical stage.  The municipal coop to bring fiber based broadband (internet, television, and telephone service) to the under-served towns in Western Massachusetts including New Marlborough and Monterey needs your support to move forward.

It’s essentially a two-step process before build out can occur: 1) each town must have at least 40% of its households express a statement of interest and submit a refundable $49 deposit and 2) each town must vote on issuing a municipal “construction” bond to build out the network with a 2/3 majority needed to pass.  Why 40%? Because at the 40% threshold, the business model projects that the Wired West subscribers will generate sufficient revenue to cover operating costs and payback the construction bonds.

If you have not signed-up and are interested, visit this site soon: https://register.wiredwest.net/ .  Neither town has reached the 40% target as of April 15, 2015.

Let’s also acknowledge the tireless work of our Board of Selectmen appointed reps to Wired West, Monica Webb (Monterey) and Tim Newman (NM) who have shepherded the process so far.  Let’s now do our part to sign up and make telecommuting from the beautiful shores of Lake Buel a viable option!

Read more about Wired West at www.wiredwest.net

Boston Globe article (4/5/2015) about Wired West: https://www.bostonglobe.com/opinion/2015/04/04/time-for-western-mass-get-broadband-speed/Lqo2Ia5tn07lM52PXEbCyL/story.html?comments=all&sort=NEWEST_CREATE_DT

Berkshire Eagle Editorial from May 3, 2015

2013 Fireworks!

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Once again, we’ll have the opportunity to watch a splendid fireworks display over Lake Buel on the Saturday evening of Labor Day weekend (August 31).  The launch site will be the beach area near Kutsher’s Sports Academy around 9:00 PM.  Enjoy!!

Dave Lewis

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Dear Friends around the Lake,

It is with great sadness that I write to inform you that Dave Lewis passed away on Tuesday. Calling hours are tomorrow and the funeral is on Saturday, both in Lenox (details below).  Dave was an integral part of the Lake Buel Restoration/Preservation District from almost the very beginning.  He loved the lake, took a great deal of pride in keeping our lake in the best condition possible, and was blessed in return by innumerable friendships with lake owners over the years.  We will miss him, both as the ultimate harvester – he left a wide wake that will never be filled, and as a dear friend.

Here is his obituary:

David Harold Lewis, 56, died Tuesday, July 2 at his home in Sandisfield, MA. He leaves behind his beloved wife of 31 years, Judy Lewis, his parents Paul and Louise Lewis of Scotia, NY; son Paul (PJ) Lewis, daughters Elizabeth Lewis, Rachel Lewis, Shawn Lewis Albert and her husband Michael Albert, and 3 grandsons, Andrew, Brendan and Evan Albert; brother Nathan Lewis and his future wife Colleen Abbato; brother Martin Lewis, his wife Brenda Lewis, and their children, Kaylee and Jonah Lewis; brother Robert Lewis and his wife Maria Lewis; and sister Rena Lewis.  

After a carefree childhood in Scotia, New York, David’s early career took many turns– he was a farmhand, child care worker, caretaker, and carpenter. In 1984, he began working for the Lake Buel District, a job he continued for as long as his health permitted. A life-long love of fireworks was fulfilled when he started his own business, Berkshire Fireworks, in 1989. The small company was inspired by a desire to celebrate his treasured mother, whose birthday is July 4th. He took pleasure in the opportunity to bring joy and happiness to others on special occasions by lighting up the skies. He also embraced working out of his home because of his fondness for gardening, barbecuing perfect steaks for guests, and his dog, Morgan.

In both his personal and professional life, David was a man of strong passions. He was committed to both the Jewish principles of his upbringing and the Christian faith he adopted as an adult. His strict moral compass was tempered with compassion for others, especially his family, whom he loved and was loved by dearly. A gifted storyteller, he enjoyed recalling humorous tales of working on farms and in schools or carousing with his brothers and friends. He would sometimes surprise by reciting flawless swathes of Spanish or Hebrew from middle school memory and he occasionally broke into song when especially happy. He died as he lived: brave, faithful, and surrounded by devoted family. Calling hours will be Friday, July 5th, at 4-7pm at Hope Church, 259 Kemble Street in Lenox, and the funeral on Saturday, July 6th, 11am, at the same. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Operation Nehemiah, care of Roche Funeral Home, 120 Main Street, Lenox, MA. 

With deepest sympathy to all his friends and family,

Paula

Paula M. Hatch, Chairman, Prudential Committee, Lake Buel Restoration and Preservation District