Capital Region Water Board Meeting

March 16, 2005

Susquehanna River Basin Commission

 

Minutes

Correction of Minutes from January 26, 2005, under Phase II Study Reports- should say “prospective partners” not “perspective.”  Motion made by Roger Karsnitz to approve the minutes with correction, 2nd by Walter Lyon.  Motion Passed

 

Treasurer’s Report- Marshall Goulding

Marshall handed out the Treasurer’s report and pointed out that there is a $500 balance in Accounts Receivable for unpaid 2004 membership dues.  It was agreed that he would send out invoices again. 

 

Phase II Study Funding Report

Marshall reported that the CRWB cannot go forward on its own to pursue funding for the Study.  He said we need partners.  Walter suggested a Committee be formed to go forward identifying and contacting prospective partners.  Everyone agreed.  Marshall will chair the Committee. 

 

Lower Susquehanna Region Committee

Betty Conner reported that public meetings are to begin in May.  Our region will have a meeting on May 16 at the Penn Harris Radisson Hotel in Lemoyne.  Public is welcome at 6:30.  Walter suggested that we send members of the CRWB the agenda and meeting announcement, and that we make it available on the website.  Betty said she would get that out when it is available.

 

Statewide Committee Goals

  1. Identify critical water planning area criteria
  2. Identify critical water planning area nomination process
  3. Come up with the Regional Components of the water plan.

The next State Committee Meeting is in March.  The Governor announced that he is putting funding for the State Water Planning Process in the Budget for the coming year of $200,000.  Walter commented that the amount is completely inadequate.

 

Betty concluded that the study is moving along well.

 

Walter handed out a draft letter for signature by the Chair or Executive Director of the CRWB regarding the need for consistency in regulatory actions relating to water management.  The Board voted to send the letter to the Regional Planning Committee. 

 

Walter also expressed concern about Act 537 saying that it generates infrastructure costs.  He said that fewer families are going to be able to afford those costs.

 

Proposed Workshops

John Hines is planning a Statewide Symposium.  It was agreed that the CRWB will have some regional meetings before the Statewide Symposium and perhaps the results of those meetings will be included in the Statewide meeting. 

 

Committee Reports

Groundwater Committee:  Marshall reported that he is still working on getting a new chair for the Committee.

 

Bylaws Committee:  Marshall reported that he has been looking over the Bylaws and has several suggestions that he will present at our next meeting.

 

Insurance:  Marshall has compared our Board situation with other Boards and recommends that we don’t really need liability insurance because of the nature of our work. 

 

Bookkeeper:   The new bookkeeper is working out well.  Marshall is doing the check writing at this point and Betty Conner and John Hollenbach will be check signers as well. 

 

Basin Conditions:  George Lazorchick reported that Feb. 2005 was a little below normal (1/2”) There was 2.1” for the month.  Stream flow was normal. George gave out a bar graph showing precipitation for the last 14 years. 

 

New Business:  Betty announced that there is going to be a “River Front Communities Symposium on June 8-10.  They will be discussing 13 Chesapeake Bay Strategies for watersheds in the Lower Susquehanna River. 

 

Next meeting:  May 11, 2005  1:00 PM (Changed because of conflict with South Central Assembly Meetings)