1. Call Meeting to Order

2. Roll Call

3. Approval of Minutes -March 28, 2001

4. Update on Conversation between Mr. Osborne and Mr. Romond regarding grant

5. Next Step in Grant Proposal

6. Other Business

7. Set Next Meeting Date and Meeting Location

8. Adjournment

1. Call Meeting to Order:

Mr. Romond called the meeting to order at 6:40 p.m.

2. Roll Call:

Present: Bill Romond, Pat Kearney, John Nichols, Steve Kruger, Betty Carvellas, Moe Germain, Karen Bates

3. Approval of Minutes - March 28, 2001

Mr. Kearney made a motion to approve the minutes of March 28, 2001. Mr. Germain seconded the motion and it passed.

4. Discussion of the draft Statement for the Master Plan:

Mr. Romond will represent the Committee at the Select Board meeting on May 8th at 7:30 p.m. with the following language:

Add to "Challenges" section of the Master Plan - as a new paragraph 3:

From a larger perspective, water quality issues, in general, pose a significant challenge to the Town as we try to achieve reasonable growth and development while we preserve, protect, and improve our waters. We know that our citizens value the environmental, recreational, aesthetic, human and aquatic health, and economic importance of clean water in Malletts Bay and all of Colchester's waters. Therefore, we need to ensure that our initiatives reflect an understanding of the critical relationship between land use and water quality. Ultimately, we should improve the health of our waters and ultimately the quality of life for our citizens. To this end, the Selectboard has created the Colchester Water Quality Committee. This group of citizens expects to oversee the development of a strategic plan that will address these issues.

5. Conversation with Jurij Homziak:

Bill Romond reported the outcome of his telephone conversation with Jurij Homziak of UVM: Jurij says his committee wants to work with us. Jurij had a conversation with Bill McMaster and Linda Marek-Howe and they would like to formalize the process as follows:
- endorsement of the outcomes
- clear communication of our agenda
- determine our target audience

Discussion followed questioning how we can endorse outcomes before we know what they are. Mr. Nichols will follow up with Jurij to clarify and if need be, set up a meeting with Jurij and Ms. Carvellas. In addition, we will explore if their timeline coincides with ours.

6. Other Business:

Mr. Kearney questioned the process regarding how we will determine which types of sewage systems will be used where. Discussion followed.

Ms. Bates suggested that we might want to look for a grad student instead of a consultant to fill the position from the Grant. Discussion followed. Ms. Bates will talk to some professors to find out how much we would have to pay a grad student and where to find them. Mr. Kearney will talk to Stone Environmental to find out what they would charge.

7. Discussion of the Goals of the Strategic Plan (and the facilitator):

- Must be acceptable to the citizens of Colchester
- Master Plan with recommendations
- How to implement
- Flow charts
- Guide us in making decisions
- Technical side - appropriate technology
- Cost benefit principle
- Implementation schedule
- Prioritize issues
- Written overview of priorities
- Include storm water/ wastewater
- Recreational needs/quality of life
- Person must have grant-writing skills

8. Water Radiation:

The question of radiation in well water came up and how important it is to our committee. Mr. Romond replied that it is very important and will be taken into consideration by the Committee.

9. Grant Application for EPA Funds:

Mr. Romond reported on his conversation with Brian Osborne about the application. He said that he was not negative toward our ideas; that we should start drafting a proposal and use the checklist/instructions and forms to do so.

A discussion of, and review of the checklist followed. The proposal is due to the EPA on July 1, so our deadline is June 1. Discussion of how to implement the writing took place. The use of the Internet and e-mail will be utilized.

10. Next meeting date and time:

The 4/25 meeting is postponed until 5/2 and we will also meet on 5/9

11. Meeting adjourned by Mr. Romond at 8:00 p.m.

Respectfully submitted,

John Nichols
Colchester Water Quality Committee

Approved the _____ day of: _______ , 2001