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PDF GUIDE TO BOATING LAWS AND RESPONSIBILITIES

Here's the link to Boat Massachusetts: Your Guide to Boating Laws and Responsibilities - from the Massachusetts Environmental Police. PDF Guide

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2024-11-18

TOWN MEETING UPDATE: GREAT SUCCESS!

Great success! Thank you all for coming out to Town Meeting on Nov. 12 and supporting our lakes. The amendment passed but with a bit different wording recommended by the town’s attorney. Actually, it changed the original Article (which also passed) in our favor.

A second, slightly more subtle success is the map that was approved did not include any well site restrictions on Lake Shirley! In my opinion, this makes it much more difficult for the Water District to seek additional well sites on that lake. This is a bonus as far as I am concerned!

Thanks again for all your support!

John Fortune

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2024-11-08

TOWN MEETING ARTICLE 7; LUNENBURG WATER SUPPLY PROTECTION DISTRICT

Good Evening,

It’s been a while but I would like to share some information that once again affects multiple lakes in Lunenburg. I along with other members of Hickory Hills Landowners BOD and Woodlands Residents have been following and working with the Lunenburg Planning Board on a proposed change to the Town of Lunenburg Water Supply Protection District which are basically the zoning regulations for areas around the Lunenburg Water District wells. While we have been successful in adding wording that allows for recreation around the wells (or potential well sites on Lake Shirley), and for any changes in Zone 1 and 2 requiring a Special Permit (to allow neighborhood input), there is one area we could not get approved.

During the public meeting discussions with the Planning Board, the Chair expressed several times, ‘according to DEP, Zone 1 ends at the waters edge’. That was the premise on which the Planning Board Vote was approved. After quite a bit of research in 310 CMR Chapter 22, I could not find this wording anywhere. In a follow-up meeting with the Planning Board, I asked for a reference to this wording and was told ’somebody at DEP told us’. I also asked for the map to be changed to reflect Zone 1 ending at the waters edge and was told they use the DEP map. In my opinion, until we see it in writing, this is only hearsay and we should not depend on it as fact.

The Town Meeting is Tuesday, November 12 at 7PM and the town will vote on the new wording proposed in Article 7. We support the article as written and will be looking for Lunenburg Lake residents to get out to vote to ensure;

The Special Permit Requirement is maintained (as written)
Recreation activities in Zone 1 are maintained (as written)
To support the folllowing AMENDMENT to Article 7;

Amendment to the Water Supply Protection District; Article #7 (revisions to Chapter 250, Article IV, Section-4.9).

To see if the Town of Lunenburg will amend the “Lunenburg Water Supply Protection District Warrant"( Article #7) to include the notation that “for the purposes of Lunenburg Zoning Regulations, the Lunenburg Water District Aquifer Protection Zones Map dated July 2021 or any Water District Supply Protection map included in Article #7, Zone 1 ends at the water’s edge and does not extend into the waters of Hickory Hills Lake, Lake Shirley or Whalom Lake.”

Why is this important to any lake besides Hickory Hills Lake? As you can see in the linked maps, the Town of Lunenburg Water Supply Protection District map (October 2009) identifies the well at Hickory Hills along with two potential well sites on Lake Shirley, one at 745 Flat Hill Road (Runtagh property) and one at 210 Sunset Lane (Cole/Brawn property). If this map is used as the current Water Supply Protection District, then two potential properties on Lake Shirley along with sections of the lake itself, will also be faced with these restrictions and possible DEP oversight in the future.

All Lunenburg Residents who are registered to vote have a voice on these restrictions. This is a town vote, not a Water District Vote.

Once again, we find ourselves at a point where it is imperative that we stick together, and support each other on this vote. We all agree we need clean and plentiful drinking water but we also agree it should not come at the expense of just a few residents who chose to live on the lakes.

Join me and other Hickory Hills residents on Nov 12 at the Town Meeting and vote to ensure the protection of our lakes for their beauty, recreation and the enjoyment we have all come to love.

Thank you and I look forward to seeing you at the meeting!

John Fortune

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4th of JULY BOAT PARADE RECAP

2024-07-08 - Let's recap the 4th of July Boat Parade! We counted 20 decorated boats, and the prizes were as follows. Click here to see a list of the winners and the event details.

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LSIC SPRING 2024 NEWSLETTER NOW AVAILABLE

2024-05-01 - The Spring 2024 LSIC newsletter is now available to download. PDF

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LUNENBURG SELECT BOARD TO DISCUSS OPEN SPACE RECOMMENDATIONS

2024-03-04 - The Lunenburg Select Board will be discussing and possibly voting on the Open Space committee recommendations to transfer "Care and Control " of 51 Parmenter Rd. And 0 Shirley Reservoir to the Parks Commission. See attached agenda. It's under "Old Business". PDF

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OPEN SPACE COMMITTEE, PARKS COMMISSION TO MEET WITH SELECT BOARD TO DISCUSS PARCEL TRANSFERS

2024-01-14 - The Open Space committee and the Parks Commission will be meeting with the Select Board

on Tuesday, Jan. 16th at 7:10 pm. at Town Hall. For the purpose of discussing the Open Space Committee recommendation for transferring 51 Parmenter Road (Parcel 136-0006) and 0 Shirley Reservoir Lake (Parcel 137-0012) to the Parks Commission. More

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2023 LAKE SHIRLEY PRE-TREATMENT REPORT

2023-06-19 - The 2023 Lake Shirley Lake Survey and Treatment Plan is now available. PDF

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NOTIFICATION OF JULY 17 AQUATIC TREATMENT IN AREAS OF LAKE

NEW - 2024-07-11 -

Areas of Lake Shirley will be chemically treated to control invasive and nuisance aquatic

vegetation on Wed. July 17. The entire lake will be closed to all water uses (including swimming, boating and fishing) on the day of treatment only. Furthermore, following treatment, water from the lake cannot be used for livestock watering until July 19, irrigation until July 21, and drinking/cooking until July 23. PDF | Notice

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2024-07-08

2024 BOAT PARADE RECAP!

Let's recap the 4th of July Boat Parade! We counted 20 decorated boats, and the prizes were as follows (see pics on Boat Parade page):

Most Patriotic - Uncle Sam (on Roof) boat ($50 to Mobil)

Most Colorful - Groovy 60's "Love" Boat ($50 to Overtons)

Most Original - Bathtub "Soap" Boat ($50 to Tatlistas by the Brook in Shirley)

Most Elaborate - ET Phone Home Boat ($25 to Kimballs and $25 to Cherry Hill)

Best in Show - Mater from Cars Boat ($25 to Kimballs and $25 to Cherry Hill)

The total take for the 50/50 was $1,945. Thank you to all who sold tickets. The winner was Matt Peck, who generously donated his half back to the LSIC!

Total expenses out of the budgeted $500 were $250 for the 5 prizes and $72 for signs (Which can be reused next year). Net profit to the LSIC considering the above was $1,623.

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2024-01-14

OPEN SPACE COMMITTEE, PARKS COMMISSION TO MEET WITH SELECT BOARD TO DISCUSS PARCEL TRANSFERS

The Open Space committee and the Parks Commission will be meeting with the Select Board

on Tuesday, Jan. 16th at 7:10 pm. at Town Hall. For the purpose of discussing the Open Space Committee recommendation for transferring 51 Parmenter Road (Parcel 136-0006 and 0 Shirley Reservoir Lake (Parcel 137-0012) to the Parks Commission.

The Parks Commission is requesting "Care and Control" of these two parcels for the purpose of opening up these parcels for public access to Lake Shirley.

"O" Shirley Reservoir Rd, also known as Stump Cove, was given to the town for public access when the new dam was built.

This lot includes considerable water frontage along Fire Rd 12.

51 Parmenter Rd is a pie shaped lot at the corner of Parmenter Rd and Johnson St. The lot is sandwiched between two residential properties. This land was purchased by the Town around 1990 for use of a storm drain and for a snow dump area for plowing the roads.

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2023-07-03

LAKE AQUATIC TREATMENT TO TAKE PLACE TUESDAY, JULY 11

Areas of Lake Shirley will be chemically treated to control invasive and nuisance aquatic vegetation on Tuesday, July 11. The entire lake will be closed to all water uses (including swimming, boating and fishing) on the day of treatment only. Furthermore, water from the lake cannot be used for livestock watering until July 13, 2023, drinking/cooking until July 15, 2023 and irrigation until July 17, 2023. PDF | Warning PDF

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2023-07-03

2023 LAKE SHIRLEY PRE-TREATMENT REPORT

The 2023 Lake Shirley Lake Survey and Treatment Plan is now available. PDF

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2023-02-05

AUTHORIZATION FOR LEGAL REPRESENTATION

The Lunenburg Lakes Action Committee is a group of people working together on behalf of waterfront property owners on Lake Shirley, Hickory Hills, and Lake Whalom that have been affected by the drastic tax increases sent out in the FY2023 property assessments. Please see the linked letter and authorization below allowing the committee to move forward with Legal representation for all who sign up. Please sign and return via USPS mail no later than February 10. Authorization Letter (PDF)

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2023-04-11

PRESS RELEASE: IMPORTANT UPDATES RELATED TO FY 2023 REAL ESTATE TAXES

On January 17, 2023, the Lunenburg Select Board voted to initiate an investigation as authorized by Section 3-2(e) of the Lunenburg Town Charter into the process that contributed to the FY23 property valuation and tax assessments... MORE (PDF)

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2023-02-13

LUNENBURG LAKES ACTION COMMITTEE COMPLETES TAX ANALYSIS

Lunenburg Tax Assessment Investigation Team,

The Lunenburg Lakes Action Committee has completed an analysis of FY22 and FY23 taxes. This action was begun as a response to Chairperson Jeffreys comment made at the Feb. 7 Selectboard meeting. His comment was “Taxes in Lunenburg went up an average of $428”, which by all accounts is a reasonable and modest increase.

Chairperson Jeffreys would have been more accurate if he had said, taxes went up an average of $3,590.64 for the 429 waterfront homes and $0.82 for the 3159 non waterfront homes, for an overall average of about $428.

In fact, in FY23, the 429 single family waterfront homes added $1,540,385.19 to the tax budget while the other 3159 single family homes in Lunenburg, added just $2,603 total! Again, 3159 homes added only $2,603 less than one waterfront home!

The tax increase on waterfront homeowners covered the entire FY23, 2.5% increase in tax levy of $678,277. In addition, the tax increase paid enough to cover the ($500,550.08) loss from property tax reduction on condo’s, commercial and industrial properties. On top of all that, waterfront property owners contributed an additional $362,000 to the town budget.

We have heard some say, ‘waterfront property owners don’t pay enough’. In FY22, waterfront property owners paid an average 20% more in taxes for their property than non-waterfront property owners. The lot sizes are smaller, and the houses are typically smaller. In FY23, the average waterfront property owner now pays 77% more for that same lot and house!

Waterfront property owners have paid their taxes, filed abatements, hired professional appraisers, helped our neighbors through sleepless nights and now are doing the work that should have been done by the Principal Assessor last fall! This must stop!

We believe the attached spreadsheet has the data you need to bring to the DOR to prove the tax increases in Lunenburg were Disproportionate between Classification Codes.

Regards,

Lunenburg Lakes Action Committee

LLAC Tax Analysis (Excel Spreadsheet)

PDF Summary of the Spreadsheet (PDF)

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2023-02-05

AUTHORIZATION FOR LEGAL REPRESENTATION

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2021-2022 LAKE SHIRLEY LAKE MANAGEMENT ANNUAL REPORT

The 2021-2022 Lake Shirley Lake Management Annual Report is now available - PDF

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June 7, 2022

PAID MEMBERS IN NEED OF LSIC LICENSE PLATE AND PAID STICKERS...

If any paid members need an LSIC license plate or a 2022 paid sticker please reach out to Sue Jewell at sue.jewell@comcast.net

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NEW LOCATION FOR LSIC MONTHLY DIRECTOR'S MEETING

Starting in August, 2022, the LSIC Monthly Director's Meeting will be held in-person at The Bull Run Restaurant at 215 Great Road in Shirley. The meeting will be held at 7 pm on the second Wednesday of each month. Please contact the LSIC for more information.

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LSIC BY-LAWS POSTED (AS AMENDED June 27, 2020)

The Mission of the LSIC is to ensure the quality of life for residents and visitors through the protection and preservation of the quality of Lake Shirley’s water, aquatic life, and the watershed, as well as the promotion of a safe environment for recreational use. By-Laws | PDF

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2020-05-06

LAKE SHIRLEY PRESENTS ANNUAL REPORT TO CONSERVATION COMMISSION

At the Conservation Commission meeting on May 6, 2020, Lake Shirley provided its annual report to the conservation commission. Two consultants, Dominic Meringolo from Solitude and Wendy Gendron from ARC, provided presentations. Watch Presentation

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LAKE SHIRLEY PRESENTS ANNUAL REPORT TO CONSERVATION COMMISSION

2020-05-06 - At the Conservation Commission meeting on May 6, 2020, Lake Shirley provided its annual report to the conservation commission. Two consultants, Dominic Meringolo from Solitude and Wendy Gendron from ARC, provided presentations. Watch Presentation

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2017-09-28

WHEN DO I NEED TO CONTACT THE LUNENBURG CONSERVATION COMMISSION?

From the desk of Matt Marro, Lunenburg Conservation Commission Agent:

When do I need to contact the Lunenburg Conservation Commission?

I am planning a Project - Do I need to contact the Conservation Commission?

If you are planning to do any work within 100' of a Wetland, or within 200' of a river (this includes any stream that runs year-round) or a pond, you should call the Conservation Administrator, who may make an appointment to walk your project with you. Based upon information gathered during this visit, the Administrator will advise you on a course of action, which may include:

No Conservation Commission action is required (it is clear that the law does not apply to my project)
File a Request For Determination of Applicability (a public meeting to answer the question -does the law apply to my project ?)
File an Abbreviated Notice of Resource Area Delineation (ANRAD) (to establish exactly where the wetland boundaries and buffer zones are)
File a Notice of Intent (the law clearly applies to my project, I want to present my project to the Commission; The Commission will review my plans, possibly request certain data, and apply the laws and protocols. If the Commission determines that the work can be done without harm to the environment, it will issue an Order of Conditions, clearly laying out the steps that must be taken to protect the wetlands near my project. They will monitor the project, and if violations are seen, may take enforcement action)
Or other forms of information or communication, to determine if Conservation Commission action is required

The law applies to work within the Wetlands or buffer zones ( under by-law we have a 30 foot no touch zone and a fifty foot no structure zone), including but not limited to: work which changes grades (cutting or filling), tree clearing, and construction (driveways, buildings, septic systems, etc.) and adding sand to a beach.

Some minor activities are exempt from the law, including but not limited to: common landscaping tasks, driveway maintenance ( sealing and filling of cracks), certain home improvement projects, fencing that does not create a barrier to wildlife movement, and stacking of cordwood.

If you are not certain whether your activities are exempt, a call to the Conservation Administrator can be very helpful, and is always a good idea.