4138-R1_ML&P_LSLA_Web_SummerNewsletter

Hopkins Dam Report (Cont.)

Our focus is primarily on good maintenance and inspection of the dam so that an event triggering an emergency event never happens. Since we will have so many board members as well as government officials in house that day I have also asked State Dam Inspector Tony Fletcher to schedule us for a dam inspection on the same day. As owners of a dam classified by the state of Maine as a “Significant Hazard” it is important that state officials take note as often as possible the efforts of the Little Sebago Lake Association to maintain the 120 year old dam to the highest degree of integrity possible. We will be installing the new catwalk above the dam in early April which will finish the planned repairs for 2015/2016. I will be putting before the board a funding proposal to address both short and long range dam maintenance issues at the March board meeting.

(LD 1566) “An Act Concerning the Establishment of Water Levels” was presented to the LSLA board by State Senator Cathy Breen. After reviewing the bill we recommended to the board that the LSLA oppose the bill on the basis that the DEP was shifting responsibility for managing water level disputes to a 3rd party mediation hearing. Failing a satisfactory agreement the DEP could then move the dispute to a adjudicatory hearing before a judge and impose costs up to $20,000. Senator Breen has notified us that the legislation failed to pass but that continued rule making will ensue... Translation, its all about state departments developing new revenue streams. Thanks to Senator Breen for keeping us up on this.

A proposal before the legislature

LSLA Dam Committee: Bruce Micucci, Rod Bernier, Chris Micucci, Jim Theis, Jonathan Bernier

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