The Nicatous Lake Camp Owners Association was formed in 1959. Meeting minutes from most years (as many as we can find) will soon be found here. We believe that they make for interesting reading and give us a sense of the history of ’our’ lake for almost fifty years. The first meeting minutes are just after the current ones below. As more of the meeting minutes from past years are added, they will be accessed from the year in the table below. Please note that minutes have been typed as they were written (except for any typo’s that you find – those are probably mine).
This page contains a draft of 2009 meeting minutes. If you were unable to attend the meeting, this will be a great place to see what was discussed and/or voted on. Please be aware that these minutes are a draft and will not be approved until next years meeting.
Nicatous Lake Camp Owner’s Association
Minutes of Meeting, August 1, 2009
The annual meeting of the Nicatous Lake Camp Owner’s Association was called to order at 11:30 AM by president, Ron Pelletier, with 60 camp owners and guests present.
Old Business:
Association minutes and treasurers’ report were read and approved, as read.
32-00-0 road maintenance fund treasurers report read and approved, as read.
Ron thanked Leroy Bridges once again for marking known navigational hazards on the lake.
Steve Buzzell said that John Devin would not be available this year to give the report on the Maine Volunteering Lake Monitoring Program and the quality of Nicatous. We hopefully can get an update next year.
New Business:
An election of officers was held and the same slate of officers was unanimously re-elected..
Ron thanked Leroy Bridges and Larry Poulin for trimming the sides of the landing road. Steve Buzzell took Leroy’s suggestion of making some improvements to the boat landing to Jim Ward of AMF. AMF granted permission to build a turn-around at the boat landing with volunteers from the lake doing the work and AMF would contribute to the fill. Leroy Bridges, Steve Buzzell, Larry Poulin, Troy Varney, Larry Duclos, Bill Damien & Will Damien spent a Saturday getting it ready for the dirt.
Steve gave a loon count report. He said that thirty-two adults and three chicks were counted. This was down a bit from last year—perhaps because of the high water. Thanks to Pat Sherwood, Bonnie LaForme, Jane Simmers, Carol Grant, Ron & Ruby Pelletier, Larry & Dawna Duclos, and Steve & Gladys Buzzell for getting out on that rainy Saturday morning to count loons.
The policy of stocking brown trout and the effects on the fisheries of Nicatous was discussed. A motion was made and passed to see if a speaker could be found to address the cause and effect of the stocking of the fish. Leroy Bridges will follow up on this and asked that folks let him know if they have any specific questions.
Next on the agenda was the 32-00-0 road fund with discussions on the annual fee paid by camp owners and who had the responsibility of sub-roads. Sub-roads are the responsibility of the camp owners on each road and the 32-00-0 road fund is not used for that purpose.
A motion to continue the annual fee of $100.00 was made and passed unanimously.
Jane Simmers questioned who was responsible for the repair or updating of the boat landing on the northern part of the lake. She stated that it was in very poor condition. Ron Pelletier will look into who is the owner of the landing and if it would be possible to do repairs. He will report back on this.
A motion to adjourn the meeting was made, seconded and passed unanimously.
Respectfully submitted,
Gladys L Buzzell
Secretary/Treasurer
These are the minutes from the very first Nicatous Lake camp owners meeting.
Saturday, December 5, 1959
Coburn Hall, U of M
Orono, Maine
Dr. Arthur Dayton spoke to a group of some twenty-five people representing camp owners on Nicatous lake. he suggested the formation of an association to strengthen the stand of all camp owners in things to their mutual benefit. he mentioned the use of water in lumbering operations of what is now almost a bygone era; and praised the State of Maine Fish and Game department for their progressive policies. He suggested that an association might pull more weight with he Fish and Game department than one individual; and that in the politics of all areas of the State requesting more help from the Fish and Game department, the Nicatous region should show a united effort to get in on the ground floor.
Then Dr. Dayton turned the meeting over to John L Easton who drew up the bylaws of the association with numerous suggestions, discussions and votes from the floor.
Then Mr. Magee moved that Vernon Bowers be president and Edmond Laing be Secretary/Treasurer. of the association. Since no other candidates competed for these offices, the above two were rail-elected!
President Bowers assumed office. Twelve camp owners paid their dues (out of twenty-one).
Dr. Dayton asked for someone favoring high water to speak on their side of the question.
Mr. Chamberlain said he thought the water had been too high this past summer and was in favor of what the majority might want.
Mr. Magee suggested trying to maintain a 20” to 24” head at the dam.
Quite a discussion followed including: (1) the dam leaks, (2) how to maintain it, and (3) notify the camp owners by May 1st.
President Bowers appointed Joe Laing, Russell Lovejoy and H. D. Chamberlain to that committee.
Bill Brughler suggested that the association might assume some responsibility for the Nicatous road. Mr. Brughler told of his troubles in getting funds from the County Commissioners of Hancock. County.
A road committee was appointed consisting of John L Easton, Joe Laing and Bill Brughler.
The first meeting terminated.
Respectfully submitted,
Ed Laing
Past Meeting Minutes:
Click on any year on links to the right, to read the minutes from that year. If you don’t want to read all the minutes, there is a brief synopsis of the first twenty-five years at the beginning of the 1984 meeting minutes page, written by the secretary at that time.