About 50 people attended the 2017 Annual Meeting at the Memorial Hall Library. Steve Cotton opened the meeting at 7:00 p.m. and welcomed guests with a brief introduction to the FPC. Stephani Traina, the Library’s Director of Community Services & Programming, also welcomed guests, noting that the Library was pleased to co-sponsor the presentation by featured speaker Jane Cairns from the Andover Historical Society. [To view a slideshow of the business meeting, click here.]

Minutes.  Secretary Janet Kenney moved approval of the minutes of the March 29, 2016 Annual Meeting and the August 20, 2016 Summer Meeting, as posted on the web site.  The Minutes were approved.

Treasurer’s Report. David Brown moved approval of the Treasurer’s Report as posted on the web site.  The Treasurer’s Report was approved.

Election of Officers.  A motion was made, seconded and approved to elect the following officers: Steve Cotton (President), Marty Rabinowitz (Vice-President), Dave Brown (Treasurer), and Janet Kenney (Secretary) for a 1-year term ending December 31, 2017. A motion was made, seconded, and approved to re-elect the following directors for a 2-year term ending December 31, 2018: David Adilman, Steve Ellis, and Dorothy Tyler.

Program: “The Witches of Foster’s Pond.” Jane Cairns from the Andover Historical Society presented the program with a slide show depicting the background and scope of the Salem Witch Trials in 1692. She noted that more people from Andover were accused of witchcraft that from Salem. Among the accused were two woman with close connections to Foster’s Pond: Ann Foster and Martha Carrier.

Dam Report. Steve reported that the Foster’s Pond Dam had undergone a safety inspection, as required by the State every five years. The dam passed the inspection with the second highest rating a dam can receive, and the FPC’s engineering consultant submitted his report in December. Steve thanked all the volunteers who have contributed to maintaining the dam, noting that the safety rating was the highest we could hope to get for a structure designed and built in the 1850s.

Weed Report. Steve reported that fanwort, once the dominant plant in the Pond, remained well-controlled as a result of the FPC’s lake management program. The 2016 vegetation survey found just 0.2% fanwort cover. As a result, we will not be treating for fanwort in 2017.

The survey detected the presence of Spiny Naiad , another invasive weed which can grow very densely. We’ve seen it before, and treated two stands in 2010, but it has not been much of a problem since. However, the survey found it in about 5 acres in 2016, and we plan to treat for it in 2017.

Algae blooms were a big problem in 2016, and we treated the Pond twice with copper sulfate. Previously, the Pond was treated in 2013 and 2015. We will be ready to treat the Pond in 2017 if necessary.

Steve said that our lake management consultant advised us that the major limiting nutrient for algae is phosphorous, and that the key to preventing algae growth is to reduce phosphorous in the water. However, how to do that depends on the sources of the phosphorous, which could be run-off from lawns and gardens, septic systems, decomposition from forested areas, bottom sediments, or other sources. Accordingly, the Corporation plans to study the possible sources so that we can determine whether there’s a cost-effective way of reducing the phosphorous that contributes to algae growth.

Hydro-Raking.  Steve reported that hydro-raking was scheduled for April 24.

New Business.  Steve said that he was seeking a venue for the Foster’s Pond Picnic.  Dave Workman reported seeing a bald eagle flying around the Mill Reservoir.  There were additional sightings of beaver and fox.

A motion to adjourn was made, seconded and approved.  The meeting adjourned at 9:00 p.m.

Janet Kenney
Secretary