THE FRANKLIN WATERSHED COMMITTEE
Board of Directors Meeting
Franklin Homestead FELCO Room
October 11, 2012
Participants: Bruce Bushey, Martine Gates, Sue Clark, Jeff Teitlebaum, Peter
Benevento, Russell Ford, Lucille Rainville, Paul Stanley, Heidi Britch-Valenta.
The meeting commenced at 7:05 PM.
Approval of Minutes: Minutes for Board of Director meetings held July 12, 2012, July
25, 2012, Sept 13, 2012 and the Annual Meeting held August 9, 2012 were reviewed.
Bruce Bushey made a motion to accept the minutes. Martine Gates seconded the
motion. The motion passed.
Treasurer’s Report: Martine Gates gave the Treasurer’s Report. The checkbook
balance is $2513.16 and invoices paid for the month totaled $9644.61. An invoice from
KAS regarding the ERP Shoreline Project was discussed and questions arose regarding
the amounts billed. It was decided that the Board would contact KAS to resolve the
questions raised.
Coordinator’s Report: Russ Ford gave the Coordinator’s report.
 The balance of this year’s Sec. 319 Grant will be rolled over to next year. The
Water Conservation Project will continue next year with the installation of
additional water conserving toilets on lake shore properties. Four such toilets
were installed this year. Culverts at the lake earmarked to be upgraded will be
identified.
 The ERP Grant request for 2013 has been denied.
 The Better Back Roads Program and the Lake Champlain Basin Program will
be evaluated for the availability of grant funds.
 Russ recently attended a meeting of the Friends of Northern Lake Champlain
where improved soil conditions on the Benjamin and Dewing Farms was
discussed. A Soil Quality Workshop to be held in Swanton and the progress
of Act 138 to fund storm water protection was also discussed. It was decided
that Russ will draft a letter from the Board supporting the Act 138 legislation.
 Dean Wang of UVM has offered to make a graduate student available to the
FWC to work on watershed issues. The cost share to the FWC would be
$5000.00. It was determined that $5000.00 was not available for this
purpose. Russ will respond to Mr. Wang respectfully declining his offer.
President’s Report: Pete Benevento gave the President’s Report in Jim Cameron’s
absence.
 AmeriCorps Hiring. VHCB has been contacted and the part-time FWC
AmeriCorps position has been re-announced. To date no applications have
been received.
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Better Back Roads/Dewing Shore. Improving the shoreline along the state
owned portion of Dewing Rd. pursuant to a Better Back Roads Grant will be
completed this fall.
Mill Pond Dam. The function, operation and maintenance of the Mill Pond
Dam still pose many questions regarding its impact on the lake as well as the
land above the dam. Russ will contact Steve Bushmen, a Dam Safety
Engineer with VT-DEC to determine his availability to speak at an FWC
meeting.
Agricultural Report: Paul Stanley gave the Agricultural Report.
 Annual Rye Grass continues to be the choice for cover crops. Paul presented
pictures of the successful use of cover crops in the area.
 February 23rd was set as a tentative date for the Annual FWC Agricultural
Meeting.
The meeting adjourned at 8:35 PM.
Respectfully submitted:
Peter Benevento, Secretary