Friends of Tully Lake

Minutes from 17 April 2005 Meeting
18 people in attendance

A lively exchange of ideas took place, and participants are extremely
enthusiastic about working toward an appropriate solution to the problems
associated with the proposed development.

1.  An attorney has been hired and has agreed to work at a reasonable
retainer and hourly rate.  This individual is known throughout the region
and has had considerable success with both suits and advising on
environmental law and town regulations.  We have conveyed copies of the
preliminary plan, relevant town subdivision regulations and zoning bylaws,
the Athol Master Plan, and many other useful materials to the attorney. 
We are very pleased to have made progress on this essential step. 

2.  We are seeking names of qualified engineers who can advise on specific
aspects of both the preliminary plan and the definitive plan (as soon as
it is submitted) for the subdivision.  Several names were floated and
people attending will follow up with their contacts.  The attorney has
also recommended an excellent engineer that has collaborated on projects
of this type in the past.

3.  We discussed the fact that once a definitive plan is submitted to the
appropriate Boards in Athol, we will have to move very rapidly and attend
all relevant meetings.  Many Athol residents expressed interest in
increasing their attendance of all meetings in general.  We will be
assured of a good turnout of concerned residents when and if this plan is
submitted.

4.  We discussed means of getting the word out on this project to many
more people in order to raise awareness of the issue and to raise more
money.  A fundraising letter has been circulated, and over 100 more copies
of the letter were distributed to those attending the meeting.  An
additional $700 was raised today at this meeting alone! 

5.  Posters, bumper stickers, and lawn signs will be developed very
shortly, which can be distributed to users of Tully Lake, residents of
Athol, and other concerned citizens.  We will explore getting these
printed at a reasonable discount.

6.  We will pursue contacts and write letters to the Editor of several
local newspapers in Worcester, Franklin, and Hampshire Counties.

7.  We have contacted Senator Stephen Brewer's office, who wishes to be
kept informed of new developments on this project.  We have begun a
letter-writing campaign to both Senator Brewer and Representative
Christopher Donelan, to raise the state-wide profile of this issue.  We
encourage ALL interested people to write to either or both of their
elected representatives, and their addresses and emails are below.

STATE SENATOR STEPHEN M. BREWER
State House
Room 109-B
Boston, MA 02133
Telephone: (617) 722-1540
Email: Stephen.Brewer@state.ma.us

STATE REPRESENTATIVE CHRISTOPHER J. DONELAN
State House
Room 39
Boston, MA 02133
Telephone: 617-722-2930 978-544-2180
FAX: 978-544-5169
Email: Rep.ChristopherDonelan@hou.state.ma.us

People are also encouraged to contact the Executive Office of
Environmental Affairs (EOEA).  EOEA spearheaded the effort to protect land
surrounding Tully Lake over the past few years, and they need to be
notified that their efforts, and Tully Lake itself may be compromised by a
large and damaging subdivision.  The contact is:

Ellen Roy Herzfelder, Secretary of Environmental Affairs
Executive Office of Environmental Affairs
100 Cambridge, 9th Floor
Boston, Massachusetts 02114
Phone: (617) 626-1000     
FAX: (617) 626-1181
Website: http://www.mass.gov/envir/

The next meeting of Friends of Tully Lake will be on Sunday, May 15 at
4:00pm at 3514 Chestnut Hill Avenue in Athol.  Join us!  You can make a
difference in the future of Athol!