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. 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 2008 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 2, 2008

The annual meeting of the Nicatous Lake Camp Owner’s Association was called to order at 11:15 AM by president, Ron Pelletier, with 43 camp owners and guests present.

Ron introduced guests which included Allan Starr from Inland Fisheries and Wildlife, Chris Hoffman from the Forest Society of Maine and Karen Bolstridge from LURC.

Chris Hoffman gave a brief rundown of the part that the Forest Society of Maine plays in the easement around Nicatous Lake and said that all is going well. She stated that there will be some forestry work done on the lake and that she and Charlie Todd, wildlife biologist for Inland Fisheries and Wildlife will work with the foresters to assure that the eagles nests are not disturbed.

Karen Bolstridge of LURC introduced herself and said that she would take any questions from individuals after the meeting.

Old Business:

Association minutes and treasurers’ report s were read and approved, as read.

32-00-0 road maintenance fund treasurer’s report was read and accepted, as read.

Ron thanked Leroy Bridges for contributing the buoys and his time to mark the known navigational hazards in the lake. They are now a very bright orange color.

New Business:

An election of officers was held and the same slate of officers was reelected. Bonnie Biller made the motion and Bill Damien seconded it. The vote was unanimous.

Guest speaker, Allan Starr, gave an interesting talk on eagles and touched briefly on Wildlife Management areas in the state. He then took questions form members.

Steve Buzzell gave the 32-00-0 road maintenance fund report. He reported that 46 our of 57 camp owners had contributed to the fund. He asked for opinions on the road and everyone agreed that it was ok. He reported that SFT had fixed a culvert and large washout early in the year near the 32-38-0 road and that they would be grading the road before bad weather sets in. He said that there would probably be a nominal fee for mobilizing the equipment for the culvert but that he didn’t know how much it would be, at this time. Ron Pelletier made a motion to continue with the $100.00 per camp owner fee for the upcoming year. Motion was seconded by Bill Damien and passed unanimously.

Ron talked about the camp break-ins that have been occurring and suggested that folks keep an eye out for any vehicles or people that don’t appear to belong in the area. He suggested taking license numbers down of the vehicles that we didn’t recognize. He also said that it’s important to let folks know when a camp had been broken into so the perhaps different events may have a connection and help the police in their investigation. A lively discussion followed with other suggestions. Leroy Bridges suggested that it might be helpful if we had a vehicle sticker to make it easier to identify the folks that belong in the area. Everyone thought that it was a good idea and it was decided that the association would pay to have the decals made. Leroy Bridges made a motion to have the decals made with the association paying and Bill Damien seconded the motion. Motion was passed unanimously. Gladys Buzzell will be looking into having the decals made and will distribute them to camp owners when they are ready.

Steve Buzzell asked for camp owners suggestions on speakers for upcoming meetings. He also mentioned that with the tightening economy that many of them were charging a nominal fee to come to a meeting to speak. A discussion followed and a suggestions was made that we could use association money to pay for a speaker. Bob Stratton made the motion to give the associations officers authority to acquire speakers for the meetings and to pay the fee’s from association funds. Brad Taylor seconded the motion and it was passed unanimously.

Bill Damien made a motion to adjourn the meeting and Brad Taylor seconded the motion. Motion was passed and meeting adjourned at 2:15PM.

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 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.