Lake Gerry Association

Unofficial Meeting Notes

May 2026

Welcome back everyone!  We had a very well attended first Lake Gerry Association Meeting of 2026.  There were over 40 people in attendance, both new members and long-term members.  

We started the meeting with the treasurer’s report.  I won’t put the financial details in this public place, but the things we are spending money on during the off-season:  Town and School taxes,  NYSEG, Access Lane and Road Work, Insurances, office/management supplies, software and DEC permitting.  Nothing too exciting to report here, except that, like everything, prices continue to rise for the association.  We are still working to control expenses where and when we can. 

Lake Steward Report - Marc reports that we need to have our routine inspections of:  Fire Extinguishers and the Pavilions.  The Port-a-Potty needs to be emptied.  There was a swing-set donated that will be reassembled and placed near the pavilion for members to use.  We will continue replacing the street signs round the lake.  Last year we replaced the signs along New Virginia Rd, and now we are going down Charles Kelley Rd.  We will start with 4 roads this season and add more if we have enough time and volunteers.  This project will continue until they’ve all been replaced to look nice and consistent. 

There will be some work done on Kent Lane.  Over the years its boundaries have been moving and it will be placed back to its original location.  

The Spillway that empties from the lake will be upgraded to include a concrete chase and grates that can easily be cleaned of debris.  This should make future maintenance of this area much more efficient!  

There continues to be some problems with people pulling up survey pins and removing Lake Gerry Association property and signage.  Removing or altering survey stakes in New York State is considered both a civil violation and a crime, typically a misdemeanor.  There are very hefty fines and jail time associated with these crimes.  Don’t lose your lake house over a few feet of land.  (or in some cases, an entire access lane)

There will be some survey work being down around the lake in problem areas this year.  Thank you to those who will be helping with this important project. 

The Town of Oxford has been fantastic this year cleaning up the roads and helping with drainage around the lake.  

   

Presidents’ Report – Pauline gave a very thorough report on all of the “fun” stuff that she has been working on and dealing with around the community.   We are working on updating our plan to address the Lily Pads and Small Pond Weeds around the lake, along with the muck.  We were granted a 5 year extension from the DEC to treat the weeds without extensive permitting fees.  The estimated cost to treat the lake this year for both Lily Pads and Pond Weed is about $11,300.  To address the Muck, there is a new product out that allows us to treat the muck in cold weather - this would provide 3 seasons of muck treatment rather than 3 months.  These muck pellets would cost approximately $2000 for the year.  So in total, we would be looking at about $13,300 for lake maintenance.  Since starting the lily pad clean-up/Lake Preservation a few years ago, we have spent approximately $47,000 on lily pad treatments. 

We also discussed the possibility of purchasing a machine from a company called Weeder’s Digest that would help us manually cut and remove the weeds from the lake.  (Removing the weeds helps cut down on the muck formation in the future) We would like some discussion about these machines at our next meeting. 

The Water Shark:  

https://weedersdigest.com/watershark-remote-controlled-battery-powered-lake-weed-cutting-machine/

https://vimeo.com/1029731116?fl=pl&fe=sh

https://https://youtu.be/LjaSVMRsFkk?si=_II6i1V4JAVKTkna

youtu.be/xWcWfDJ2DVY?si=rREJZx32nNwl5hiK

The Water Beetle:

https://weedersdigest.com/waterbeetle-aquatic-weed-harvester-remote-controlled-lithium-battery-powered/?searchid=0&search_query=Beetle

https://youtu.be/MIK6zL6RQsc?si=eQIIyly9wGV0JDlm

The Water Bug:

https://weedersdigest.com/waterbug-aquatic-weed-harvester-remote-controlled-battery-powered/

https://youtu.be/JdUXn_rDxws?si=UE4rNthHKkaxic1G

The Water Gator:  

https://weedersdigest.com/watergator-remote-controlled-aquatic-harvester/

At our next meeting we would like to make a plan on whether or not to start fund-raising for these machines.  We have had a few very generous offers for donations to purchase a machine, but need a formal plan.   

There was an association vote to purchase the lake muck pellets that would allow for 3 season muck treatment around the lake. 

There are still a lot of questions circulating around the use of campers around the lake.  Several properties have been sold with the intention of placing a seasonal camper on these properties.  Our current by-laws do not adequately address our stance on campers.  Many, if not, all of the lots around Lake Gerry are not large enough to put new construction on, therefore folks are wanting either Tiny Homes or Campers placed on these lots.  We need to formalize a plan.  

It was suggested that we start sending members to the Oxford Town Board and Zoning Meetings, which are on the 2nd Tuesday and 2nd Wednesday of each month at 7pm.  Attending these meetings will show the town that we are interested in working with them to address mutual concerns. 

Some concerns were raised again this year about the state of several properties around the lake and it was recommended that individuals contact the Town of Oxford in-writing, along with the County Environmental Division for Garbage on properties.  https://www.chenangocountyny.gov/210/Environmental-Health

There have been a few “squatters” roaming around the lake and claiming they are members and are allowed to fish and take things from properties.  If you see one of these individuals or are concerned please contact the County Sheriff.  

This winter we had several docks break loose from their moorings and float to the other side of the lake.  One one of the docks was properly labeled and able to be returned to its owner.   Please remember to LABEL YOUR DOCK –  It needs your Name and your Lake Address clearly written on the dock.  The other docks will be removed from the lake and destroyed if not claimed.  

We can’t get through a single freaking meeting without mentioning Dogs or ATV’s…  Seriously.  Not one.  We want to applaud our new dog control officers who have been doing a fantastic job issuing tickets and addressing the dog problems, however, some still remain.  If you have a problem with a dog on the lake, contact the Dog Control Office whose contact information can be found on our website.  -  ATV’s - the problem has gotten a lot better for many, but there still remains some issues with ATV’s driving on access lane and speeding around the lake.  The police are just as sick of it as we are.   If you have a problem, or someone damages your property, call the police and report them. If you’re thinking about getting an ATV, don’t.  Or at least make sure it has a decent muffler on it.  Drive smart and safe.  

There was a lot of good and passionate discussion during this meeting and a lot of great information from trustworthy sources.  The one thing that always stands out whenever I attend one of these meetings is that our community is passionate about their lake and the peace and calm environment around the lake.  It takes a community to improve the conditions and strong leadership to set and help us achieve those goals.  Please take some time to thank Pauline, Marc and the rest of the LGA Board for volunteering their time, energy, knowledge, and health to make us a better group.  

Lastly, and on a positive note:  The Annual Lake Gerry Association Fishing Derby will be held on July 4th (Saturday) from 9am - 12:00pm.  – We will send out more info as the date gets closer. 

Our next meeting will be:  Sunday June 14th.