With spring around the corner, we'll be in contact with the Town Manager regarding sand removal from roads, street drains and catch basins before the sand washes into the lake with spring rains.

Also, we want to know whether "stimulus" funds will be available to do needed repairs to the roads around the lake and to repaint the yellow stripes down Mountain Road.

Spring is pothole time - report any dangerous potholes and/or erosion of the pavement at the edges of the road to Public Works at 860.379.4070. Call me at 860.738.9214 if you need our help with specific problems.

In the past year, the Town has had more than its share of controversial issues. One that affects the lake is the effort to sell Town-owned land within the watershed. While such sales of lots, pushed by certain Selectmen, would bring small proceeds to the Town, they present problems to the lake. The potential clearing and/or building on the lots would remove trees and other growth that prevent erosion and filter stormwater before it carries unwanted weed-encouraging nutrients and toxic runoff into the lake. Attempts to sell such lots have so far been voted down by large numbers of citizens attending Board of Selectmen meetings.

Another is the Town budget. HLWA members, speaking for the lake association or as individuals, have gone before the Board of Selectmen during budget hearings to speak against waste that raises our taxes or to keep lake maintenance funds in the budget. We will continue to speak up during the upcoming 2009 - 2010 budget hearings. If you have specific, doable ideas about how to reduce Town expenditures, please contact anyone on the HLWA board, and we may include them in our presentations to Town officials.