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Woodbury approves Cromwell Lake treatment contract despite trustee concerns about public access
Summary
The board approved a multi-year aquatic-plant treatment proposal from Limnology Information and Freshwater Ecology Inc. to treat milfoil and water chestnuts in Cromwell Lake; one trustee argued the project principally benefits lakefront owners and suggested a special improvement district, but the motion carried 4–1.
The Village of Woodbury voted 4–1 on Jan. 23 to approve a proposal from Limnology Information and Freshwater Ecology Inc. to treat invasive aquatic plants in Cromwell Lake and begin a multi-year restoration effort.
Mayor Andrew Giacomaza said the project is intended to return the lake to “a place for the whole community to enjoy.” The board heard that the lake has not received the same treatment since the 1990s and that the village should expect to treat it annually for at least three years to reduce milfoil and water chestnut populations before shifting to a maintenance schedule.
The village attorney confirmed the procurement complies with the village procurement policy and the firm was the only practical bidder because the work is specialized, a staff member noted. The board discussed timing: the work is expected to begin in spring, with follow-up treatments over subsequent years.
During discussion a trustee raised concerns based on the assessor’s records that the village currently has no legal lakeshore access and that the primary benefit of the improvement would accrue to immediate lakefront property owners. That trustee suggested a special improvement district might be a more appropriate funding mechanism. The mayor said he is working to secure frontage on the lake that would allow construction of a community dock and public access, and he said he would consider the trustee’s point.
After discussion the board approved the Limnology proposal by a 4–1 vote. The motion was recorded as approved and the clerk will document the contract details in the minutes. The transcript records the intent to plan for follow-up work in years two and three, but the proposal’s annual cost and multi-year budget breakdown were not specified on the record.
The board did not attach an explicit contingency requiring the village to obtain lakeshore access before work begins; a trustee asked the mayor to consider making access a condition, but the motion passed without that condition.
The village will schedule the work for spring and plan future maintenance as part of annual budgeting.
