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Hinsdale lake committee presses vendor after missed post-treatment survey
Summary
At its Feb. 3 meeting the Hinsdale Lake Management Committee reviewed Solitude's End of Year Report noting a missing July 2025 post-treatment survey, asked whether a refund was issued and could be applied to a stronger June 2026 treatment, and raised questions about treatment chemicals and comprehensive water-quality testing; the committee also discussed current winter lake conditions and scheduled follow-ups.
HINSDALE, Mass. — Feb. 3, 2026 — The Hinsdale Lake Management Committee reviewed Solitude's End of Year Report at its Feb. 3 meeting and flagged that the vendor did not perform a July 2025 post-treatment survey. Committee members asked whether Solitude refunded the charge for that missed survey and whether any refund could be applied to a more robust treatment in June 2026.
Members also raised specific questions for Solitude about the cost and the chemical agents planned for treating phragmites and for treating water lilies, and they requested a comprehensive water-quality testing plan for both Plunkett and Ashmere lakes. Monica Montferret, a committee member, has contacted Dominic, the Solitude representative who handles Plunkett and Ashmere, and included Bob Graves in those communications to seek clarifications and cost estimates.
The committee reviewed current winter conditions, reporting that Plunkett Lake's water level is "good" and that an aerator at Ashmere is keeping a reduced area ice-free near the dock it is intended to protect. Those operational observations were discussed as context for treatment timing and safety around docks.
As a nonprocedural next step, committee members discussed outreach and coordination with local stakeholders: they approved a draft letter to Camp Taconic that Monica Montferret will send and identified June 2 or June 8 as potential dates for a joint meeting with camps and lake associations. Members agreed there will be no March meeting and set the next regular meeting for April 7.
Procedural actions recorded in the minutes include the unanimous approval of the January minutes (motion by Matt Goggin; second by Cynthia Grippaldi) and a unanimous motion to adjourn at 5:40 p.m. (motion by Cynthia Grippaldi; second by Matt Goggin).
The committee asked Solitude to respond with details on any refunded charges for the missed survey, the proposed chemicals and costs for treatments targeting phragmites and water lilies, and a plan and cost estimate for comprehensive water-quality testing for both lakes. The meeting minutes do not record Solitude's responses; members anticipated follow-up communications and a stakeholder meeting in June.
