Residents and stewards urge trustees to support Big Fresh Pond harvesting after DEC permit

Association members and residents urged the Southampton Town Trustees to help shape a plan for harvesting invasive water lilies and controlling phragmites at Big Fresh Pond after receiving a New York State Department of Environmental Conservation permit.

The presenters — who thanked Trustee Joe McLaclin and James Dura for their assistance — said the permit allows cutting of floating water lilies but noted that the plants’ roots remain and regrowth is expected. They presented quotes obtained by piggybacking on Lake Agawam’s contract with Solitude Lake Management and said transportation and disposal costs are the largest variable in the current estimates. "We think that a less comprehensive study would lay the good basis and could be done very less expensively," one presenter said, describing a third iteration of a quote that reduced days of work and other costs.

Trustees pressed the presenters on who would pay and on legal constraints. Trustee Parsons and others said the pond is owned by the trustees but that procurement rules limit the town’s ability to sign contracts without a formal bidding process. "We couldn't sign any contracts," a trustee said, noting that if a neighborhood association or conservancy arranges and pays for work independently, the trustees could grant permission but not act as the contracting party.

Town staff and trustees discussed disposal options for harvested vegetation. A town representative said the transfer station could accept the material for composting and estimated disposal at about $12 per yard, pending confirmation of DEC permit conditions. Presenters and trustees agreed that DEC permit terms would dictate acceptable disposal methods and that dredging or spoil-site requirements could change costs.

The presenters asked the trustees for a path forward and said they were willing to plan for future seasons even if the work could not proceed this year. Trustees offered to continue discussions and suggested the group explore DEC invasive-species grants and coordination with neighboring lake efforts; they also suggested convening conservation board members and other town staff to identify roles the trustees can play.

The meeting record shows this discussion was exploratory: trustees and staff said additional meetings and a formal procurement and budget discussion will be needed before the town can commit funds or sign contracts. The presenters said they were "okay with it not happening this year" but wanted guidance on next steps and opportunities to coordinate with Lake Agawam work.

The trustees did not adopt a formal motion to fund or contract the harvesting at this meeting; they encouraged continued coordination and follow-up meetings.