OBSERVER Photo by Gregory Bacon It was standing room only at the Chautauqua Lake Protection and Rehabilitation Agency meeting, when board members said they no longer recommend a special district to fund lake protection.

MAYVILLE – After more than five years of exploration, a special tax to fund Chautauqua Lake is dead in the water.

On Thursday, the Chautauqua Lake Protection and Rehabilitation Agency voted 7-4 to give up forming a lake district, which would have been used to generate funds to clean up and protect the lake.

The motion was made by member Don Emhart, who is the Chautauqua Town Supervisor and seconded by Louise Ortman, the deputy supervisor of the North Harmony Town Board, even before the presentation by Barton & Loguidice.

There were around 100 people packed in the meeting in the legislative chambers on the third floor of the Gerace Office Building.

“I’d like to make a motion that with all the negative publicity surrounding this that we declare that it’s a no-go and save our time and efforts,” said Emhart.

After his motion, the audience burst out in applause.

CLPRA Chairman Pierre Chagnon, who is also the chairman of the county legislature, noted the agency was tasked to see whether or not they recommended a lake district should be formed.

Emhart clarified to say his motion was that they should not recommend a lake district.

Ortman, who was on the CLPRA since its inception in 2017, said she was asked by then-County Executive George Borrello, to see whether she and other agency members would recommend a lake district or not. But after listening to Barton & Loguidice’s previous presentations, she felt one should not be formed.

Instead, she feels that all county residents should pay to protect the lake, not just those who live by the lake, or live in the Chautauqua Lake watershed. “If I took $5 million and added it to the 2023 Chautauqua County budget then each taxpayer in the county would be responsible for 56 cents per thousand dollars of assessed valuation,” she said.

Ortman also said she backed charging fees for boaters who use the lake.

Barton & Loguidice said previously that a countywide tax to fund Chautauqua Lake is currently not permitted by state law. They also said the state would have final say on any boat fees.

CLPRA member Larry Anderson, who is also the Ellery town supervisor, said he recommends funding all lakes and waterways with the county budget. “By doing so, I think that bypasses any law of a lake district,” he said.

After discussion, Chagnon invited agency members who opposed forming a lake district to raise their hands. Seven hands went up, so he said the motion passed. Again, the audience burst out in applause.

Because the agency voted to give up forming a lake district, the meeting ended. Chagnon asked members if they still wanted to hear Barton & Loguidice’s presentation, but they decided against it.

Chagnon thanked the agency members as well as Barton & Loguidice for their work in exploring the possibility of forming a lake district.

After the meeting, Chagnon said because the CLPRA has filled its mission to decide whether or not there should be a lake district, the board is now terminated.

Chagnon was asked what is next for funding Chautauqua Lake. “I will report to the legislature that the lake protection and rehabilitation agency’s recommendation is not to create a district,” he replied.

When asked what is next for lake protection, Chagnon simply replied, “I don’t know.”