Thursday, March 22, 2005.
Minutes of Friends of Tully Lake Meeting

Ten Friends of Tully Lake met to discuss strategy on Thursday May 22, 2005
A new preliminary plan for a subdivision of  44 houses directly
overlooking Tully Lake in Athol has been submitted to the Athol Planning
Board, which has approved it.  A definitive plan, laying out the details
for this subdivision, is being prepared.  Potential parcels have been
perk-tested, indicating that the owner seriously intends to pursue this
plan.

It is important for all people concerned with the future of Tully Lake,
and development in Athol, to take an interest in the progress of the
planning and permitting process in the town.

Tasks that Friends of Tully Lake will pursue in the coming weeks include:

*  Actively informing and soliciting donations from a wide variety of
interested parties to fund hiring of an attorney and engineer to review a
definitive plan as soon as it is submitted.  We will draft and circulate a
new letter to be delivered to abutters and a range of other people.

*  Interviewing and hiring legal counsel.  Much background information on
Athol zoning regulations, Massachusetts and Federal law regarding such
developments, and other facts has already been assembled, which will be
passed on to counsel.

*  Encouraging residents of Athol and the surrounding towns to participate
in meetings with the Athol Planning Board, Conservation Commission, and
other municipal bodies.

*  Writing to Congressman John Olver and Commonwealth of Massachusetts
agencies to raise the profile of this issue.

*  Writing Letters to the Editor of the Athol Daily News and other
regional papers to publicize this issue and broader issues about sprawl in
the region

*  We are also exploring many other avenues of activism.