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LAKEWOOD -- The Busti Town Board may be up to its ears in weeds -- weeds that board members hope to eradicate from the town's area of Chautauqua Lake this summer.
Town Board members on Monday voted unanimously to allow Town Supervisor Jesse Robbins to apply for a permit with the state Department of Conservation for the eradication and management of an invasive plant species, which has been wreaking havoc in the lake.
Curly-leaf pondweed is native to Eurasia, Africa and Australia. The pondweed was first discovered in Chautauqua County in 1879 and grows entirely as a submersed aquatic plant with no floating leaves, according to the U.S. Geological Survey. Moreover, depending on the growth and establishment, curly-leaf pondweed can have deleterious or advantageous effects on the economy and ecosystem.
During the early spring-summer growths, the plants can form dense monocultures which can cover large areas of the water surface. These dense, pernicious growths can impede water flow in irrigation canals and restrict water based recreation or become navigational risks to boaters.
"I need to be authorized to be able to sign a DEC permit application only for Curly-leaf pondweed treatment (and) also, to allow Ready Scout Limited Liability Corporation (LLC) to submit the application on behalf of the Town of Busti. However, there is no guarantee we're going to get the permit. We're just asking for it," Robbins said.
In other business:
-- from Jan 8. to Feb. 5, Lakewood-Busti Police Chief Christopher DePonceau reported several service calls that included 21 alarm checks; 18 animal complaints; 23 motor vehicle accidents; 29 special details; 14 suspicious situations with six people; seven larceny complaints; 23 vehicle parking complaints; nine property checks; nine vehicle complaints; and 59 vehicle stops.
"We're at 1,290 calls for service so far," DePonceau told Busti Town Board members.
-- the board is looking to add security cameras to the court office and the pay widow. There are currently security cameras in place that monitor the parking lot and other parts of the building.