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FOREST LAKE SUB-COMMITTEE 604B GRANT <br>
Question: will we get the same results if  <br>
	1. The grant is sought by the City<br>
	2. The grant is sought by the City with help by Geosyntic<br>

Our Forest Lake sub-committee meeting today dealt with the issue of a Water Quality Management Planning Grant, for which a Request for Response is due March 19.  The Request is for a 604b grant which collects data and suggests remedies to improve the lake’s water quality.  Our assessment was that either of 2 avenues could be approached to submit the City of Methuen’s application for this grant.

1. The application could be completed by Joe Giarrusso, and Joe seemed enthusiastic, committed, he has an excellent track record in securing grants, and his services add no expense to the City since Joe is a city employee.  He assured the committee that he could file the application on time and in good order.  Mayor Manzi thought he could get help from an organization Gerry MacCall suggested as a resource.

2. The application could be completed by the City with an assist from Geosyntic, a consulting firm which made a presentation last month to the Forest Lake Association.  This firm indicated that it could complete this application for the City at a cost of about $4500 (It wasn’t mentioned here, but the Forest Lake Association has a small treasury, which might absorb up to ¼ of this cost).  Geosyntic’s presentation to the Association included photos of the area, an outline of the topography, a review of the 2 studies of Forest Lake done for the City in the past, and a summary of other similar 604b projects they have shepherded through the system, including the Cobbett Pond remediation for Windham NH, and other similar projects across MA and NH

The key issue for us is whether we are more likely to have success with an organization experienced in securing similar grants for other cities and towns; or whether we can save the $4500 and gain the same success with Joe Giarrusso applying for the grant for the City.