SKANEATELES - Although $20,000 is ready to be spent by the Invasive Species Committee to remove invasive plants from Skaneateles Lake, the committee brainstormed ideas with the town board Thursday night that could involve eventually charging non-residents a fee to aid the project.

The committee was formed in February to develop a plan to prevent more invasive species from further degrading Skaneateles Lake. Members also created a project to remove the invasive species that already have invaded the lake.

Committee members developed a three-part plan to monitor, prevent and educate and to control the eradication of these species.

A plan is in place to remove invasive plants from the lake. Members discussed charging non-residents to use the lake's public access locations to provide another source of revenue for the project. Another idea presented would charge waterfront residents a fee if they wanted invasive plants removed from the water area in front of their homes.

Invasive species are non-native plants or animals that spread quickly, destroying organisms native to the lake.

The committee plans to use the existing funds, obtained from external funds, to experiment with the invasive species removal and report back to the town in the fall.

In other news:

€ The board approved a proposal for Victory Sports Medicine, established by Dr. Marc Pietropaoli, to move its location from 791 W. Genesee St., Skaneateles, to 813 W. Genesee St., currently the location of Cedar House Bowling Center, Lakeside Video and Hill Top Restaurant.

If plans go through with the town's planning board, construction will begin in spring 2007. The existing businesses would have to relocate or close.

“This will be a benefit to the community but the existing businesses are landmarks in Skaneateles,” said Phil Tierney, town board supervisor. “These are real folksy places, makes me a little skeptical.”

The proposal includes a renovation and remodeling of the building, said Andy Ramsgard, architect for the relocation of Victory Sports Medicine. Pietropaoli wants to relocate because the new site will be easier to convert.

“We are now moving to the most lengthy part of the planning,” Ramsgard said. “We have months to develop an actual design for the building now and are willing to work with the town on what it wants to see.”

Staff writer Kristina Martino can be reached 253-5311 ext 238 or at kristina.martino@lee.net