Shellfish Commission - Minutes - 10/01/2024

Town of Waterford Shellfish Commission
Regular Meeting Minutes of Tuesday, October 1, 2024
7:00 p.m. – Waterford Town Hall
Establish a Quorum and Call the Meeting to Order
Chairman Francolino established a quorum and called the regular
meeting of the Waterford Shellfish Commission to order at 7:00
p.m.
Present were Commissioners Francolino, Porter, Drennen, Calkins
and Jamroga. Absent was Commissioner Healy.
2. Pledge of Allegiance
Approval of the September 3, 2024, Meeting Minutes
Motion made by Commissioner Calkins, seconded by Commissioner
Drennen to approve the September 3, 2024, regular meeting
minutes as filed. All in favor, motion carried.
Correspondence
Chairman Francolino will continue to forward all correspondence
relating the Waterford Shellfish Commission business to the
Commission members to keep everyone up to date in between
meetings.
Treasurer’s Report
Treasurer Porter reviewed the financial statement he received from

the Finance Department at Town Hall. He has picked up the
recreational shell fishing permits from Riverside Grocery and from
the Town Hall. This season the Commission sold thirty-five permits
for a total of eight hundred seventy-nine dollars and fifty cents
($879.50). The money collected has been deposited into the
Waterford Shellfish Commission account and will be used to offset
operating costs and re-stock.
Monthly Monitoring and Sampling Report
The recreational shell fishing areas are currently open. Chairman
Francolino stated the areas will be administratively closed for the
months of January, February and March with a projected re-
opening date of April 1, 2025, pending satisfactory water and meat
samples.
7. New Business
a. Review and approve the 2025 Waterford Shellfish Commission
Meeting Dates.
The Waterford Shellfish Commission proposes the following 2025
meeting dates:
January 7, February 4, March 4, April 1, May 6, June 3, July 1,
August 5, September 2, October 7 and December 2. There will not
be a meeting in November due to Election Day and Veterans Day
falling on the first and second Tuesday of the month. The
Commission will continue to meet on the first Tuesday of the month
at 7:00 p.m. at the Waterford Town Hall.
Motion made by Commissioner Jamroga, seconded by
Commissioner Calkins to approve the proposed meeting dates for
2025 as presented. All in favor, motion carried.

b. Discuss/Draft the 2024 Waterford Shellfish Commission Annual
Report.
The Commission members discussed and reviewed the 2024 Annual
Report. The final draft will be placed on the November agenda for
approval.
8. Old Business
a. Update Regarding Progress to the Shellfish Resource Management
Plan and Maps.
Commissioner Drennen has not received the updated maps from the
State of Connecticut, and he suggested the Commission use the
maps that they already have and submit the Plan to the Town
Attorney for approval.
b. Update Regarding Securing Additional Re-stock for the 2024
Recreational Shell Fishing Season.
Chairman Francolino has been in contact with the supplier of
certified little neck clams, and he hopes to secure forty bags and
potentially more oysters for restock this month. The Commission
members checked the tide charts, and it was determined that if
restock is available the Commission members could potentially
distribute them into the recreational shell fishing areas on October
19th at high tide. He will keep the Commissioners updated with the
progress he makes securing the product so that they can coordinate
transport and boats for distribution.
c. Discussion regarding the gathering with the local Harbor
Management and Shellfish Commissions.
Chairman Francolino discussed the meeting he attended with the
local Commissions and indicated it was very productive and very

good information was shared among the Commissions, he
appreciated the open communication regarding items that they
have in common. He stated it was great to speak with the other
Commission representatives and he looks forward to the next
meeting and keeping the lines of communication open going
forward.
9. Public Comment Regarding Items Specifically Relating to
Waterford Shellfish Business.
10. Adjournment
There being nothing further to discuss the meeting adjourned at
7:54 p.m.
Respectfully Submitted by:
Audrey Ulmer, Recording Secretary for the Town of Waterford
Shellfish Commission