Shellfish Commission - Minutes - 06/04/2024

Town of Waterford Shellfish Commission
Regular Meeting Minutes – Tuesday, June 4, 2024
7:00 p.m. – Waterford Town Hall
1. Call to Order
Chairman Francolino called the regular meeting of the Waterford
Shellfish Commission to order at 7:00 p.m. after establishing a
quorum.
2. Pledge of Allegiance
All in attendance stood for the Pledge of Allegiance and remained
standing for a moment of silence in honor of Trooper First Class
Aaron Matthew Pelletier of Southington, CT. who passed away
tragically in the line of duty on May 30, 2024.
3. Roll Call
Present were Commissioners Francolino, Porter, Jamroga, Drennen
and Healy. Absent was Commissioner Calkins.
4. Approval of the May 7, 2024, Meeting Minutes
Motion made by Commissioner Jamroga, seconded by
Commissioner Drennen to approve he May 7, 2024, meeting
minutes as reviewed and submitted. Voice vote, 5-0, all in favor,
motion carried.
5. Correspondence

Commissioner Drennen distributed copies of the Spring/Summer
issue of Wrack Lines to the Commission members.
Chairman Francolino stated he will continue to forward all
correspondence as he receives them in between meetings to keep
everyone as up to date as possible.
6. Treasurer’s Report
Treasurer Porter reviewed the revenues and expenditures over the
past month with the Commission members.
Motion made by Commissioner Healy, seconded by Commissioner
Jamroga to approve the Treasurer’s Report as reviewed. Voice vote,
5-0, all in favor, motion carried.
7. Monthly Monitoring and Sampling Report
Chairman Francolino stated that the recreational shell fishing areas
are currently open.
8. New Business
There was nothing for the Commission to discuss under New
Business at this meeting.
9. Old Business
a. Update Regarding the FY2025 Social Services Funding Request
for the Waterford Shellfish Commission.
The FY2025 Social Services Funding Request for the Town of

Waterford Shellfish Commission was approved at the final budget
hearing held in May.
b. Update Regarding Progress to the Shellfish Resource
Management Plan and Maps.
Commissioner Drennen has been in contact with Alissa Dragan,
Supervising Environmental Analyst for the Department of
Agriculture regarding updates to the map and she has suggested
that in the future the Commission combine Areas A and G and
rename it “Jordan Cove”, she has indicated that there has not been
a closure of one without the other as long as she can remember, and
it would simplify the map. The Commission will visit the proposal
over the winter months when the areas are closed for potential
change in the 2025 season. For the time being the maps will be
printed in the next week or so and added to the Plan with Areas A
and G. This is the final change before submitting the Plan to the
Town Attorney for review. Discussions were held regarding
demarcation signage and buoys.
The Commission members thanked Commissioner Drennen for all
his hard work with the amendments to the Plan and maps over the
past year.
c. Update Regarding Re-stock for the 2024 Recreational Shell
Fishing Season/2024 Permit Distribution.
Treasurer Porter stated he has dropped off a book of permits at
Riverside Grocery for them to sell for the Commission.
Chairman Francolino stated the lease fees are due July 1st and he
has been in contact with the lease holders.
The Commission discussed restock for this season. Chairman
Francolino has secured oysters for restock, two, three and four-inch

oysters are available from the supplier, and he indicated that the
supplier of the oysters may also have little and top neck clams
available for purchase this season. It was the consensus of the
Commission to authorize Chairman Francolino to secure oysters for
restock into the recreational shell fishing areas this season. A
discussion was held regarding the best locations to distribute the
oysters to assure their survival from the elements. A discussion was
held regarding alternate sources to purchase little neck clams this
season and that every effort will be made to secure restock.
Motion made by Commissioner Jamroga, seconded by
Commissioner Porter to authorize Chairman Francolino to purchase
a minimum of five thousand oysters for distribution into the
recreational shell fishing areas as soon as they are available not to
exceed thirty-five hundred dollars ($3,500.00). All in favor, motion
carried.
A discussion was held regarding the limited availability of hard-
shell clams for purchase over the past years and the need to
purchase them quickly when they become available.
Motion made by Commissioner Healy, seconded by Commissioner
Drennen to authorize Chairman Francolino to purchase little neck
clams for the Commission for restock should they become available
in between meetings to secure the restock needed for this season.
Voice vote, 5-0, all in favor, motion carried.
10. Public Comment Regarding Items Specifically Relating to
Waterford Shellfish Business.
11. Adjournment
There being nothing further to discuss the meeting adjourned at
7:55 p.m.

Respectfully Submitted by
Audrey Ulmer, Recording Secretary for the Town of Waterford
Shellfish Commission