Shellfish Commission - Minutes - 05/07/2024

Town of Waterford Shellfish Commission
Regular Meeting Minutes – Tuesday, May 7, 2024
7:00 p.m. – Waterford Town Hall
1. Call to Order
Chairman Francolino called the regularly scheduled 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 and recited the Pledge of Allegiance.
3. Roll Call
Present were Commissioners Francolino, Jamroga, Porter and
Drennen. Absent were Commissioners Healy and Calkins.
4. Approval of the April 2, 2024 Meeting Minutes
Motion made by Commissioner Drennen, seconded by
Commissioner Porter to approve the April 2, 2024 meeting minutes
as filed. Voice vote, 4-0, all in favor, motion carried.
5. Correspondence
Chairman Francolino stated he will continue to forward all
correspondence he receives throughout the month to the
Commission members to keep everyone up to date.

6. Treasurer’s Report
Treasurer Porter reviewed the Treasurer’s Report with the
Commission members, including revenue and expenses for the past
month.
Motion made by Commissioner Jamroga, seconded by
Commissioner Drennen to approve the Treasurer’s Report as
reviewed. Voice vote, 4-0, all in favor, motion carried.
7. Monthly Monitoring and Sampling Report
Chairman Francolino stated the recreational shell fishing areas are
currently open.
8. New Business
9. Old Business
a. Update Regarding the FY2025 Social Services Funding Request
for the Waterford Shellfish Commission.
Treasurer Porter stated the budget process is ongoing but there has
been no indication that the
budget request for the Shellfish Commission will not be approved.
b. Discussion Regarding Progress to the Shellfish Resource
Management Plan and Maps.
Commissioner Drennen has been in discussions with the contact
person who can amend the maps for the Plan and they discussed
potentially changing the name of the Areas for clarification

purposes in the future. A general discussion was held regarding the
pros and cons of maintaining two separate areas. Chairman
Francolino suggested revisiting the proposal next year because the
maps and permits have already been printed and distributed for this
season. Commissioner Drennen will follow up with questions and
clarification with the State and report back with his findings at the
next meeting.
c. Discussion Regarding Re-Stock for the 2024 Recreational Shell
Fishing Season/2024 Permit Distribution.
Chairman Francolino discussed progress to he has made to date to
secure re-stock for the season, and he is hopeful that by the time the
water is the appropriate fifty-degree temperature for distributing
hard shell clams and oysters into the recreational shell fishing areas
that the Commission will have secured restock for the season. He
has been in contact with a supplier who has indicated that he will
do his best to secure the product for the Commission.
A general discussion was held regarding the best location to
distribute oysters in the waters for the best chance of survival.
The Commission has distributed the 2024 Recreational Shell Fishing
permits to the Town Hall and is awaiting the opening of Riverside
Grocery to distribute permits to them.
10. Public Comment Regarding Items Specifically Relating to
Waterford Shellfish Business.
There was no one from the public to address the Commission at this
meeting.
11. Adjournment
There being nothing further to discuss the meeting adjourned at

7:45 p.m.
The next regularly scheduled meeting of the Waterford Shellfish
Commission is on Tuesday, June 4, 2024, at 7:00 p.m. at the
Waterford Town Hall.
Respectfully Submitted by:
Audrey Ulmer, Recording Secretary for the Town of Waterford
Shellfish Commission