Shellfish Commission - Minutes - 10/06/2020

Town of Waterford Shellfish Commission
Meeting Minutes of October 6, 2020
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Town of Waterford Shellfish Commission
Regular Meeting Minutes
Tuesday, October 6, 2020 — 7:00 p.m.
Remote Meeting via Zoom
L. Call to Order
Chairman Lawson called the meeting of the regularly scheduled Waterford Shellfish Commission to order
at 7:00 p.m. after establishing a quorum.
2: Pledge of Allegiance
3. Roll Call
Present were Commissioners Lawson, Drennen and Havens. Absent were Commissioners Francolino,
Calkins, Malley, and LeBelle.
4. Approval of the September 3, 2020 Special Zoom Meeting Minutes
Motion made by Commissioner Drennen, seconded by Commissioner Havens to approve the September
3, 2020 Special Zoom meeting minutes as submitted, discussion, none, voice vote, 3-0, all in favor,
motion carried.
5. Correspondence
Chairman Lawson stated he had received notices from Town Hall requesting the 2021 meeting schedule
and the 2020 Annual Report. Both are on the agenda for discussion and approval.
6. Treasurer’s Report
Commissioner Francolino was not present to give the Treasurer’s Report but Chairman Lawson stated he
will forward the report generated from the Finance office at Town Hall to the Commission members to
review.
Ts Monthly Monitoring and Sampling Report

Town of Waterford Shellfish Commission
Meeting Minutes of October 6, 2020
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Chairman Lawson stated that the recreational shellfishing areas are currently open. The areas will be
closed on December 31, 2020 and are scheduled to re-open on April 1, 2021 after satisfactory samples are
returned.
8. New Business
a. Review and approve the Waterford Shellfish Commission 2021 meeting schedule;
The Commission members reviewed the proposed meeting dates for 2021 and a motion was made by
Commissioner Havens, seconded by Commissioner Drennen to approve and submit the following dates to
the Town Clerk’s office per their request, January 5", February 2"4, March 2", April 6", May 4" , June
1*, July 6", August 3, September 7", October 5" , November 9", and December 7"- The Commisson
will continue to meet on the first Tuesday of each month with the exception of the November meeting that
has been scheduled for the second Tuesday. Discussion, none, voice vote, 3-0, all in favor, motion
carried and a notification regarding this action will be forwarded to the Town Clerk’s office per their
request.
b. Review and approve the Waterford Shellfish Commission Annual Report for 2020.
The Commission reviewed and discussed the following 2020 Annual Report of the Waterford Shellfish
Commission.
Town of Waterford Shellfish Commission
Annual Report for the 2020 Recreational Shell Fishing Season
This season the Waterford Shellfish Commission maintained Areas A and G in Jordan Cover and Area C
on the East side of Waterford Island also known as Bay Point. Recreational shell fishing permits were
sold at the Town Hall and Riverside Grocery throughout the recreational shell fishing season. Permits
were sold on a daily, monthly and seasonal rate to adapt to the needs of the public. Permit fees are
structured to accommodate senior citizens, residents and non-residents of the Town of Waterford.
Permits are available for purchase April 1‘ through December 31" of each season without restrictions and
are good valid for the season and duration of time in which they are purchased. The Waterford Shellfish
Commission opted to keep the prices of recreational shell fishing permits the same as last year for this
season. Over this past year the Commission was able to maintain leased areas of Waterford bottomland
and is currently working on an additional area for commercial use to continue generating income for the
Commission. The Commission continues to maintain and oversee three commercial shell fishing leases
in the Waterford waters.
This season the Commission was able to obtain certified little neck clams for restock into the recreational
shell fishing areas on two separate dates during the 2020 season. The first restock was on May 11, 2020
when fifty seven bags of mixed clams and two bags of oysters were distributed. The second restock
occurred on August 22, 2020 and twenty seven bags of cherrystones, fifty bags of top necks and ten bags
of oysters were successfully distributed. The Commission spent a total of five thousand four hundred

Town of Waterford Shelifish Commission
Meeting Minutes of October 6, 2020
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and ninety dollars on product for restock into the recreational shell fishing areas for those who purchase
permits to harvest during the 2020 season. .
The Commission continues to patrol Jordan Cove utilizing the Wardens of WELSCO (Waterford/East
Lyme Shellfish Commission) as well as the services of the members of the Waterford Shellfish
Commission. State regulations dictate that after one inch of rainfall the recreational shell fishing areas are
closed until water samples are taken on the fifth day following the rainfall and lab results are received on
the eighth day. After two inches of rain the recreational shell fishing areas must close for five days after
which time the meat and water samples must be delivered to the lab for testing; this process takes eight to
ten days on average.
During the 2020 season there were a total of one hundred and eleven permits sold generating two
thousand thirty three dollars of revenue for the Waterford Shellfish Commission. Additional revenue was
also collected in the amount of one thousand four hundred and sixteen dollars in annual lease fees. The
revenue from permit sales and lease fees helps to offset operating costs of the Waterford Shellfish
Commission. Permit sales were up this season over last season possibly from residents looking for
outdoor activities during the pandemic in conjunction with long periods of nice weather. It is the hope of
the Waterford Shellfish Commission that in the future they will generate enough income from permit
sales and leased areas that the Commission will not require funding from the Town of Waterford for
operating costs.
Future Goals
The Waterford Shellfish Commission will continue to restock certified little neck and top neck clams and
will continue to meet and monitor the opening and closing of the recreational shell fishing areas in the
upcoming year. The Commission will continue to lease bottom land to commercial harvesters and will
remain active in participating in meetings with local and State shell fishing Commissions to maintain and
enhance the effectiveness of the shell fishing programs throughout the State of Connecticut.
Motion made by Commissioner Drennen, seconded by Commissioner Havens to approve and forward the
Annual Report to the Finance Department as requested. Discussion, none, voice vote, 3-0, all in favor,
motion carried,
Chairman Lawson stated that he and Commissioner Drennen went out to pull the Waterford Shellfish
Commission demarcation buoy from Jordan Cove on October 6, 2020 and was surprised to find that the
Harbor Management Commission had placed a ticket on the buoy stating that pursuant to State and Local
law, moorings without permits are prohibited. Mooring permits may be obtained by contacting the
Harbor Master. Chairman Lawson stated that the buoy shows on the permits per State requirement and
separates Area A from Area G. He stated that he will try to log in to the next Harbor Management
meeting to determine why the warning ticket was issued and he will keep the Commission members
updated.
9. Old Business

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Meeting Minutes of October 6, 2020
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a. Discussions regarding restock in the recreational shell fishing areas;
Chairman Lawson stated that the Commission was fortunate to find product two times this season to
restock the recreational shell fishing areas and he hopes to be as fortunate during the 2021 season.
b. Discussions regarding leases.
Chairman Lawson stated that he has not heard anything from the Town Attorney regarding the renewal of
the Thames River lease and has not heard anything regarding the Shellfish Management Plan. He stated
he will try to make contact with the Town Attorney for an update.
10. Public Input regarding Waterford Shellfish Commission Business Only
There was no one from the public logged into the meeting for discussion.
11. Adjournment
Motion made by Commissioner Drennen, seconded by Commissioner Havens to adjourn the meeting at
7:30 p.m. Discussion, none, voice vote, 3-0 all in favor, motion carried. The next regularly scheduled
meeting of the Waterford Shellfish Commission is scheduled for November 10, 2020 at 7:00 p.m.
Respectfully Submitted by:
Audrey Ulmer
Recording Secretary for the Town of Waterford Shellfish Commission