Waterford/East Lyme Shellfish Commission - Minutes - 01/16/2020

Waterford-East Lyme Shellfish Commission         
 
 
              
                      Meeting Minutes 
        
 
 
                Thursday, January 16, 2020 
       
 
                      East Lyme Town Hall, 7:30 pm  
 
 
Members present:  Chair Peter Harris, J. Patrick Kelly, Paul Spakowski, Eric Kanter, Tom 
Bowlen, Larry Tytla, Elizabeth Gelinas, and Marcia Benvenuti 
Members absent:  None 
Guests: Chief Warden Chmiel, Ex-Officio D. Cunningham 
 
  
1) The meeting was called to order at 7:30 pm and a quorum established.   
 
2)  Approval of Minutes from previous meetings: 
a) The minutes of the Nov 21, 2019 Regular meeting were reviewed and approved on a 
motion by Mr. Spakowski, seconded by Mr. Tytla, vote : 7-0, Ms. Benvenuti abstained 
b) The minutes of the Dec 19, 2019 Regular meeting were reviewed and approved on a 
motion by Mr. Spakowski, seconded by Ms. Gelinas, vote : 8-0 
 
3) The Treasurer’s report for December 2019 was approved on a motion by Mr.  Spakowski, 
seconded by Mr. Tytla, vote : 8-0 
 
4)   The Warden’s report was delivered by Chief Warden Chmiel.  The Niantic River is currently 
open to shellfishing.  The scallop season has ended (Jan 14, 2020). 
  
5)  Old Business-  
a)  Approximately 20,000 scallop seed were placed in the river on Jan 16, 2020. 
b)  Chief Warden Chmiel is continuing to recruit an additional warden. 
c)  Mr. Harris, Mr. Kelly, Ms. Gelinas, and Mr. Spakowski attended the Annual Shellfish 
Gathering on Jan 11, 2020 and gave a brief summary of the meeting. 
d)  Mr. Kelly attended the Milford Aquaculture Seminar on Jan 13-15, 2020 and gave a brief 
summary of the meeting and handed out copies of the meeting abstracts. 
e)  Ms. Benvenuti discussed a meeting between Mr. Harris, Ms. Benvenuti, East Lyme First 
Selectmen Mark Nickerson, and Waterford First Selectmen Robert Brule that occurred on 
Jan 9, 2020.  Ms. Benvenuti also submitted a written summary which is appended to these 
minutes. Discussion ensued related to some of the topics discussed.   
 
A motion was made by Ms. Benvenuti, seconded by Mr. Tytla to hire a secretary.  Motion 
was approved 8-0.   
      A motion was made by Ms. Benvenuti to amend the bylaws to formally describe the role of 
book keeper, motion was not seconded. 
 
  
6) New Business- 
a)   Mr. Harris stated that he is stepping down as Chair and from the Commission after the 
March 19, 2020 Regular meeting and a successor will need to be voted in as chair.  
Discussion ensued but no action taken.   
A motion was made by Mr. Kelly, seconded by Mr. Spakowski to issue a vote of confidence for 
Mr. Harris and to request Mr. Harris consider staying on the Commission.  Motion passed 7-0, 
Mr. Harris abstained.  Mr. Harris thanked the commission for this vote of confidence. 
 
7) Ex-Officio comments-  
Updated the commission on town matters including the progress being made on the Public 
Safety building renovations. 
 

8) Correspondence -  
a) Mr. Harris forwarded an e-mail to all commission members of a report from the USDA on a 
subaqueous soil survey of the Niantic River and Niantic Bay.  Hardcopies may be printed 
by the Waterford Town Hall if needed.  
 
b) Ms. Benvenuti presented a written statement for the record (attached to these minutes). 
 
c) Mr. Kanter briefed the commission on a recent TV interview he gave related to scallops to 
the local NBC news channel.  The segment had not aired at the time of the meeting. 
 
9) Public Input–   
  
a) Doug Lawson, Waterford Shellfish expressed concern for the tension between the 
community and WELSCO. 
b) Fred Wise, 138 Niantic River Rd, Waterford raised a question about the role of WELSCO 
in the Public-Private oyster project.  He also was concerned with a perceived lack of 
publicity regarding the oyster project. 
c) Lou Bull, 8 Hathaway Rd, East Lyme expressed concern with how WELSCO is being 
treated by some members of the public. 
d) Robin Lineberger, 20 Niantic River Rd, Waterford gave reason for the creation of the 
Niantic River Advocacy Coalition. 
 
10)  The meeting was adjourned at 8:58 pm on a motion by Mr. Spakowski, seconded by Mr. 
Tytla. 
   
Respectfully submitted,  
  
 
Peter Harris