Shellfish Commission - Minutes - 12/05/2023

Town of Waterford Shellfish Commission
Regular Meeting Minutes for Tuesday, December 5, 2023
Town Hall – 7:00 p.m.
1. Call to Order
Interim 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.
3. Roll Call
Present were Commissioners Francolino, Calkins and Jamroga.
Absent were Commissioners Drennen, Porter and Healy.
4. Approval of the November 14, 2023, Regular Meeting Minutes
Motion made by Commissioner Calkins, seconded by Commissioner
Jamroga to approve the regular meeting minutes of November 14,
2023. Voice vote, 3-0, all in favor, motion carried.
5. Correspondence
Interim Chairman Francolino stated that all correspondence
pertaining to the Waterford Shellfish Commission is forwarded
throughout the month to keep everyone up to date in between
meetings.

6. Treasurer’s Report
The latest Financial Report from the Finance Department was not
available in time for the meeting.
7. Monthly Monitoring and Sampling Report
Interim Chairman Francolino stated that the recreational shell
fishing areas are currently open with a closing date of December 31,
2023. After this date the areas will be administratively closed for
recreational shell fishing until satisfactory samples are returned on
or near April 1, 2024 when the areas will re-open for the 2024
recreational shell fishing season.
8. New Business
The Commission does not have any new business to discuss this
month.
9. Old Business
a. Election of Officers
1. Election of Chairman for the Waterford Shellfish Commission
Commissioner Calkins nominated Commissioner Francolino as the
Chairman of the Commission. Commissioner Francolino accepted
the nomination. Voice vote, 3-0, all in favor.
2. Election of Vice Chairman for the Waterford Shellfish
Commission

Chairman Francolino nominated Commissioner Jamroga for Vice
Chairman of the Waterford Shellfish Commission. Commissioner
Jamroga accepted the nomination. Voice vote, 3-0, all in favor.
3. Election of Treasurer of the Waterford Shellfish Commission
Commissioner Jamroga nominted Commissioner Porter to be the
Treasurer of the Waterford Shellfish Commission.
Commissioner Porter was unable to attend the meeting but has been
in contact with the Commission to express his interest in becoming
the Treasurer for the Waterford Shellfish Commission.
Voice vote, 3-0, all in favor.
b. Discussion Regarding the FY/2025 Social Services Funding
Request
Chairman Francolino stated the Commission needs to fund the State
mandated water and sampling in the recreational shell fishing areas
and to fund secretarial support for the Commission. The
Commission will not be requesting monetary support for restocking
the recreational shell fishing areas this budget year due to a
shortage of supply. After a discussion regarding the 2025 budget
request, it was determined that the Waterford Shellfish Commission
estimation for its total operating costs would be thirty five hundred
dollars for mandated water testing and patrolling and for secretarial
support. The Waterford Shellfish Commission collects money from a
bottom lease and for recreational shell fishing permits sold that
offset the total operating costs. The Commission collected two
thousand two hundred and ten dollars from the bottom lease and
permit sales during the 2023 season, leaving a deficit of one
thousand two hundred and ninety dollars that the Commission will
request for FY/2025.

c. Update Regarding the Shellfish Resource Management Plan
This month the Commission received an email from David Carey,
Director of the Connecticut Department of Agriculture Bureau of
Aquaculture with his comments regarding the Plan. He stated in the
email comments that his department does not have an issue with
any of the wording in the Plan but recommended edits to the
recreational map. Commissioner Drennen has been working on the
edits for the Plan but is not in attendance at this meeting for
discussion. A copy of the edited map has been forwarded to all of
the Commission members and this item will be added to the
January agenda for discussion.
10. Public Input Specifically Regarding the Waterford Shellfish
Commission
No one was present to address the Commission at this meeting.
11. Adjournment
There being nothing further to discuss the Commission adjourned
the meeting at 8:00 p.m.
Respectfully Submitted by:
Audrey Ulmer
Recording Secretary for the Waterford Shellfish Commission