Shellfish Commission - Minutes - 11/14/2023

Town of Waterford Shellfish Commission
Meeting Minutes of Tuesday, November 14, 2023
Town Hall – 7:00 p.m.
1. Call to Order
Chairman Lawson called the regular meeting of the Waterford
Shellfish Commission to order after establishing a quorum.
2. Pledge of Allegiance
Everyone in attendance stood for the Pledge of Allegiance.
3. Roll Call
Present were Commissioners Lawson, Healy, Porter, Calkins and
Jamroga. Absent were Commissioners Francolino and Drennen.
4. Approval of the September 5, 2023 regular meeting minutes.
Motion made by Commissioner Healy, seconded by Commissioner
Porter to approve the September 5, 2023 regular meeting minutes
as submitted. Voice vote, 5-0, all in favor, motion carried.
5. Correspondence
Chairman Lawson stated he forwards all correspondence he receives
in between meetings that pertain to the Waterford Shellfish
Commission to keep everyone as up to date as possible between

meetings.
6. Treasurer’s Report
Chairman Lawson reviewed the Treasurer’s Report with the
Commission in the absence of Commissioner Francolino.
Motion made by Commissioner Calkins, seconded by Commissioner
Porter to approve the Treasurer’s Report as reviewed, voice vote,
5-0, all in favor.
7. Monthly Monitoring and Sampling Report
Chairman Lawson stated that the recreational shell fishing areas are
currently open but will close on December 31st and will not re-open
until April 1, 2024.
8. New Business
a. Review and vote on the Waterford Shellfish Commission 2024
regular meeting schedule
Motion made by Commissioner Jamroga, seconded by
Commissioner Healy to approve the following 2024 dates for the
regularly scheduled Waterford Shellfish Commission meetings;
January 2, February 6, March 5, April 2, May 7, June 4, July 2,
August 6, September 3, October 1, November 12 and December 3.
Voice vote,5-0, all in favor, motion carried. A copy of the schedule
will be forwarded to the Town Clerk’s office.
b. Discussion regarding the 2023 Waterford Shellfish Commission
Annual Report

The Commission members reviewed the Annual Report as drafted
and it was the consensus of Commission to approve the draft as
discussed and forward it to the appropriate agencies.
c. Discussion regarding the upcoming FY/2025 Social Services
Funding Request
The Commission members discussed the monetary needs of the
Commission in the upcoming fiscal year and the Commission
members agreed to request money for clerical support only and to
offset the monetary request with the money already generated from
permit sales and a bottom lease.
d. Election of Officers for the Waterford Shellfish Commission
Chairman Lawson stated that he has been supporting the Waterford
Shellfish Commission for over eighteen years and he has made the
decision to step down from his role as Chairman and to resign from
the Commission. The Commission members thanked him for his
commitment to the Commission for so many years and all agreed he
would be missed. The Commission agreed to add this item to the
agenda for December for the members that are not in attendance to
participate in the election of officers. The Commission will vote on
a Chairman, Vice Chairman and Treasurer at the December
meeting.
9. Old Business
a. Discussion/Update to the Shellfish Resource Management Plan
Chairman Lawson stated the Plan is still in the hands of the State
and that the Commission is currently waiting for input before the
Plan can be sent to the Town Attorney for final review and
implementation.

b. Discussion regarding 2023 restock
The Commission was unable to secure any restock during the 2023
season due to a statewide shortage of product. Because of this the
permit sales were down significantly. It is the hope of the
Commission to have better luck in the upcoming year.
c. Goals for the 2024 Recreational shell fishing season
It is the goal of the Commission to secure as much product as they
can for the upcoming season to increase permit sales. The
commission discussed alternate sources to secure product and are
hopeful for better luck in the upcoming year.
10. Public Input specifically regarding the Waterford Shellfish
Commission
There was no one in attendance to speak with the Commission.
11. Adjournment
There being nothing further to discuss the meeting was adjourned
at 8:00 p.m.
Respectfully Submitted by:
Audrey Ulmer
Recording Secretary for the Town of Waterford Shellfish
Commission