Shellfish Commission - Minutes - 03/03/2020

Town of Waterford Shellfish Commission 
Regular Meeting Minutes 
Tuesday, March 3, 2020 
1 | P a g e  
 
 
Town of Waterford Shellfish Commission 
Regular Meeting Minutes 
Tuesday, March 3, 2020 – 7:00 p.m. 
Waterford Town Hall  
 
1. 
Call to Order 
 
Chairman Lawson called the regular meeting to order at 7:00 p.m. after establishing a quorum. 
 
2. 
Pledge of Allegiance 
 
3. 
Roll Call  
 
Present were Commissioners Lawson, Francolino, Drennen and LeBelle.  Absent were Commissioners 
Malley, Havens and Calkins.   
 
4. 
Approval of the February 4, 2020 Regular Meeting Minutes 
 
Motion made by Commissioner Francolino, seconded by Commissioner Drennen to approve the February 
4, 2020 regular meeting minutes as reviewed, Discussion; none, voice vote, 4-0, all in favor, motion 
carried. 
 
5. 
Correspondence 
 
Chairman Lawson reviewed various correspondences he received over the past month including agendas 
and minutes from Town Commissions and Agencies as well as the status of the administrative closure of 
the recreational shell fishing areas effective January 1, 2020 through April 1, 2020.  He explained he has 
been forwarding all emails he receives during the course of the month to all of the Commission members 
to keep them up to date regarding relevant topics relating to the Waterford Shellfish Commission between 
regular meetings.   
Chairman Lawson will contact the First Selectman’s office this week to get wording regarding 
recreational permits on the Town’s website to clearly indicate that the Town of Waterford recreational 
shell fishing permits are seasonal and are valid only from April 1st through December 31st of the year in 
which it was purchased.   
6. 
Treasurer’s Report 
 
Commissioner Francolino reviewed the Treasurer’s Report with the Commission through February 10, 
2020.   He reviewed the expenditures and revenues on the Financial Report generated by the Finance 

Town of Waterford Shellfish Commission 
Regular Meeting Minutes 
Tuesday, March 3, 2020 
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Office at the Town Hall.  Chairman Lawson indicated he has submitted bills over the past month for 
Wardens hours and secretarial support.   Motion made by Commissioner Drennen, seconded by 
Commissioner LeBelle to approve the Treasurer’s Report as discussed.  Discussion; none, voice vote; 4-0, 
all in favor and the motion carried. 
 
7. 
Monthly Monitoring and Sampling Report  
 
Chairman Lawson stated the recreational shell fishing areas are currently closed on an Administrative 
Closure.  He explained the areas are very difficult to access in the winter months prompting the closure of 
the recreational areas until April 1, 2020 pending the return of satisfactory water and meat samples and 
whether or not the Commission is able to secure stock for distribution.  If stock is secured the 
Commission will distribute them into the waters once the water temperature reaches fifty degrees and the 
areas will close for as little as thirty days and as many as thirty days and can re-open after satisfactory 
samples have been returned.   
 
8. 
New Business 
 
 
a. 
Discussion regarding revisions to the Waterford Shellfish Commission Management Plan 
 
Chairman Lawson explained to the Commission members that the Waterford Shellfish Commission 
should look into updating its Plan.  The last Plan was approved by the Commission on October 4, 2005 
and adopted on January 6, 2006.  He explained there have been changes since this time and feels the 
Commission would benefit from updating it.  He distributed copies of a shellfisheries management plan 
template he received from Tessa Getchis at UConn that should help with the guidelines and drafting the 
new Plan.  The template was developed by Connecticut Sea Grant and the Connecticut Department of 
Agriculture/Bureau of Aquaculture in response to requests from shellfish commissions seeking to develop 
or update their municipal shellfish management plans.  The document is a working draft and while the 
materials presented in the guide may be used as the basis for a shellfish management plan it is by no 
means meant to be a comprehensive guild to shellfisheries management.   
 
It was the consensus of the Commission members to form an informal sub-committee to review and make 
changes to the current plan and to present them to the Commission at a regular meeting once the sub-
committee has finalized the proposed language.  Chairman Lawson stated once the Commission votes to 
submit the revised Plan it will then go before the Board of Selectman and the Town Attorney prior to its 
adoption by the Town of Waterford.   
 
 
b. 
Discussion/authorization for payment to the New London Day for the purchase of a 
public announcement advertisement regarding responsible lawn care and fertilizer practices.   
 

Town of Waterford Shellfish Commission 
Regular Meeting Minutes 
Tuesday, March 3, 2020 
3 | P a g e  
 
 
Chairman Lawson stated the monetary payment is split amongst the local shell fishing entities and is a 
valuable public service announcement that encourages homeowners to use responsible fertilizing 
measures to reduce harmful contaminants in the water ways.   
 
Motion made by Commissioner Francolino, seconded by Commissioner LeBelle to authorize Chairman 
Lawson to authorize the payment necessary to cover the Waterford Shellfish Commission’s portion of the 
New London Day advertising costs.  Discussion; none, voice vote, 4-0, all in favor and the motion 
carried.   
 
9. 
Old Business 
 
a. 
Update regarding restock in the recreational shell fishing areas for the 2020 season. 
 
Chairman Lawson the depuration of clams from the Thames River and the process for relocating and 
depurating the clams from the designated relay area in the Thames River into the Jordan Cove 
recreational shell fishing areas.  Discussions were held regarding options for relaying the clams and the 
testing requirements once they have been distributed into the waters.  A discussion was held regarding 
organizing boats for distribution once the water temperatures reach fifty degrees.  Chairman Lawson 
stated he will keep the Commission updated as he gets additional information.  
 
 
b. 
Update regarding the Waterford Shellfish Commission budget request 
 
Chairman Lawson stated the next meeting regarding the budget request is scheduled for May. 
 
10. 
Public Input regarding Waterford Shellfish Commission Business 
 
There was no one present from the public to address the Commission at this meeting. 
  
11. 
Adjournment 
 
There being nothing further to discuss there was a motion made by Commissioner Francolino, seconded 
by Commissioner LeBelle to adjourn the regular meeting at 8:05 p.m.  Discussion, none, voice vote 4-0, 
all in favor, motion carried.   
 
Please note that the next regularly scheduled Waterford Shellfish Commission meeting is Tuesday, April 
7, 2020 at 7 p.m. at the Waterford Town Hall. 
 
Respectfully submitted by: 
 
Audrey Ulmer,  
Recording Secretary for the Town of Waterford Shellfish Commission