Waterford/East Lyme Shellfish Commission - Minutes - 10/21/2021

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     Waterford-East Lyme Shellfish Commission

                                                  Meeting Minutes
                                       Thursday, Oct 21, 2021

                                       Waterford Town Hall, 7:30 pm


      Members present:  Chair Peter Harris, J. Patrick Kelly, Eric Kanter,
      Marcia Benvenuti, Larry Tytla, Paul Spakowski, Tom Bowlen, and Fred
      Wise
      Members absent: none
      Guests: none


   1) The meeting was called to order at 7:30 pm and a quorum established.

   2)  Review and approval of previous meeting minutes:
           Sep  16,  2021  Regular  Meeting  Minutes  –  Minutes   approved
           following a motion by Mr. Kelly, seconded by Mr. Spakowski, vote
           8-0.




   3) Review and approval of treasurer’s report
            Treasurer’s  report  given  by  Mr.  Kelly   reviewed   by   the
            commission.  Treasurer’s report was approved on a motion by  Mr.
            Spakowski, seconded by Mr. Tytla, vote 8-0.


         4) Chief Warden’s Comments : Mr. Harris relayed the  Warden  report
            to the commission which was sent to him by Chief Warden  Chmiel.



   5) Old business:


        a. Update on insurance policies and workers comp (WC) coverage –
           Mr. Wise will work with Mr. Kelly and Mr. Harris to provide
           warden information to the Waterford Town attny for possible
           solutions for WELSCO insurance.  This action was approved on a
           motion by Ms. Benvenuti, seconded by Mr. Spakowski, motion
           approved 7-1 (Mr. Kanter opposed).


        b. Mr. Kelly reported the financial review is almost complete.



        c. Mr. Wise reported that 20,000 oysters were placed in the Niantic
           River on Saturday October 16.  The commission thanks Mr. Bowlen,
           Mr. Tytla, Mr. Wise, Chief Warden Chmiel, and Warden Keltonic
           for their assistance with the distribution.

        d. Discussion on the repair plan of the Waterford town dock
           continued.  Mr. Harris updated the commission on the dock repair
           status, Mr. Harris met with a few marine contractors and is
           awaiting quotes on the dock repair/replacement.


        e. Mr. Wise and Ms. Benvenuti updated the commission on the new
           permit fees and regulations.  A motion was made by Mr.
           Spakowski, seconded by Mr. Tytla to 1. Raise the senior citizen
           age to 65, 2. Set the daily oyster limit at 30 oysters, 3. Raise
           the annual resident fee to $50 and the annual non-resident fee
           to $75.  Motion was approved 7-1 (Mr. Kanter opposed).

           .





   6) New Business
        a. Dock application for 27 Oswegatchie Rd, Waterford CT was
           presented by Docko, Inc.  The dock application was found to not
           adversely impact shellfish, approved on a motion by Mr. Kanter,
           seconded by Mr. Wise, approved 6-1 (Mr. Spakowski opposed, Mr.
           Tytla abstained).


        b. Mr. Harris briefed the commission on a future project by UCONN
           to study the potential benefits of iron on juvenile eelgrass in
           the Niantic River.




   7) Ex-Officio comments : Ex-Officio Cunningham not present.

   8) Correspondence : no other correspondence was presented that was not
      previously discussed during the meeting.



   9) Public Comment :
           Bob DeRosa, Niantic River Rd, Waterford CT – described a
           proliferation of aquatic vegetation in the Keeney Cove area of
           the Niantic River.  He provided photos and a preliminary
           identification of Agardhiella subulate.  Mr. Harris will contact
           UCONN, SeaGrant, DA/BA to see if it is of concern.



  10)  Adjournment : Meeting adjourned at 9:15 pm on a motion by Mr.
      Spakowski, seconded by Mr. Tytla, motion approved 8-0.


Respectfully submitted,


Peter Harris