Waterford/East Lyme Shellfish Commission - Minutes - 03/21/2024

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     Waterford-East Lyme Shellfish Commission

                                                  Meeting Minutes
                                       Thursday, March 21, 2024

                                     East Lyme Town Hall, 7:30 pm


      Members present:  Peter Harris, J. Patrick Kelly, Fred Wise, Paul
      Spakowski, Rick Kanter
      Members absent: Larry Tytla, Tom Bowlen, Marcia Benvenuti
      Guests: Chief Warden Chmiel, ex-Officio Don Mackenzie

   1) The meeting was called to order at 7:30 pm and a  quorum  established.
      Meeting time was adjusted to 7:30 pm at the request of East  Lyme  due
      to a meeting room conflict.  All other WELSCO meetings  in  2024  will
      start at 7:00 pm unless noted otherwise.

   2)  Review and approval of previous meeting minutes:
           Feb 15, 2024 Regular Meeting minutes approved on a motion by Mr.
           Kelly, seconded by Mr. Spakowski, vote 5-0.


   3) Review and approval of treasurer’s report
        a. Treasurer briefed the commission on the Treasurer’s report  sent
           by e-mail earlier.  Report was  approved  on  a  motion  by  Mr.
           Spakowski, seconded by Mr. Wise, vote
            5-0.
        b. Motion made by Mr. Kelly, seconded by Mr. Wise to send $2500  to
           Save the River-Save the Hills as part of our contribution to the
           funding of the pump-out boat.  Motion approved 5-0.


         4) Chief Warden’s Comments : Chief Warden Chmiel gave a  report  on
            shellfishing in the Niantic River.   Boat  maintenance  recently
            performed while bilge pump was being repaired.

   5) Old business:


        a.  Discussion  and  potential  action  on  shellfish   regulations
           regarding out of state recreational shellfish permitting.   Upon
           further review, current regulations regarding do  not  have  any
           exclusions  for  out  of  state  residents.   No  action  taken.
           Clarity over definition  of  local  residence  is  needed.   Mr.
           Harris  will  contact  the  Chair  of  the  East   Lyme   Harbor
           Management/Shellfish Commission  regarding  the  shellfish  area
           map.

   6) New Business
        a. No new business was presented.
           .


   7) Ex-Officio comments : Ex-officio Mackenzie described much of his
      current work involves the budget.  Mr. Spakowski expressed concern
      over the I-95 project in East Lyme and the potential environmental
      risk to the Niantic River.  Mr. Mackenzie will find the contact name
      of the individual managing environmental oversight for the project.

   8) Correspondence : Mr. Harris discussed with the commission the request
      by DA/BA for contact information for next generation Shellfish closure
      notification system.



   9) Public Comment : No public comment


  10)  Adjournment : Meeting adjourned at 8:25 pm on a motion by Mr.
      Spakowski, seconded by Mr. Harris, motion approved 5-0.


Respectfully submitted,


Peter Harris