Waterford/East Lyme Shellfish Commission - Minutes - 02/15/2024

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     Waterford-East Lyme Shellfish Commission

                                                  Meeting Minutes
                                       Thursday, Feb 15, 2024

                                     Waterford Town Hall, 7:00 pm


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

   1) The meeting was called to order at 7:00 pm and a quorum established.

   2)  Review and approval of previous meeting minutes:
           Jan 18, 2024 Regular Meeting minutes approved on a motion by Mr.
           Kelly, seconded by Mr. Tytla, 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.
           Harris, seconded by Mr. Tytla, vote
            5-0.


         4) Chief Warden’s Comments : Chief Warden Chmiel gave a  report  on
            shellfishing in the Niantic River.  Clamming  is  open  and  the
            boat is out of the  water  due  to  recent  storms.   Floatation
            jackets were ordered and rec’d, motion to approve  reimbursement
            to Mr. Kelly for cost of jackets (-taxes) approved on  a  motion
            by Mr. Harris, seconded by Mr. Tytla, motion approved 5-0.   Mr.
            Kelly will work to remove taxes from purchase.

   5) Old business:


        a. Update on the scallop season : Mr. Kelly highlighted  number  of
           permits sold (97) but additional collections need to be made  to
           confirm number of permits sold.   Mr.  Harris  read  results  of
           scallop season survey, although only 7 surveys were submitted to
           date, survey responses supported the scallop season.
        b. Annual Gathering of Shellfish Commissions –  highlights  of  the
           meeting were given by the commission members that attended.
        c. Motion tie votes by commission – Mr. Harris relayed the  opinion
           of the Waterford and East Lyme town clerks that in order  for  a
           motion to pass, a majority vote must be met.

   6) New Business
        a. Dave Provencher presented plans for a dock at 8 Point Comfort in
           Waterford.  Motion by Mr. Kanter, seconded by  Mr.  Harris  that
           this dock will not adversely impact  shellfish.   Motion  passed
           with a vote of  3-2:  Mr.  Spakowski  and  Mr.  Kelly  voted  in
           opposition.
        b.  Discussion  and  potential  action  on  shellfish   regulations
           regarding out of state recreational shellfish  permitting.   Mr.
           Kanter will review  state  statutes  to  see  if  there  is  any
           language related to this.  No action taken.
           .


   7) Ex-Officio comments : Ex-officio Mackenzie was unable to attend due to
      a meeting conflict.

   8) Correspondence : No correspondence was rec’d.



   9) Public Comment : Mr. Bull, Hathaway Rd, East Lyme – gave a historical
      perspective on in state/out of state permitting as a prior member of
      WELSCO.


  10)  Adjournment : Meeting adjourned at 8:03 pm on a motion by Mr.
      Spakowski, seconded by Mr. Tytla, motion approved 5-0.


Respectfully submitted,


Peter Harris