Waterford/East Lyme Shellfish Commission - Minutes - 01/18/2024

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     Waterford-East Lyme Shellfish Commission

                                                  Meeting Minutes
                                       Thursday, Jan 18, 2024

                                     East Lyme Town Hall, 7:00 pm


      Members present:  Peter Harris, J. Patrick Kelly, Larry Tytla, Rick
      Kanter, Tom Bowlen, Paul Spakowski, and Marcia Benvenuti (Mr. Kanter
      and Mr. Bowlen arrived ~7:20 pm)
      Members absent: Fred Wise
      Guests: Chief Warden Chmiel, Ex-Officio Don Mackenzie

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

   2)  Review and approval of previous meeting minutes:
           Dec 21, 2023 Regular Meeting minutes approved on a motion by Mr.
           Kelly, seconded by Mr. Spakowski, vote 7-0.


   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. Tytla, vote
            7-0.
        b. A discussion regarding WELSCO insurance ensued.  Mr.  Wise  will
           follow up with  Mr.  Kelly  on  an  insurance  matter  they  are
           managing.


         4) Chief Warden’s Comments : Chief Warden Chmiel gave a  report  on
            shellfishing in the  Niantic  River.   Clamming  has  been  busy
            although recent rainfall have closed the shellfish beds.

   5) Old business:


        a. Update on the scallop season : Mr.  Harris  read  an  e-mail  in
           support of the recent scallop season.

   6) New Business
        a. Dave Provencher presented plans for a dock at 212 Niantic  River
           Rd in Waterford.  Motion  by  Mr.  Spakowski,  seconded  by  Mr.
           Harris that this dock will adversely impact  shellfish.   Motion
           did not pass with a tie vote 2-2: Mr. Spakowski and Mr. Kelly in
           support,  Mr.  Harris  and  Ms.  Benvenuti  opposed,  Mr.  Tytla
           abstained.  Mr. Bowlen and Mr. Kanter had not arrived  for  this
           vote (this agenda item was discussed  first  after  the  meeting
           opened).  Mr. Harris will seek clarification from the  WTFD  and
           EL town clerks regarding a tie vote and forward the  information
           to commission members and Mr. Provencher.
        b. Annual Gathering of Shellfish Commissions : Deadline to register
           is approaching, interested members should let Mr. Kelly know.
        c. Nomination and election of Treasurer : Mr. Kelly  was  nominated
           for  treasurer  by  Mr.  Spakowski,  seconded  by   Mr.   Tytla,
           nomination  approved  5-0  with  Mr.  Kelly  and  Ms.  Benvenuti
           abstaining.
        d. Nomination and election of Vice-Chair : Mr. Tytla was  nominated
           for  Vice-Chair  by  Mr.  Kelly,  seconded  by  Mr.   Spakowski,
           nomination approved 6-0 with Mr. Tytla abstaining.
        e. Nomination and election of Chair : Mr. Harris was nominated  for
           Chair by  Mr.  Spakowski,  seconded  by  Mr.  Tytla,  nomination
           approved 6-0 with Mr. Harris abstaining.


   7) Ex-Officio comments : Ex-officio Mackenzie did not have any important
      town matters to discuss with the commission.

   8) Correspondence : The following correspondence was discussed



        a. Mr. Kelly handed out a flyer describing the invasive aquatic
           plant Hydrilla.
        b. Mr. Harris read an e-mail from a scalloper thanking WELSCO for
           holding a scallop season.
        c. Mr. Harris informed the commission the Waterford Social Service
           Grant meeting was Jan 18, 2024 but our attendance was not
           necessary.
        d. Mr. Harris rec’d and e-mail from Tessa Getchis of SeaGrant for
           current commission members names and e-mail, Mr. Harris will
           send her the info.



   9) Public Comment : No public comment


  10)  Adjournment : Meeting adjourned at 7:58 pm on a motion by Mr.
      Spakowski, seconded by Mr. Tytla, motion approved 7-0.


Respectfully submitted,


Peter Harris