Waterford/East Lyme Shellfish Commission - Minutes - 08/21/2025

[pic]
        [pic]
     Waterford-East Lyme Shellfish Commission

                                                  Meeting Minutes
                                       Thursday, Aug 21, 2025

                                     Waterford Town Hall, 7:00 pm


      Members present:  Peter Harris, Paul Spakowski, Larry Tytla, Rick
      Kanter, Tom Bowlen, Patrick Kelly, Marcia Benvenuti, and Fred Wise
      Members absent: none
      Guests: Chief Warden Chmiel, Ex-Officio Don MacKenzie

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

   2) Secretary’s minutes from Jul 17, 2025 regular meeting  approved  on  a
      motion by Mr. Spakowski, seconded by Mr. Tytla, motion vote  6-0,  Mr.
      Wise and Ms. Benvenuti abstained



   3) Treasurer’s  report  for  July  were  approved  on  a  motion  by  Mr.
      Spakowski, seconded by Mr. Tytla, motion approved 8-0.



   4) Chief Warden’s comments  –  Mr.  Chmiel  gave  the  wardens  comments.
      Niantic River is currently closed to a rainfall event.   Boat  repairs
      were recently completed.



   5) Old business –
        a. Discussion on excluding  Niantic  River  recreational  shellfish
           demarcation coordinates ensued.  Coordinates  are  not  required
           but consensus  opinion  was  to  keep  the  coordinates  in  the
           regulations.  No action required.


   6) New business
        a. Motion made by Ms. Benvenuti, seconded by Mr. Spakowski  to  add
           agenda item, motion passed 8-0.  Motion made by  Ms.  Benvenuti,
           seconded by Mr. Spakowski  to  allocate  up  to  $100  to  print
           hardcopies of the DA/BA Sanitary survey recently  published  and
           provide to the Waterford and East Lyme public libraries,  motion
           passed 8-0.  Mr. Harris will also ask Waterford and East Lyme to
           add the electronic version to the  WELSCO  page  of  each  towns
           website.

        b. Discussion took place on purchase of new or used boat to replace
           current warden boat.  Mr. Kanter and Mr. Tytla  will  work  with
           Chief warden Chmiel on identifying potential  replacement  boats
           and report back to the commission.


   7) Ex-officio comments – Mr. Mackenzie gave report  –  a  new  East  Lyme
      Police Chief will be named soon.

   8) Correspondence  - No correspondence was received.



   9) Public comment –
        a. Rick Kanter, Niantic – discussed the numerous crosswalk  signage
           in Niantic which he thought was excessive.
        b. Lou Bull, East Lyme – gave his opinion on the  new  warden  boat
           supporting a design that allowed for easy shore landings.



  10)  Meeting was adjourned at 7:49 pm on  a  motion  from  Mr.  Spakowski,
      seconded by Ms. Benvenuti, motion approved 8-0.



Respectfully submitted,


Peter Harris