Shellfish Commission - Minutes - 06/07/2022

Town of Waterford Shellfish Commission
Meeting Minutes of June 7, 2022
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Town of Waterford Shellfish Commission
Regular Meeting Minutes
Tuesday, June 7, 2022
7:00 p.m.
Waterford Town Hall
1.
Call to Order
Chairman Lawson called the regular meeting of the Waterford Shellfish Commission to 
order at 7:04 p.m. after establishing a quorum.
2.
Pledge of Allegiance
3.
Roll Call
Present were Commissioners Lawson, Francolino, Drennen, Calkins, Healy and Jamroga. 
There are currently two vacant positions on the Commission.
4.
Approval of the May 3, 2022 regular meeting minutes
Motion made by Commissioner Francolino, seconded by Commissioner Jamroga to 
approve the May 3, 2022 regular meeting minutes as they were submitted.  Discussion, 
none, voice vote, 6-0, all in favor, motion carried.
5.
Correspondence
Chairman Lawson stated he has been forwarding all correspondence he receives that 
are relevant to the Waterford Shellfish Commission to the Commissioner members as he
receives them throughout the month in order to keep everyone up to date in between 
meetings.
6.
Treasurer’s Report
Commissioner Francolino reviewed the Treasurer’s Report he received from the Town of
Waterford Finance Department with data through June 7, 2022.  
Motion made by Commissioner Drennen, seconded by Commissioner Calkins to accept 
the Treasurer’s Report as reviewed.  Discussion, none, voice vote, 6-0, all in favor, 
motion carried.
7.
Monthly Monitoring and Sampling Report

Town of Waterford Shellfish Commission
Meeting Minutes of June 7, 2022
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Chairman Lawson stated that the recreational shell fishing areas are currently open and 
the Wardens have been out patrolling the areas and checking for permits.  He stated the
sale of recreational shell fishing permits is significantly lower than he had hoped they 
would be this year.  It was the consensus of the Commission members that the decline 
in permit sales is due to the lack of product available for restock.  In past years when 
product was readily available the Commission was able to restock several times a year 
but with the shortage of certified little neck clams over the past two years it has been 
difficult to restock the recreational shell fishing areas.  Chairman Lawson stated most of 
the clams out in the areas are native clams and there are not many of them.
8.
New Business
There was nothing to discuss under New Business this month.
9.
Old Business
a.
Discussion regarding the Waterford Shellfish Commission FY 2022/2023 budget 
request
Chairman Lawson indicated he has not heard from any of the Town agencies in charge 
of reviewing and approving the budget for the Waterford Shellfish Commission so he is 
expecting that it will be approved as requested.
b.
Discussion regarding certified little neck clam and/or oyster restock
Chairman Lawson discussed the options the Commission has to restock this year and it 
was the consensus of the Commission to move forward with securing product from the 
Thames River and to close the recreational shell fishing areas for a month in order to 
depurate the clams from the polluted areas in the Jordan Cove and Bay Point areas but 
to do so after Labor Day when there are less people out harvesting clams.  He stated he 
does not want anyone to illegally harvest clams while the areas are closed and get sick 
and he feels after Labor Day would there is a lesser chance as the weather gets colder 
and less people are on the water.  The areas will be clearly marked as closed and the 
website will indicate the closure as well but he feels there will still be those that will 
illegally enter the areas to harvest clams anyway so by closing the areas during a less 
populated time of the year there will be a lesser chance of anyone getting sick.  Moving 
clams from the Thames River to depurate in the recreational shell fishing areas is the 
only chance the Commission will have this season for restock of little neck clams. He 
discussed oyster restock and would like to order ten thousand oysters at forty cents 
each to distribute into the recreational shell fishing areas.  He discussed establishing a 
natural set of oysters in the Bay Point area on the eight five acres of bottom land. The 
Commission distributed eighty four hundred oysters into the recreational shell fishing 
areas last season.   A discussion was held regarding the best areas to distribute the 

Town of Waterford Shellfish Commission
Meeting Minutes of June 7, 2022
P a g e  | 3
oysters to ensure their survival.  Chairman Lawson stated he would like to order 2-3 inch
oysters and explained that the three inch oysters are of legal size to harvest allowing the
smaller ones to grow for harvest in the future.
Motion made by Commissioner Francolino, seconded by Commissioner Drennen to 
authorize Chairman Lawson to request a purchase order from the Finance Department 
for the purchase of ten thousand oysters for distribution into the recreational shell 
fishing areas overseen by the Waterford Shellfish Commission at a cost of forty cents 
each.  Discussion, none, voice vote, 6-0, all in favor, motion carried.   
Chairman Lawson will keep the Commission members updated regarding the purchase 
of the oysters for restock.
c.
Discussion regarding progress made to the Waterford Shellfish Plan if any.
Chairman Lawson stated he has not received an update regarding the Plan but will try 
again to contact the Town Attorney for an update.
10.
Public Input specifically regarding business pertaining to the Waterford Shellfish 
Commission.
There was no one present to address the Commission at this meeting.
11.
Adjournment
Motion made by Commissioner Francolino, seconded by Commissioner Healy to adjourn
the meeting at 7:20 p.m.  Discussion, none, voice vote, 6-0, all in favor and the motion 
carried.
The next regularly scheduled meeting of the Waterford Shellfish Commission is July 5, 
2022 at 7:00 p.m. at the Waterford Town Hall.
Respectfully Submitted by:
Audrey Ulmer, Recording Secretary for the Town of Waterford Shellfish Commission