Shellfish Commission - Minutes - 12/07/2021

Town of Waterford Shellfish Commission
Meeting Minutes
Tuesday, December 7, 2021 – 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 7:00 p.m. after establishing a
quorum.
2. Pledge of Allegiance
Everyone in attendance stood for the Pledge of Allegiance.
3. Roll Call
Present were Commissioners Lawson, Francolino, Drennen and
Malley. Absent were Commissioners Calkins and LeBelle.
4. Approval of the November 9, 2021 Regular Meeting Minutes
Motion made by Commissioner Francolino, seconded by
Commissioner Malley to approve the November 9, 2021 regular
meeting minutes as submitted and reviewed. Discussion; none,
voice vote, 4-0, all in favor, motion carried.
5. Correspondence

Chairman Lawson reviewed correspondence sent to the Commission
over the past month and stated he will continue to forward material
to the Commission members as he receives it throughout the month
in between meetings.
6. Treasurer’s Report
Commissioner Francolino reviewed the financial statement
generated from the Town of Waterford Finance Office at Town Hall
dated December 7, 2021 pertaining to the Waterford Shellfish
Commission. He reviewed the expenditures paid throughout the
previous month. He explained the statement reflects the payment
made for the oyster re-stock and the yearly lease payments.
Motion made by Commissioner Malley, seconded by Commissioner
Drennen to approve the Treasurer’s Report as reviewed. Discussion,
none, voice vote, 4-0, all in favor, motion carried.
7. Monthly Monitoring and Sampling Report
Chairman Lawson indicated that the recreational shell fishing areas
are currently open but they will be administratively closed for the
months of January, February and March with a tentative date of re-
opening on April 1, 2022 pending satisfactory water and meat
sampling.
8. New Business
a. Registration for Commission members who wish to attend the
Gathering of the Shellfish Commissions on Saturday, January 22,
2022 from 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. at the Connecticut Agricultural
Experiment Station Auditorium, 123 Huntington Street, New Haven,
CT
Chairman Lawson invited any Commission members who wish to

attend the meeting with him to let him know as soon as possible so
that he can register them to attend. He stated he will be going to
the Gathering and will report back to the Commission any useful
information from the meeting if they do not attend in person.
9. Old Business
a. Update regarding progress to the Waterford Shellfish Plan
Chairman Lawson stated that he has been in contact with Town
Hall to determine if there has been any progress made to the
Shellfish Plan and he was told that to date there has been no
update.
b. Continue discussion regarding implementing a separate oyster
only permits for the upcoming recreational shell fishing seasons and
discuss updating existing permit fees
A lengthy discussion was held regarding implementing an oysters
only permit for the recreational shell fishing areas in the upcoming
season and it was the consensus of the Commission members that it
would be difficult to enforce and that the Commission will continue
to include the harvest of all hard shell clams with the purchase of
one permit.
A discussion was held regarding updating the existing permit fee
structure. It has been at least five years since the Commission has
increased the price of permits. After a lengthy discussion regarding
pricing it was determined that a five dollar increase across the
board would be reasonable and would help to offset the price of the
oyster and little neck clam re-stock with the exception of the daily
permits that will increase from eight dollars to ten dollars for
residents and from twelve dollars to fifteen dollars for non
residents. The Commission agreed to eliminate the weekly permits
as they do not sell as well as the other permits. In addition the
Commission discussed potentially raising the age of the senior
permits from age 62 to age 65. Commissioner Francolino was not in

favor of raising the senior permit age from age 62 to
age 65. A discussion was held regarding the Waterford-East Lyme
Shellfish Commission price hike for their permits and it was
determined that the Waterford Shellfish Commission would not
want to price the permits as high as WELSCO. It was also
determined that the Waterford Shellfish Commission would not
implement a ban on harvesting oysters at any time during the
recreational shell fishing season but that they would revisit this
possibility if oysters are sustainable in the Jordan Cove recreational
shell fishing area in the future.
Motion made by Commissioner Drennen seconded by Commissioner
Malley to authorize Chairman Lawson to increase the price of all
seasonal permits five dollars across the board, to raise the age for
senior permits to age 65 from age 62 and to eliminate the weekly
permits leaving only senior, seasonal and daily permits for purchase
starting on April 1, 2022. Daily permits will increase two dollars for
residents and three dollars for non residents. Discussion;
Commissioner Francolino stated he is in favor of the price increases
but not of the senior age increase so he will vote in opposition,
voice vote, 3-1, voting in favor were Commissioners Lawson,
Drennen and Malley, voting in opposition was Commissioner
Francolino. Motion carried and Chairman Lawson will work on
getting new permits printed and distributed for the upcoming 2022
recreational shell fishing season reflecting these changes.
The Commission members discussed re-stock availability and how
to secure product for next season.
c. Update regarding the Fiscal Year 2023 budget request.
Chairman Lawson indicated he has not been contacted as of yet to
attend a budget hearing. He will keep the Commission members
updated if he hears anything further.
10. Public Input regarding Waterford Shellfish Commission Business

Only
There was no one present to address the Commission.
11. Adjournment
Motion made by Commissioner Francolino, seconded by
Commissioner Malley to adjourn the meeting at 8:03 p.m.
Discussion, none, voice vote, 4-0, all in favor, motion carried.
Respectfully Submitted by:
Audrey Ulmer, Recording Secretary for the Town of Waterford
Shellfish Commission