Waterford/East Lyme Shellfish Commission - Minutes - 05/20/2021

Waterford-East Lyme Shellfish Commission
Meeting Minutes
Thursday, May 20, 2021
Virtual meeting held via Zoom, 7:30 pm
Members present: Chair Peter Harris, J. Patrick Kelly, Marcia Benvenuti, Larry Tytla, Fred
Wise, Paul Spakowski, Tom Bowlen, and Eric Kanter 3 .
Members absent: none oe
Guests: Ex-officio David Provencher, Austin Clark
1) The meeting was called to order at 7:30 pm and a quorum established. =
2) Review and approval of previous meeting minutes:
15 Apr 2021 Regular Meeting Minutes — Minutes approved following a motion by Ms.
Benvenuti, seconded by Mr. Spakowski, vote 8-0.
3) Review and approval of treasurer’s report
Treasurer’s report given by Mr. Kelly. Treasurer's report was approved on a motion
by Mr. Spakowski, seconded by Mr. Tytla, vote 8-0.
4) Chief Warden’s Comments : Chief Warden Chmiel gave a report to the commission. The
shellfishing activity has slowed somewhat as it does typically this time of year. The
boat is running well, although scheduled maintenance is needed soon.
5) Old business:
a. Update on insurance policies and workers comp (WC) coverage — Mr. Wise is
continuing to work on the WC coverage. Mr. Harris will check back with the Waterford
town attorney on progress he may have made on WELSCO’s behalf.
b. Review of accounting firms that could perform our yearly audit. Mr. Kelly reported to
the commission on his continued efforts to have the audit completed.
i. A motion was made by Ms. Benvenuti, seconded by Mr. Wise to perform a
Review Engagement audit, motion passed 8-0
ii. A motion was made by Mr. Kanter, seconded by Mr. Tytla, to have Mr. Kelly
proceed with the Review Engagement 2 year audit by the CPA firm Seward and
Monde for $5500. Motion passed 7-0 (Mr. Wise abstained).
c. Discussion and potential action on purchase of clam and/or oyster stock. Mr. Wise
reported to the commission his progress in securing clam and oyster stock for
recreational stocking. Clams will be stocked in the near future dependent on water
temperature. Oyster stock delivery will likely occur in the fall.
d. E-mail to Waterford 18t Selectman regarding WELSCO dock condition. Mr. Harris
updated the commission on the potential that during the dock assessment and repair,
the dock may not be usable by the Commission and the boat will need to be relocated
temporarily.
e. Dock Application, Coastline Consulting, Baskin, 44 Niantic River Rd, Waterford. Mr.
Provencher from Coastline Consulting described the revisions for this dock application
and a motion was made by Mr. Kanter, seconded by Mr. Tytla that this dock application

with the modifications would not adversely impact shellfish. The motion passed on a
vote of 6-1 (Mr. Spakowski opposed the motion). Note- This agenda item was
discussed immediately after the meeting was called to order. Due to an error by Mr.
Harris, Mr. Bowlen was not admitted to the Zoom meeting in time to hear the
discussion and Mr. Bowlen didn’t vote on this motion.
6) New Business
A motion was made by Ms. Benvenuti, seconded by Mr. Spakowski to recognize and
hear Mr. Austin Clark as a new business agenda item. Motion passed 8-0. Mr. Clarke
from the Stonington Shelifish Commission, described a multi-species shellfish gauge
they are developing. Different scallop size regulations exist which complicates use of
this product. Mr. Clarke thanked WELSCO for our input.
7) Ex-Officio comments : Ex-Officio Cunningham was not in attendance.
8) Correspondence
Mr. Harris shared e-mails with the Commission from the Waterford and East Lyme first
selecimen allowing for in-person meetings to start after May 20, 2021 when the FO!
exemptions in place due to the Covid-19 pandemic expire. The next meeting will be
held at the Waterford Town Hall on Thursday June 17, 2021.
9) Public Comment : none
10} Adjournment : Meeting adjourned at 9:18 pm on a motion by Mr. Spakowski, seconded by Mr.
Bowlen, motion approved 8-0.
Respectfully submitted,
Peter Harris