Shellfish Commission - Minutes - 05/05/2026

Town of Waterford Shellfish Commission
Meeting Minutes for Tuesday, May 5, 2026
Louise Applebee Meeting Room – Town Hall – 6:00 p.m.

1.	Establish a quorum and call the meeting to order

Chairman Porter called the meeting to order at 6:00 p.m. after establishing a quorum.  Present were Commissioners Porter, Calkins and Darling.  Absent were Commissioners Jamroga and Keatley.

2.	Pledge of Allegiance

3.	Approval of the April 7, 2026, meeting minutes

Motion made by Commissioner Calkins, seconded by Commissioner Darling to approve the April 7, 2026, meeting minutes as filed.  All in favor, motion carried.

4.	Correspondence

a.	Correspondence regarding the meeting time change

Chairman Porter stated that the Commission was able to secure the Louise Applebee meeting room for the first Tuesday of each month at 6:00 p.m. and paperwork regarding the time change has been filed with the Town Clerk and has been posted.

b.	CTSG Strategic Planning Survey from CT SeaGrant

The Commission has received and completed the survey from Tessa Getchis at Connecticut SeaGrant requesting feedback for their 2028 grant cycle.

5. 	Treasurer’s Report

a.	Review of the Monthly Treasurer’s Report generated from the Finance department to include expenditures and revenue generated.

Commissioner Darling reviewed the report with the Commission.  Motion made by Commissioner Calkins, seconded by Commissioner Porter to approve the Treasurer’s Report as reviewed and discussed.  All in favor, motion carried.

b.	Update regarding progress of the budget meetings.

Chairman Porter attended the final budget hearing on May 5th and reported that the Shellfish Commission budget has been approved as requested.

6.	Monthly monitoring and sampling report

The recreational shell fishing area was opened for the season on April 16th with the return of satisfactory water and meat samples.

7.	New Business

a.	Discussion regarding potential lease of bottom land for commercial oyster farming (Josh Bakoulis)

Mr. Bakoulis did not attend the meeting to discuss his proposal for potential commercial oyster farming in Bay Point with the Commission.

b.	LWRD License application pre-submission consultation form from the Naval Submarine Base, New London for Pier 8/Thames River Federal Navigation Channel/existing CAD Cells on Federal property in the Thames River for Pier 8 replacement.

The Commission has reviewed the proposal and has forwarded the proposal to Jim Marco of Mystic Oysters who currently has leased bottom land in the Thames River, and both the Commission and Mr. Marco have made the determination that this proposal as presented will have no impact on the commercial lease of bottom land and is following the current Shellfish Management Plan.  The Commission members authorized Chairman Porter to sign off on the project proposal on behalf of the Waterford Shellfish Commission indicating it will not negatively impact shellfish activity in that area.

8.	Old Business

a.	Discussion regarding progress with the bottom land lease agreement from the Town Attorney.

Chairman Porter has been in contact with the Town Attorney who has indicated the lease agreement will be available on or around June 1st.  Once the Commission has the updated lease agreement, they will contact Mr. Marco to come in to sign it.  The Commission has had a positive interaction with Mr. Marco over the years and would like to continue to lease the bottom land to him and his company going forward.

b.	Update regarding implementation of online recreational permit sales.

Chairman Porter is in the process of speaking with Town officials and the Park and Recreation Department to determine if the Shellfish Commission can gain access to online permit sales in the future.  The Parks and Recreation website sells beach passes online and the Commission is hopeful to do the same for recreational shell fishing permits.  It is the hope of the Commission to boost permit sales if they become available for purchase online 24/7.  Currently the sale of recreational shell fishing permits is only available at Riverside Grocery seasonally and at the Town Clerks office during regular business hours.

c.	Update regarding securing 2026 restock/availability of restock.

Chairman Porter will reach out to suppliers to determine if and how much restock will be available this season and report back to the Commission with his findings.  The Commission would like to restock as many times as possible this season if product is available.

d.	Update regarding the status of the Shellfish Management Plan.

Chairman Porter has been meeting with the Town Attorney, and it has been determined that the Plan needs work and significant updating.  He is going to meet with the Town of Stonington to review their Plan and start work on the Waterford Plan with the Town Attorney soon.

e.	Update regarding progress to securing advertising outlets for recreational shell fishing permits

Chairman Porter is hopeful to advertise recreational shell fishing permit sales in the local papers and online soon.  He will keep the Commission updated.  It is the consensus of the Commission members that most do not know that the permits are available for recreational shell fishing and that by advertising the permit sales will significantly increase.  

9.	Public comment regarding items relating to Waterford Shellfish business

There was no one from the public at this meeting to address the Commission.

10.	Adjournment

There being nothing additional to discuss the meeting adjourned at 6:30 p.m.

Respectfully submitted by

Audrey Ulmer, Recording Secretary for the Waterford Shellfish Commission