Waterford/East Lyme Shellfish Commission - Minutes - 08/20/2026

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

                           Regular Meeting Minutes
                           Thursday, Aug 20, 2026

                        Waterford Town Hall, 7:00 pm


      Members present:  Peter Harris, Larry Tytla, Paul Spakowski, Fred
      Wise, Marcia Benvenuti, and Rick Kanter.
      Members absent:  Pat Kelly
      Guests:  Ex-officio Tony Attanasio

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

   2) Secretary’s minutes from Jul 16, 2026 regular meeting was approved  on
      a motion by Mr. Spakowski, seconded by Mr. Tytla, motion vote 6-0.



   3) Treasurer’s report was tabled till the next meeting  (Treasurer  Kelly
      absent from meeting).



   4) Warden’s comments : Mr. Simpson sent Mr. Harris a summary report which
      Mr. Harris conveyed to the commission.   Due  to  the  frequent  heavy
      rainfall, the shellfish beds have been closed often but are  presently
      open.  Mr. Harris also discussed painting the  bottom  of  the  warden
      boat and it was decided the wardens could paint the  boat  themselves.
      A motion was made by Mr. Spakowski, seconded by Mr. Tytla to  allocate
      $1000 for supplies and their labor, Motion passed 6-0.


   5) Old business : a.  Discussion  on  purchase  of  clam/oyster  stock  –
      nothing new was discussed and the  plan  to  purchase  both  clam  and
      oyster stock for disbursement in the fall is proceeding


   6) New business  -a. Discussion on  using  oyster  shells  for  shellfish
      restoration – Mr. Wise proposed  an  idea  to  use  oyster  shells  to
      promote  wild  oyster  population  enhancement   and   water   quality
      improvement.  Discussion ensued, no action taken.



      b.    Mr. Harris  discussed  an  eelgrass  restoration  project  being
      carried out by the Niantic River Watershed Committee using live  clams
      to plant eelgrass seed in the substrate.  No action taken.

   7) Ex-officio comments : East Lyme  ex-officio  Attanasio  did  not  have
      anything to discuss at the meeting.

   8) Correspondence : Mr. Harris discussed various correspondence he  rec’d
      including DA/BA opening of the Niantic River after the recent  closure
      and an e-mail  from  G  Schneider  (Waterford  Public  Works)  on  the
      Waterford Town Dock renovation plans.

   9) Public comment : Mr. Kanter and Mr. Spakowski will have the candidates
      to fill the open Commission seat from East Lyme send resume’s  to  Mr.
      Harris.



  10)  Meeting was adjourned at 7:41 pm on  a  motion  from  Mr.  Spakowski,
      seconded by Mr. Tytla, motion approved 6-0.



Respectfully submitted,


Peter Harris