Waterford/East Lyme Shellfish Commission - Minutes - 09/17/2026

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     Waterford-East Lyme Shellfish Commission

                           Regular Meeting Minutes
                           Thursday, Sep 17, 2026

                        East Lyme Town Hall, 7:00 pm


      Members present:  Peter Harris, Larry Tytla, Paul Spakowski, Fred
      Wise, Mike Heenehan, Pat Kelly, and Rick Kanter (Mr. Kanter arrived at
      7:25 pm after agenda item 4).
      Members absent:  Marcia Benvenutti
      Guests:  Ex-officio Tony Attanasio, Warden Rick Nelson, Christina
Zhang

   1) The meeting  was  called  to  order  at  7:00  pm  and  a  quorum  was
      established.  New commissioner Mike Heenehan was introduced.

   2) Secretary’s minutes from Aug 20, 2026 regular meeting was approved  on
      a motion by Mr. Kelly, seconded by Mr. Spakowski, motion vote 5-0, Mr.
      Heenehan abstained.



   3) Treasurer’s Reports – Mr. Kelly gave the  treasurers  report.   Report
      was approved on a motion from Mr. Spakowski, seconded  by  Mr.  Tytla,
      motion vote 6-0.



   4) Warden’s  comments  :  Mr.  Nelson  gave  the  warden  report  to  the
      commission.  The boat will be painted by the wardens soon with  better
      anti-fouling paint.


   5) Old business : a. Discussion on purchase of clam/oyster  stock  –  Mr.
      Harris spoke with CW Shellfish about the clam purchase  and  delivery.
      The commission is flexible on delivery dates in October.



      b. The commission continued to discuss the idea of using clean  oyster
      shells to establish oyster reef areas in the Niantic River to  improve
      water quality.  A motion was made by Mr. Wise, seconded by Mr.  Kanter
      to continue to explore this initiative.  Motion passe 7-0.


   6) New business  -
      a. Discussion and potential action on Waterford and  East  Lyme  grant
      requests. – Mr. Kelly made a motion,  seconded  by  Mr.  Spakowski  to
      request $1 from each town for annual funding.  Motion passed 7-0



      b. Discussion and potential action on scallop season.  No action taken
      to change the annual scallop season.  Season will run from Nov  15-Jan
      31.  Mr. Kelly will initiate permit printing.

   7) Ex-officio comments : East Lyme  ex-officio  Attanasio  discussed  the
      potential traffic cameras in East Lyme and the Board of Selectmen will
      vote on this at the Oct 7, 2026 BoS meeting.

   8) Correspondence : Mr. Harris discussed various correspondence he  rec’d
      including DA/BA opening/closing of  the  Niantic  River,  e-mail  from
      SeaGrant on lease areas in the Niantic River, e-mails to the East Lyme
      town hall on the  open  commission  position,  communication  from  CW
      shellfish on logistics of clam delivery.



      Mr. Kelly also discussed his interest in attending  the  46th  Milford
      Aquaculture Seminar in Jan 2027.   Motion  was  made  by  Mr.  Harris,
      seconded by Mr. Spakowski to pay the $225  registration  fee  for  Mr.
      Kelly, motion passed 7-0.

   9) Public comment : a. Mr. Heenehan briefed the commission  on  his  work
      for the East Lyme Harbor  Management/Shellfish  commission  in  taking
      clam meat samples in West Black Point for DA/BA to  test.   These  are
      initial steps in that  commissions  attempt  to  open  that  area  for
      recreational shellfishing.  Mr. Heenehan reported that DA/BA  received
      favorable results from those meat samples.



      b. Christina Zhang and Rick Nelson from Save the River-Save the  Hills
      (STR-STH) discussed with the commission the interest of donating money
      to WELSCO by STR-STH for clam or oyster  stocking.   WELSCO  was  very
      appreciative of this offer and will discuss further.


      c.  Christina Zhang and Rick Nelson from Save the River-Save the Hills
      (STR-STH) discussed with the commission the plan to upgrade the  kayak
      dock in East Lyme to be ADA compliant.  Mr. Harris will draft a letter
      of support by WELSCO for this project.



  10)  Meeting was adjourned at 8:06 pm on  a  motion  from  Mr.  Spakowski,
      seconded by Mr. Tytla, motion approved 7-0.



Respectfully submitted,


Peter Harris