Harbor Management Commission - Minutes - 10/02/2024

Waterford Harbor Management Commission
Regular Meeting Minutes of Wednesday, October 2, 2024
Waterford Police Station Training Room
5:00 p.m.
Establish a Quorum and Call the Meeting to Order
Chairman Hughes call the meeting to order at 5:00 p.m. after
establishing a quorum.
Present were Commissioners Hughes, Buths, Jr., DeRosa and
Dutton. Also present was Serge Arfi and Keith Neilson was present
to give a presentation to the Commission.
Absent were Commissioners Jamroga, Wise, Crocker, Porter and
Bunnell. Harbor Master David Crocker was not present at this
meeting.
Commissioner Dutton announced that he has submitted his
resignation to the First Selectman. The Commission thanked him for
his service to the Commission and stated he will be missed.
Chairman Hughes stated that Serge Arfi has submitted a letter to
the First Selectman indicating that he would like to serve on the
Harbor Management Commission. Both letters are pending approval
from the Board of Selectman.
Pledge of Allegiance
All in attendance stood and recited the Pledge of Allegiance.

Approval of the September 4, 2024, Regular Meeting Minutes
Motion made by Commissioner DeRosa, seconded by Commissioner
Buths, Jr. to approve the September 4, 2024, meeting minutes as
filed. All in favor, motion carried.
Harbor Master Report
David Crocker was not present at the meeting to give the Harbor
Master Report.
Correspondence
Chairman Hughes reviewed correspondence, stating most are back
and forth with mooring permit holders and those waiting on
Certificate of Decal to obtain their 2024 stickers this season. There
has been several correspondence regarding recently tagged
moorings and the Commission is working on getting them permitted
so that their moorings are not pulled at the owner expense.
6. New Business
Presentation from a representative from DOCKO, Inc/Sound
Engineering Associates Company, Fairfield, CT regarding a general
permit for Matthew Brailey for a new dock and stone wall repair
project located at 65 Oswegatchie Road, Waterford, CT 06385
Keith Neilson was present to review the project and to answer all
questions the Commission members had regarding the project
design. It was the consensus of the Commission members that the
proposed project at 65 Oswegatchie Road is a good design and will
not have an adverse impact on the area and it was their
recommendation to approve the project and to authorize Chairman
Hughes to sign off on the document provided by DOCKO, Inc/Sound
Engineering Associates.

Motion made by Commissioner Buths, Jr., seconded by
Commissioner DeRosa to approve the project at 65 Oswegatchie
Road as reviewed and to authorize Chairman Hughes to sign off on
the project on behalf of the Harbor Management Commission. All in
favor, motion carried.
Approval of the Proposed 2025 Harbor Management Commission
Meeting Dates.
Per the Town Clerk’s Office request, the Town of Waterford Harbor
Management Commission drafted the following meeting dates for
2025, January 8th, February 5th, March 5th, April 2nd, May 7th,
June 4th, July 2nd, August 6th, September 3rd, October 1st,
November 5th, and December 3rd. The Commission will meet at the
Waterford Police Station Raining Room on the first Wednesday of
each month at 5:00 p.m.
Motion made by Commissioner Dutton, seconded by Commissioner
DeRosa to approve the proposed 2025 Harbor Management
Commission meeting dates and to file them with the Town Clerk.
All in favor, motion carried.
Discussion from Commissioner Wise Regarding the Niantic River
Advocacy Coalition.
Chairman Hughes stated that Chairman Wise found the Niantic
River Advocacy Coalition on Facebook and thought that the
Commission members would be interested in following the page.
Discussion Regarding Pulling the Harbor Master Boat on October
28th by Boats Inc.
Chairman Hughes stated the Harbor Master boat is going to be
pulled from the water on October 28, 2024, for the season and

stored at Boats Inc. for the winter.
7. Old Business
Update Regarding the Delinquent Mooring Inspections for 2024.
Chairman Hughes and several Commission members went out to tag
delinquent moorings over the past week, and they took pictures and
logged coordinates for clarification in the areas of Mago Point and
to the north. A total of fourteen moorings were tagged for removal
and they plan to finish inspecting and tagging delinquent moorings
in the remaining area in the upcoming weeks. Delinquent moorings
will be removed at the owner’s expense if the owners do not apply
for 2024 permits immediately.
Discussion Regarding the Gathering with Local Harbor Management
and Shellfish Commissions.
Chairman Hughes stated the gathering with the local Commissions
was a success, they had open communication, the members of each
commission got to meet one another in person, it was great to have
feedback from all involved regarding issues they all deal with
regularly. The effort was appreciated and going forward it will only
benefit everyone involved if they could keep each other updated
and keep up the communication with one another for the benefit of
all Commissions involved. He hopes to schedule another meeting in
the spring of 2025.
Update regarding Progress with the 2024 Mooring and Pully Pole
Applications to Include Revenue Generated to Date.
Chairman Hughes stated there are several mooring applications that
are still waiting on their Certificate of Decal. The mooring
applications have slowed way down for the season, but he does
anticipate that some of the tagged delinquent moorings may apply

for their 2024 stickers to remain compliant for the season and to
avoid having the Commission pull their moorings at their expense.
Discussion Regarding Updating the Existing Harbor Plan.
Chairman Hughes discussed he benefits of implementing
amendments to the existing Plan as opposed to actual policy
changes. The Commission discussed some of the items that they
would like to add to the Plan going forward.
8. Public Comment Relating to Waterford Harbor Management
Commission Business Only
Chairman Hughes thanked Commissioner Dutton for his service to
the Commission and stated that he will be missed. He welcomed
Serge Arfi to the Commission and is looking forward to working
with him going forward.
9. Adjournment
There being nothing further to discuss the meeting adjourned at
5:53 p.m.
Respectfully Submitted by:
Audrey Ulmer, Recording Secretary for the Town of Waterford
Harbor Management Commission