East Lyme Harbor Management/Shellfish Commission
7:30 PM, East Lyme Town Hall
108 Pennsylvania Ave.,
Niantic, CT 06357
Present: Don Landers, Chairman; Marvin Schutt, Secretary; Steven Dinsmore, Treasurer, Frank Skewes, Barbara Johnston
Absent: Greg Murin, Bill Mountzoures
Ex-Officio: Kent Sistare, Board of Selectman (arrived at 7:45 P.M.)
Also present: Selectman Joe Raia (part time) – spoke in Delegation Section of the Meeting
1. Call to Order
Chairman Don Landers opened the Regular Meeting at 7:32 PM.
2. Approval of Minutes of Regular Meeting of December 20, 2005.
MOTION 1: Motion to approve Minutes of the Regular Meeting of December 20, 2005 was made by Mrs. Johnston, seconded by Frank Skewes with the correction that MOTION 1 be corrected by replacing “Mr. Landers” with “Mr. Skewes” making the motion. Motion carried (5-0-0).
3. Public Delegations
Selectman Joe Raia appeared to make a statement re: Item 7, MOTION 4 in the Regular Meeting on November 15, 2005. This motion was made, seconded and withdrawn. A brief summary of the lengthy repetitive dialogue which took place is:
a) Mr. Raia heard that the Commission had discussed submitting a letter to the Board of Selectman requesting he be replaced as Ex-Officio because of a derisive report he made about the Commission at a Board of Selectman meeting. He stated he came to the meeting “to defend himself”.
b) Commissioners Dinsmore and Skewes had seen or heard about what Mr. Raia said, considered it was derisive, were upset by it as were the other Commissioners present, and discussion ensued at the Commission’s Meeting on November 15, 2005. Regret was expressed that Mr. Raia was not at the meeting as Ex-Officio on November 15, 2005 to discuss what he had said.
c) Mr. Raia stated he could not attend the meeting on November 15, 2005 and stated that he did not feel or realize his report to the Board of Selectman was derisive and if it was interpreted as such, he was sorry.
d) Commissioners Dinsmore and Skewes requested an apology from Mr. Raia but he felt it was not necessary.
e) The discussion ended in an impasse. Note: This section of the Minutes is recorded by Commission Secretary, Marvin Schutt.
4. Old Business
No new information.
As soon as contact is regained with consultant, final copies of the now-approved Shellfish Management Plan will be sent out to Commission members, and an official copy will be filed.
Ex-Officio Don Landers reported that the committee has not yet been formed or had a meeting.
5. New Business
Chairman Landers read and or circulated significant correspondence and retained it for his file.
6. Reports
Warden not present, however Chairman Landers reported Rainfall Data and stated that although it was necessary to close shellfishing, the impact wasn’t too serious considering the amount of rainfall.
B. Harbor Master
Not present.
C. Treasurer’s Report – Steven Dinsmore
Budget request for 2006 was submitted as the same amount for 2005. One bill for an hour and a half for Fran Ghersi was submitted.
.
MOTION 2: A motion to accept the Treasurer’s Report was made by Mr. Skewes, and seconded by Mr. Schutt. Motion carried (5-0-0).
D. Ex-officio
Selectman Kent Sistare is the new Ex-Officio from the Board. Members of the Commission present introduced themselves and welcomed Mr. Sistare.
7. Comments from other Commission Members
Chairman Landers asked each member to state their goals for the Commission, everyone responded. Chairman Landers recorded these goals and indicated he would forward them to the commissioners by email for further consideration.
8. Adjournment
MOTION 3: Motion to adjourn the meeting was made by Mr. Skewes, and seconded by Mr. Schutt. Motion carried (5-0-0). The meeting was adjourned at about 8:30 PM.
Respectfully Submitted,
Mary Cunningham, Recording Secretary