East Lyme Harbor Management/Shellfish Commission

REGULAR MEETING

Minutes of Tuesday February 19, 2008

7:30 PM, East Lyme Town Hall

108 Pennsylvania Ave.,

Niantic, CT 06357

Present: Chairman Don Landers, Treasurer Steven Dinsmore, Secretary Frank Skewes, Marvin Schutt, Barbara Johnston, Greg Murin, Bill Mountzoures

Absent:  None

Also Present:  Scoutmaster Bill Brubaker, Eagle Scout Candidate Tom Brubaker, Art Carlson, Michael Bowers

1.      Call to Order

Mr. Landers opened the Regular Meeting at 7:30 PM.

2.      Approval of Minutes of Regular Meeting of January 15, 2008

MOTION 1: A motion to approve the minutes of the Regular Meeting of January 15, 2008 was made by Mr. Schutt, seconded by Mrs. Johnston. Motion carried (6-0 with one abstention).

MOTION 2: A motion to replace Agenda Item 3. with a presentation by Art Carlson on East Lyme’s Open Space Plan was made by Mr. Dinsmore, seconded by Mr. Schutt.  Motion carried (7-0).

3.      Presentation by Art Carlson on East Lyme’s Open Space Plan

Mr. Carlson gave an interesting presentation discussing the current state of East Lyme’s Open Space Plan.  He has made the presentation to most of the Town’s Commissions with the exception of Zoning, which he plans to address next.

4.      Public Delegations

Eagle Scout Candidate Tom Brubaker asked the Commission to give him ideas for a project that he could organize and work on that would benefit the Niantic River or Niantic Bay.  He answered questions from the Commission members about the requirements for his project and what kind of schedule he was trying to meet.  Several suggestions were proposed by Commission members.

5.      Old Business

A. Mooring Permits

No new information.

B. Harbor Management Plan – Reports from Sub-Committees

A sub-committee meeting was held in February to brainstorm items to be updated in the plan.  It was agreed to create a matrix of items to be updated and promulgate it to the membership periodically.  It was decided to contact Mr. Geoff Steadman, one of the authors of the original plan, as soon as possible, to explore whether he would be interested in helping to work on the plan update.

C.  Connecticut Harbor Management Association

Representatives from the Connecticut Harbor Management Association were unable to attend this meeting as previously planned.  A new date for their presentation was unavailable at the time of the meeting.

D.  Budget preparation 2008-2009

Chairman Landers reported that the only change since we reviewed the budget last month was a $200 line item under operating expenses for membership dues in the Connecticut Harbor Management Association in the event that the Commission elects to join.  We are maintaining $900 in the Secretarial line item to accommodate additional clerical help needed as we go forward with the update to the Harbor Management Plan.

E.  Kumpitsch Fund

There was a discussion about the disposition of the funds ($500-600) in the Kumpitsch account.  It was suggested that the funds might be used to finance a project for Tom Brubaker, an Eagle Scout Candidate.

6.      New Business

A. Correspondence

Incoming:

1.       A copy of “Sound Outlook”, a Department of Environmental Protection publication

2.      Several COPs for work waterward of the high tide line

3.      Letter to Brian Sullivan from the First Selectman requesting payment of the expenses incurred for completion of fish trap equipment removal (pilings) in the bay.

7.      Reports

A.    Warden Burt Sexton – not present

B.     Harbor Master Joe Selden – not present

C.    Treasurer Steven Dinsmore

Mr. Dinsmore reported that the Commission is well under budget for shellfishing warden expenses.  Bills for mailing labels for Fran Ghersi were received; bills from Welsco have not been received.

MOTION 3: A motion to approve the Treasurer’s Report was made by Mr. Mountzoures and seconded by Mr. Schutt. Motion carried (7-0).

D.    Ex-Officio – not present

Mr. Hogan has been appointed as our ex-officio.  He was on business travel at the time of the meeting.

8.      Comments from other Commission Members

Mr. Schutt expressed his concern about the activities on the DEP with regard to requests for dock projects and repairs.

Mr. Landers reported on a meeting with the First Selectman that he had this month.  He gave an overview of the subjects that were discussed.

Mrs. Johnston expressed concern over the plans for expansion at Camp Rell, and possible impacts on the river and traffic on Pennsylvania Ave.

9.      Adjournment

MOTION 4: Mr. Dinsmore moved the meeting be adjourned at 9:15 PM, seconded by Mr. Skewes. Motion carried (7-0).

Respectfully Submitted,

Frank Skewes, Secretary