REGULAR MEETING

Minutes of Tuesday, May 20, 2008

7:30 PM, East Lyme Town Hall

108 Pennsylvania Ave.,

Niantic, CT 06357

Present: Chairman Don Landers, Treasurer Steven Dinsmore, Marvin Schutt, Barbara Johnston, Greg Murin,

Absent:  Bill Mountzoures Frank Skewes

Also Present:  Ex-Officio Selectman Jack Hogan

1.      Call to Order

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

2.      Approval of Minutes of Regular Meeting of March  18, 2008

      MOTION 1: A motion to approve the minutes of the Regular Meeting of March               18, 2008 was made by Mr. Dinsmore, seconded by Mr. Schutt. Motion            carried (5-0).

3.      Public Delegations

            None

4.      Old Business

A. Mooring Permits

Mooring reminders went out including info mentioned in last meeting.

      MOTION 2:  A motion was made by Ms. Johnston, seconded by Mr. Dinsmore     to establish a mooring fee of $25.00 starting Jan. 1, 2009.  During      discussion it was mentioned that the Waterford Harbor Management Commission established a fee of $25.00 for waterfront property owners and    $50.00 for inland property owners.  It was decided the fee of $25.00 should            be charged for everyone to start with.   Motion carried (5 – 0)

B. Harbor Management Plan – Reports from Sub-Committees

1.  Mr. Dinsmore met with Geoffrey Steadman who has the experience of revising                   Harbor Management Plans knowing what the DEP expects.  Mr. Steadman      provided the Fairfield and Stamford Management Plans which he prepared as a          guide.

2.  They decided it would be most effective to have our Harbor Management  Commission prepare Part 1.

3.  Mr. Steadman would prepare the balance of the Management Plan for an estimated            $15 – 25K in about one year.

4.  The DEP will not provide the funding.  Therefore, the source of funding must be    identified.

5.  Those present felt Part 1 with pictures should be started by the Commission            immediately.

6.  Mr. Murin expressed concern about the possibility that “boiler plate” verbiage         might not consider our specific/unique requirements.  Chairman Landers assured           him that certain language is required by the DEP and that the Commission requirements would be included.

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C.  Connecticut Harbor Management Association

Mr. Michael Griffin of the Association has stated the fee for joining is $200.

5.      New Business

A. Correspondence

Incoming:  Several Certificates of Permission (COPs) for work waterward of the high tide line were received and perused with no comment. 

Outgoing:  Chairman Landers stated he had met with Chairman Chief Pendleton of the Waterford Harbor Management Commission on this past Monday regarding the location of the boundary line in the Niantic River between the Town of East Lyme and the Town of Waterford as described in the Chief’s letter dated 2/21/08.  After discussion they agreed the description of the boundary line in the Chief’s letter is correct except that Waterford Island is in the Town of East Lyme instead of in the Town of Waterford as mentioned in the Chief’s letter. 

Chairman Landers reviewed the documentation with the Commissioners present which substantiates the agreement mentioned above is correct.

MOTION 3:  Mr.  Murin moved and Mr. Dinsmore seconded that Chairman Landers be authorized to send a letter to the Chief documenting the agreement in the above Para. 5 as follows: “After discussion they agreed the description of the boundary line in the Chief’s letter is correct except that Waterford Island is in the Town of East Lyme instead of in the Town of Waterford as mentioned in the Chief’s letter.” The Motion carried (4 – 1); Ms. Johnston voted “no” because she thought the decision should be reviewed further.           

6.      Reports

A.    Warden Burt Sexton – not present

B.     Harbor Master Joe Selden – not present

C.    Treasurer Stephen Dinsmore

Treasurer Dinsmore stated that bills will be paid before July 1^st.  He mentioned that invoices for Warden activity in October and November have not been received and that he will investigate this situation and try to pay any money owed before the end of next month.

MOTION 4: A motion to approve the Treasurer’s Report was made by Mr. Schutt  and seconded by Mr. Murin.  Motion carried (5-0).

D.    Ex-Officio – present (arriving late)

Chairman Landers reviewed with Selectman Hogan the highlights of the meeting for his information and Selectman Hogan reminded the Commissioners of the upcoming referendum on the Budget.  Selectman Hogan mentioned that the Planning Director’s hours were being reduced in the Budget and this information was received regretfully.

7.      Comments from other Commission Members

Mr. Schutt reported that he had a good discussion with Carmine Morrone of Bayview Landing and the President of the Niantic Dockominium for fact finding purposes.  Mr. Morrone stated that the engineered drawings for expansion of Bayview Landing were on file with Gary Smith, Professional Engineer and granted Mr. Schutt permission to review these drawings with Gary Smith.  Mr. Schutt requested permission of the Commissioners to do this and permission was granted after discussion.

8.      Adjournment

MOTION 5: Mr. Dinsmore moved the meeting be adjourned at 9:46 PM, seconded by Mr. Schutt.  Motion carried (5-0).

Respectfully Submitted,

Marvin Schutt for Secretary Mr. Frank Skewes who was absent