REGULAR MEETING

Minutes of Tuesday, August19, 2008

7:30 PM, East Lyme Town Hall

108 Pennsylvania Ave.,

Niantic, CT 06357

Present: Treasurer Steven Dinsmore, Secretary Frank Skewes, Marvin Schutt, Barbara Johnston,

Absent:  Chairman Don Landers, Greg Murin, Bill Mountzoures

Also Present:  Bob Gadbois

1                    Call to Order

Mr. Skewes (Acting Chairman) opened the Regular Meeting at 7:32 PM.

2                    Approval of Minutes of Regular Meeting of July 15, 2008

MOTION 1: A motion to approve the minutes of the Regular Meeting of July 15, 2008 was made by Mr. Schutt, seconded by Mr. Dinsmore. Motion carried (4-0).

3                    Public Delegations

 None.

4                    Old Business

A.                 Mooring Permits

No report

B.                 Harbor Management Plan – Reports from Sub-Committees

No report.

C.                 Connecticut Harbor Management Association

Mr. Dinsmore reported that we should plan on getting in touch with this organization in September or October to set up a meeting, as they were quite busy at this time of year.

D.                Set Public Hearing for Mooring Permits and Legal Notices

The sub-committee appointed to analyze the costs of harbor maintenance had not met at the time of the meeting. 

MOTION 2: A motion to continue to table this agenda item until the sub-committee analysis was completed was made by Mr. Dinsmore, seconded by Mr. Schutt. Motion carried (3-1) with Ms. Johnston voting no.

E.                 Pine Grove Swim Area Safety

Mr. Skewes reported that he and Mr. Schutt had done soundings in the area of day marker #6 to verify its placement, and that the placement was correct.  He also reported that follow up had been done with the Coast Guard.  The Pine Grove Association President and Three Belles Marina had been contacted by Chairman Landers asking them to notify boaters and bathers to exercise caution in that area.

F.                  Abandoned Sailboat at Giants Neck

Mr. Dinsmore reported that he was coordinating an effort with Deputy Harbor Master Marc Berger to resolve the issue, and that he expected resolution by the next meeting.

5                    New Business

A.                  Correspondence

1.      One Certificate of Permission (COP) for work waterward of the high tide line.  COP #2008-095-MG was granted to Eleanor Ferguson of 188 Old Black Point Road, Niantic, CT.

2.      An invitation from NOAA’s National Marine Fisheries Service, Northeast Fisheries Science Center, Milford Laboratory to attend its Open House scheduled for Saturday, October 18, 2008 from 0900 to 1300.

3.      A Notice of Enforcement Action from the Office of Long Island Sound Programs against Helen Heaney for activities or conditions at 8 Elizabeth Street

4.      A letter from the Waterford Harbor Master in support of East Lyme’s actions to consider instituting mooring permit fees.

6                    Reports

A.                 Shellfish Warden

No Report

B.                 Harbor Master

No Report

C.                 Treasurer

Mr. Dinsmore reported.  He requested an invoice from Save the River/Save the Hills for the pump out boat fee.  Two invoices for secretarial services were paid.  We have received no Shellfish Warden bills for 2 or 3 months.

MOTION 3: A motion to approve the Treasurer’s Report was made by Ms. Johnston and seconded by Mr. Schutt.  Motion carried (4-0).

D.                Ex-Officio

No Report

7                    Comments from other Commission Members

Mr. Skewes commented that he was concerned that the East Lyme Harbor Master was so difficult to contact, and that the mooring permits for 2008 still had not been issued.  It should be noted that since the meeting, the mooring permits have been mailed.

Ms. Johnston reported on her attendance at the Waterford Harbor Management Commission meeting.  Of particular concern to her was a report of a sewage spill which closed the river.  Ms. Johnston was concerned that our commission was apparently unaware of this spill.  It has been learned since the meeting that Ledge Light did report the spill and the closing of the river to our Commission, and that Chairman Landers would have reported that to the Commission members had he been present.  Ms. Johnston made several other comments including praise for the job the Waterford Harbor Management Commission is doing, concern over commercial moorings in the river, concern that the fish trap area in the bay is still shown on NOAA charts, and concern about the Commission contact information shown on the Town’s web page.

8                    Adjournment

MOTION 4: Mr. Dinsmore moved the meeting be adjourned at 8:50 PM, seconded by Mr. Schutt. Motion carried (4-0).

Respectfully Submitted,

Frank Skewes, Secretary