TOWN OF MOUNT DESERT
SHELLFISH COMMITTEE MEETING
Thursday, November 1, 2007
Town Hall Meeting Room
21 Sea Street
Northeast Harbor
I. Call to order 5:00
Meeting was called to order at 5:08 p.m. by Chairman Tom Falt. Also present were committee members Robert Taylor, Earl Moore, and Jock Crothers; Jeff Walls from The Islander; and Town Clerk Joelle Nolan.
IV. New Business
A. Membership
Mr. Crothers spoke to the issue of a quorum and described his leave of absence from the Marine Management Committee. He has been allowed to take a leave of absence without resigning from the Committee; this also allows the Committee to not count him as a member as regards a quorum.
All present agreed that members of the Committee need to make the commitment to attend the few meetings held. The Town of Mount Desert Shellfish Ordinance states the Committee shall consist of a minimum of five members. If a current member is not interested in continuing to serve on the Committee, he needs to resign, in writing, through the Town Office.
B. Re-seeding
Discussion included the idea of using local kids to do re-seeding as a project; the need to plan for the future; netting might not be approved by the summer people; and there appears to be a "hot spot" in Gilpatrick Cove. Testing indicates re-seeding could not take place there at this time.
C. Licenses for over 70 years of age
Mr. Taylor suggested offering free licenses for those over 70 years of age, such as Inland Fisheries & Wildlife does for hunting and fishing licenses. Mr. Falt suggested the license base is too small.
II. Review of Shellfish Ordinance
There was a discussion of the pros and cons of commercial diggers and re-seeding.
Mr. Falt noted that enforcement of the Ordinance is an issue. Some towns in Maine have combined forces to provide more funds for Wardens. Would it help if the Town's Wardens received a stipend?
Town Clerk, Joelle Nolan was asked to determine what has been spent from the Shellfish Conservation Fund and what the protocol is for the Wardens while they are on duty for their jobs for the Town.
III. Review of information from Maine Clammers Association
Members agreed to send $200 to the Maine Clammers Association; and $200 to the Down East Resource Conservation & Development Council.
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