TOWN OF OLD SAYBROOK
Harbor Management Commission
302 Main Street " Old Saybrook, Connecticut 06475-1741
Telephone (860) 395-3123 " FAX (860) 395-3125
1. Call to Order
Chairman Ray Collins called the regularly scheduled meeting of the Old Saybrook Harbor Management Commission to order at 7:05 p.m.
2. Roll Call
Les Bowman
Dick Goduti
Ray Collins, Chairman
Jim Mitchell, Dock master
Ruth Hockert, Clerk
Michael Spera, Police Chief
Larry Bonin, Director Public Works
10 members of the public
3. Old Business
Channelside application
Chairman Ray Collins read a letter from the office of Cloutier and Cassella who represents one of the neighbors, which requested a continuance due to a personal conflict for the neighbor who wanted to attend.
Chairman Ray Collins also stated that he was uncomfortable with making any decisions of the pending application without legal consult and he (Collins) was unaware until the clerk told him this evening that Town Counsel Michael Cronin felt he had a conflict of interest with respect to the dock application and he recommended the Chairman get another legal opinion. Mr. Collins was clear he had contacted Mr. Cronin well over a month ago but just received the message about a conflict this evening.
Attorney Dave Royston, representing the dock applicant, Channelside Home Owners Association, said for the record that he understands that the Chair's position that this is a contested issue. Mr. Royston says the applicant is bringing a dock application for review for consistency with the Harbor Management Plan. This represents another delay for the applicant and that he felt the Commission had an obligation to consider the dock application in a timely manner. The application will be on the agenda for the April meeting.
4. Citizens with business before the Commission- none
5. New Business
North Cove Yacht Club Dock Application, presentation by Tom Klin
Les Bowman recussed himself from the vote but not from the discussion.
Tom Klin introduced the application and requested a decision per the new state procedure, based on consistency with the Harbor Management Plan with the intent of then bringing the application to the DEP. The site is pproximately 40 years old and is failing. The new bulkhead will be installed in front of the existing bulkhead. The club has 30 family members. There is a sailing school that runs a number of weeks of the summer. It is a completely floating system. The docks would be removed each winter. The sailing school would be using some of the docks and the club members would be using some of the dock space. The applicant has drawn the plans so as to stay away from local navigation. Ray Collins, Chairman asked if the dock
will impede the neighbors access. The applicant does not believe it is impeding public access. Mr. Klin drew to scale dock on an aerial.
Mr. Collins has no problem with the concept. The applicants haveconsulted with the neighbors and no one has any concerns. Dick Goduti is concerned that the application comes into the dredged area boundary.
Mr. Klin reports that the dock application will be 20 feet from the dredged area boundary. Mr. Klin stated that when the engineering and surveys are done, the docks would be well outside the dredge area. Mr. Goduti feels that this is the worst application ever submitted to the Commission in that it included no engineering or surveyor plans. Mr. Goduti says the dock application takes up 9,000 square feet. Mr. Goduti feels that this
has impacted on the town's riparian rights on the lot on the north side of North Cove. Mr. Goduti gave Mr. Klin the NOAA guidelines. Jack Cunningham, Commodore, spoke for the North Cove Yacht Club. He stated that the dock is not being built specifically for the sailing school; it is to accommodate both club members and the sailing school. Mr. Klin will bring back final plans. The applicant will get back to the Commission when the engineering is done so the application can be put on the agenda.
6. Old Business
Sheffield Street parking - Larry Bonin, Head Old Saybrook Public Works. Mr. Bonin (Larry) had concerns about the parking and the street flow when he began his job. Mr. Bonin has had the right of way and land area surveyed. He came with a proposal. He is proposing that the road have a turn around and some drop off area. Larry has not yet spoken to the building inspector to see how many handicap spaces are required. This
proposal would avoid people driving into the neighbor's driveway. The curbing would be reinstalled. Previously, Mrs. Scaramella was against curbing but she will agree to the curbing as she found people drove into her
fence. Police Chief Michael Spera spoke in favor of this proposal. He believes the curbing, lineage and signage will be a positive addition. The Chief asked that the plan not be formalized until the neighbors are invited to come in and comment. The Chief would like to keep the circle clear. The Chief believes this is the best proposal submitted by a public works director. He believes the plan would have to go to the Planning Commission.
The Harbor Commission will need send letters to all the abutting properties and invite them to a Harbor Commission meeting. Larry said he may be able to bring the roadway level at the end of the street up higher as well.
Jim Mitchell had asked Larry Bonin to come out and look at the bulkhead at the end of Sheffield Street earlier in the week. Larry felt he could dig out the land side and put in some forms and pour concrete. The Commission has the money in its budge to pay for the concrete which is approximately $ 100 per cubic yard. Larry will figure out much concrete will be needed.
The Chairman thanked Larry Bonin for all his work
7. Minutes - February 2010 meeting
Motion - Dick Goduti moved to approve minutes as submitted, Les Bowman seconded
3-0-0 motion approved unanimously.
8. Old Business continued
There was a discussion about last year's sticker program. Mr. Goduti feels the stickers track unpermitted moorings and checks submitted by mooring permit applicants. When asked, Jim Mitchell stated that he or Scott put in all the moorings in North Cove and they do not go in without permits. The area that is problematic is the beach areas where moorings are left in the water. The Chairman says the deputy harbor master has the authority to pull any unpermitted mooring. Jim Mitchell investigates any mooring he sees
that he did not inspect and tries to determine ownership to enforce the permitting requirement.
Motion - Dick Goduti moved not to do stickers this year, Les Bowman seconded
3-0-0 motion approved
Ray Collins confirmed that Earl Endrich's office will end in January.
The STEAP grant application has been approved (official letter received) and the state is still giving us the money. The next step is the approval of the bid language which has already been submitted to DEP for approval.
Harbor Management Plan update - The Commission met with DEP who suggested that Old Saybrook mimic to the best of the OS HMC ability the Old Lyme plan because it has been approved by everyone. The Chairman is not available until after May 5 for work on this project but offered the effort to anyone interested.
Proposed ordinances - Tied to the Plan update effort.
9. Harbor Master - no report
10. Deputy Harbor Master
Jim Mitchell feels the decking of the town dock at Sheffield Street should probably be covered with a preservative. The Commission felt Jim should probably start by asking the Inland Wetlands Officer whether any preventative steps must be taken. The docks may have to have drop clothes under the deck to collect drops.
11. Ferry Dock
The Clerk asked the Commission for a clarification of the fisherman/town resident regulation at the Ferry Dock. Mr. Goduti referenced the back side of the Ferry Dock application. Slips must be offered to Old Saybrook residents first. Commercial fishermen who are not residents may be offered a slip if no resident is on the wait list.
12. Approval of bills
Clerk - $ 459.30
$ 3.43 due to DRS
Motion - Les Bowman moved to pay the submitted invoices, Ray Collins seconded,
3-0-0 motion approved
13. Adjournment
Motion - Dick Goduti moved to adjourn at 8:20 p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
Ruth Hockert, Clerk
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