Old Saybrook Harbor Management Commission
Regularly Scheduled Meeting 10/04/2010
Page 1
TOWN OF OLD SAYBROOK
Harbor Management Commission
302 Main Street Old Saybrook, Connecticut 06475-1741
Telephone (860) 395-3123 FAX (860) 395-3125
OCTOBER 4, 2010
1. Call to Order
Chairman Ray Collins called the regularly scheduled meeting of the Old Saybrook
Harbor Management Commission to order at 7:00 p.m.
2. Roll Call
Ray Collins, Chairman
Pete Fredrickson, Secretary
Les Bowman
George Wall
Ruth Hockert, Clerk
One member of the public
3. Citizens with Business before the Commission - none
4. Minutes of previous meetings- July and September
The discussion of minutes was opened by Dick Goduti who stated that he had two copies
of the September minutes both of which had been filed with the Town Clerk
approximately one week apart. His implication was that there was something
inappropriate about this action. He demanded loudly to know which set of minutes were
to be reviewed. When the clerk asked to be able to clarify what had happened, he spoke
over her not allowing her to explain that the original minutes submitted in a timely
manner had a typographic error in them. These minutes had been submitted to the
Selectmen’s office as per the direction of the Harbor Commission at their last meeting to
get Selectmen approval of the $ 10 wait list fee for all areas. The typographic error said
the discussion was to have a $ 100 fee. The motion in the minutes was correct, however,
since these minutes were to be used for setting policy by the Selectmen it was pointed out
that they should be corrected to say $ 10.00. The corrected minutes were then posted with
the Town Clerk. Research with Tom Hennick at the Freedom of Information
Commission states that there is nothing improper about a clerk submitting corrected
minutes, particularly over a typographic error as long as it is before final approval of the
minutes by the Commission. Research shows that in some town halls Town Clerks record
a number of versions of minutes prior to final approval.
Old Saybrook Harbor Management Commission
Motion – Peter Fredrickson moved to accept the minutes as amended, George Wall seconded; (each correction was voted on separately then a final vote was taken)
Mr. Goduti raised the idea that the minutes should indicate why a motion was made to add the Wollock dock application to the minutes. Chairman Ray Collins said he had asked at the meeting to add the application to the agenda in his motion because the engineer was present to review the application but that Mr. Goduti was opposed.
Motion – Ray Collins moved to change the word “tabled” to “held” (page 2 middle of the page) Pete Fredrickson seconded;
5-0-0 motion approved
Motion – Ray Collins moved to add “Wall” to George on page 5 in the motion in the middle of the page) Les Bowman seconded;
5-0-0 motion approved
The vote to accept the minutes as amended was approved
4-1-0 Dick Goduti was opposed.
September 13, 2010 Minutes
Motion – Pete Fredrickson moved to approve the minutes as amended, Les Bowman seconded;
Motion – George Wall moved to change $ 100 to $ 10 on page 2, Les Bowman seconded
5-0-0 motion approved
Motion – Ray Collins moved to add under section 3 where the sentence says Dick Goduti believes the agenda was not sent electronically Mr. Goduti wants to be on record that the wrong set of minutes were sent to the Commission for review; Les Bowman seconded;
5-0-0 motion approved
Motion – Dick Goduti moved to change the word “move” in item 6 to “moved”; George Wall seconded;
5-0-0 motion approved
Motion – Dock Goduti moved to add the statement under the proposed policy section on page 2 “that no action was taken”;
5-0-0 motion approved
Motion – Dick Goduti moved to add under the North Cove proposed policy section “Dick Goduti suggested that a policy needs to be established regarding „when someone who is already is a mooring holder gets a larger boat, or if someone comes to the top of the wait list with a large boat, they are not automatically guaranteed a mooring.. One of his proposed ways of establishing a guideline was the use of total linear feet in the cove. Les Bowman also believes this issue is important enough for discussion; George Wall seconded;
5-0-0 motion approved
Dick Goduti wanted to add that he did not know what the timing was regarding the letter from the Zoning Commission but Chairman Ray Collins said it was a mute point.
The motion for to accept the minutes as amended was approved
4-1-0 Dick Goduti opposed.
5. North Cove
Review of attendance for 50% compliance – The Commission reviewed the attendance list provided by Jim Mitchell.
Motion – Pete Fredrickson moved to send failure to meet 50% requirement letters to Michael Lang, Kim Senay, E. Don Smith and Linda Hunneywell; Dick Goduti seconded
5-0-0 motion approved unanimously
Mooring policies – Dick Goduti feels that there should be a policy regarding individuals who do not use their boat as he believes the intent of issuing a mooring permit is for individuals to use their boats and that it unfair to individuals on the wait list that people are just using their moorings as a way to store an unused vessel. Chairman Ray Collins stated that nothing can be done this season as there is no policy. He believes a policy should be formulated during the currently scheduled workshops.
Wait List – no new names
6. Ferry Road
Wait List- an updated list will be posted at the town hall.
7. Harbor Master Report - none (not present)
8. Deputy Harbor Master/Dock Master Report – none (not present)
9. Correspondence - none
10. New Business
Purchase of laptop for Harbor Commission- Chairman Ray Collins would like the Commission to purchase a computer for the clerk. Recent discussions with the town clerk and FOI indicate that in cases of a legal nature the computer used for a commission can be subpoenaed. If that is someone’s personal computer a technician could literally enter a clerk’s home and search their personal machine or in an extreme situation subpoena the computer out of the home. It would make sense to have just Commission files on a computer. If there is a change in personnel all of the activity could be given to the new personnel.
Mr. Goduti indicated that he did not believe that the files kept on a computer in the clerk’s home would comply with FOI as they are not available.
Mr. Goduti would not allow the clerk to speak to clarify that all Commission files are kept in the Town Clerk’s office and that active data files from her home computer are brought to the town hall and loaded onto the town network.
Motion – Les Bowman moved that the Commission acquire a laptop for use by the Commission staff; Peter Fredrickson seconded, Ray Collins added that the town IT person will set the specifications for the computer and that it be purchased through the town provider.
4-1-0 motion approved, Dick Goduti opposed.
11. Old Business
Workshop update – the next workshop is scheduled for October 18, 2010 at the town hall. The plan is to invite the Chairman of the Old Lyme Harbor Commission to the meeting so he could explain why they established some of the policies that they did.
In follow-up to policy discussions at the last Commission Meeting the commission wants to confirm the policy regarding refusing a slip or mooring and getting back on the list.
Motion – Dick Goduti moved that if an individual turns down an offer of a marine facility for anything there is a wait list for, to get back on the wait list they must complete a new wait list application;
George Wall seconded
5-0-0 motion approved unanimously
Also discussed at the last meeting was the creation of a mooring grid for North Cove and
an accompanying policy regarding the available space particularly for larger vessels. These policies are being driven by the fact that people are purchasing larger boats and assuming that there is a space for these larger boats. The dredged area of the harbor is limited in size and the Commission wishes to continue to install 150 moorings in the dredged area.
Harbor Master – formulation of three name list for submission to the new governor. There was a brief discussion regarding the need to advertise for the Harbor Master position. Les Bowman spoke to the Commission spending a lot of money previously to advertise this position and they received many resumes from areas as far away as California and since this is not a position funded by the Commission or the Town it did not make sense to him to advertise. Ray Collins said the Commission should continue to think of appropriate candidate names for submission to the new governor in January.
12. Payment of bills
Submitted invoices
Ruth Hockert $ 251.90
All Care Lawn Services $ 525.00
Reimburse Ruth Hockert for postage $ 10.38
Motion – Pete Fredrickson moved to approve payment of the submitted invoices; Les Bowman seconded
5-0-0 motion approved unanimously
13. Executive Session re: rates of remuneration for Dock Master
Motion- Dick Goduti moved to enter into Executive Session at 8:10 p.m.; George Wall seconded
5-0-0 motion approved
Motion – Dick Goduti moved to end the Executive Session at 9:05 p.m.
5-0-0 motion approved
14 Adjournment
Motion – Dick Goduti moved to adjourn at 9:10 p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
Ruth Hockert, Clerk
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