TOWN OF OLD SAYBROOK
Harbor Management Commission
302 Main Street • Old Saybrook, Connecticut 06475-1741
Telephone (860) 395-3123 • FAX (860) 395-3125
SPECIAL MEETING MINTUES , 3.28.2011
1. Call to Order
Chairman Ray Collins called the Special Meeting of the Old Saybrook Harbor Management Commission to order at 7:05 p.m.
2. Attendance
Les Bowman, Secretary
Dick Goduti
George Wall
Ray Collins, Chairman
Attorney Michael Cronin
Ruth Hockert, Clerk
Scott Mitchell, Dock Master
Matthew White, Engineer, McDonald-Sharpe Associates
One member of the public
3. STEAP Grant
Attorney Michael Cronin stated that the bids for the Ferry Dock project were opened approximately a week ago. The base bid was $ 299,000 for a $ 250,000 grant. Matthew White explained that a second Addendum had been produced breaking the bid process into several alternates. Addendum 2 broke the project down into the base bid for 325 feet of sheet pile. Alternate 1 was the additional 100 feet of sheet pile. Alternate 2 was grading, Alternate 3 was paving, Alternate 4 fixed pier and Alternate 5 were the ramps.
Mike Cronin reported from a meeting, held earlier today, of Larry Bonin, Mike Pace, Bill Peace, Les Bowman and Mike Cronin which reviewed the submitted bids. The $ 250,000 was applied for and given to the Town. The Town sent out the bids and the Board of Selectmen will sign the contract. This is a reimbursement grant. When there is a grant there is a town meeting requirement to authorize the expenditure of the grant amount, in this case $ 250,000. The Commission has approximately $ 318,000 in the statutorily created account. It is set up as a separate account which can expend funds without the authority of the Board of Finance and Board of Selectmen approval. Any overage for the project would come out of the Harbor Management Account. Mr. Pace was very clear that he would not back any proposal that would exceed the $
250,000 grant amount. Les Bowman believes that it would take around $ 800,000 to do the whole project.
Dick Goduti believes that after four years he believes the project is dead in the water.
Ray Collins does not believe the project as the Commission conceived of it is going to happen.
Ray Collins asked Mr. Cronin what could be done. There is $ 250,000 sitting there with a commitment from the selectmen that they would fund up to $ 300,000. The meeting today looked at the other parts of the bid contracts. The docks need to be replaced and the pilings need to be replaced. Mike Cronin asked Matt White about the condition of the existing dock. How many years can the town get use out of it?
Matt White took another walk out today. Matt does not believe any body knows what is under the existing stone base.
Les Bowman spoke about some concerns about the low bidder. Les said there could be some confusion about some of the bid specs so it would behoove the Commission to clarify all the bid specs.
Dick Goduti said that if there is no bulkhead there is no way to effectively affix the ramps. Dick believes that if the wall cannot be raised the flooding of the parking area continues.
Matt White’s suggestion was to have a structural engineer look at the stone structure and form an opinion about whether it is serviceable. Matt White does not believe the current permit would allow changes to the shoring up proposal.
Matt thinks getting a new COP for the dock rebuild could be achieved fairly quickly.
Ray Collins will make some phone calls and there may be another special meeting.
Les Bowman asked if it is sustainable to leave the facility open as a public facility.
Mike Cronin asked if the Commission wanted to research having a structural engineer without committing to any expense. It was decided to wait to hear from Ray Collins.
George Wall believes the vehicle traffic is adding to the issues at the facility and Matt White concurred.
4. North Cove Yacht Club Dock Application-
Ray Collins stated that the Commission has to do something and a tie vote is not an action.
George Wall said he believed that a failure to approve is a denial. Town counsel Mike Cronin clarified that a tie vote is no action.
Dick Goduti suggests that the Commission send the minutes.
Mike Cronin believes that the form should be sent to the DEP stating there is no majority vote and then attach the approved minutes.
The current minutes as distributed have not yet been approved. They will appear on the next meeting agenda for approval.
5. Clothesline area piling estimate
Scott Mitchell distributed estimates for the removal and replacement of the four pilings. The Commission will not know if the pilings are broken until the contractor goes out and pulls the pilings.
Motion - George Wall moved to approve the expenditure for replacing up to four pilings with the dolphins ($ 1,000 per piling and $ 1200 per dolphin for a total of
$ 8,800) pending confirmation of the required bid procedure
3-0-0 motion approved unanimously
6. Ferry Dock, North Cove Regulations
Ray Collins handed the Commission’s written request for a harbor master appointment to Nancy Wyman of the Governor’s office.
Ferry Dock proposed rules and regulations:
Change fishing license to CT Fisherman Tax Exemption
Mike Cronin clarified that these regulations are for new slip holders.
Change words to say available space
The changes will be made to the Ferry Dock Regulations and they will be voted on at the next regular meeting.
North Cove Regulations
Item 6
Add maximum vessel dimensions are registered length, beam and depth.
Change requested to required
If a boat violates the 72 hour limit, what can the Commission do? According to town counsel the Harbor Master has full authority to move a boat if it is causing a problem. Mr. Cronin believes the Harbor Master can take charge of the boat and charge them for storage and hauling. Incorporate ordinance language into the rules re the harbor master’s authority. .
No guidance with respect to rafting boats, probably need some:
Rafting of vessels is prohibited in North Cove.
Dinghies must be tied along side rather than astern.
7. Adjournment
Motion - Ray Collins moved to adjourn at 8:10 p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
Ruth Hockert
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