302 Main Street Old Saybrook, Connecticut 06475-1741 Telephone: 860-395-3123 Facsimile: 860-395-3125 HMC REGULAR MEETING MINUTES JUNE 8, 2015 7:PM ACTON PUBLIC LIBRARY
|
|
|
|
|
1. Call to Order:
The meeting was called to order at 7:00 pm by Chairman Ray Collins.
2. Roll Call:
Present: Ray Collins, Chairman; Les Bowman, Secretary; Dick Goduti; George Wall; David Cole; Scott Mitchell, Harbor Master, Gerri Lewis, Clerk
Chairman Collins addressed the Commission saying that Selectman Fortuna requested that Chairman Collins and his Harbor Management Commission consider a request from the Police Department Marine Patrol Division. He noted that the town needed a presence on the river. He then called upon Chief Spera to address the Commissioners.
3. Citizens with Business before the Commission:
Chief Spera told the commissioners why he was before them and explained that this commission was being approached as a last resort. He then turned it over to Officers Walsh and DePerry as they were the strategic planning heads and could answer any questions that the commissioners had. They discussed their need for a “Patrol Boat” to patrol the waters of Old Saybrook where the river meets the sound. They gave the facts and figures to lease a boat for the 3 summer months.
Mr. Cole noted that there are liabilities that go along with this request and said he was not opposed to “loaning” the money for the lease of a patrol boat, but very concerned that this may set a precedent.
Mr. Wall asked why they couldn’t use the Fire Boat; why not have an agreement with the Fire Department. He noted that he sees the Fire Boat not being used a good deal of the time.
Mr. Bowman was concerned with the issue of precedent as well. He noted that he would like to support this effort for 3 months, but that there would have to be a tightly closed agreement with the First Selectman.
Mr. Goduti had concerns that the Harbor Management Commission should even be mixed up in this request. He felt that this request should be tabled and a public hearing, special meeting, be advertised so that the same proposal request could be made before them, just as they did before the Board of Finance.
After a long discussion, Mr. Bowman read from the Public Safety Health & Welfare Section of the Harbor Management Plan and noted that there was a responsibility to maintain the Public Safety, Health & Welfare of the town of Old Saybrook.
Mr. Massey, a marina owner spoke in favor of the patrol boat as a matter of safety and security.
Mr. Collins noted that there should be a police presence on the water and time was short. He noted that this would be taken up under “new business.”
At this time, Mr. Collins called upon Mr. Montano. Mr. Montano made an appeal to the commission with regard to his circumstances on why he didn’t return his North Cove Mooring application in the time allotted to secure his mooring from the previous year. The commission denied Mr. Montano’s request for a North Cove Deep Water mooring and that he would be placed at the bottom of the wait list. They did however suggest that the river “flats” was available and that he could make an application. Mr. Montano thanked the commission.
4. Minutes: Meeting 5/11/15
Due to the improperly noticed minutes of May 11th, the votes of that meeting were ratified as follows:
A motion by Mr. Goduti to approve the minutes of April 13, 2015 was seconded by Mr. Bowman. Motion passed with Mr. Cole abstaining.
A motion by Mr. Collins, seconded by Mr. Cole to approve the NC Wait List renewal applications was made and approved unanimously.
A motion by Mr. Collins, seconded by Mr. Cole to approve the Clothesline Wait List renewal applications was made and approved unanimously.
A motion by Mr. Collins, seconded by Mr. Cole to approve the Ferry Dock Wait List renewal application was made and approved unanimously.
A motion to pay the bills was made by Mr. Cole, seconded by Mr. Collins and motion passed unanimously.
Following the ratification of the votes above, a motion was made by Mr. Bowman to approve the minutes of May 11, 2015, seconded by Mr. Cole.
Discussion: Mr. Goduti questioned the bills for payment. He asked the clerk to include the bills paid. They are: Maher: refund; Clerk; Saybrook Hardware; Beard Lumber; Connecticut River Dock & Dredge; Sylvia: refund. Motion passed unanimously
5. Clerk Report
Clerk reported as follows:
North Cove Wait List New Renewals: John Ayer, Old Saybrook;
A motion to approve John Ayer for the North Cove wait list was made by Mr. Wall, seconded by Mr. Bowman and was so voted unanimously.
Clothesline Wait List New Renewals: Eric Swallow, Old Saybrook;
A motion to approve Eric Swallow for the Clothesline wait list was made by Mr. Bowman, seconded by Mr. Cole and was so voted unanimously.
Clerk met with Larry Hayden, IT Director for the town. He created a Town Hall “clerk” network account for the Harbor Management Commission. This is similar to the ones used by clerks for the other commissions. It enables the town to store the HMC files on their servers so that they are continuously backed up and (for legal purposes) considered within Town Hall “control”.
He set up the new account on the HMC laptop and integrated the laptop into the Town Hall network. This allows for easy access to the HMC files for edit using the software on the laptop.~ This can either be done using the laptop at Town Hall or by accessing it remotely.
He then reformatted HMC files for web viewing; adjusted the spreadsheets so that they present a consistent appearance when viewed from the web and also makes printing them for loading on the Town web site much simpler.
6. North Cove: Mr. Mitchell reported that all moorings in.
7c. Ferry Road
Mr. Goduti reported that the water service was in at Ferry Dock.
The commission inquired about the floating dock at Ferry Road. The harbor master noted that he will fix this in the next few days. There will be no hoop. He will use chain.
8. Clothesline Renewals
Harbor Master reported Clothesline full. He will meet with clerk as to the count. Mr. Goduti questioned the number of boats.
9. Waterways: No report.
10. Harbor Master Report: See previous notes.
11. Correspondence
- Brendan Montano: See agenda item #3.
- Via email: Bryan Coppes: see copy of email; at May meeting, a decision was made to put him back on wait list at bottom; he is requesting original position on wait list; Commission did not change their decision.
Letter from Ray Hayes (Pay It Forward)does work for veterans is requesting refund of payment of “flats”. Commission will refund mooring fee.
Referral Zoning: Petition to Amend Zoning Regulations; ….add text to Coastal Jurisdiction Line. Public Hearing June 15, 2015; 7:00 p.m. Zoning Meeting. Town Hall. No action requested. No action taken.
Dispensation to Rule 11:
- Daniel Matos requesting dispensation to Rule 11.
A motion by Mr. Cole, seconded by Mr. Bowman to grant request was so voted unanimously.
- Kim Senay requesting dispensation to Rule 11. Doing extensive cruising.
A motion by Mr. Cole, seconded by Mr. Wall to grant request was so voted unanimously.
- Les Bowman requesting dispensation to Rule 11.
A motion by Mr. Cole, seconded by Mr. Wall to grant request was so voted with Mr. Bowman abstaining.
DEEP: OLISP Applications: None
12. New Business
At this time, Mr. Collins made a motion that the Harbor Commission pay $17,800 for the leasing of the marine patrol boat requested by the OSPD previously under agenda item “citizens with business before the commission”, seconded by Mr. Bowman.
Discussion: Mr. Goduti noted that he believed that this request was entitled due consideration but that the harbor commission should schedule a special meeting. After a short discussion , it was suggested to add to the motion, “if town counsel Michael Cronin approves”.
Mr. Collins rescinded that motion and made the following motion:
Mr. Collins made a motion that the Harbor Commission pay $17,800 for the leasing of the marine patrol boat requested by the OSPD previously under agenda item “citizens with business before the commission” with the approval of Attorney Michael Cronin, seconded by Mr. Bowman.
Discussion: Mr. Cole asked about the equipment for the boat and who will outfit it; also confirming that this should not set a precedent and would still like to make this a “loan”.
Mr. Bowman noted that the Commission recognizes the dire issues and circumstances regarding the Town’s responsibility to provide a Police Patrol vessel for the current year. He made a motion as follows. Mr. Collins rescinded his motion.
Mr. Bowman moved to meet the Town’s responsibility for the health, safety and welfare of the public, the Harbor Management Commission, recognizing its own paralleled responsibility in these matters, agrees only for the current calendar year to assist the Town in leasing a suitable patrol boat for three (3) months this summer, 2015, for a fee not to exceed $17,800. It is specifically noted that the Police vessel is a Town funding responsibility and the Harbor Management Commission will not assume the Police Department’s budgetary funding responsibility for the Police vessel; seconded by Mr. Collins.
Discussion: Mr. Goduti disagreed and he noted that he wanted to let the town know. Motion was so voted and passed by Mr. Collins, Mr. Bowman and Mr. Cole. Motion opposed by Mr. Goduti and Mr. Wall.
13. Old Business None
14. Bills for Payment:
A motion to pay clerk; Olsen Sanitation; Computer Signs; Connecticut Water Co.; Pay It Forward was made by Mr. Cole, seconded by Mr. Bowman and was so voted unanimously.
15: Adjournment: A motion to adjourn at 8:45 was seconded and passed.
Submitted: Gerri Lewis, Clerk
| 