Minutes of a Meeting of
The Old Lyme Harbor Management Commission
March 11, 2014
Attendance:
Members present – Bob Doyen, Robert Falaguerra, Ned Farman, Bill Harris, Mike Mackey, Mike Magee, Tom Meyer, Harry Plaut, and Steven Ross.
Alternate Member present - Curt Rasmussen, seated for Dave Frederiks
Absent – Dave Frederiks
Guests: Keith Nielson, Alan Todd and David Musto
A quorum being present, Chairman Ross called the meeting to order at 7:00 PM.
REPORTS
Clerk’s Report
The minutes of the January 14, 2014 meeting were reviewed and accepted as submitted.
Correspondence
Steven Ross reported that he had received approval with conditions to the request to the DEEP for the acquisition of the land parcel adjacent to the Lt. River site. As yet, he does not know what the conditions are to the approval.
Treasurer’s Report
Bill Harris presented the Treasurer’s Report for January and February 2014, which was accepted for audit. A copy of the report is on file with the minutes.
Guest Presentation – Keith Neilson of Docko, Inc.
Keith Neilson gave a presentation on the proposed dock and elevated walkway for Alan Todd at 100 Mile Creek Road. A survey has been completed and his proposal meets the DEEP requirements for permitting. The creek above Mr. Todd’s property is not navigable and this will be a minimal docking facility for a small boat, canoe or kayak. The next step is for Keith to go to the DEEP for the permit and he will then come back to the HMC with his proposal for the commission’s approval.
Keith then began a discussion regarding the dock application for John Medeiros for replacement of a dock destroyed by a hurricane at 44 Sea View Road. It was noted that what the original applicant/owner built was not what DEEP approved and appeared to be larger than what was permitted. Under HMC’s dock standards, docks are not permitted in Long Island Sound. The members had a discussion regarding what the requirements are regarding “grandfathering” structures which had been destroyed by a natural disaster and making exceptions to dock standards to accommodate those rebuilt structures. Steven said he would check with the Zoning and Building Departments to see what their regulations are regarding code requirements for rebuilding structures damaged by a natural disaster and the
matter will be put on the agenda for discussion and consideration at the April meeting.
Keith Neilson and Alan Todd then left the meeting.
OLD BUSINESS
Member Appointments
There is one vacancy for an Alternate Member.
Pilgrim Landing
No issues at present.
Dinghy Dock
No issues at present.
Potential Public Access Site—West bank of Lt. River and Halls Road
The HMC has received approval with conditions from the DEEP for the acquisition of the land parcel adjacent to the Lt. River. HMC now has three estimates for surveys of the site.
Phase 2- Foot bridge across Lt. River (Subcommittee) - on hold
Steven has been contacted by Michael Perks of Mentoring Corps for Community Development, a committee of residents who are interested in working with the HMC to clean out the underbrush to improve the view from Halls Road and to create a pathway from Lyme Street to the marketplace on Halls Road.
Phase 3- Proposed ramp application
Harbor Master Candidates
The commission then discussed the candidates for consideration as successor Harbor Master. Robert Falaguerra, Harry Plaut and David Musto are the three candidates who are interested in the position. While the other two candidates were out of the room, each candidate gave a presentation to the commission members as to their background and qualifications for the position. While all three candidates were out of the room, a paper ballot vote was taken by the remaining voting members. Motion was made by Steven Ross and seconded by Mike Magee to submit the names of Robert Falaguerra and Harry Plaut to the Governor’s office for consideration as Harbor Master with Harry Plaut as the HMC’s recommendation for the position. Motion passed unanimously.
The candidates then returned to the meeting and Steven thanked them for their interest and advised them of the HMC’s decision. He then told David Musto of the Alternate Member vacancy on the HMC and asked him to consider serving in that capacity. David said he would consider it and then left the meeting.
COMMITTEE REPORTS
Harbor Master
Mike Mackey reported that he has sent out all the mooring permit applications and has already had some returned with payments. Mike has organized and streamlined the application process by creating an Excel spreadsheet with all the mooring permit information being updated regularly. All permit applications and payments are first sent to Bill Harris as Treasurer to be recorded and deposited and then the applications are passed on to Mike for recording on the spreadsheets after the payment has been received and recorded. This should make it easier to track the active mooring permits in the future. Inactive mooring permits will be removed from the list after one season. Mike also revised the mooring inspection sheet.
Dredging Study
Ned Farman provided a brief progress report on the Navigable Waterways Study, currently in Phases 2 (Dredging Project Design) and 3 (Regulatory Permitting). The Study is on schedule and has received some preliminary approval from regulatory agencies.
LIS Markers for OL river approaches
Harry Plaut gave the information he has on the beacons to Steven Ross for his review.
NEW BUSINESS
Dock Applications
None received this month.
DEEP Violations
Francisco J. and Mary Lee Pimentel, 85 Connecticut Road on Three Mile River at Point O’ Woods
ADJOURNMENT
The meeting was adjourned at 8:55 PM.
Submitted by:
Patti Myers, Clerk
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