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Harbor Management Commission Minutes 11/10/2015
Meeting Minutes
The Old Lyme Harbor Management Commission
November 10, 2015



ATTENDANCE


Regular Members Present:  Robert Falaguerra, Ned Farman, Bill Harris, Mike Mackey (ex-officio), Michael Magee, Tom Myer, Steven Ross

Alternate Members Present:  John MacDonald, George Finley

Absent:  Bob Doyen, Dave Frederiks, Harry Plaut (ex-officio), Curt Rasmussen

Guests:  None

John MacDonald was seated for Dave Frederiks.  George Finley was seated for Bob Doyen.

Chairman Steven Ross called the meeting to order at 7:01 PM.


REPORTS
a.       Clerks Report:  Approval of Minutes
George Finley moved to accept the minutes of Regular Meeting October 13, 2015.  Ned Farman seconded the motion.  SO VOTED.

b.      Correspondence
The DEEP sent a Tentative Determination to approve the Todd application (100 Mile Creek Road).  They also gave a notice of intent to waive a public hearing.  

c.       Treasurer’s Report for September and October 2015 - Bill Harris
The September 2015 report was discussed at last month’s meeting and a correction was made.  This report was accepted.  Bill Harris presented the Treasurer’s Report for October 2015.  Beginning balance $19,905.15.  Interest earned $2.46, Cash receipts $25.00.  Ending balance $19, 932.61.  The Commission accepted the Treasurer’s Report.


CURRENT BUSINESS
a.       Member Appointments
Dave Frederiks’ term expires at the end of this year and he will not seek re-appointment.  Bill Harris’ term will end this year and he has agreed to be re-appointed in January.  Also in January, the Selectmen will appoint either John MacDonald or George Finley as a Regular Member.  This will leave two alternate positions open.

b.      Pilgrim Landing – Mike Magee
Mike Magee reported that Pilgrim Landing got plenty of use, and he would like to see the brush cut monthly next spring, summer and fall.  Board members offered to help with this.
c.      Dinghy Dock – Mike Mackey
Mike Mackey reported that the dock is still in the water.  There was some damage done by a person who must have put a grill on the wood and damaged it.  This should be repaired in the Spring.
Steve Ross suggested that in the future a Capital Budget request should be made for a major repair or replacement of the floating docks.


d.      Potential Public Access Site West Bank of Lt. River and Halls Road
1. Phase 2 Foot Bridge Across Lt. River Sub-Committee on Hold
Steve Ross stated that this should be a community effort and not the responsibility of this Commission.  The HMC would be happy to facilitate the project.
                
2.  Phase 3 Proposed Ramp
Steve Ross reported that the brush looked like it had been cut.  He reported that it is quite clear that the tidal wetlands come well up towards the road.  There is an embankment and he suggested that a stairway could be built into this embankment giving access to the edge of the water and staying above the CJL.  He felt that this could be done without a permit as wetlands would not be disturbed.  Commission members were asked to take a look at the site and see if they have any ideas for improving access to water’s edge for discussion at the December meeting.

        
f.      CHMA Status
Ned Farman reported that the CHMA did weigh in on the DMMP which is being overseen by the Army Corp of Engineers.  He stated that State Politicians and State Agencies are all in favor of keeping the Long Island Sound Deposit Sites open beyond the end of 2016.  It is the State’s contention, that depositing acceptable dredged material into the New London, New Haven and Cornfield Point Sites will cause no damage whatsoever.

Steve Ross moved to add Agenda Item under Current Business – a discussion regarding Harry Plaut’s concerns over his duties and responsibilities as Harbormaster that he expressed at the October HMC meeting.  Ned Farman seconded the motion.  SO VOTED.

g.      Discussion of Harry Plaut’s Duties and Responsibilities
At the HCM meeting in October, Harry Plaut expressed some concerns.  Said concerns are reflected in the minutes.  Steve Ross and Ned Farman also met with Harry and he had expressed these concerns. Steve & Ned then met with First Selectwoman Reemsnyder to review these concerns.  A letter was drafted to be sent to Harry Plaut regarding Harbormaster Duties and Responsibilities.  This letter will be signed by Bonnie Reemsnyder, Steve Ross and Ned Farman.  Steve Ross read the letter to the Commission.  The letter commended Harry on a number of counts and for his dedication and efforts as Harbormaster.  It also defined and reaffirmed his duties and responsibilities.  Robert Falaguerra moved to approve sending this letter to Harry Plaut in response to his concerns.  George Finley seconded the motion.  SO VOTED.


COMMITTEE REPORTS
a.      Harbor Master Report Harry Plaut
Harry Plaut was absent.  Steve Ross will ask Harry to present a wrap-up report at the December HMC meeting.  There was a discussion of how many mooring permits were paid for and an accurate report will be given at the December meeting.  Mike Mackey would like to make the application for a mooring permit on the Town website auto fill. He will speak to Ruth Roach at Town Hall about this.  

b.      Dredging Ned Farman and Steven Ross
Ned Farman and Steve Ross updated the Commission on the dredging work.  The work is underway and so far only one resident has voiced a complaint about the smell of diesel and the noise of which Steve Ross has addressed.  Ned Farman reported that the dredging is moving along slower than expected.  One reason for this is that the sand south of the Amtrak bridge is really hard packed and it is more time consuming to scrape off the bottom.  They are also constricted to mid-tide and higher to work.  In the next issue of Old Lyme Events there will be a story and photo of the dredging project.  Coastline Consulting provides weekly updates and these are forwarded to the First Selectwoman.


NEW BUSINESS

a.      Dock Applications – Steven Ross
Approval of Todd application, 100 Mile Creek Road, was discussed under Correspondence.

b.      Approval of 2016 Meeting Schedule
The Commission will meet on the second Tuesday of the following months in 2016.  March, April, May, June, July, September, October, November and December.  They will not meet in January, February and August.  Steve Ross moved to accept the meeting schedule and Tom Myer seconded the motion.  
SO VOTED.

c.      Election of Officers to be held at December Meeting
The present Officers all agreed to stay on in 2016 unless someone else on the Commission wants to run.  The Election will be held at the December 8 meeting.  Present Officers 2015:  Steve Ross  (Chairman), Ned Farman (Vice Chairman), Bill Harris (Treasurer) and Mike Magee (Secretary).  

d.      Next Meeting of the Harbor Management Commission
The next meeting of the Harbor Management Commission will be on December 8, 2015.


OTHER NEW BUSINESS
Steve Ross reviewed the Commission’s budget.  Last year the total budget was $900 for contracted services (Clerk) and $50 for miscellaneous and the actual spent was $800 for contracted services and $0 for miscellaneous.  Present year the budget is $900 for contracted services and $100 for miscellaneous.  The Commission agreed to keep the figures the same for 2016-17.  There was a discussion about capital expense and Steve Ross suggested that next year a capital Budget request should be included over the following 5 years for the dingy dock replacement or major repairs.

Steve Ross reported that he and Ned Farman had attended a seminar last Friday regarding legal issues involving rising tides.  They both felt it was worth their while to attend.   There will be another seminar in a few months. The issues involved are primary land use but also include HMC jurisdiction.

PUBLIC COMMENT – None


ADJOURNMENT
Robert Falaguerra moved to adjourn the meeting at 8:18 PM and John MacDonald seconded the motion.
SO VOTED.




Submitted by,


Mary Ellen Garbarino
Clerk