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Harbor Management Commission Minutes 03/08/2016
Meeting Minutes
The Old Lyme Harbor Management Commission
March 8, 2016



ATTENDANCE


Regular Members Present:  Bob Doyen, Robert Falaguerra, Ned Farman, George Finley, Bill Harris, John MacDonald, Mike Mackey (ex-officio), Michael Magee, Steven Ross

Alternate Members Present:  

Absent:  Tom Myer, Harry Plaut (ex-officio)

Guests:  Geoff Marsh, Gene Chimiel, Ron Swaney

Chairman Steven Ross called the meeting to order at 7:00 PM.  Mr. Ross congratulated George Finley and John MacDonald for becoming Regular Members in January.


REPORTS
a.       Clerks Report:  Approval of Minutes
Bill Harris moved to accept the minutes of Regular Meeting December 8, 2015 and John MacDonald seconded the motion.  SO VOTED.

b.      Correspondence
Steven Ross reported that he had received an email from the DEEP regarding an approved COP for maintenance dredging by Black Hall Outfitters.  Gene Chimiel stated that the State has approved everything and they are now waiting for approval from the Army Corp of Engineers.  Mr. Ross reported that he had received a COP application approval by the DEEP for Lenice Fiala of 8 Bank Road.

c.       Treasurer’s Report for Dec. 2015 through Feb. 2016 - Bill Harris
Bill Harris presented the Treasurer’s Report.  The beginning balance was $19,857.60, Interest and Dividends $12.98, Cash Receipts $1,175.00 and Disbursements $250.00.  The ending balance $20,795.58.  The Treasurer’s Report was accepted.


CURRENT BUSINESS
a.       Member Appointments
Bill Harris was re-appointed in January.  In January, the Selectmen appointed both John MacDonald and George Finley as Regular Members.  There are currently three openings for Alternates.

b.      Pilgrim Landing – Mike Magee
Mike Magee reported that there are still a few boats on the racks that were left there all winter and there is quite a bit of debris which may go out with the next high tide.

c.      Dinghy Dock – Mike Mackey
George Finley will provide the wood needed to repair the dock and will contact Steve Ross once he has it.  


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
John MacDonald will contact B.J. Bernblum of the Halls Road Improvement Committee to coordinate efforts on this matter.  Steve Ross stated that he has an artist’s rendering of what the footbridge should look like.  He will turn this over to the Committee.
                
2.  Phase 3 Proposed Ramp
There was a discussion about design ideas.  Steve Ross stated that there needs to be an elevated walkway to the water that has handrails and is ADA accessible.  Members discussed having a platform at the end of the walkway, possibly 5 by 20 feet in size, where people could fish from.  Bob Doyen moved to get proposals for the design from three engineers for the work, and George Finley seconded the motion.  SO VOTED.   Steve Ross will contact Docko, Coastline and McDonald Sharpe.

        
COMMITTEE REPORTS
a.      Harbor Master Report Harry Plaut and Mike Mackey
Harry Plaut was absent so there was no Harbor Master’s Report.  Mike Mackey reported that to date 45 mooring applications have been received.  Some inspection reports have also been received.  

Steve Ross stated that Harry Plaut had expressed a concern that Patriot had not taken out a mooring permit application when they did the dredging work.  There was a discussion.  Robert Falaguerra moved and George Finley seconded that companies contracted by the HMC or the Town of Old Lyme may have a temporary mooring permit.  Said companies would need to notify the Harbor Master with the location.  The permit fee would be waived.  SO VOTED.

b.      Dredging Ned Farman and Steven Ross
Ned Farman gave an update.  The Dredge Contracts were signed mid-September 2015, mobilization early October 2015 and de-mobilization March 2, 2016.  
Dredge totals in cubic yards: Four Mile River 8,297 (survey of 9-28-16) and Black Hall River 10,310 (survey of 2-23-16).
Difficulties encountered were inadequate pre-dredge channel depths, wind and waves, weather delays, ACOE extensions, hard-packed sand outside the Amtrak Bridge, could not mobilize at DEEP Four Mile Boat Launch, scow grounding at South Lyme Marina 8 Bank Street.  
There was a discussion about having surveys done in April 2017 to see what changes there might be.  The cost of the surveys will be $8,855.00.  The total cost for the project to date is $1,545,670.00 and the grants were in the amount of $1,800,000.00.  There is one outstanding invoice from Coastline which will complete all expenditures.  The amount for the surveys in 2017 will cost $8,855.00 and the remainder would be returned to the State.  Steve Ross will communicate with Joe Salvatore from the DOT to review the process of returning the surplus funds.  There was a discussion about having more surveys done over the next five to seven years.

Guest Ron Swaney, who owns property on the Black Hall River, feels that the survey is necessary.  Mr. Swaney had some questions and concerns about the dredging.  He had taken photos of what he was speaking of. Steve Ross suggested that Mr. Swaney go to the Town Hall and review the dredging documents.  Mr. Ross will do the same and have a conversation in the future.  Mr. Swaney will email the photos he took to Mr. Ross.
Gene Chimiel (Black Hall Outfitters) asked who is responsible for marking the channels into the Black Hall River. There was a discussion about how this has been done in the past.  There are two markers, an inside and an outside.  The outside marker location is designated by the Coast Guard and placed and voluntarily managed by the Town.  The inside marker is not done by the Town and according to Mr. Chimiel is even more critical than the outside marker.  Steve Ross will speak to Harry Plaut and have him get in contact with Mr. Chimiel.  The Harbor Management Commission agreed to donate a marker to Mr. Chimiel and waive the annual fee each year if he will place it.  Mr. Chimiel is happy to work with the HMC on this matter.  

Ned Farman reported on a letter from the CHMA in response to Senator Kennedy of the Environment Committee which proposed Raised Bill No. 78 An Act Concerning the Disposition of Dredged Material from Certain Harbors and Ports on Long Island Sound. There was a discussion.  


NEW BUSINESS
a.       Applications for dock, etc.
Black Hall Outfitters – COP approved by the DEEP February 19, 2016
Alan Todd, 100 Mile Creek Road – Permit issued for walkway to Mile Creek
COP application approval by the DEEP for Lenice Fiala of 8 Bank Road

b.      Next meeting:  March 8, 2016
The next meeting of the Harbor Management Commission will be on April 12, 2016.


OTHER NEW BUSINESS


PUBLIC COMMENT
The public made comments during the meeting.


ADJOURNMENT
Robert Falaguerra moved to adjourn the meeting at 8:09 PM and John MacDonald seconded the motion.
SO VOTED.



Submitted by,


Mary Ellen Garbarino
Clerk


NOTICE: Messages to or from the Town of Old Lyme domain are subject to the Freedom of Information statutes and regulations.