PAWCATUCK RIVER HARBOR MANAGEMENT COMMISSION
REGULAR MEETING
August 11, 2005
Chairman Dilley called the meeting to order at 7:07 pm. Those present at this meeting of the Pawcatuck River Harbor Management Commission held at the Edythe K. Richmond Homes Community Building were:
Mr. Scott Dilley, Chairman Dr. Richard Berman, Regular Member
Mr.George M. Smith, Secretary Mrs. Joyce Ballou, Regular Member
Mr. Steven Schaub, Alternate Member Mr. David Forbes, Member ex-officio
Absent: Mr. Bernard Chalecki, Regular Member, Mr. Garry Preble, Alternate
Chairman Dilley appointed Mr. Schaub as a voting member this evening in Mr. Chalecki’s sted.
July 14, 2005, Regular Meeting Minutes were reviewed and changes made. Mr. Schaub made a motion to accept the minutes with these changes. Mrs. Ballou seconded, and motion passed unanimously.
The report by the Harbormaster was presented, followed by discussion. Mr. Bob Arnold, member of the public present this evening questioned if there were mooring grids, and the number of legal/approved moorings. Questions, comments and discussion with commission members and members of the public followed. Mrs. Ballou made a motion to accept the report, seconded by Mr. Schaub. Motion passed unanimously.
There were no reports presented by local, state and federal representatives.
Correspondence received was a letter from the Finance Department regarding budgets.
Chairman Dilley advised that the Plan will now be posted on the Town’s web site for all to view, along with any other pertinent information from this commission. He had downloaded “Duties of a Connecticut Harbormaster” from the internet. Mr. Schaub will review it for purposes of inserting into Section 5 of the Plan. The Commission will wait until the governor has made the final decision on who is currently the Pawcatuck Harbormaster before seeking candidates for an assistant.
Chairman Dilley passed out an improved version of the map on Temporary Anchorage. Mrs. Ballou felt the need to show where oyster beds were, where the channel is and buoy locations, etc. Chairman Dilley will work on this.
It was decided that before the Plan was presented again to the State, various groups will be presented it for signoff. These groups include the Town attorney’s office, the Police Department, the Selectmen and WPCA. Mrs. Ballou will ask the Selectman who else should be included in this signoff group.
Chairman Dilley downloaded a simpler, more condensed history of the river from the internet than the one currently in the Plan. He advised he would work on improving the Water Quality section of the Plan. He added that the Recommendations section of the Plan needed work based on the input received from the last public meeting. He deleted Stanton Weir from the Public Access section. He said that every Monday following a regular meeting he would post any changes/revisions to the Plan on the Town website. He will attempt to note changes in red. Once agreed the changes will be posted on the website. Prior to sending the Plan to the State again there would be one more public workshop, a fine tuning, and then the Commission will vote to accept all changes. The Plan and its changes
are also on file at the Town Hall. Mrs. Ballou advised that this Commission’s file cabinet has been moved and is currently located in the break room.
The Plan Appendix currently consists of two maps. There was discussion as to the location of Plan definitions, i.e., front or back of the Plan.
Chairman Dilley asked that consideration be given to the price of commercial mooring fees. Currently the Plan has commercial mooring at ten times that of a private one ($250. and $25. respectively.)
The Interstate Management Plan is now non-existent.
Dr. Berman made a motion that an article he presented from a local newspaper regarding Stonington’s fishing pier be entered as New Business. Mrs. Ballou seconded and motion passed unanimously. Further, Dr. Berman made a motion that a letter be sent to the First Selectman congratulating him on his efforts regarding this. Mr. Schaub seconded. Motion passed unanimously.
Several random topics from the public followed:
Mr. Forbes inquired about the possibility of his having a Harbormaster tee shirt to ward off inquiries as to why he was on and around the river.
Mr. Paul Etzel questioned the replacement of a missing (no wake) buoy that was near his boat. He is ordering another one. Chairman Dilley will inquire, but has no authority.
Mr. Forbes asked about commission members missing four consecutive meetings. Chairman Dilley will look into the reasons for absence and discuss at the next meeting.
People voiced concern about lack of police patrol along the river. Mrs. Ballou made a motion that Chairman Dilley communicate with police on this. Dr. Berman seconded and it passed unanimously.
There being for further business, Mrs. Ballou made a motion to adjourn at 9:00 pm, seconded by Mr. Smith. Motion passed unanimously.
Respectfully submitted, George Smith, Secretary
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