The Stonington Harbor Management Commission held a regular meeting on Monday, May 8, 2006 at 7:00 p.m. at Stonington Police Headquarters. Committee members present were Chairman Peter Vermilya, George Kenyon, Jack Gorby, Arthur Medeiros, Rodney Johnstone, Ed Smith, and William Abt. Rose Raffo and William Geary were absent. Harbormaster Eric Donch and Deputy Harbormaster Lennon were present.
Chairman Vermilya called the meeting to order at 7:20 p.m.
Approval of Minutes
Mr. Smith made a motion to accept the April 10, 2006 minutes. Mr. Gorby seconded the motion and it was unanimously approved.
Correspondence
Chairman Vermilya did not receive any correspondence pertaining to the Commission’s jurisdiction this month.
Harbormaster’s Report
Harbormaster Donch said that no new mooring permits were issued or offered this month. Four moorings were given up and there were three additions to the waiting list which totals 196. He reported that 255 mooring renewals are complete, 23 are pending, and 10 have not been returned.
Harbormaster Donch received 4 written requests for docks at Stonington Commons. Commission members will make phone calls to the waiting list in an effort to fill the six remaining docks at Stonington Commons. If additional responses are not received by May 22, 2006, the Commission will inform the dock managers, SHYC, so that SHYC can fill the remaining public slips.
Harbormaster Donch met with John Stewart, the Stonington Commons Dockmaster and gave him a tour of the harbor and a copy of the Harbor Management Plan.
The Robert G has been launched and is running well. PMW has ordered a larger prop. Upon installation, the boat will be ready for service.
Mr. Kenyon made a motion to accept the Harbormaster’s Report. Mr. Medeiros seconded the motion and it was so voted.
Treasurer’s Report
Mr. Abt reported SHMC $19,634.05 cash available at the end of April. Total revenue collected from January through April totals $8,817.50. Mr. Medeiros made a motion to accept the Treasurer’s Report. Mr. Smith seconded the motion and it was unanimously approved.
SHMC Draft Budget 2006
Commission members reviewed the budget which now includes expected expenses of the Harbormaster. During April, Don’s Dock was paid $280.00 for bottom painting of the Robert G. Pending bills include $2,262.75 for a new Dell laptop computer and $2,962.50 to Docko for the design of the harbormaster boat dock ($2,700.00) and DEP permit ($262.50).
Harbormaster Dock Permit Application
Docko redesigned the proposed fixed dock to include a set of stairs. The next step will be to obtain First Selectman Brown’s signature and submit the application to the DEP.
Duerden Certificate of Permission Application
The Commission reviewed without comment the application to rebuild the existing dock. Chairman Vermilya, after hearing no comments, stated that he would send a letter stating that the Commission had no objections to the COP application.
Sunken Vessels Removal Bill
Connecticut has passed a bill transferring authority for removing abandoned vessels from the DOT to the DEP.
Status of Revised Harbor Management Plan
A committee meeting will be scheduled to review the revised Harbor Management Plan.
New Business
The Commission discussed whether an individual who already had one mooring in the harbor should be granted a permit for a second mooring if his/her name had arisen to the top of the waiting list. In some cases the situation was complicated by the fact that the name on the waiting list was a corporate name directly or indirectly controlled by the individual who already had a mooring.
The Commission will seek Attorney Londregan’s opinion, as this issue will need to be addressed in the revised harbor management plan.
Adjournment
Mr. Kenyon made a motion to adjourn the meeting at 8:35 p.m. Mr. Johnstone seconded the motion and it was so voted.
Respectfully submitted,
Peter Vermilya, Chairman
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