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| NORWALK HARBOR MANAGEMENT COMMISSION MINUTES |
CLICK HERE FOR HARBOR MANAGEMENT MAYORS WATER QUALITY COMMITTEE MINUTES
CLICK HERE FOR HARBOR MANAGEMENT APPLICATIO
AUGUST 23, 2006
ATTENDANCE: Anthony Mobilia, Chair; Jack Callahan; Pat Clark; Henry Palau; John
Pinto; John Romano.
STAFF: Geoff Steadman
OTHERS: Michael Griffin, Harbor Master
1. CALL TO ORDER
Mr. Mobilia called the meeting to order at 7:30 p.m.
Mr. Mobilia informed the Commissioners that Mr. D’Andrea, Mr. Cebrian and Mr. Farrow will not be in attendance, but he has received brief reports from each of them that will be presented later in the meeting.
2. CHAIRMAN’S REPORT
Administrative Business
Mr. Mobilia said that during the last month they sent out one letter to the DEP on 15 Sylvester Court with their comments and concerns. This was the NHMC’s final review on the project.
Mr. Mobilia reported that he has not heard back from the DPW regarding the City’s use of the CAD cells. The DPW was going to contact the Army Corps concerning the costs of the CAD cells and the refunds.
For the benefit of the two people who were not at last month’s meeting, he stated that the first committee meeting has been held on the I-95 runoff to see what can be done about it and get the ball rolling.
Discussion of State of the Harbor meeting
Mr. Mobilia stated that he would like to set a date for the State of the Harbor meeting tonight in order to have it in the next newsletter. The NHMC has traditionally held the meeting during the first week in November, and he could see no reason why they should not continue to hold this year’s meeting at that time. There was a discussion by Commission members regarding the date, as there will be an election on November 7th. Mr. Mobilia asked if they wanted to hold the meeting before the election or afterwards. Mr. Palau said he didn’t think the day after the election would be a good choice. Ms. Clark said that November 29th is the scheduled Harbor Commission meeting. Mr. Mobilia suggested Wednesday, November 1st or Thursday, November 2nd. Mr. Palau suggested the meeting be held after the 10th of November.
After further discussion, Wednesday, November 15 was chosen as the date for the State of the Harbor meeting. Mr. Mobilia said he would contact Mr. DeMarche tomorrow to schedule the room for the meeting. If the room is unavailable on that date, they can schedule the meeting for either November 14th or 16th, which gives some flexibility, or will see about finding a different room instead.
Mr. Mobilia asked if the Nominating Committee for the David S. Dunavan Stewardship Award has made any progress. Dr. Pinto said that the Committee has not yet had a chance to meet, and he will touch base with the other committee members, Mr. Cebrian and Mr. D’Andrea. Mr. Mobilia explained the award for Mr. Romano’s benefit, which was an award for outstanding service to Norwalk’s harbor. Ms. Clark stated that the award should not go to someone currently serving on the Commission. Dr. Pinto said the Committee will certainly entertain nominations, and if any of the Commission members have someone to nominate, they can forward the names to him.
Mr. Mobilia asked if they should keep the same form of the award, which has been a framed certificate. Dr. Pinto agreed that they should.
Correspondence
Mr. Mobilia reported that he and other Commission members have met with Mr. Robert Maslan to discuss what the NHMC’s overall response should be regarding Mr. Hilts’ letter. He said it was a very productive meeting and they were able to put together a draft response, which he printed out for the Commissioners review. He felt it was a good response by the Commission.
Ms. Clark said that one of the questions they had for Mr. Maslan was, does the NHMC respond to Mr. Hilts directly; or do they respond to DEP, and how should this be appropriately addressed? She said Mr. Maslan’s very strict reply was that the Commission writes to DEP and refer to the matter, but they do not respond directly.
Mr. Steadman asked if the letter has been sent yet. Mr. Mobilia said it has not, and that he wanted to get a consensus from the HMC first. Once everyone is in agreement then they can proceed with the response. He noted that the letter will not be “CC’d” to as many people that Mr. Hilts “CC’d” in his letter to the HMC, and he asked that if the other Commissioners had a name they thought the letter should be copied to, to please inform him.
3. COMMITTEE REPORTS
a) Application Review – Clark
1. 2006-10 ELAINE COTALING, 19 SYLVESTER COURT, EAST NORWALK
REVISED APPLICATION FOR WORK AT SAME ADDRESS, CT DEP #200303098-KB. NOTICE OF
INTENT TO WAIVE PUBLIC HEARING.
ORIGINALLY REVIEWED JUNE 28, 2006.
Ms. Clark said she wanted the record to show that the CT DEP number should show the letters “KB” after it; originally the “KB” did not appear.
Ms. Clark said that at the time the application was originally reviewed in June the HMC did not make a recommendation because there were too many questions about the application. At that time, both the NHMC and the Shellfish Commission questioned the four pilings on the floating dock and the two very short pilings at the front. They were unclear as to the purpose of the pilings, and the Shellfish Commission raised an objection.
The revision came back to the Application Committee still showing four pilings; only this time there were four tall pilings. The Shellfish Commission again came to the Application Committee and said they were very unhappy with the waterward pilings and that this was a productive shellfish area, and the pilings will inhibit work during the off season.
Ms. Clark said the agent for the applicant spoke with the surveyors and engineers and has sent forward a revised set of drawings. The 112-foot length from the existing sea wall to the outermost edge of the dock is unchanged from previous drawings; no dimension or height has changed. What has changed is the elimination of the two outermost pilings. There is now a drawing that shows two stabilizing pilings, which will be a bit more widely spaced that in the original application, to provide more stability. The purpose of the four pilings is not to keep the boat attached near the dock but to protect from buffeting of wind and waves.
Ms. Clark showed the revised drawings to the Commissioners. She said now the dock does float at mean low water and the pilings are shown on the landward side of the floating dock.
Mr. Palau asked how much of this would be removed in the winter. Ms. Clark said the ramp and the float would be removed; the pilings and the pier stay.
Ms. Clark said the revised drawing is dated 8-16-06 by William Seymour Associates. The drawings were also sent to the Shellfish Commission, and she has received a copy of their comments, in which they state that they have no objection to the revised drawing as shown.
Ms. Clark read the comments she received from John Frank to the Commissioners. She reiterated that the two extra pilings were not there to keep the floating dock off the bottom, but were there to mitigate the effect of wind and water from buffeting the dock. With the revision, it will now allow for shellfishing and the seasonal removal of the float. She suggested that, in light of no objection from the Shellfish Commission, she would put forward a motion for the NHMC’s consideration.
** MS. CLARK MOTIONED THAT THE HARBOR MANAGEMENT COMMISSION FINDS APPLICATION TO CT DEP #200303098-KB BY ELAINE COTALING FOR WORK AT 19 SYLVESTER COURT, EAST NORWALK INVOLVING CONSTRUCTION OF A 112’ PIER, RAMP, & FLOAT FOR RECREATION & BOATING IS CONSISTENT WITH THE HARBOR MANAGEMENT PLAN, AND MOVE TO RECOMMEND FAVORABLE ACTION WITH THE FOLLOWING CONDITION:
1. THAT NEITHER THE FLOAT NOR ANY VESSEL ATTACHED TO IT SHALL REST ON THE BOTTOM AT ANY TIDE.
** MR. PALAU SECONDED.
** MOTION PASSED UNANIMOUSLY.
2. OTHER COMMENTS AND DISCUSSIONS
There were no other comments or discussions.
b) Finance – Cebrian
Mr. Mobilia stated that as Mr. Cebrian was not at the meeting, there would be no report at this time, other than to say that the NHMC is still in good financial shape. Mr. Mobilia said Mr. Cebrian has promised a full report for the September meeting.
c) Web Page/Newsletter – Farrow
Mr. Mobilia indicated that as Mr. Farrow was not at the meeting, there would be no report at this time, other than to remind everyone that the deadline for the newsletter is August 31st and is quickly approaching.
Mr. Mobilia said that Mr. Farrow has requested the following articles be written for the newsletter: Mr. Mobilia, a cover article with photo; comments on dredging by Dr. Pinto; resources of the Norwalk Harbor by Mr. Steadman; water quality issues by Mr. D’Andrea; definitive history of Bell Island by Mr. Palau; a water safety article by Pete Lapak of the Norwalk Marine Unit; and an article from the Harbor Master, Mr. Griffin. Mr. Mobilia noted that Mr. Farrow is also waiting for an article from Mike Devine on the commercial aspects of the harbor. Mr. Farrow is also requesting photos accompanying the articles if there are any.
d) Boating and Harbor Safety – Farrow
There was no report at this time.
e) Water Quality Committee – D’Andrea
Mr. D’Andrea was not in attendance but Mr. Mobilia distributed Mr. D’Andrea’s written report and highlighted several points. A brief discussion followed about how to interpret the graphs that Mr. D’Andrea included with his report.
f) Norwalk River Watershed Initiative Committee – D’Andrea
There was no meeting of the Norwalk River Watershed Initiative for August.
g) Plans and Recommendations – Callahan
Mr. Callahan said that they did not have a report at this time, but he could give a general overview. The Committee had a meeting on the 16th and they are in the process of trying to develop a budget for the next four or five years to include everything they think will be needed. One thing that has come up in discussion has been a $30 or $40 mooring fee increase, which is larger than they’d like to see, but they don’t plan on increasing the fee again for a while. The Committee is working to get the budget running like a business should be running.
Ms. Clark asked if there was any discussion on the possibility of going to the club owners. Mr. Callahan said this has been thought of, and is part of Phase 2 of their overall plan. He said the next step is to try to determine where they will find money for the next five years, and to plan how to finance the next dredging. The biggest question they have had is what value is the Norwalk Harbor Management Commission. They need to come up with reasons why they need the money. Some will go to dredging; some will go to other things yet to be determined. He said Mr. Cebrian has some new numbers that he will present at their next meeting.
h) Dredging – Pinto and dredging committee (Mobilia, Griffin, Steadman)
Dr. Pinto stated that he has contacted Ed O’Donnell at the Army Corps to set up a meeting with himself, Mr. Mobilia, Mr. Steadman and Mr. Griffith to discuss options and proceedings for Phase II of the dredging project. He said that the dredging will be a major theme at the Connecticut Harbor Management annual meeting, and that he has asked Col. Talkin to give a presentation at the meeting.
i) Waterfront Facilities Advisory – Griffin
Mr. Griffin said they are very close to having the electrical stanchions upright on the docks. He said that a preliminary audit of activities at the docks indicates that they are running about even, or even a bit ahead, of activities from 2005. They did the audit early because of concerns that the uneven weather of past months might show a slowdown of activity, and they were pleased to note that activity remains at the same level despite the weather.
Mr. Griffin said there will be an exploratory meeting to discuss the Norwalk Marine Police base, whose lease is up with the City. The meeting will discuss the Marine Police base moving to the head of the harbor at the Coast Guard station. The meeting will include himself; Jeff Spahr; Mike Mocciae of Recreation and Parks; Sgt. Lapak; and Chief Rilling. Mr. Griffin noted that the Coast Guard station lease is also up and they are seeking to renew.
Discussion followed.
4. STAFF REPORTS
a) Harbor Master - Griffin
Mr. Michael Griffin distributed copies of his report to the members and discussed various points.
** MR. PINTO MOVED TO ACCEPT THE HARBOR MASTER’S REPORT.
** MR. CALLAHAN SECONDED.
** MOTION PASSED UNANIMOUSLY.
b) Consultant – Steadman
Mr. Steadman stated that he had no report, other than to mention there is a meeting scheduled for next week at 1pm regarding the public notice of the DEP permit to cross the Norwalk River with an electric cable, which appeared in the newspaper last week.
c) Planning & Zoning – Greene/DeMarche
There was no report at this time.
5. APPROVAL OF JULY 26, 2006 MINUTES
Corrections to the minutes of July 26, 2006 are as follows:
Page 1, Item #2, Chairman’s Report, 2nd paragraph; change 1st line to read,
“Mr. Mobilia said
that last month the Commission discussed the letter the Commission sent to the
Army
Corps about the City’s use of the CAD cells.”
Page 4, Item #3, Discussion of Letter to Peter Francis, DEP from John Hiltz;
change spelling of
“Mr. Hiltz” to “Mr. Hilts.” Delete the following line “2006-11 Geoffrey Beringer,
55
Roton Avenue, Rowayton” entirely.
Page 6, Item #4, Staff Reports, b) Consultant – Steadman; change 2nd sentence
to read, “He
summarized his meeting with John Pinto, Anthony Mobilia, Michael Griffith and
Marcy
Balint of DEP…..”
** MR. CALLAHAN MOTIONED TO ACCEPT THE MINUTES OF THE JULY 26, 2006 MEETING
AS AMENDED.
** MR. PALAU SECONDED.
** MOTION PASSED UNANIMOUSLY.
6. NEW BUSINESS / OLD BUSINESS
There was no old business.
Mr. Mobilia informed the Commission that he would be away from September 28th through October 15th.
7. ADJOURNMENT
** MR. PALAU MOTIONED TO ADJOURN THE MEETING.
** MR. MOBILIA SECONDED.
** MOTION PASSED UNANIMOUSLY.
The meeting was adjourned at 9:00 p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
Linda J. Hayes
Telesco Secretarial Services
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