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CITY OF NORWALK
HARBOR MANAGEMENT COMMISSION
REGULAR MEETING
DECEMBER 19, 2007

ATTENDANCE: Tony Mobilia, Chair; Pat Clark, Henry Palau, John Romano,
Jose Cebrian, Dr. John Pinto

STAFF: Geoffrey Steadman, Consultant, Michael Griffin, Norwalk Harbor Master, Adam Carson, Planning and Zoning

OTHERS: John Frank, Shellfish Commission Chair

CALL TO ORDER

Chairman Mobilia called the meeting to order at 7:43 p.m.

PUBLIC COMMENT

There was no one from the public present to comment.

CHAIRMAN’S REPORT

Chairman Mobilia said that he would like to report on the grant request. Chairman Mobilia said that the grant deadline date was moved up to the 27th. He said there would be a meeting with Mr. Hamilton by this Friday. Chairman Mobilia and Mr. Cebrian have worked on the proposed budget. Mr. Cebrian passed out copies of the proposed budget. Chairman Mobilia then reviewed the budget figures with the Commission. The Commission discussed the details of the proposed budget.

Chairman Mobilia then distributed copies of a letter to Mr. Ozzie Lewis of the Finance Department regarding the Grant Agency Funding Application.

** MR. ROMANO MOVED TO APPROVE THE 08-09 PROPOSED BUDGET AS PRESENTED.
** MR. PALAU SECONDED.
** THE MOTION PASSED UNANIMOUSLY.

Mr. Romano left the meeting at 8:07 p.m.

A letter has been received from the Mayor’s Office regarding a possible Norwalk Harbor Commission donation of harbor pictures for the Mayor’s Ball. Chairman Mobilia asked if the Committee would like to do this again. The Committee agreed.

Chairman Mobilia said that he had attended the Maritime Meeting with Harbor Master Griffin. The items that were appropriated will be discussed later in the meeting.

Three letters were sent out: one to Jeffrey Miller regarding his reinstatement fee; a letter to Allison Tamsett at the DEP regarding Mr. and Mrs. Arthur Draper, and letter to Mr. Brian Thompson of the DEP regarding the Shore and Country Club permit.

APPLICATION REVIEW

1. 2007-25 – The Norwalk Boat Club, Inc. 11 Wall Street, Norwalk c/o Thomas Bonaventura

COP Application to CT DEP to conduct maintenance dredging at an existing boat club, and to replace part of the existing floating dock structures. The dredging is to remove approximately 2,800 cu yards of sediment to a finished depth of 6’ below mean low water, with a 1’ overdredge allowed; dredged material to be transported to in-water disposal sites. In additional some sections of a permitted, existing timber, pile-supported floating dock system will be replaced in-kind and at the permitted locations.

** MS. CLARK RECOMMENDED THAT APPLICATION 2007-05 BE APPROVED :

THE NORWALK HARBOR MANAGEMENT COMMISSION FINDS THE APPLICATION FOR COP TO THE CT DEP BY THE NORWALK BOAT CLUB FOR WORK AT THE SAME INVOLVING MANTAINANCE DREDGING OF 2800 CUBIC YARDS TO 6’ MEAN WATER LEVE AND 1’ OVERDREDGE AND REPLACEMENT OF DETERIORATING SECTIONS OF EXISITING DOCKS IN KIND AND IN PERMITTED LOCATIONS IS CONSISTENT WITH THE HARBOR MANAGEMENT PLAN, AND MOVED TO RECOMMEND FAVORABLE ACTION WITH THE FOLLOWING CONDITIONS:

1. ALL IN WATER STRUCTURES REMOVED PRIOR TO DREDGING SHALL BE REPLACED IN THEIR PERMITTED LOCATIONS AND A COPY OF THE AS BUILT SURVEY BE PROVIDED TO THE COMMISSION.

** MR. PALAU SECONDED.

The Commission then discussed the inclusion of a statute citation with the documents.

Ms. Clark said that the Shellfish Commission had submitted the following comment:

“The application is for maintenance of an older facility in a developed area and should have no impact on shellfish resource, as long as the usual safeguards are required as to winter dredging season. We have no objections to this project.”

** THE MOTION PASSED UNANIMOUSLY.

Ms. Clark said that the Committee was considering the idea of working with applicants prior to the full application process.

COMMITTEE REPORT

a. Finance

Mr. Cebrian then reviewed the monthly budget for December with the Commission members.

b. Web Page/Newsletter - No report

c. Boating and Harbor Safety. - No report

d. Water Quality Committee - No report.

e. Watershed Initiative Advisory Committee – No report

f. Plans and Recommendations – No report

g. Dredging

Dr. Pinto announced that funds had been appropriated funds of 5.6 million for dredging, plus 1 million for capping from the CT Maritime Commission. Chairman Mobilia said that Ms. McCarthy and Mr. Genuario were in attendance. The discussion at the meeting was very interesting. The Commission then discussed the issues regarding capping requirements and funding that had been brought up at this meeting. After a lengthy discussion, Ms. Clark pointed out that the Harbor Commission will have to have a discussion with the Army Corps of Engineer to prioritize the projects and allocate the funding effectively. Dr. Pinto pointed out that the Federal funding had been explored and now the funding will be coming from the State. The Mayor will need to take an very active role in this process, along with Mr. Cafero. Ms. Clark pointed out that the Norwalk Harbor Commission is leading the way and many different communities are watching Norwalk. Chairman Mobilia said that he would contact the Mayor and see if he could arrange a breakfast meeting with him before Chairman Mobilia leaves on his trip.

h. Waterfront Facilities Advisory

Harbor Master Griffin then reviewed his report with the Commission. Harbor Master Griffin had asked Mr. Steadman to check to find out how many of the City docks are in the Federal waterway and when the docks will need to be removed to allow the other the project to proceed.

STAFF REPORTS

a. Harbor Master

Harbor Master Griffin presented the Harbor Master’s report and informed the Commission that the Route 136/Washington Street bridge closings had been changed slightly. He then gave Chairman Mobilia an updated schedule.

Chairman Mobilia then said that Harbor Master Griffin had received a letter from Ms. Peggy Dannmann regarding a recent regatta that took place in the Norwalk River. She expressed her appreciation for Harbor Master Griffin’s assistance with the event. Harbor Master Griffin said that a major portion of the credit needed to go to Commission for appointing an Assistant Harbor Master, which helped tremendously.

Harbor Master Griffin then presented that Harbor Manager’s Report to the Commission. He then explained that one of the amounts had since been changed and reviewed the corrected figures with the Commission.

Harbor Master Griffin then distributed copies of some material regarding the ACOE that he had received at a recent meeting.

Mooring renewal applications will be sent out on December 31st. If dredging starts on October 1st, this will require the boats to be out of the water and the tackle out of the water. Dr. Pinto suggested that perhaps the mooring fees could be adjusted for the following year. Ms. Clark suggested that a general statement be included that there is a chance that there could be dredging in the fall.

Harbor Master Griffin reported that the seven fluid filled cables have been completely removed from the Sound. The ship with the cable replacement is expected to arrive off of Sheffield Island in mid-February.

** MS. CLARK MOVED TO ACCEPT THE HARBOR MASTERS REPORT.
** DR. PINTO SECONDED.
** THE MOTION PASSED UNANIMOUSLY.

b. Consultant – No report.

c. Planning and Zoning

Mr. Carson said that there would be a change in staff in the coming months because one staff member left and the other staff would be changing positions.

APPROVAL OF THE NOVEMBER 28, 2007 MINUTES

The following changes were noted:

Page 1, third paragraph: please change the following from:

“Chairman Mobilia explained that Mr. Miller had sent a letter to the Harbor Commission regarding a reinstatement fee for his mooring. A Mooring Inspector notified harbor Master Griffin about this.”

To:

Chairman Mobilia explained that Mr. Miller had sent a letter to the Harbor Commission regarding a reinstatement fee for his mooring. The Harbor Master had identified the mooring as being not permitted in September. A Mooring Inspector notified harbor Master Griffin about this.”

Page 2, motion: please change the following from:

** MR. GERAGHTY MOVED THAT THE REQUEST FOR REFUND OF MOORING FEES BE DENIED.
** MR. D’ANDREA SECONDED.

To :

** MR. GERAGHTY MOVED THAT THE REQUEST FOR RELIEF OF REINSTATEMENT FEES BE DENIED.
** MR. D’ANDREA SECONDED.

Page 2, Chairman’s Report: please change the following items from:

Chairman Mobilia said that more letters had been sent out then stated. One letter went to Alison Tamsett at the Norwalk Yacht Club, another to Mr. Anthony Whitworth, Mr. Thomas Juterbock and Mr. Charles Berman for the work in Norwalk Harbor and a draft to Mr. David Kozak of the Connecticut Coastal and Estuarine Land Conservation Program Plan.

Chairman Mobilia said that he had attended the meeting that Dr. Pinto had organized which was well run and enjoyable.

To:

Chairman Mobilia said that more letters had been sent out then stated. One letter went to Alison Tamsett at the DEP for Norwalk Yacht Club, another to the DEP Mr. Anthony Whitworth, Mr. Thomas Juterbock and Mr. Charles Berman for the work in Norwalk Harbor and a draft to Mr. David Kozak of the Connecticut Coastal and Estuarine Land Conservation Program Plan.

Chairman Mobilia said that he had attended the meeting that Dr. Pinto had organized for the CHMAS which was well run and informative.

** MR. PALUA MOVED TO APPROVE THE MINUTES OF NOVEMBER 28, 2007 MINUTES AS CORRECTED.
** MR. CEBRIAN SECONDED.
** THE MOTION PASSED UNANIMOUSLY.

NEW BUSINESS

There was no new business to discuss at this time.

OLD BUSINESS

Mr. Steadman then had a question about the a recent permit that was issued Mr. Roger Smith, 57 Roton Avenue, regarding the language used by the DEP. Harbor Master Griffin then asked why the DEP did not use the language that the Harbor Commission had submitted to them. Mr. Steadman asked how the State would enforce this.

ADJOURNMENT

** MR. PALAU MOVED TO ADJOURN.
** Mr. CEBRIAN SECONDED.
** THE MOTION PASSED UNANIMOUSLY.

The meeting adjourned at 10:05 p.m.

Respectfully submitted,

Sharon L. Soltes
Telesco Secretarial Service

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