CLICK HERE FOR HARBOR MANAGEMENT MAYORS WATER QUALITY COMMITTEE MINUTES

CLICK HERE FOR HARBOR MANAGEMENT APPLICATION REVIEW COMMITTEE MINUTES

HARBOR MANAGEMENT COMMISSION

MARCH 24, 2004

ATTENDANCE: John Pinto, Chairman; Jack Callahan; Pat Clark; Jason Farrow; Tony Mobilia; Henry Palau; Dick Ramsey

STAFF: Mike Griffin, Harbormaster; Cheryl Vallerie, Staff

GUESTS: Jack Casagrande, Norwalk Shellfish Commissioner

CALL TO ORDER

Mr. Pinto called the meeting to order at 7:35 p.m.

APPROVAL OF MINUTES FROM FEBRUARY 2004 MEETING

** MR. PALAU MOVED TO ACCEPT THE MINUTES AS SUBMITTED
** MR. FARROW SECONDED
** MOTION PASSED UNANIMOUSLY

CHAIRMAN’S REPORT

Mr. Pinto reported that the Mayor forwarded a letter that was addressed to him from James Crain who is the Chairman of the Five Mile River Authority. Mr. Crain wrote to the Mayor requesting language that the Five Mile River Authority could use in their mooring regulations. Mr. Pinto noted that the Norwalk Harbor Management Commission has no jurisdiction within the Five Mile River as it has an autonomous Commission authorized by the State of Connecticut to handle their own issues, but would generate a letter offering assistance to help them adopt language required. Mayor Knopp has requested that Ed Schmidt be the focal point.

Mr. Pinto briefly reviewed the following letters he sent out on behalf of the Commission:

a. Letter to DEP regarding City’s Support of the Designation of Dredged Material Disposal sites in CLIS and WLIS
b. Cover letter to Senators Dodd and Lieberman regarding the City’s request for Senate appropriations for funding Norwalk’s Federal Navigation Project (FNP).
c. Draft letter for Senator Dodd and Lieberman to authorize and sign requesting appropriations from the subcommittee on Energy and Water Development
d. Letter to Congressman Shays requesting his support from the House of Representatives to obtain appropriations as in item “c” above
e. Cover letter to Senator Lieberman’s office explaining previously sent letters and material that requests Federal legislation to re-align channel boundaries in the Northern sector of the Norwalk’s FNP
f. Letter prepared for Mayor Knopp’s approval and signature to request funding for Norwalk’s FNP

g. Letter to USACE justifying the economic value and importance of Norwalk Harbor to Southwestern CT

Mr. Callahan commended Mr. Pinto on the letters.

COMMISSION ADMINISTRATIVE BUSINESS

a. 2003 Annual NHMC report; Outline and discussion of material sent by committee chairpersons

Mr. Pinto said that he is waiting for additional information from some of the committee chairmen regarding their yearly reports. Once all committee activities have been updated, he plans to incorporate that information into the Harbor Commission’s Annual Report.

b. Status of Harbor Management Plan revision

Mr. Steadman said that the goal is to have this ready by the April meeting.

COMMITTEE REPORTS

a. Web Page/Newsletter – Mobilia

Mr. Mobilia said that the newsletter is finished and has been mailed. Also a copy has been put on the Commission’s website. The next deadline is August 31st. He said that he has some changes to make to the website such as Commissioner names. He will make those changes and, at the same time, make the changes to the new fee schedule.

Finance – Ramsey – Approval of Commission’s proposed budget for 2004

Mr. Ramsey distributed and reviewed the proposed budget. He said that he included suggestions that came out of the last meeting.

** MR. RAMSEY MOVED TO APPROVE THE PROPOSED 2004 BUDGET
** MS. CLARK SECONDED

The Commissioners discussed funding for the Water Quality Interns. They also discussed the postage costs, which is an on-going problem. Mr. Griffin reviewed his annual mailings and suggested monitoring postage usage.

** MOTION PASSED UNANIMOUSLY

APPLICATION REVIEW – Clark

Comment to DEP application by 70 Water Street, LLC for work at 68 Water Street that involves installation of floating dock

In the absence of Ms. Clark at the March Application Review meeting, Mr. Pinto said that this Committee met and received as part of the review a permit application for 68 Water Street. He said that the applicant has a number of outstanding violations. The Application Review Committee submitted the following recommendation to the full Commission:

** MR. PALAU MOVED THAT THE APPLICATION REVIEW COMMITTEE HAS REVIEWED THE PERMIT APPLICATION BY 70 WATER STREET LLC FOR WORK AT 68 WATER STREET INVOLVING INSTALLATION OF A FLOATING DOCK

THE COMMITTEE RECOMMENDS THAT NO ACTION BE TAKEN ON THIS APPLICATION AT THIS TIME PENDING RECEIPT OF INFORMATION FROM DEP REGARDING DISPOSITION OF PRIOR VIOLATIONS CITED IN THE DEP’S NOV (Notice of Violation) LETTER NO.# LIS – 99-083, DATED 6/20/00

** MR. PINTO SECONDED

Mr. Pinto said that he has been asking the DEP what they plan to do about the long-standing violations. The applicant is well aware of the violations and should attend to those violations, although the application states that there have been no violations on the site during the last five years. Mr. Palau said that the application is deficient, and recommended that the Commission hold comment until it gets answers from the DEP about the violations.

Mr. Callahan presented file photographs of the site. Mr. Steadman added that it appears that all of the work there is illegal.

** MOTION PASSED UNANIMOUSLY

** MS. CLARK MOVED TO SUSPEND THE RULES FOR THE PURPOSE OF ADDING AN ITEM TO THE AGENDA
** MR. PINTO SECONDED

Ms. Clark explained that she received a proposed amendment from the Zoning Commission regarding application requirements. The changes have to do with bringing time specifications in accordance with the rest of the State Statutes.

** MS. CLARK MOVED THAT THE APPLICATION REVIEW COMMITTEE HAS REVIEWED THE PROPOSAL BY THE CITY OF NORWALK ZONING COMMISSION #1-04R FOR AMENDMENTS TO ACTICLE 111 & 140 REGARDING APPLICATION REVIEW REQUIREMENTS AND FINDS THE APPLICATION IS CONSISTENT WITH THE HARBOR MANAGEMENT PLAN AND MOVES TO RECOMMEND FAVORABLE ACTION

** MR. PALAU SECONDED
** MOTION PASSED UNANIMOUSLY

BOATING & HARBOR SAFETY – Farrow

Discussion of proposed changes to mooring rules and regulations

Mr. Farrow distributed and reviewed documents relative to changes in the mooring rules and regulations. The Commissioners commented and Mr. Farrow will make the revisions reflecting those comments and return the documents for further review and a final vote. Mr. Callahan said that Mr. Farrow has added clarity to the new mooring rules and regulations. The Commissioners agreed and said that once Mr. Steadman “fine-tunes” the language they will need to be approved. After that the regulations will go to a public hearing because fees changes are involved.

DREDGING – Pinto and Dredging Committee (Mobilia, Griffin, Steadman)

Mr. Pinto reported that the City’ contract with the USACE needs to be signed before going back to the Army Corps of Engineers. Mr. Griffin distributed and reviewed a summary of the outstanding issues necessary to be completed before dredging can begin. He presented aerial photographs of the dredging site.

MAYOR’S WATER QUALITY – D’Andrea

In Mr. D’Andrea’s absence, Mr. Pinto reviewed the Water Quality report. Two Water Quality Interns have been lined up for this summer. Letters have also been sent to universities and other interested parties looking for summer interns.

Mr Pinto said that Mr. D’Andrea will hold a Water Quality meeting in April and requested assistance from Mr. Ramsey if he would be a member of the Water Quality Committee. Mr. Ramsey agreed to serve on the Committee.

The Norwalk Harbor was included in a draft report put out by the DEP indicating bodies of water that do not meet water quality standards. The inner and outer harbors were included in that report due to excess nitrogen found in the water.

Mr. Casagrande spoke about two spills that occurred recently. The substation in East Norwalk broke down and raw sewage went into the Mill Pond. The other spill took place at the substation in the Wilson Cove area. He said that he was very concerned about the lack of proper notification to the City departments.

Mr. Griffin added that when he attended the Shellfish Commission meeting on February 11, 2004, it was clear that the Shellfish Commissioners were outraged about how the two spills were handled. Mr. Pinto said that Harbor Management Commission shares in those concerns and offered to join forces with the Shellfish Commission to correct any future occurrences and reporting issues.

WATERFRONT FACILITIES ADVISORY - Griffin

Mr. Griffin reported that he attended the Shellfish Commission meeting. He submitted a copy of his Harbor Dredging report that he gave to the Shellfish Commission.

Mr. Griffin said that the Visitor Docks will open in mid April. The City is working on a credit card system that will be able to accept payments. The Harbor Master’s boat is ready for launch.

On March 30th, Mr. Griffin announced that the Marketing Director for the City along with the consultants to the MidHarbor Planning project will be given a boat tour of the Norwalk Harbor and invited the Commissioners to join them.

NEW BUSINESS

Mr. Pinto announced that environmental seminars are being sponsored by Northeast Utilities and welcomed the Commissioners to attend those conferences.

STAFF REPORTS

A. Harbormaster’s Report – Griffin

Mr. Griffin submitted and reviewed his written March Norwalk Harbor report.
The Commission accepted the Harbormasters report.

ADJOURNMENT

** MR. PALAU MOVED TO ADJOURN
** MS. CLARK SECONDED
** MOTION PASSED UNANIMOUSLY

The meeting was adjourned at 10:15 p.m.

Respectfully submitted,

Rosemarie Lombardi
Telesco Secretarial Service

Back to Previous Page	Back to Home Page