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SHELLFISH
COMMISSION MEETING MINUTES
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December 7, 2006
CALL TO ORDER 7:20 PM
ATTENDANCE
Commission: John Frank, Jack Casagrande, Richard Bartoli, Pete Johnson, Dr.
Serena
Staff: Tom Closter
Police: Sgt LaPak
Advisory: Harbormaster Mike Griffin, Mark Errico
Guest: Tim Pramer, Doug Stabell
MINUTES OF LAST MEETING
November minutes read with no corrections by Pete Johnson, 2nd by Dr. Serena
October minutes read with no corrections by Pete Johnson, 2nd by Dr. Serena
TREASURER
Mr. Johnson reports:
OPENING BALANCE 10-31-06 $24,368.51
NAME DATE AMOUNT REASON
INCOME INTEREST OCTOBER $106.00
EXPENSES POLICE OT 11-10-06 ($54.96)
POLICE OT 11-24-06 ($109.93)
($164.89)
PRESENT BALANCE 11-30-06 $24,309.62
Balance 11-30-05 $21,412.79
Balance 11-30-04 $19,519.40
SECRETARY
Commissioner Frank reports complete copy of DEP file on Evans permit has been
received, on Nov 16th, pursuant to a request for it in April. Ms Jacobson
now says it was delayed because she did not have an address. There is a June
05 letter in there from Mr. Hilts in which he points out that the anchors
and chains will damage the oyster bed. There is NO copy of
Page 2 of 4
the Ryan & Faulds survey, although Ms Jacobson claims it was part of the
original application. There is a page, which may have been sent by mistake,
which shows several other projects, in
other CT harbors, where piers with boatlifts are part of the original design.
An email has been sent to DEP-OLISP, Ms Jacobson, pointing out these discrepancies
and there has been no response.
Peter Frances, at DEP-OLISP, has asked for a meeting with the chair and Mr.
Hilts about a list of Mr. Hilts projects that have been delayed for some time
in the permit process, partly because of our objections to the designs. Mr.
Hilts replied immediately and indicated he wanted to bring the clients (applicants)
and their respective attorneys and expected to see some evidence to support
our claim that shellfish beds are damaged by designs where there is no water
at low tide, and docks (and boats) rest on the bottom.. Chair agreed to participate,
but rejected the proffered dates, in September, offered to meet in November,
and suggested the meeting should be in Norwalk. Chair also pointed out the
peculiar coincidence that Hilts was now using the same language that Frances
had used when we met with Comm. McCarthy last November. There has been no
response. One of the Hilts clients named by Frances is a Mr. Smith on Farm
Creek. He has applied for a concrete pier with ramp and dock which will rest
on the bottom at every low tide. He has contacted Senator Duff’s office looking
for help getting his DEP permit, with the story that he has been blocked for
four years by this commission chair, in his effort to get a permit to repair
a damaged seawall. Senator Duff’s office contacted the chair and was advised
of the facts in the case.
Dock applications for projects at Gregory Crt and Raymond Creek have been
received and reviewed. Gregory Crt is close to and similar to docks recently
permitted for Cotaling and Schnitzer. With minor design changes, which applicants
and their agent have agreed to, should not be a problem. Raymond creek is
another Hilts design and is for a large dinghy dock servicing five families
at Canfield Crossing. The concept is good, but the water is very shallow.
With appropriate design changes and some evidence of enough water to float
a shallow draft dock design, it should be OK. Current proposed dock design
draws about 18 inches of water in creek that is less than 12 inches at low
tide. After some discussion, it was agreed that commission should find projects
either consistent or inconsistent with commission standards, outlined in management
plan, and refrain from suggesting design changes.
Broadwater has issued a draft environmental impact study. A CD containing
this 828 page document was sent to the commission. Copies are available. After
some discussion, it was agreed that comments should be made, on behalf of
the commission. There is concern for the effect of lightning on this project,
with a 282 ft steel tower supporting a flare (torch) and that much gas constantly
being pumped into the pipeline at very high pressure, through a swivel joint
on the mooring platform. It was suggested that we should consider presenting
comments at public hearing in Long Island.. Army Corps permit public notice
for Broadwater has just been received, and comments are due by Jan 23rd, same
date as comments on EIS. (coincidence..?)
COMMITTEES
HEALTH DEPT
Mr. Closter reports 5.99 inches of rain in November vs. 3.46 last year and
average since 1987 of 3.53 inches. There were 438 phone calls in November.
There was an 8-day closure in CAA (.5) and CAA1DN (1.5) areas starting 11/8/06
and a 14-day closure in CAA (.5) area starting 11/17/06, as well as a 7-day
closure of CAA1DN (1.5) area starting 11/24/06 all for rain events.
Page 3 of 4
There were five spills or bypass event for November:
11-7 200 gallons Perry Ave 35 minutes sewage spill – grease
11-9 1,000 gallons 60 South Smith 50 minutes diversion pump malfunction
11-22 n\a 60 South Smith 120 minutes main tank offline
11-22 n\a 60 South Smith 12 hours main tank offline
11-24 50 gallons 23 Clara Dr 30 minutes failed pipe
WASTEWATERTREATMENT
Mr. Bartoli reports he called the Hour about odor problems at Liberty Square
and a story was printed. Odor seems to be early morning problem and is worse
when tide is high. Odor at the plant does not seem as strong as it does at
Liberty Square. The possibility is that source is something other than the
process of moving out a full sludge truck and moving in an empty, as presently
suspected. Chair will pose that question to Harold Alvord.
WATER QUALITY
Harbormaster Mike Griffin reports committee has moved to focus on finding
solutions, rather than just collecting the same data, year after year. Particular
attention will go to the Moody’s lane problems. Tom Closter has offered to
meet with counterparts in Wilton to see what they can do about the llama farm.
He is waiting for the records from Mr. D’Andrea, but has already spoken to
Wilton Health Dept officials and they say they were not aware of any problem.
The Mayor has named Mr. Frank to sit on the water quality committee. There
was some discussion at the water quality meeting about private wastewater
treatment plants, such as the one at the School Sisters of Notre Dame convent
complex on Belden hill, and the one proposed for the Westport-Wilton Y at
the Camp Mahackemo Site, very close to the Saugatuck River. Dick Harris reports
that the failure rate on most of these plants is very high and the Y, and
the river, would be much better served if they connected to Westport sewer
system. Apparently, such a connection is available, but has been blocked by
a lawsuit.
PERMITS
Mr. Casagrande reports new permits are being printed, should be at the outlets
well before Christmas. He has collected a check from Hiller Bros for $830
for the year and is unhappy with their sloppy records. He has also collected
a final check from Fisherman’s World for $764 for 364 local permits, 287 CT
residents, 8 out of state, 132 seniors and 30 juniors.
POLICE
Sgt LaPak reports 13 Hrs patrol, no arrests. He has a small dredge, recovered
by one of Norm Bloom’s captains in Copp’s Bay. It is clear proof that someone
has been poaching on private beds. There was some discussion about the ability
to set up video surveillance to catch poachers and Sgt LaPak will research
further and report at a later meeting. Marine Police are getting a new boat,
with some help from Homeland security. It is a 28ft rigid-bottom inflatable,
military specs, with big motors. It is expected to be very fast.
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