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SHELLFISH
COMMISSION MEETING MINUTES
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Sept. 6, 2007
CALL TO ORDER 7:10 PM
ATTENDANCE
Commission: John Frank, Jack Casagrande, Dr. Frank Serena, Pete Johnson
Staff: Tom Closter
Police: Sgt Peter LaPak
Advisory: Capt Dave Hopp, Mark Errico (Harbormaster Griffin called, unable
to attend)
Guest: Doug Stabell, Tony D’Andrea
MINUTES OF LAST MEETING
May minutes: Accept by Mr.Johnson, 2nd by Dr Serena
TREASURER
Comm. Johnson reports:
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NAME DATE AMOUNT
BALANCE 07-31-07 $23,478.43
DEPOSIT interest adjustment June $63.00
interest July $92.00
EXPENSE Police OT 08-13-07 ($91.81)
Police OT 08-24-07 ($894.83)
BALANCE 08-31-07 $22,646.79
08-31-06 $23,139.32
08-31-05 $19,585.71
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SECRETARY
Commissioner Frank reports
Manning at Belle Island has applied for revised design of pier, ramp, and
dock permitted recently. Original design did not fare well in storms and new
application is by John Hilts. It calls for dock and boat to rest on bottom
regularly and comments objecting to the design were sent.
A Mr Shakely on Cudlipp St has applied for pier, ramp and floating dock extending
a long distance off his property, into Darien, and still will allow the dock
and any boat to rest on the bottom regularly. We had objected to that design,
in discussion with Mr Bajek and revised design has been proposed which calls
for much shorter pier with T end and davits. When that design is completed,
we can probably approve it.
Country Club has applied for maintenance dredging and a new seawall. Application
was prepared by John Hilts. We have commented to DEP that the area is developed
and no longer considered part of natural shellfish bed, so we have no concerns.
However, Harbor Management has serious concerns over new seawall extending
two feet further waterward and no indication of present exact location of
docks, making it impossible to judge if docks are replaced in same location
of further waterward. DEP publishes directions for preparing permit applications
and
Page 2 of 2
COP applications and both require registered professional engineer
or land surveyor to prepare the plans if a marina is involved, or a seawall,
or dredging. This project involves all three and there is no registered professional
identified in the application, prepared by John Hilts. Email
was sent to DEP/OLISP pointing this out to them. In conversation with an analyst
at DEP, it
was learned that that rule is being enforced.
Chair has also filed a complaint with consumer protection that John Hilts
is offering engineering service w/o a license.
Mr Gray, on Shorehaven Rd, has applied for revised design, prepared by John
Hilts, for new pier ramp and float configuration with bench structure supporting
floating dock and any attached boat. Design is similar to design approved
in similar locations where there is no water at low tide and comments have
been sent to DEP approving this design.
Mr Johnson commented that commission should not indicate results of our evaluation
of proposed projects when applicant and/or agent attends a meeting, but should
take time for deliberation and advise applicant and/or agent later. Chair
responds that time for our input is sometimes very limited and decision cannot
take that much time, until next meeting.
COMMITTEES
HEALTH DEPT
Mr. Closter reports 3.21 inches of rain in August vs.9.90 last year and average
since 1987 of 5..28 inches. There were 1057 calls in August. There was a complete
closure for over 1.5 inches of rain starting 8/08/07 through 8/15/07 due to
rain and a closure in the CAA area for over .5 inches of rain from 8/21/07
through 8/28/07.. There was one minor spill reported at the WWT plant on the
8th, of 100 gals for about ten minutes, contained.
WASTEWATER TREATMENT
Odor problem downwind of plant continues. Comm. Johnson reports backup generators
at WWT plant did not operate during recent test ordered by organization that
controls all municipal power plants/generation. Comm Johnson and chair went
to the plant after 5pm the same day to find out what happened, and found nobody
around except the night operator, although the OMI offices were wide open.
We learned that nobody was working on the generators and everybody had left
at 3PM. From the plant, Chair went to City Hall and found Mr Alvord and we
spoke at length about the generators, the odor problem, and why he won’t tell
us if extra manpower was called in the night of the problems at the plant
on June 4th. The people who know how to operate the generators were all away
that afternoon, for various training assignments and one of the generators
was inoperable and waiting for parts. Inoperable generator was repaired the
following day. There is a fine usually imposed for failure to run generators
when requested, and Alvord believe OMI will be required to pay it, if it is
imposed on the City
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WATER QUALITY
Chair asks Mr D’Andrea, chair of the Mayor’s Water Quality Committee, to report.:
The Llamas are gone..!! After a lot of effort by a lot of people, including
Mr Closter, the Mayor got involved and got immediate results.
Report on storm drain filter program has been prepared by Abtech, the supplier.
Results reported are extrapolated from results on four catch basins and look
very promising. Everything the filter caught is that much less pollution going
directly into the harbor, and that is a very good thing. Some percentages,
estimated in the report, cannot be considered reliable as there is not enough
data to calculate percentages, but generally the results are good.
DEP is considering renewal of the septic system permit at Silvermine School..
Historically, water testing in that area has shown very elevated numbers and
there are some concerns. Recent testing by the Health dept has not shown elevated
levels of
E-Coli and school septic system may not be the cause. Water quality will comment
to DEP, asking for some conditions on maintenance and record keeping for the
system.
PERMITS
Mr. Casagrande reports permits are moving. He presented to Comm Johnson tonight,
two checks, both from Fisherman’s World, one for $1960 and another for $830.
We will need new charts for next season.
POLICE
Sgt LaPak reports 24 hrs patrol, 4 arrests, for person clamming during closure.
ADVISORY
Mr Errico reports water temp now 72o
HARBOR MANAGEMENT
Chair agree harbor management was covered in earlier discussison (secretary)
OLD BUSINESS
Mayor will be asked to intervene in OMI/DEP WWT plant ODOR problem.
NEW BUSINESS
Capt Hopp reports boats are working to transfer oysters off natural bed near
cable corridor using hand equipment. Once cable are deactivated, it would
make sense to allow power for transplanting for the commission to other natural
beds away from corridor and construction. After some discussion, motion by
Comm Johnson 2nd by Dr Serena to allow use of power dredges to transplant
oysters to Town natural beds from cable corridor and 100 ft west of corridor
and 500 ft east of corridor from Sept 1st to Oct 1st. Chair will prepare addendum
to permits.
NEXT MEETING
Thursday October 4th
MOTION TO ADJOURN
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