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SHELLFISH
COMMISSION MEETING MINUTES
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City of Norwalk
Shellfish Commission Meeting
Dec. 6th, 2007
CALL TO ORDER 7:07 PM
ATTENDANCE
Commission: John Frank, Jack Casagrande, Pete Johnson, (Dr Serena ill)
Staff: Tom Closter
Police: absent, filed report by email
Advisory: Mark Errico, Harbormaster Mike Griffin
MINUTES OF LAST MEETING
Oct. minutes: Accept by Mr. Casagrande 2nd by Mr. Johnson,
TREASURER
Comm. Johnson reports:
NAME DATE AMOUNT REASON
BALANCE 9-30-07 $24,091.12
DEPOSIT Interest September $86.00
EXPENSE AT&T ($68.32)
Rex Store@Cove ($129.99) gasoline
Carthom Upholstery ($1,700.00) enclosure
Norwest Marine ($12,352.58) New motor
Police OT 10-1-07 ($91.81)
Police OT 10-9-07 ($380.87)
Police OT 10-15-07 ($443.38)
Police OT 10-22-07 ($58.59)
BALANCE 10-31-07 $8,951.58
DEPOSIT Interest October $77.00
EXPENSE Police OT 11-19-07 ($91.81)
BALANCE 11-30-07 $8,936.77
BALANCE a year ago 11-30-06 $24,309.62
BALANCE two years ago 11-30-05 $21,412.79
Comm. Johnson feels we are being billed for things that should be going to the police dept., for example, last month there was a bill for motor oil that obviously was not for the shellfish patrol boat. When he questioned it, the bill was redirected. The police dept has budget for fuel and should be paying for the gas and oil used by marine police. Chair will communicate with Sgt LaPak. Comm. Johnson also reports he has corrected error in sending contribution to Dick Harris at Earthplace and check has finally been sent.
SECRETARY
Commissioner Frank reports
Annual gathering of Shellfish Commissions is Saturday, Jan 12th, 9Am to 2PM
at the Sound School in New Haven. Mr Casagrande and Mr Frank attended last
year and learned a lot. Commission should be represented, and Mr Frank will
be out-of-town. Fliers were distributed and Mr. Casagrande and Mr. Johnson
will attend.
Page 2 of 4
Comm. Johnson & Comm. Frank attended the water pollution
control authority meeting where odor problem from the waste water treatment
plant was discussed. Both Mr. Alvord and Lisa Burden made a point of claiming
there has never been a public complaint. Apparently, complaint’s relayed over
several years through the Commission, don’t count. Mr. Alvord also made the
statement that the person(s) who wrote the law on nuisance odor were not in
their right minds.(paraphrased) Mr. Casagrande indicated the odor seems to
have diminished in last few weeks and questioned if that was related to colder
weather or a real effort by OMI.
A Southport resident, Stuart L Bell has applied for a permit to build a previously
permitted ramp and dock, with a breakwater protecting it, and to dredge a
small basin with access to the federal channel. He applied for a COP, claiming
all this work was maintenance of previously permitted facility. DEP/OLISP
indicated the dredging did not qualify as maintenance and they would not permit
new dredging for residential projects.
Mr. Bell seems determined and has hired an excellent lawyer and filed a petition
for a declaratory ruling to overturn long-standing DEP policy prohibiting
new dredging for residential projects. If he prevails, it will be bad news
for Norwalk natural beds lying close to shore, in the opinion of the chair.
Therefore, the chair has applied for intervening party status in this matter,
on behalf of the commission. A copy of the request for status was passed around.
It is possible that a hearing on Mr. Bell’s petition may be scheduled while
the Chair is in Florida, and a decision may need to be made about representation
at such a hearing. A consideration will be the cost of flying back to CT for
the hearing. It is possible that adequate argument can be submitted in writing.
Harbormaster Griffin has been nominated to a seat on the Shellfish Commission
and should be confirmed by the council on Tuesday, the 11th.
Norm Bloom has reported a real problem with apparently abandoned fish traps,
similar to lobster pots, scattered all over, killing substantial numbers of
fish, continuously. Harbormaster Griffin believes he has the authority to
deal with anything abandoned in the harbor and offers to assist in getting
them removed.
COP permit was issued to the Shore and Country club to dredge and to replace
a seawall. Work requires removing docks and replacing after other work is
done. Harbor Management Commission approved the project with the condition
that pre and post construction surveys be required to verify that there would
be no further encroachment into the very busy, narrow fairway between the
site and Norwalk Cove Marina. Permit does not require any pre construction
survey. HMC has written to DEP/OLISP, Brian Thompson, asking for some explanation.
Chair has expressed an opinion to HMC that much stronger letter should go,
at least, to the commissioner, and possibly higher, as such total disregard
for the HMC binding recommendation is contrary to law and gives the appearance
of a lack of integrity in the process.
Page 3 of 4
COMMITTEES
HEALTH DEPT
Mr. Closter reports:
2.88 inches of rain in November vs.5.99 last year and average since 1987 of
4.06 inches. Total rain so far this year is 45.23 inches vs. yearly average
since 1987 of 52,1. There were 357 calls in November. There was a partial
closure in the CAA
area for over 1/2 inch of rain from 11/06 through 12/10. and a complete closure
from 11/26 to 12/10. There was one spill reported. Unknown amount of sewage
backed up through illegally connected storm drain at Condominium at 84 Taylor
Ave for 4 days because of blockage in sewer line. It is not known at this
time what action, if any, has been taken about the illegal hookup. Brief discussion
of the effect on the sewer plant of such hookups which contribute to major
overloading of the plant during heavy rains when that same storm drain would
empty into the sewer. Chair will inquire and encourage prosecution.
WASTEWATER TREATMENT
Odor problem downwind of plant continues, but seems to have diminished. Water
pollution control authority is now more aware of the problem. We did learn
that equipment was installed at the dewatering building that has been less
effective than expected, but makes big difference inside the building..
.
WATER QUALITY
Chair distributed reports of 07 summer water quality testing of Silvermine
River, Norwalk River and Storm drains. Results are not good. Elevated ecoli
levels continue to show up routinely and are much worse after any rain. An
interesting observation is the normal effluent from the waste water treatment
plant in Norwalk, when there is no rain event, is better than other parts
of the river. Dick Harris explained the science in the reports. Chair is still
studying the reports. It seems the same hot spots have persisted.
PERMITS
Mr. Casagrande turned over to the treasurer two checks for end of season collections.
Fisherman’s world $505 and Hiller Bros $912. Hiller Bros represents entire
season, Fisherman’s world represents past month.. New permits are done and
distributed to outlets, reflecting new rates established by the Commission
last month.
“Local adult permit $10 ( now 7) Local Sr $5 ( now 1) Non resident $25 3 day
non resident permit eliminated.”
POLICE
Both Marine police officers unable to attend, Sgt LaPak sent email to Chair.
October 18 hrs patrol, 3 verbal warnings at Pier for possible demarcation
line violation.
November 16hrs patrol, no arrest or warnings.
Marine police have been keeping an eye on Cable removal operations and work
on Stroffolino (Rte 136) bridge. New Fisherman operating in Norwalk Waters,
one Larry McLaughlin from Port Chester, N.Y., may be a problem, more information
to follow..
Page 4 of 4
ADVISORY
Mr. Errico reports he went to Fulton Fish Market and was impressed with the
operation. Local shellfish companies do distribute through that Market. He
has no info on current water temps. (MySound Probe showed temperature around
42o, after this meeting.).
HARBOR MANAGEMENT
Mike Griffin reports Cable removal inside Norwalk Harbor is complete, with
no apparent problems. Over ten miles of cable removed . He attended a meeting
in Stamford about dredged material management. There is a 16 million dollar
study planned, but not funded, to develop alternatives to open water dredging.
There is considerable support in New York to eliminate open water dumping
and some claim the practice is illegal.
OLD BUSINESS
Mr. Johnson has made arrangements for Christmas party at Ischoda on the 18th.
Chair mentions that we have not had an election of officers in some time,
probably need to get that done at next meeting. Commission will not meet in
January, next meeting will be February 7th.
NEW BUSINESS
None
NEXT MEETING
Thursday February 7th.
MOTION TO ADJOURN
At 8:56PM by Mr. Casagrande, 2nd, by Mr Johnson
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