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SHELLFISH
COMMISSION MEETING MINUTES
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City of Norwalk
Shellfish Commission Meeting
Feb. 7th, 2008
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CALL TO ORDER 7:10 PM
ATTENDANCE
Commission: Jack Casagrande, Pete Johnson, Dr. Serena
Staff: Tom Closter
Police: Sgt LaPak
Advisory: Capt. Dave Hopp, Harbormaster Mike Griffin
Guest: Tim Pramer
MINUTES OF LAST MEETING
No meeting in January
December minutes approved with no corrections by Pete Johnson, 2nd by Dr.
Serena
TREASURER
Comm. Johnson reports:
NAME DATE AMOUNT REASON
BALANCE 11-30-07 $8,936.77
DEPOSIT Interest November $36.00
Fisherman’s World 12-5-07 $575.00
Norman Bloom 12-5-07 $1,742.00
Hiller Sports 12-12-07 $912.00
Fisherman’s World 12-12-07 $505.00
EXPENSE AT&T ($138.56)
EarthPlace ($3,000.00)
Ischoda Galley 12-18-07 ($1,053.80) 22 Dinners
Constables 12-3-07 ($292.97)
BALANCE 12-31-07 $8,221.44
Interest December $30.00
EXPENSE Pete Johnson ($20.00) St Meeting
Norwest Marine ($190.00) Service
Silvermine Press ($356.00) Permits
BALANCE 1-31-08 $7,685.44
BALANCE 1-30-07 $26,134.26
BALANCE a year ago 1-30-06 $21,159.56
BALANCE two years ago 1-30-05 $19,518.61
SECRETARY
Commissioner Casagrande reports 10-year permit was renewed by the Department
of Environmental Protection for Silvermine Elementary School to discharge
to local waters. The Commissioner has made a final determination that the
continuance of the existing system to treat the discharge will protect the
waters of the state from pollution. Pump out and inspection of the septic
tank will occur annually and quarterly inspection will monitor distribution
and siphon chambers, leaching fields and water usage. Discharge monitoring
reports will be submitted quarterly for fecal coliform, all nitrogen, ph and
phosphorus.
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In the Matter of a Petition for a Declaratory Ruling regarding Stuart Bell, DEP Commissioner McCarthy has accepted the Department of Agriculture, Bureau of Aquaculture and the Norwalk Shellfish Commission’s requests for intervening party status because of their respective responsibilities for shellfish and their concern about the impacts of dredging upon shellfish and shellfish habitat. Commissioner McCarthy may issue a ruling in this matter on or before April 29, 2008. Commissioner Frank asked the City of Norwalk Corporation Counsel for assistance concerning the intervention but Attorney Robert F.Maslan Jr. has stated the Law Department is not able to assist as the powers and duties of the Shellfish Commission do not include intervening in DEP proceedings that do not involve shellfish beds located within the boundaries of Norwalk Harbor.
Mr. Johnson and Harbormaster Griffin discussed Broadwater’s final Environmental Impact Statement claiming “with strict adherence to federal and state permit requirements and regulations, and with implementation of Broadwater’s proposed mitigation measures and our recommendations, the proposed Project would result in limited adverse impact to the environment.” Concerns from the Commission include noise, increase in water temperature, three-mile radius away from barge unloading, increase in tanker traffic, safety, and portions of Sound shut down.
COMMITTEES
HEALTH DEPT
Mr. Closter reports:
4.60 inches of rain in December vs.2.31 last year and average since 1987 of
3.61 inches. Total rain for 2007 was 49.83 inches vs. yearly average since
1987 of 52.10. There were 275 calls in December. 2.09 inches of rain in January
vs.3.72 last year and average since 1987 of 3.62 inches. There were 321 calls
in January. There was a partial closure in the CAA area for over 1/2 inch
of rain from 1/1 through 1/5 and 1/11 through 1/22. There was a complete closure
from 1/14 to 2/1. There were seven notices of by-pass reported.
1-10-08 1,000 Gallons Treatment Plant 75 Minutes
1-11-08 4,000 Gallons Treatment Plant 60 Minutes
1-12-08 800 Gallons Treatment Plant 12 Minutes
1-18-08 Unknown Treatment Plant 105 Minutes
1-18-08 200 Gallons 4 Southwind Dr 60 Minutes
1-19-08 Unknown Treatment Plant Unknown
1-28-08 300 Gallons Maritime Garage 8 Hours
WASTEWATER TREATMENT
Discussion centered on multiple system upsets resulting in the closure of
shellfish harvesting. The first three by-passes were a result of a malfunctioning
of the scum arm trough occurring at the final settling tanks. A report was
read from James Citak, Supervising Environmental Analyst of the Department
of Agriculture/Bureau of Aquaculture (DA/BA) stating the Norwalk WPCA and
OMI met with the Malcolm Pirnie consulting engineers on January 25, 2008 to
identify the problem. They could not identify a problem with the clarifiers
but recommended a sampling study from the aeration tanks. On January 24, 2008
James Citak met with Craig Matosky (DEP), Tom Closter (Health
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Dept), Bob Sardaro (OMI), Lisa Bardon (DPW/WPCA), and Ralph Kolb (WPCA), to
determine if a temporary monitoring strategy and notification protocol could
be
developed that could include the release of treated suspended solids until
the plant returns to normal operations.
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WATER QUALITY
Harbormaster Griffin reports Water Quality Committee very concerned with recent
by-pass events and will continue to monitor situation.
PERMITS
Mr. Casagrande reports tide charts were ready. Fisherman’s World contributed
$150 dollars towards charts for ad.
POLICE
Sgt LaPak reports for January 18 hrs patrol, no arrests. Three new strong
white flags were made by Jerry’s Upholstery.
ADVISORY
Capt. Dave Hopp states water temperature is between 35 and 39 degrees.
HARBOR MANAGEMENT
Harbormaster Mike Griffin passed out interesting Connecticut Sea Grant outlook
report and industry trends for shellfish. Capt. Dave Hopp mentioned how important
food safety and the hazard analysis and critical control points program is.
Harbormaster Griffin discussed update on cable laying program. The first cable
has been plugged into Northport and if weather cooperates all cables will
be laid within 12 to 15 days. A temporary dock and work platform was put in
North of Sheffield Island to assist in laying the cables. This dock was not
permitted according to the details of the permit and was removed immediately.
Motion made by Mr. Johnson, 2nd by Dr. Serena to accept committee reports.
OLD BUSINESS
Mr. Casagrande and Mr. Johnson attended the annual gathering of Shellfish
Commissions on Saturday, Jan 12th, at the Sound School in New Haven. Mr. Casagrande
and Mr. Johnson very impressed with several initiatives. 1)East Lyme open
scalloping segment in Spring to view scallops, 2) stocking of sea clams, 3)
oysters and eel grass, 4) Geographic Information Systems with overlays for
the whole coast of Connecticut, 5) trying to grow razor clams, 6) best harvesting
years after major hurricanes. Mr. Johnson passed around shellfish handbook
for shellfish commissioners regarding history and law in Connecticut.
NEW BUSINESS
None
NEXT MEETING
Thursday March 6th.
MOTION TO ADJOURN
At 8:40PM by Dr. Serena, 2nd by Mr. Johnson
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