 |
 |
 |
|
SHELLFISH
COMMISSION MEETING MINUTES
|
| Click to View December 4, 2003 Minutes | Click to View January 8, 2004 Minutes |
February 5, 2004
CALL TO ORDER 7:10PM
ATTENDANCE
Commission: John Frank, Bob Searles, Dr. Frank Serena, Jack Casagrande
Staff: Tom Closter
Police Dept: Sgt Peter LaPak, Off Ron Spagnuola
Advisory: Capt. Dave Hopp, Mark Errico
Commissioner Chappa and Harbormaster Mike Griffin both out of town. (excused)
MINUTES OF LAST MEETING
Move to accept, with out corrections, by Mr. Searles, 2nd by Dr. Serena
TREASURER
Mr. Searles reports
| OPENING |
BALANCE |
12-31-03 |
$52,659.15 |
|
| NAME |
DATE |
AMOUNT |
REASON |
|
| DEPOSITS |
||||
| Coastal Oyster |
01-09-04 |
$100.00 |
permit |
|
| Norm Bloom & Sons |
$207.00 |
product |
||
| Pramer Oyster |
$100.00 |
permits |
||
| Interest |
$87.69 |
|||
| EXPENSES |
||||
| Police OT |
01-16-04 |
($383.65) |
||
| Silvermine Press |
($288.00) |
permits |
||
| Comm. Frank |
($28.80) |
mileage |
||
| Silvermine Press |
($418.00) |
Tide charts |
||
| All Seasons Marine |
($30,652.45) |
New Boat |
||
| PRESENT |
BALANCE |
01-31-04 |
$21,501.39 |
|
| YEAR AGO |
Balance |
01-31-03 |
$47,248.97 |
|
| TWO YEARS AGO |
Balance |
01-31-02 |
$42,229.34 |
Move to accept by Dr. Serena, 2nd by Mr. Casagrande
Brief discussion about check from State sent to Health Dept last month, apparently City portion of boat registrations ($125,000). Question was raised if that goes into general fund or is it designated for some special use.?? Apparently, other towns use that money to support marine police patrol.
SECRETARY
Mr. Frank reports
DEP is approving request from Coast Guard to place more stone around Peck’s Ledge Light, routine maintenance, no commission comment required
Seafood Council Newsletter was passed around. Both Capt Hopp and Mr. Errico are mentioned and pictured in this edition. It is time to renew commission membership in Council for $100. Moved by Mr. Casagrande, 2nd By Doctor Serena.
COMMITTEES
HEALTH DEPT
Mr. Closter reports rainfall in January of 2.18 Inches, vs. 2.53 in 2003 and average of 3.32inches. 120 calls received. There was a closure, for rainfall, started on 18th through 28th, for area that closes at ½ inch of rain.
Second closure was on Jan 23, for spill of raw sewage from pump station on Winfield St. Amount estimated at1650 gallons, cause given as operator error. Review of written report shows pump was turned off at 2:10PM on Jan 20th and remained off until operator making normal rounds discovered it was off at 7AM and turned it back on at 10AM on the 23rd. Original report to Mr. Closter gave him the impression spill had only lasted from 7AM to 10AM and beds were closed, but catch for that day was not ordered dumped, in the belief that two hours spill would not have made it out that far into the harbor by the time the beds were closed in early afternoon.. It now sounds like pump station was inoperative for 68 hours and spill likely was for much greater amount than estimated.
Chair has written to the Mayor with our concerns, but will write much stronger message in light of this new information.
WASTEWATER TREATMENT
Mr. Searles very upset that spill of this magnitude could go undetected by operating company for such an extended period of time. Also very upset that initial report to Mr. Closter lacked critical information, resulting in poor decision on closing and not dumping day’s catch.
WATER QUALITY
Mr. Casagrande reports water quality had no meeting.
PERMITS
Mr. Casagrande reports new Permits have been delivered.
POLICE
Sgt LaPak reports it is pretty quiet. Dredge at Village Creek made last trip out of harbor by East Channel after being told to stay out of East channel. Investigation is in progress, may result in arrest.
Sgt LaPak will follow up, as weather allows, with photographing damaged shellfish bed at Calf Pasture Island. Fred Trefeissen has agreed to let us use an underwater video camera and Sgt LaPak will contact Mr. Trefeissen when they are ready and some of the ice is melted.
Off Spagnuola reports new boat is ready for launching as soon as weather allows. All equipment has been installed except a light bar and a GPS which will be purchased.
ADVISORY
Capt. Hopp reports water temp 30o at this time.
HARBOR MANAGEMENT
Mr. Casagrande reports no report. Chair asks advisory panel to gather some tonnage data for harbor management to use in promoting dredging project.
Move to accept committee reports by Dr Serena, 2nd By Mr. Casagrande
OLD BUSINESS
Commercial Clam transplant permits need to be updated for April and Capt Hopp reports industry is recommending no restrictions on dredge size, or on days when harvesting will be allowed. Power hauling is essential, but limited number of short term permits should give commission good control on size of harvest. Goal for industry and commission is limited, sustainable, harvest. Both Comm. Searles and Doctor Serena expressed strong concerns about over harvesting and questioned wisdom of allowing power hauling. Both Capt Hopp and Mr. Errico stressed that the two larger companies, Norm Bloom and Son and Hillard Bloom’s company will continue to transplant for the commission without charge regardless of decisions commission makes on opening beds from clamming and the use of power. Both say it is not practical to try to operate a clam dredge without power hauling gear. Chair points out that no permits will be issued before April and we have time to consider how best to allow limited, sustainable, harvesting and offers to prepare sample permits incorporating ideas expressed by the advisors and by the commissioners.
NEW BUSINESS
Mr. Chappa may still be away for Mar. meeting.
Mr. Frank will be away for March meeting. Mr. Casagrande will chair March meeting, Mr. Closter will take minutes.
NEXT MEETING
Thursday, Mar. 4th. 2004
MOTION TO ADJOURN
9:05PM by Mr. Searles, 2nd by Mr. Casagrande
 |
 |