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HomeMy WebLinkAbout09-19-16Harbor and Shellfish Advisory Board Tuesday, Sept. 19, 2016 at 5:00 p.m. Community Room, 4 Fairgrounds Road Members present: Andy Lowell, Ken Gullicksen, Frederick McClure, Joe LiPuma, Peter Brace v Members Absent: Bill Blount, Ken Kuntz Marine Dept: Natural Resources Dept:00 Others: Kona Hosier, Carl Sjolund r V1% CALL TO ORDER i9 5:03 p.m. wo APPROVAL OF AGENDA Unanimously approved APPROVAL OF MINUTES Unanimously approved CHAIRMAN'S REPORT Finance Committee need of Community Room on HSAB meeting dates in 2017: Oct. 3 and Dec. 12 and in 2018: Jan. 9, Feb. 20 and March 6 — Update on meeting venue Mr. Lowell reminded the board of the change of venue for these dates. Massachusetts Shellfish Initiative public forum at the field station, Sept. 20 at the UMass Boston Nantucket Field Station at 2 p.m. Mr. Brace reported that this event had been postponed due the impending arrival of Tropical Storm Jose. Former harbormaster's retirement - update Mr. Brace updated the board on what the HSAB is doing to honor the outgoing former harbormaster and the events being planned by the town. MARINE DEPARTMENT REPORT: General Marine Department report — Sheila Lucey No report, as Ms. Lucey wasn't present at this meeting NATURAL RESOURCES REPORT Natural Resources Dept. report — NRD staff No report, as no NRD staff were present at this meeting. PUBLIC COMMENT ON MARINE DEPARTMENT / NATURAL RESOURCES REPORT OLD BUSINESS Update on HSAB table at the shellfish hatchery during the Maritime Festival on Sept. 30 Mr. Brace reported that this would happen with the help of shellfish biologist Tara Riley who said she'd have a table for the HSAB at the hatchery with harbor and shellfish related materials on it. Mr. Brace and Mr. Lowell asked that all HSAB members make the effort to spend at least an hour at the HSAB table. Boat basin oil accumulation - Discussion Mr. Lowell continued this discussion to the Oct. 3, 2017 meeting because the issue's proponent, Mr. Kuntz was not in attendance at this meeting. Eco -friendly moorings - Discussion Mr. McClure said that he expected Ms. Lucey to report more on this issue to the board. Mr. Gullicksen reported that Deputy Police Chief Charlie Gibson feels that environmentally -friendly moorings can't be permitted locally and must be permitted by the state. Mr. McClure said in reading through the town's mooring regulations, he found that permitting the moorings is up to the harbormaster. Mr. Lowell asked for public comment from Mr. Hosier and Mr. Sjolund on helix moorings. Mr. Sjolund indicated no real issues with helix moorings and added that chain moorings could be used in muddy bottom parts of the harbors while the new environment -friendly moorings could be slowly phased in over time. He added that a winter stick with a short pennant on it could prevent scallopers from hanging up their dredges on the helix mooring on the bottom. Mr. McClure said he would re -circulate email he previously sent out earlier in the year detailing various kinds of environment - friendly moorings. Mr. LiPuma detailed various mooring options for the board. Mr. Lowell said the HSAB needed to decide on which mooring system to recommend to the Marine Department and the Board of Selectmen, reminding the board that it had been discussing the matter for many months. Mr. Sjolund suggested that the board research moorings that other coastal Cape & Islands towns use. Mr. McClure volunteered for this research. Mr. Gullicksen reported that Dartmouth Harbor uses a plastic sleeve over the chain from mooring weights with shorter lines so nothing drags on the bottom. Mr. Lowell continued this discussion to the next meeting so more research could be done by Mr. McClure. Cruise ship anchorage — Discussion Mr. Lowell said the town should try to get the larger boats to anchor in the Cord of the Bay. Mr. LiPuma agreed. The board agreed to continue this discussion to the next meeting so Mr. Blount, who originally raised the issue, could be present for this discussion. Local commercial fishing dragger survival - Discussion The board agreed to continue this discussion to the next meeting so Mr. Blount, who originally raised the issue, could be present for this discussion. NEW BUSINESS 2016 HSAB report for town report Mr. Brace reported that he hadn't finished the report and would have it ready for the Oct. 3 meeting. Questions for licensed septic system installer and DPW director at a future HSAB meeting - Discussion Mr. Lowell indicated that it would be good to get DPW director Rob McNeil and a licensed septic system inspector to attend a future HSAB to answer a range of questions from the board on the landfill and sewage in relation to harbor water quality. PUBLIC QUESTIONS AND COMMENT Mr. Lowell announced the closing of the Children's Beach boat ramp for winter flounder spawning and expressed his frustration that the HSAB wasn't notified nor asked for its opinion regarding this closure. And he noted the closure reinvigorated his belief that the town needs another boat ramp in town. Mr. McClure noted the inconvenience to the boating public. Mr. Lowell stressed the importance of the boat basin being available to scallopers and the Great Harbor Yacht Club Travelift. Mr. Sjolund agreed. Further, he suggested that the town look at Petrel Landing as possible location for an emergency -use -only public boat ramp. Mr. Brace reported that the Nantucket Islands Land Bank's plan to put dinghy docks at this location is now in the works. Mr. Brace suggested a boat ramp beneath the GHYC Travelift launching area. Mr. Lowell reiterated his previous proposal of a ramp immediately west of the shellfish hatchery. Mr. Gullicksen asked about a large amount of seaweed or algae on the harbor. Mr. Sjolund said it was probably due to a high astronomical tide. The board then discussed the amount of eelgrass in both harbors, in the Cord of the Bay and north of Tuckernuck Island. RECAP and ITEMS FOR NEXT MEETING Mr. McClure said he wanted to continue the moorings discussion to the next meeting. Mr. Lowell said the HSAB would continue the discussions on commercial fishing draggers and cruise ship anchorage to the next meeting. ADJOURN Unanimously approved at 6:07 p.m. Future Meetings: Oct. 3 and Oct. 17 Respectfully Submitted, Peter B. Brace, Secretary