HomeMy WebLinkAbout2018-2-6Harbor and Shellfish Advisory Board
Tuesday, Feb. 6, 2018 at 5:00 p.m.
Community Room, 4 Fairgrounds Road
Members present: Andy Lowell, Frederick McClure, Ken Gullicksen, Peter Brace, Joe
LiPuma
Members Absent: Ken Kuntz, Bill Blount
Marine Dept: Sheila Lucey
Natural Resources Dept:
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Others:
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CALL TO ORDER
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5:01 P.M.
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APPROVAL OF AGENDA
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Unanimously approved.
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APPROVAL OF MINUTES
Draft minutes of Dec. 19, 2017 and Jan. 16, 2018
Mr. Gullicksen noted that he didn't receive the Dec. 19, 2017 minutes. The board agreed
to vote on the Dec. 19, 2017 minutes at its next meeting. The board unanimously
approved the draft minutes of Jan. 16, 2018.
CHAIRMAN'S REPORT
Meeting venue change for Feb. 20 meeting of HSAB
Mr. Brace informed the board that he could secure the Community Room for 6 p.m. on
Feb. 20 and March 6.
Status of open seats on the HSAB
Mr. Lowell took out election papers. Mr. Gullicken did not take election papers and said
he would likely not defend his seat on the HSAB.
Mr. LiPuma joined the meeting at 5:07 p.m.
MARINE DEPARTMENT REPORT:
General Marine Department report — Sheila Lucey
Ms. Lucey reported damage to the Jackson Point floats in Madaket as a result of the early
January winter storm.
Ms. Lucey reported that she's set up dates to meet with three different environmentally
friendly mooring companies during March.
Ms. Lucey reported minor damage to the town pier and the floating docks. She added that
she's working with a seasonal employee on cleaning up harbor beaches strewn with boats,
floating docks and other debris, including an errant beam from the town pier washed up
on the shore in front of Washington Street and an engine/transmission near Monomy,
both noted by Mr. Lowell. She said she's advertising for lifeguards for the 2018 season.
She said she'll likely have a lot of returning guards and that because of the success of the
junior lifeguard program, she'll extend it two weeks and that she already has three new
applicants.
On the Children's Beach ramp reconstruction, Mr. Lowell noted that openings between
concrete slabs should be filled with gravel and that the ramp's top seemed out of synch
with the pavement. Ms. Lucey said she'd take a look at the ramp with this information in
mind.
Ms. Lucey reiterated some of the problems with these moorings including that the elastic
mooring tackle is hard to pull up because it stretches and requires a way for bites to be
put in the line. The board discussed several possible solutions. However, Ms. Lucey said,
these mooring companies are unwilling to generate such solutions to make their products
work for Nantucket mooring handlers. The board and Ms. Lucey agreed that getting these
mooring companies to compete for Nantucket's business should get things moving and
she told the board she's confident that she can get some test moorings in the harbor for
the spring.
NATURAL RESOURCES REPORT
General Natural Resources Department report — NRD staff
No staff present.
PUBLIC COMMENT ON MARINE DEPARTMENT I NATURAL RESOURCES
REPORT
No public comment.
OLD BUSINESS
Eco -friendly moorings — Continued discussion
Mr. McClure said he like to see this recommendation move forward. Ms. Lucey said she
supported this.
Mr. McClure motioned that the board approve the mooring recommendation to pass on to
the Board of Selectmen. Mr. Brace seconded this motion.
In response to Mr. Gullicksen's query about participation in the pilot program for the
enviro-moorings, Ms. Lucey said those who don't to try the new moorings would be
moved to other locations within the harbor in the Monomoy area. She added that this
would affect around 40 moorings during the pilot program.
Mr. McClure said the Nantucket Land Council hopes to do an eelgrass restoration project
in the pilot program area. The board voted 5-0 to approve the recommendation and send
it to the selectmen. Ms. Lucey left the meeting at 5:34 p.m.
Update on Ken Kuntz — Ken Gullicksen — Discussion
Mr. Gullicksen stated that he learned Mr. Kuntz would be back in about week from the
current meeting and probably in time for the next meeting.
HSAB Goals and Objectives
Mr. Brace said the board needs to discuss goals and objectives right after the town
election on April 10.
Mr. McClure reported on the revised version of the board's goals and objectives.
The board discussed Article 59, a citizen article on the 2018 warrant for Town Meeting
on the town banning herbicides and pesticides and whether municipalities can regulate
these substances. Mr. LiPuma volunteered to research this issue and report back to the
board at the next meeting.
Mr. Lowell inquired of board members' knowledge of the Land Bank's efforts to develop
Petrel Landing as an alternate boat ramp site. He said he would contact the Land Bank to
see what's up with this proposal. Mr. Brace said the Land Bank had planned a dinghy
dock for this location plus a commercial dock for fishing boats could load/offload their
boats. Mr. Brace added that there is opposition from residents on Commercial Wharf.
Commercial fishing vessel survival — Bill Blount - Discussion
The HSAB discussed ways to help preserve commercial fishing opportunities on
Nantucket and how it might assist Mr. Blount in his efforts to remain a commercial
fisherman on Nantucket. Mr. Gullicksen said this discussion needs to have a broader
focus to include all Nantucket commercial fishermen. The board discussed the status of
other commercial fishermen based on Nantucket. Mr. Lowell asked for suggestions from
board members.
Mr. Brace said he would research whether Army Corps of Engineers funding of projects
within the harbor are contingent on there being a commercial fishing fleet in the harbor.
The board agreed to continue this discussion to its next meeting.
NEW BUSINESS
PUBLIC QUESTIONS AND COMMENT
RECAP and ITEMS FOR NEXT MEETING
The board discussed possibly not holding the Feb. 20 meeting due to several board
members being unavailable for that meeting.
ADJOURN
Unanimously adjourned at 6:19 p.m.
Future Meetings:
Feb. 20 and March 6
Respectfully Submitted,
Peter B. Brace, Secretary