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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: , Others: s 4 c �2 CALL TO ORDER 7--4 5:01 P.M. c n C: APPROVAL OF AGENDA s M n` Unanimously approved. 0 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