HomeMy WebLinkAboutHSAB - Sept. 20 2011Nantucket Harbor & Shellfish Advisory Board
Minutes of Meeting held Sept. 20, 2011
Approved:
Conference Room, 2 Fairgrounds Road
Call to Order at 4:34 p.m.
Members Present: Dr. Peter Boyce, Peter B. Brace, Doug Smith,
Michael Glowacki and Wendy McRae
Members Absent: Bill Blount and Bob Rank
Marine Dept:
BOS: Whitey Willauer
Others: Val Hall, Bam LaFarge
Approval of Agenda: Approved unanimously
Approval of Minutes: Approved unanimously, Ms. McRae and
Mr. Glowacki abstained.
Chairman’s Report:
MMA Benthic Survey of Nantucket Harbor underway
Dr. Boyce reported this 6th annual survey is revealing a very poor
2011/2012 scallop season with very places holding adult scallops,
mostly seed and nub scallops in the harbor, but he noted that he’s
never seen so many seed scallops in the harbor. And that there are
few scallops in Madaket, but no adults at Hussey Shoal and Third
Bend.
Dr. Boyce said that the board should consider closures of certain
parts of Nantucket Harbor to protect the seed. Mr. Brace asked Dr.
Boyce how the season looked for recreational scalloping. Dr.
Boyce responded that at least Monomoy is devoid of scallops. Mr.
Smith noted that the eelgrass hides a lot of the scallops and that
nobody will truly know how the season will be until dredges are
dropped and dragged.
Dr. Boyce reported that the Head of the Harbor is loaded with seed
along the north side of Pocomo and also Fourth Bend. Mr. Smith
said it was premature to close any part of the harbors until the
season starts.
Shellfish Management Plan:
Dr. Boyce announced that the Shellfish Management Plan meeting
was scheduled for 5 p.m. on Sept. 21 at 4 Fairgrounds Road,
upstairs.
Marine Department Report:
No report. Neither Dave Fronzuto nor Tara Riley were present at
this meeting.
Ms. McRae said she doesn’t like it when the Marine Department
doesn’t have a representative at HSAB meetings and that their
input on HSAB matters is vital at every meeting. Dr. Boyce agreed
and said this doesn’t happen very often. Mr. Brace noted that they
both had good excuses. Ms. McRae asked why Assistant
Harbormaster Wayne Dugan, office administrator Catherine
Dickey or Assistant Harbormaster Sheila Lucy couldn’t give the
report in the absence of Ms. Riley and Mr. Fronzuto.
Mr. Smith reported that Phil Osley dove on the 30-foot, twin-
engine boat that sank off the East Jetty to ensure that all fuel
petcocks were closed and said he heard that there wasn’t much fuel
on board.
Mr. Brace suggested that the board request that Mr. Fronzuto send
one of his staff in his or Ms. Riley’s place prepared to give the
Marine Department report should both of them be unable to make
a meeting for whatever reason. Mr. LaFarge stated Catherine
Dickey is excellent with the public and would probably represent
the Marine Department well.
Old Business:
Appointment of third HPIC Representative
Mr. Brace said that after attending the town’s conflict of interest
workshop on Sept. 19, it was obvious to him that he couldn’t
represent HSAB on the HPIC while producing the Blue Pages and
that he really doesn’t have the time anyway. Mr. Glowacki said he
wouldn’t represent HSAB because he doesn’t support the Board of
Selectmen doling out assignments to committees such as
implementing the harbor plan, something he believes existing town
administration should be charged with. Ms. McRae said she would
support Mr. LaFarge serving another term on the committee
despite him no longer being a member of HSAB if the selectmen
do the appointing. Mr. LaFarge reiterated that the committee does
need some new blood, but Mr. Willauer said Mr. LaFarge has the
continuity to help finish implementing the plan, which is nearly
done. Ms. McRae said she was concerned that Mr. LaFarge was no
longer on HSAB and therefore, not representing the board.
Ms. McRae noted it should be OK for Mr. LaFarge to represent the
board on the HPIC because Mr. Willauer used to represent the
selectmen at HSAB before he was elected to the BOS. Mr.
Glowacki said the selectmen need to keep the pressure on to get
the harbor plan implemented. Dr. Boyce disagreed with Mr.
Glowacki and said that because the BOS changes every year, it
needed a reminder to keep the pressure on and that that’s one of
the functions of the HPIC.
After Dr. Boyce called for a motion to recommend that the
selectmen re-appoint Mr. LaFarge to the HPIC, Mr. LaFarge
reiterated his willingness to serve another term and offered
monthly reports to HSAB. Mr. Brace made this motion and Mr.
Smith seconded it. Mr. Smith added that Mr. LaFarge’s
participation on the HPIC thus far has been invaluable.
Mr. Smith, Dr. Boyce and Mr. Brace voted to approve Mr. Smith’s
motion that the board recommend to the selectmen that it re-
appoint Mr. LaFarge to the HPIC. Mr. Glowacki voted no and Ms.
McRae abstained.
Report from the Conflict of Interest Workshop:
Mr. Brace reported that the most important thing he learned at this
seminar is board members should always disclose their potential
conflict of interests to the board, recuse themselves from a given
discussion if they think they should and always call the Ethic
Commission office if they need advice on how to act before
committing a conflict of interest. Mr. Smith reminded the board
that HSAB was issued a legislative to exception to the conflict of
interest laws, which allows fishermen to on the board to vote on
fishing matters.
Dr. Boyce said the handout from this seminar would make
potential conflicts of interest fairly obvious and asked that Mr.
Brace be the conscience of the HSAB. Mr. Glowacki stated that
problems arise when conflicts come up and board members decide
to be their own judge and not seek outside advice. Mr. Smith said
board members should work as a team to point out potential
conflicts of interest to each other. Although Mr. Willauer and Ms.
McRae said individual board members must declare their conflicts,
Mr. Smith was just asking that members help each other out in
identifying possible conflicts.
Petrel Landing plans:
Dr. Boyce reported did not write a letter to the Land Bank
Commission asking it what the status of the commercial pier at
Petrel Landing in time for HSAB’s Sept. 20 meeting but he would
be doing that afternoon. Dr. Boyce said that he probably needed to
meeting with Land Bank Executive Director Eric Savetsky. Mr.
LaFarge said that Carl Sjolund and his son, Jim, were both very
interested in this project and that they should be involved in the
planning of it. Mr. Willauer said that the architect’s moving his
building abutting the west of the property and the Maria Mitchell
Association’s shuffling of buildings on Washington Street may
have diverted the Land Bank Commission’s attention away from
Petrel Landing, and that it’s worth it to revisit the project with Mr.
Savetsky sometime soon. Dr. Boyce stated that he would make an
appointment to meet with Mr. Savetsky.
Mr. Smith said Dave Fronzuto should be involved in these
discussions.
New Business: 5:17 p.m.
Great Point Wildlife Refuge Plan:
Mr. Brace reported that the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service had held
a public information meeting in September 2009 in the town annex
conference room to explain their Comprehensive Conservation
Plan process for its property on Great Point. He reported that a new
group of fishermen had formed calling itself the Seal Abatement
Coalition.
Mr. Brace reported that after attending a public hearing for the
CCP for Great Point on Sept. 15 that it seemed to him the Fish &
Wildlife Service wants only to manage its 21 acres of the refuge,
help the Trustees of Reservations and Nantucket Conservation
Foundation manage theirs, and if it has the funds, possibly acquire
surplus federal lands on the island for further conservation efforts
including the U.S. Coast Guard LORAN station land that includes
part of Low Beach and Federal Aviation Administration land in
Madaket at the Head of the Plains. On the latter property, Mr.
Brace reported that USFWS is hoping to re-introduce New
England cottontail rabbits. He also reported that the USFWS also
wanted to designate Coatue from Coskata to First Coatue Point a
National Natural Landmark, acquire the Great Point Lighthouse
from the U.S. Coast Guard, help the town manage Muskeget Island
and possibly acquire the Creeks from the town and NCF.
Altogether, said Mr. Brace, the USFWS has its eyes on 1,790 acres
of Nantucket land.
Mr. Brace reported that the public comment period ends on Oct. 1
at which point the USFWS would review all comments, make
changes to the CCP — recommending Option B, the preferred
option — if necessary and then issue a final plan that if agreeable
to the Regional Director, would be deemed Finding of No
Significant Impact and implementation of the plan would begin
possibly as early as Spring 2012.
Dr. Boyce HSAB’s biggest concern is Coskata Pond and the
aquaculture happening within it. Ms. McRae said that the board
could hold a meeting to discuss this plan and it only needs 48
hours’ notice to post the meeting.
Statewide Shellfish Planting Guidelines:
Tara Riley attended a conference on shellfish planting on Sept. 20.
Dr. Boyce said Ms. Riley would be reporting on what she learned
at that conference at the Oct. 4 meeting.
Moorings in shellfish beds with eelgrass – do we need
regulations:
Mr. Smith said mooring companies appear to expanding mooring
placement into shellfish beds, specifically 30-40 moorings in front
on Hulbert Avenue in 2011 and Warren’s Landing in 2010, both
prime scallop and quahog habitat. Mr. Smith said that it might be
time to discuss possible regulations for the protection of shellfish
beds. Dr. Boyce agreed, saying the board needs to explore possible
approaches to protecting eelgrass. He noted that every year,
moorings appear on Hussey Shoal and although Mr. Fronzuto gets
them moved, in many cases, the damage to eelgrass is already
done. Mr. Smith said these are usually boats anchoring, but that the
damage to eelgrass can be far worse than mooring tackle dragging
on the bottom. He added that the bylaw states mooring must be out
by Oct. 1, but that each year, the moorings are set in different
places and usually in shellfish beds where eelgrass is gradually
disappearing. Mr. Brace suggested that all mooring be Helix
moorings because they’re never removed and there is no chain
dragging on the bottom.
Dr. Boyce said enforcement of designated mooring and anchorage
boundaries is the real issue, but Mr. Smith said that it can be
difficult for boaters to differentiate between the two zones. Ms.
McRae noted that HSAB is dealing both people anchoring in
shellfish beds and mooring companies setting their mooring there
as well. Mr. LaFarge said that with no mooring in the lagoon at
Tuckernuck, he uses an anchor with rope, but no chain and he
doesn’t see this method as destroying eelgrass. Mr. Willauer stated
that one of the problems in front of Hulbert Avenue is that property
owners have a right to moor/anchor their boats in front of their
house with up to two moorings and there is no formal mooring grid
for this area. Mr. Brace said that Mr. Fronzuto must be part of the
current discussion.
Mr. Willauer said that another issue to include in possible mooring
field regulations is the extra long painters being put on boats
between their bows and their moorings that make their swing
radius much wider. Combined with a dinghy hanging off the back
of the boat, these boats can swing even wider making navigation
through the mooring field difficult. Mr. LaFarge noted that 2/3s of
the moorings at Warren’s Landing don’t have boats on them during
the summer, but a bigger issue is overloaded boats backing out
from the shore with their props scouring the bottom and digging
out craters.
Tuckernuck public dock:
Mr. LaFarge reported that Mr. Fronzuto wrote into the harbor plan
that Tuckernuckers need to help him build a community dock for
Tuckernuck but that no one on that island wants it to be a public
dock. Mr. LaFarge said that docks and piers don’t last long at the
east of Tuckernuck because of erosion and storms, but that there is
one private pier and a “bootleg” dock in the southwest corner of
the lagoon.
Mr. LaFarge said that most of the Tuckernuck community seems to
want a dock/pier, that they asked him to pursue this effort through
Mr. Fronzuto and the town and that it should be a removable or
seasonal dock. His personal interest in having one, Mr. LaFarge
stated, is for emergency situations and that the people who have
the bootleg dock should somehow be included in this process.
Dr. Boyce asked what HSAB’s role is in this project and Ms.
McRae said that will HSAB might not have a role in this, it
definitely has an interest. Mr. LaFarge stressed that he needs to
meet with Mr. Fronzuto on this and that the Tuckernuck Land
Owners Association needs to be involved. Dr. Boyce stated that
HSAB is willing to help LaFarge and the Tuckernuck landowners.
Public Questions and Comment:
Mr. Willauer said that Senator Kerry and Senator Brown are
forming a committee along with 17 other senators on coastal
management, and he suggested that HSAB get up to speed on this.
Recap and Items for Next Meeting:
Dr. Boyce will speak with Mr. Rank about conflict of interest, to
Mr. Savetsky about Petrel Landing plans and he will think about
how to deal mooring problems, and think about possible
regulations.
Adjournment: 5:38 p.m.
Unanimously approved
Next Meetings:
Oct. 4 and 18, 2011
Respectfully submitted,
Peter B. Brace, Secretary