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HomeMy WebLinkAbout09-16-14Harbor and Shellfish Advisory Board September 16'h 2014 at 5:00 p.m. Community Room, 4 Fairgrounds Road Members present: Peter Brace (Chair), Chuck Connors, Doug Smith, Michael Glowacki Members Absent: Bill Blount, Wendy McCrae, Dr. Peter Boyce Marine Dept: Sheila Lucey Natural Resources Dept. Tara Riley, Jeff Carlson, Leah Cabral, J.C. Johnson Others: Ryan Ferguson, Kona CALL TO ORDER 5:00 APPROVAL OF AGENDA Unanimous APPROVAL OF MINUTES Mr. Smith made the motion and it was unanimously approved CHAIRMAN'S REPORT S. 979 /appointed board update Mr. Brace was attending the Civic leagues annual meeting last Monday and spoke to Senator Dan Wolf and Rep. Tim Madden. Mr. Madden explained that the bill had passed the house in 2012 and 2013 but didn't pass at the Senate level. This year the bill is being presented to the Senate first. This Item will be continued to the next meeting. MARINE DEPARTMENT REPORT: Harbor Master Sheila Lucey Gave the report. Between June 15d' and Sept. 2nd the MD has reported From the 2 seasonal employees force Ms. Lucey had to work with this year, one was out with a shoulder injury and the other being a merchant marine was shipped out leaving her as the only full time employee. She did receive help from the dock staff and the Police Department. Filled all slips. Nantucket hosted 218 transients this season and 950 dinghies at the dingy dock. We maintained 11 mooring fields with 116 moorings. 20452 gallons of waste pumped out by our pump out boat. We hosted 8 events, responded to 76 calls for assistance outside the anchorage, 32 inside the anchorage. 27 boats were relocated to proper anchorage sites. 20 safe boating classes were taught to junior operators. There were 77 rescues 171 assists and 673 first aids performed by the 45 life guards at the 9 guarded beaches 136,000 beach patrons were guarded. The most significant incident was the boat fire the day of the Boston Pops concert. The boat sank outside the channel during the pops and the owner wanted it raised. It was going to be a hazard to raise the boat with all the Pops traffic out there so we wouldn't raise it during the concert. 500 feet of boom was let out around the sunken boat. We responded to 4 boats taking on water. There was one $500 ticket for illegal sewage discharge. Ms. Lucey told the Board for anchorage issues concerning boats being anchored on the eelgrass on Hussy shoal we should talk to Bob Decosta. Ms. Lucey told the board when the regulation was written a line is drawn from first point to Pimmney's point and Hussy Shoal is inside that line. She also reported that there were over 40 accidents inside the anchorage, mostly caused by boats setting anchors in eelgrass and then coming loose as a result. Ms. Lucey suggested that something needs to be done to prevent this. The MD has aquired "Sealegs" shallow water rescue vessel. Ms. Lucey is in process of trying to get a fire fighting boat for Nantucket because we don't have the capability to fight a significant size fire and the Coast Guard does not put out fires. Polpis Harbor dredging will take place this year. NATURAL RESOURCES REPORT Jeff Carlson: The NRD will be advertising in the Newspaper for the Water quality Biologist Position. Design bid is out for the boat house restoration project. Shellfish production has been shut down for the season at the hatchery. Dive surveys are still being done. Work on the back ramp at hatchery is starting, not a major restoration. SMAST water quality report for 2013 has been received and is posted on the NRD web site. PUBLIC COMMENT ON MARINE DEPARTMENT / NATURAL RESOURCES REPORT No Public comment OLD BUSINESS Status of town biologist hiring process — Jeff Carlson Covered under Natural Resources report. Activating the Shellfish Management Plan Implementation Committee NRD is Looking for up to 7 members from different groups, such as the boating community, commercial fishermen, someone from the mooring industry, aquaculture lease holders ect. Oyster restoration initiative — Leah Cabral 10 tons of shells have been collected this year. The restoration site hasn't been decided yet but options are being looked at. NEW BUSINESS Dredging the Polpis Harbor channel update — Jeff Carlson This was covered under MD report. Review of revised shellfish regulations post -town counsel review The board received a copy of the revised regulations with the suggested changes in red and then proceeded to discuss it. The majority of the changes on the revised regulations were to do with the fees not exceeding $300, as that would make it a criminal offence, and on the regulations regarding make up days for scalloping. Mr. Connors Made a motion to request to the BOS that a public hearing be set to review the revised shellfish regulations, the motion was seconded by Mr. Smith and unanimously approved. PUBLIC QUESTIONS AND COMMENT No public comment RECAP and ITEMS FOR NEXT MEETING Number of boats in anchorage Letter to drum up members for the SMPIC ADJOURN Mr. Smith made the motion, seconded by Mr. Connors and the motion was unanimously approved. Future Meetings: October 7"' 2014 October 21" 2014 Respectfully Submitted Chuck Connors, Secretary