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HomeMy WebLinkAbout05-05-15Harbor and shellfish Advisory Board Minutes May 5, 2015 Community Room, 4 Fairgrounds Road Members Present: Peter Brace, Peter Boyce, Michael Glowacki, Wendy McCrae, Bill Blount, Kenneth Gullicksen and Andy Lowell Marine Department: Sheila Lucey Natural Resources: Jeff Carlson Others: Elaine Russell, David Glidden, Michelle Whelan, Michael McInerney Call to Order Agenda Approved Minutes of April 14 approved after minor revisions Election of Officers Chair- Peter Brace Vice -Chair — Wendy McCrae Secretary — Kenneth Gullicksen Marine Dept. report by Sheila Lucey: Work is progressing on town pier, floating pier should be completed by the end of May. 40 of 70 pilings replaced, new dinghy docks in but not open. Electric work completed except last three, which won't be done this year, plumbing work is started. There will be two pumpouts, including one at end of dock for public. The dock will be opened on a rolling basis as repairs are complete. Madaket: 10 loads of trash hauled away from Millie's Bridge. Work done on floating dock at Jackson Point. Seasonal help — 50 lifeguards and 10 dock staff hired. Boats- all commissioned excep Headhunter which needs welding repair Hazard to navigation- sunken sailboat remains. Marked. Looking into having AGM remove. Natural Resources, report by Jeff Carlson All boats are commissioned Water sampling will start this week bidding will start soon on hatchery work will start eel grass mapping next week next Thursday at loam there will be a report of 2014 water quality storm drain marking is underway and should be completed in Mid -May Old Business Slip/Mooring regulations - Brace reported on Selectmen's meeting and the vote that HSAB revisit the regulations and suggest changes for their consideration. A general discussion followed focused primarily on town pier fees for commercial vessels, especially transient fees and what action the board should take. The discussion included whether anything could be done in time for this season given legal requirements and whether all recommendations should be made at the same time or if commercial fees should be dealt with immediately if possible. Michelle Whelan reported that she attended the Selectmen's meeting and they were most interested in regulations that could affect livelihood. She also reported that commercial fishing has a multiple of 7.4 and high fees could be a barrier to entry by new businesses. David Glidden spoke about the history of Glidden's Seafood, the decline in fisheries and asked the Board to be considerate of the needs of fishermen, reducing costs and making accommodations where possible. He also asked if passengers from cruise ships pay an embarkation fee. Michael McInerney asked who was considered a transient. Lucey responded: those not home ported here. Elaine Russell reported that she did not see the prior recommendations but supports the idea of a public hearing for new input and recommendations. There was continued discussion regarding the scheduling of hearings and recommendations. McCrae made a motion to go directly to the Selectmen and ask them to revise commercial fees, making them the same for all vessels - $125 /ft/yr. After a discussion and questions from the Board the motion was withdrawn. McCrae made a motion that there be a meeting on May 26 for a public hearing to discuss town pier fees for commercial vessels and that it be advertised in the Cape Cod Times to satisfy legal requirements and in the Inquirer Mirror as a curtesy for locals. The motion passed 4 -2 (Brace, Boyce McCrae and Lowell in favor, Glowacki and Gullicksen opposed, Blount abstained.) Former members- there was a discussion of how to honor former members of the Board whose terms just ended. It was decided to obtain plaques, possibly to be placed in the hatchery. Jeff Carlson will look for a suitable place. Change of day of meeting- there was a discussion of a possible change of the night of Board meetings. Brace will check into the availability of a meeting room on other nights and report back. New members Lowell and Gullicksen were welcomed. The next meeting will be May 19. The meeting adjourned.