HomeMy WebLinkAbout09-15-15Harbor and shellfish Advisory Board
Minutes
September 15, 2015
Community Room, 4 Fairgrounds Road
Members Present: Peter Brace, Peter Boyce, Wendy McCrae (arrived 5:13) , Kenneth
Gullicksen and Andy Lowell
Members absent: Michael Glowacki and Bill Blount
Marine Department: Sheila Lucey
Natural Resources: Jeff Carlson and Tara Riley
Call to Order at 5:04
Agenda Approved
Minutes of September 1, 2015 approved.
Chairman's report: contacted by Maria Davis- the meeting room is needed on December
15, 2015 at 5pm so the HSAB meeting will be from 6 -8pm. Town biologist requested
support so he did letter to CPC in support of funding request. The Board voted approval
of the letter.
Marine Dept. report, Lucey: conducted 51 SAR missions, 226 transient vessels hosted,
23 cruise ships, 22,420 gallons of "product" pumped, did 26 recreational boating patrols,
maintained 7 properties and 6 boats, patrols for 8 events, established no anchor zone at
Hussey Shoal, patrolled 5 times a week, put 80 hours on SeaLegs, guarded 300K people -
double the usual number, 186 rescues in surf, 26 major first aid events (major being
dealing with EMS). Seasonal staff gone, pump boat to be out this week. Securing life
guard housing, securing dock by November 1. Hauling buoys, Madaket will be last,
except Hussey Shoal will be last. Kept it clear of anchoring throughout summer, if no eel
grass there is not because of anchoring. There are 2 permanent positions. General
discussion followed as to adequacy of staffing, there being more work now that they are
handling beaches.
Natural Resources, report, Riley: Submitted CPC application for boathouse renovation -
$875,000; is plan b if don't get full amount. Previous application for $650,000, got half -
for design and first phase. Out to bid. Bids to be opened September 23, for phase 1 and
2. Fundraiser for equipment — 9/27 at Cru, 12 -5pm. Scallopers Ball coming up,
important, they contribute. Just finished water quality, preliminary results available early
October. Hatchery- moving out last of live animals. Spawned 4M oysters. Working on
refining methods. Spat lines- to be collected 2nd week of October. Have been 2
spawning events. Spawning cages to be brought in in October.
Old Business: Slip and Mooring Regulations. In response to questions from Gullicksen
Lucey reports: there are 1800 moorings. There are two waiting lists, less than 27' and
27' and over. 100 new permits were issued, 50 in '14 and 50 in '15 for boats under 27'.
No new permits were issued for 27'+ in '14, there may be 5 issued this year. Little to no
27'+ moorings in Polpis or Madaket. List has been culled, now about a 2 -3 year wait for
26' and under. 27'+ wait is 20 years. Costs involved: $11,000 /year for online permit
company, other costs unknown. Slip holders have to pay for permit, mooring handler can
allow use by others of slip holder's mooring but only payment allowed is for cost of
placement of mooring. Moorings not used for a year are deleted from permit list. No
boat is required for wait list but boat is required for permit to issue. 75% of moorings are
handled by mooring handlers, 25% private (by owner).
Discussion followed between Board and Lucey as to need to revise regulations, with
Lucey feeling differences are in style, that they were drafted by a lawyer and are fine.
Some Board members felt the regulations could be improved. It was determined that
Gullicksen would prepare proposed changes for the second October meeting.
McCrae- (over 60 scallop) button not on agenda. Brace- proponents are circulating
petition for special town meeting. He will follow up on status.
New Business: overflow boat ramp. Lowell - possible new overflow and commercial, for
unloading, ramp next to hatchery, perhaps gated, with fishermen having keys. May be
FEMA funding. Lucey- Coast Guard will not likely allow (owns land), could blick
channel to existing ramp and would need pumpout if commercial. Boyce- against plan,
sensitive area due to hatchery.
Discussion of possible alternative sites, all too shallow, with possible exception of Petrel
Landing,
Comment- Lucey- slip lottery to be in October, probably 30t'.
Recap /next meeting: 60 and over scallop license, 10/21 meeting — proposed regulation
changes.
The meeting adjourned at 6:30.