HomeMy WebLinkAbout11-03-15Harbor and shellfish Advisory Board
Minutes
November 3, 2015
Community Room, 4 Fairgrounds Road
Members Present: Wendy McCrae, Peter Boyce, Kenneth Gullicksen and Andy Lowell
Members absent: Peter Brace, Bill Blount and Michael Glowacki
Marine Department: Sheila Lucey
Natural Resources: Jeff Carlson
Call to Order at 5 :00
Agenda Approved
Minutes of October 20, 2015 approved.
Reminder by acting Chair, McCrae, of Special Town Meeting on November 9, 2015.
Marine Dept. report: Lucey- Slip lottery held last Friday, first time held in fall. Lot of
applications, results posted. Ordered new type of ice resistant buoys- coming soon, no
lights. 2 boats in water, 1 at F Street in Madaket, other at Washington Street. Shed in
Madaket wo have ATV for possible rescue from beach. Some storm damage to new part
of Town Pier- minor. Scallopers rate at Town Pier $25 /week, $100 month. Have
advertised for moorings to be removed (from scallop areas), not being done. Marine
Dept. will remove and charge to owners. To be email to handlers about removal.
Dave Fronzuto- speaking as private citizen with knowledge: removal done to prevent
scallop boats getting hung up and someone getting put in water.
Natural Resources, report, Carlson: two days of commercial season completed, with
mixed results. Fleet similar size to last year. Too early to predict results for season.
Full speed ahead on taking lab apart. Contract before BOS tomorrow, part of funding
Article 3 at Special Town Meeting. Hope to be in building by May to complete lab, full
completion by June, 2017 for full years test of new facility. Water quality data being put
in. Two pond openings in October. Hummock Pond open on and off for three weeks,
usually around four days. Salinity up to 27 PPT.
Q- Boyce- Comments on seed? A- a lot in some pockets.
Q- Lowell- Eel grass mapping? A Checking on a few things, should have report by end of
month.
Public comment: none.
Old Business: 60 and over license - Mr. Starr: would like to see restored. Are not many
who use but some like to go with small boat, could be with restrictions (e.g. two
bushels /week) and reporting. Has petition with about 230 signatures.
McCrae: how came about (elimination)? A: chair of BOS said scallops taken with over
60 license were being sold.
Fronzuto: history was covered at last meeting. Since last meeting he spoke at length
with environmental police- his suggestion - take out reference to commercial. Should be
over 60, taking of scallops. People who have not done commercially will not invest in
dredges, etc. Regulations should be enforced or repealed. Provide for steep penalties for
violations. Should be brought back. Should be done by recommendation to BOS.
Lowell- we should draft proposed changes to regulations to present to BOS.
McCrae- would like to bring to people at ATM and put in by -law.
Katherine Nickerson- Can you clarify what proposed? Was selling hearsay? McCrae -
yes, was hearsay and lead to changes in regulations.
Discussion followed of timing and when regulations to be revised by, possibility of acting
this year.
Gullicksen- agree with Lowell. Need to resolve what to be in regulations before anything
is drafted.
Determined that Carlson to be in charge of suggested changes to regulations.
Emergency /Alternate boat hauling: use of mobimatt- Fronzuto- had a piece of mobimatt,
demo, was too narrow and short but could see possibility. Have studied different designs
to death, including Washington and Francis Streets. Spent a lot of money trying to fit in,
can't find a suitable location. Have hauled 1000 boats in three days. At one time ramp
was single lane, now designed for three at a time. Can look at other things, including
mobile ramp in Polpis.
New Business: Conan: new rules re number of dreges, why limit of 8? A (Carlson)
Group was trying to address issue of one boat. Weight was part of discussion. Wanted to
minimize impact on bottom. He to look into basis for rule (i.e. evidence to support). To
be on agenda after next meeting. Lowell: more dredges damage bottom more. Old
timers used 6. Fronzuto: is some goo literature out there on dredges and weights.
Public Question and Comment: none.
Recap /next meeting: Fronzuto, Carlson and Stan to meet to propose over 60 regulations.
Next meeting - proposed mooring regulation changes.
McCrae: no discussion of tragedy in water. Asked for moment of silence for David
Masters.
The meeting adjourned at 6:12.