HomeMy WebLinkAbout2013-5-7Harbor and Shellfish Advisory Board
May 7th, 2013 at 5:00 p.m.
Conference Room, 4 Fairgrounds Road
Members present: Peter Brace (Chair), Charles Connors, Wendy McCrae, Dr. Peter
Boyce
Members Absent: Doug Smith, Michael Glowacki, Bill Blount.
Marine Dept:
Natural Resources Dept. Jeff Carson, Tara Riley
Others:
CALL TO ORDER
5:00 P.M.
APPROVAL OF AGENDA
Unanimously approved
APPROVAL OF MINUTES
Minutes from the April 16`' HSAB meeting
Unanimously approved
CHAIRMAN'S REPORT
SBRW — Update:
The SBRW finished its work with Bay Scallops and is currently working on by- catch,
blue crabs and will soon be addressing Aquaculture.
Summer meeting schedule -
The group voted unanimously to uphold the same summer schedule used the previous
year; we will meet once in July and once in August, unless we feel a second meeting
should be held.
MARINE DEPARTMENT REPORT:
Town Pier — An engineering study is taking place until Thursday the 9th. The pier is still
closed but they are planning on opening it up on May 15th. At this point the plumbing
and electrical is approximately 90% completed. Slip assignments for the 2013 slip lottery
winners will be given out by the 15th of May.
NATURAL RESOURCES REPORT
Strategic plan update — The NRD strategic plan goes up for adoption in front of the
th
BOS on Wednesday May, 8
Boat House — The summer preparations have begun, the hatchery is opening and get
ready for the summer, intern Leah Cabral has returned, the floating dock at the hatchery
has been repaired.
PUBLIC COMMENT ON MARINE DEPARTMENT / NATURAL RESOURCES
REPORT
No Public comment
OLD BUSINESS
Draft letters to BOS in support of SAC'S gray seal research, Tara Riley's
aquaculture harbor surveys & NRD Letter that supports the department structure.
The three letters were read over by the Board and a decision was made to approve and
submit all to the BOS.
NEW BUSINESS
SMAST water quality report — thoughts and discussion
Dr. Boyce suggested that the report include the protocol for how they are obtaining the
different measurements of nitrogen in the water (materials & methods).
Ms. Riley suggested writing a letter to SMAST for adding/amending the current contract
to include these requests. Dr. Boyce will draft a letter for the Board to review.
Seasonal town biologist — Future funding for possible year round position and
formation of study subcommittee
Forming a subcommittee to follow up on the possibility about getting a full -time water
quality Biologist hired for the NRD was discussed. The board thought it best to wait
until we had a full Board before forming the subcommittee but still discussed the matter.
Mr. Carlson explained how having a water quality Biologist would be crucial for the
town. For instance having this person employed by the town would make getting
information regarding water quality less confusing and much more streamlined. A water
quality Biologist could answer the public's questions about how water quality testing is
performed and would also be able to give a more simple explanation of what the
scientifically written reports are saying. An example would be the SMAST that had
recently been submitted. This will be continued to a future meeting.
PUBLIC QUESTIONS AND COMMENT
No public comment
RECAP and ITEMS FOR NEXT MEETING
Draft letter to SMAST — Dr. Boyce
NRD strategic plan to BOS - Update
Future Meetings:
May 21" and June 4th