HomeMy WebLinkAbout2013-6-18Harbor and Shellfish Advisory Board
June 18th 2013 at 5:00 p.m.
Conference Room, 4 Fairgrounds Road
Members present: Peter Brace (Chair), Chuck Connors, Doug Smith, Wendy McCrae,
Michael Glowacki, Dr. Peter Boyce
Members Absent: Bill Blount
Marine Dept: Sheila Lucey
Natural Resources Dept. Jeff Carlson, Tara Riley
Others:
CALL TO ORDER
5:05 P.M.
APPROVAL OF AGENDA
Unanimously approved
APPROVAL OF MINUTES
May 21St HSAB meeting minutes were unanimously approved (Mr. Glowacki Abstained)
June 4th HSAB Meeting minutes were unanimously approved (Mr. Connors Abstained)
CHAIRMAN'S REPORT
SBRW workgroup update — The last two meetings didn't make quorum. Next meeting
will be about eels and blue crabs.
August 6th HSAB meeting — Mr. Brace informed the board that he will not be attending
the August 6th HSAB meeting.
SPWG — Michael Glowacki
The SPWG has been meeting monthly since October and Mr. Glowacki gave the Board
an idea of what's been happening with that.
He mentioned that the Civic League news letter is encapsulating what the SPWG is
working on currently. The sea level and the sewer beds were discussed, and talk of what
an outfall pipe 10 miles out will possible do was also brought up.
MARINE DEPARTMENT REPORT:
Sheila Lucey — The buoys marking the entrances to Polpis Harbor, Nantucket Harbor,
Madaket Harbor and Eel Point have been placed.
Tuckernuck — The channel marker buoys leading into Tuckernuck Island have been
removed due the presence of a shoal that has formed where the channel once was. Ms.
Lucey said; they cannot keep the buoys in the water because it could be a liability to the
town, if a boater were to use them to navigate into Tuckernuck Lagoon and find
themselves in trouble, either run aground or capsized. The MD is working with property
owners on Tuckernuck to find an alternative place for emergency services to go if need
be. In the case of a medical emergency, a helicopter is the only resource they can use as
of now.
Life Guards — Surf school stared for the LG's on the 17"' and they will be training all
week with it. They will begin boat training next week. ATV's have been added to the
life guards equipment this year, so that they may patrol the beaches in between the ones
that have life guards on duty.
NATURAL RESOURCES REPORT Tara Riley —
Aquaculture - The Board of Selectman has allowed the DMF to come out and survey
aquaculture sites to be used for over - wintering of oysters.
Hatchery — Tara Riley said that the hatchery has been spawning bay scallops
approximately every 4 days, thus far the quality of the spat isn't great but Mrs. Riley
expects it to improve. Oysters are being acclimated to a salinity equal to that of
Sesachacha pond and will then be released into the pond.
PUBLIC COMMENT ON MARINE DEPARTMENT / NATURAL RESOURCES
REPORT
No Public comment
OLD BUSINESS
Seasonal Town Biologist — Future Funding for possible year- round position and
formation of subcommittee — discussion. The Natural Resources Departments "5 year
statigic plan ", which was adopted by the BOS calls for the hiring of a year round
Biologist who specializes in water quality. HSAB discussed how we could work with the
NRD in getting the position filled by making a resolution for hiring a full time water
quality Biologist. Also creating a resolution that would let the BOS know that we appose
the taking of money from the WWIF to fund this position was discussed and agreed to by
the board.
A motion was made to have a draft letter written explaining our resolution and asking the
BOS to include funding for the hiring of a full time water quality biologist, as the NRD
"strategic plan" asks for. The motion was made by Dr. Boyce, Seconded by Ms. McCrae
and unanimously approved
A motion was made to write a letter to the BOS explaining our resolution regarding
funding sources and asking them to find alternative funding (rather then the WWIF) for
the hiring of a full -time Water Quality Biologist. The Motion was made by Dr. Boyce,
Seconded Ms. McCrae and was unanimously approved by the board.
NEW BUSINESS
Increasing number of moorings in eelgrass beds — discussion
Sheila Lucey told the board that is a moratorium on the amount of mooring allowed in
Nantucket Harbor and the number of moorings has not increased. She said that moorings
may be being moved from year to year but the actual number has not increased. A
concern that the amount of moorings placed in front of water front properties is being
abused was also brought up. Ms. Lucey said there is a maximum number of 2 moorings
allowed per water front property. What was talked about was that some of these homes
have more then two, some as many as 5 was discussed. Several areas in particular were
discussed, the "Rock Garden ", Fulling Mill Road especially are said to have more
mooring then before. The concerns were that of the degradation of eelgrass that occurs
when moorings are added or placed in different places then they have been in previously.
The board decide to keep this on the agenda.
A motion to continue the mooring discussion was made by Ms. McCrae, Seconded by Mr.
Smith and unanimously approved.
PUBLIC QUESTIONS AND COMMENT
No public comment
AP and ITEMS FOR NEXT MEETING
Discussion of the 3 mile limit
Conch trap limit for Harbor
Draft Letters to the BOS - WWIF Money and Town water quality Biologist.
SPWG update
ADJOURN
Future Meetings:
July 2 "d, August 6"'