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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2012-9-4Harbor and Shellfish Advisory Board Sept. 4 2012 at 5:00 p.m. Conference Room, 4 Fairgrounds Road Members present: Chuck Connors, Wendy McCrae, Peter Brace, Michael Glowacki, Dr. Boyce Members Absent: Bill Blount Marine Dept: Sheila Lucey Natural Resources Dept. Jeff Carlson, Tara Riley, Others: Police Chief Pittman, Matt Herr, Ted Lembret, Gordon Frazier, Leah Cabral CALL TO ORDER 5:03 P.M. APPROVAL OF AGENDA Unanimously approved Dr. Boyce would like to cover the funding update status. APPROVAL OF MINUTES Unanimously approved as amended. Mr. Glowacki stated that he believes we shouldn't put the names of people who are being accused of things in minutes. As a result we decided to strike the names from the minutes. CHAIRMAN'S REPORT Ms. McCrae entered at 5:11 Funding update status. Mr. Brace told the board that he sent the rational that we all voted on to our town manager. We are waiting to hear back from the town on the status. Mr. Glowacki suggests we do a follow up on this. The Chairman's proposed guidelines for submitting items. Mr. Brace would like to see a plan in place where anybody who is planning on submitting something at a HSAB meetings submit them the preceding Thursday before the next meeting to allow for the information to be distributed with the agenda. Ms. McCrae noted her concern for how the public would become informed of the said plan. Mr. Carlson explained how the Natural Resource Department does this. A motion to have this new plan adopted was put forth by Dr. Boyce seconded by Mr. Connors and was unanimously approved. Mr. Brace noted he will not here for the next meeting on 18'' of September. Mr. Brace spoke of the future possibilities of more quahog dredging permits being brought in front of the HSAB. Dr. Boyce believes that HSAB should recommends to the BOS that they allow no more of these dredging permits until there has been time to assess the situation out there and develop regulations that are suitable to the dredge fishery. A discussion about the lack of regulations on this permit was opened up. Mr. Herr stated that hydraulic pump dredging is a limited entry closed fisher on the state level. Ms. Lucey stated that without a state permit for hydraulic pump dredging cannot be fished because we cannot supersede state regulations. Mr. Smith said that we should communicate with the DMF. Ms. Lucey said she will call the DMF tomorrow and get back to Mr. Brace. Mr. Smith motioned that we keep this on the agenda it was seconded by Mr. Connors and unanimously approved. MARINE DEPARTMEN REPORT The report was given by Sheila Lucey. Beaches are closed. Lifeguards are through. The end of the year statistics were given: 8670 Public contacts, 1000 preventative actions, 292 first aids, 13 rescues and 87 assists. 92,477 people on the guarded beaches over the summer. Pump out program is right on track with 22,000 gallons for the pump out boat. Averaging about 1 or 2 search and rescues a week. The rainbow fleet parade was operating in a open channel. There was one 140' yacht that made contact with one of the sailboats. He was boarded by the harbormaster and the captain of the 140 footer said he was constrained by draft which is takes privilege over a vessel by sail. Dr. Boyce made mention of peoples disregard for the no wake buoy. NATURAL RESOURCES REPORT Tara Riley gave the report. She said that they had gone from 70 million larval released in 2011 to 178 million this year. She placed spawning cages around the harbor. Ms. Riley released scallops in several places in Madaket. Ms. Riley showed a chart of the number of scallops in different areas of the harbor. She is continuing her dive surveys with Leah Cabral. Mr. Carlson said they are continuing there water quality sampling though September. PUBLIC COMMENT ON MARINE DEPARTMENT REPORT No public comment OLD BUSINESS Bruce Murray's Aquacultures lease. Mr. Murray told Ms. Riley that he had contacted two hatcheries to receive seed. Ms. Riley contacted the two hatcheries and only one of them had confirmed that Mr. Murray had contacted them. The hatchery owner told Ms. Riley that Mr. Murray had contacted him today (September 4 "') with an inquiry about possibly getting some seed. Mr. Carlson made mention of other requirements Mr. Murray had, such as proof of insurance and actual demonstration of obtaining of the gear necessary. Mr. Carlson told the board that Mr. Murray had a month to show some movement forward with the requirements of the lease and it wasn't until today that he even contacted a hatchery. Mr. Carlson said in fairness to other lease holders and people waiting to obtain leases, how long are we going to put it off with out seeing any progress. Mr. Carlson said he doesn't want this to be a future problem where we have to keep carrying this forward from one meeting to the next. Stating when will enough be enough. Mr. Murray had 14 years of inactivity and was given a month deadline to show some activity and didn't. Mr. Smith agrees with Mr. Carson and asked that either Mr. Carlson or Ms. Riley ask for a recommendation on this issue so that HSAB may take action. Ms. McCrea said that he has been up there at the lease site since we last met. Dr. Boyce put up a motion that we recommend to the BOS that Mr. Murray's lease be revoked, it was seconded by Mr. Smith and was unanimously approved. PUBLIC QUESTIONS AND COMMENT No public comment RECAP and ITEMS FOR NEXT MEETING Get clarification from Sheila about the Pump dredging permits. ADJOURN Unanimously approved Future Meetings: Sept. 18"' Oct. 2nd Respectfully Submitted, Chuck Connors, Secretary