Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAbout2012-12-3Harbor and Shellfish Advisory Board December Yd 2012 at 5:00 p.m. Conference Room, 4 Fairgrounds Road Members present: Chuck Connors, Bill Blount, Dr. Boyce, Peter Brace Members Absent: Doug Smith, Wendy McCrae, Michael Glowacki Marine Dept: Sheila Lucey Natural Resources Dept. Jeff Carlson Others: Police Chief Pittman, Rich Turer CALL TO ORDER 5:00 P.M. APPROVAL OF AGENDA Unanimously approved APPROVAL OF MINUTES Minutes for the November 20'' HSAB meeting Unanimously approved CHAIRMAN'S REPORT Grant for Shark tracking and signage Nantucket is one of 12 towns being lead by Orleans that are in line to get a possible grant for the tagging of Great White Sharks and the posting of signs on beaches warning of the presents of sharks. Sheila Lucey said that we (HSAB) will be kept in the loop on the progress of this grant proposal. December 18'h meeting Talks pertaining to new shellfish regulations will be continued until the December 18th meeting in an effort to have more board members present for the discussion. MARINE DEPARTMENT REPORT: Scallop season update — Sheila Most boats are fishing in Nantucket harbor, there where around 38 boats today in Nantucket Harbor with only a handful remaining in Madaket. Bushel count: Approximately 7,176 bushels have been harvested commercially so far during the 2012 season. Madaket: The Marine department is looking closely at the scallops in Madaket. They are small both in shell size and in meat size and are being studied to learn why. The Cut in Madaket has shifted significantly due to the last Nor'easter we had. Tuckernuck: The lagoon entrance is closed off because of shoaling. Polpis Harbor: The Barnstable County Dredge will be used to deepen the channel leading in to the Harbor. An exact date was not mentioned. Shanty's being Checked: Dr. Boyce asked if the Shanty's have been visited by the wardens. Ms. Lucey reported that they have indeed been periodically checking the shanty's, and said if anyone suspects that someone is taking seed or in violation of the rules to notify the Marine Department and they will check it out. NATURAL RESOURCES REPORT No Report Given PUBLIC COMMENT ON MARINE DEPARTMENT / NATURAL RESOURCES REPORT No Public comment OLD BUSINESS Preparation for the December 5th BOS meeting — Town administration budget recommendations — need people to attend In the future we would like to see the town hire a full time employee dedicated to water quality testing. We spoke about this issue and touched on some good points. We will present our argument at the December 5t' BOS meeting. Currently the town budgets $34,000 annually for water quality testing that's done over a six month period. We also budget approximately $17,000 for a marine technician to do water quality sampling. Town Pier: The town pier had a walk -over study performed by an engineering firm and they confirmed that there is significant damage and there is a need for a major repair or complete replacement of the fixed dock. The engineers said that our floating dock is not strong enough for the foul weather conditions we so frequently have. The firm said that the dock design we have is better used in lakes. So far approximately $45,000 was already spent to repair the floating dock this year and the repaired sections were snapped in half during the recent nor'easter. A floating concrete pier is what is recommended for use as a new, stronger floating dock. These docks are much stronger and are made to withstand thousands of pounds of pressure. Requests for proposals have been put out and during the winter months we should have estimates on the costs involved in revamping the dock. Boat House Dock Repair: There is $75,000 in the budget for improvements of the dock. It is a town administration recommended projects. NEW BUSINESS Fish totes for Natural Resources Department: The need for more totes was discussed with Mr. Carlson. Mr. Carlson stated he has no problem with having more totes and that he could certainly store them. But he also stated that until a better procedure in which we handle strandings is developed we won't know for sure what we really need. After which time a plan is in place we can then determine if the need for more totes is necessary. Mr. Carlson noted that during the recent stranding a big problem he observed was the lack of boats to transport the totes off the beach. Bushel Boxes and Ice: Beginning next year the town will not be selling ice or bushel boxes due to the fact that those two items are the only retail products the town sells and it raises issues with sales tax. They are looking for a vender to handle it for next year. PUBLIC QUESTIONS AND COMMENT No public comment RECAP and ITEMS FOR NEXT MEETING Shellfish By -law regulation talks ADJOURN Unanimously approved Future Meetings: Dec. 18th (5:OOpm) Respectfully Submitted, Chuck Connors, Secretary