Harbor Management Commission

HARBOR MANAGEMENT COMMISSION March 27, 2012 MEMBERS PRESENT Vice-Chair Richard Benoit Alderman Tucker Braddock Alderman Charles Jaskiewicz City Manager Alan Bergren Joanne Philbrick MEMBERS ABSENT Chairman John Paul Mereen OTHERS PRESENT Geoffrey Steadman Gerald Martin Jill Brennan-Recording Secretary 1. Call to order – Vice-Chair Richard Benoit called the March 27, 2012 meeting to order at 5:04 P.M. 2. Determination of Quorum It was determined a quorum was present. 3. Approval of Minutes Minutes of February 28, 2012 meeting-motion to accept C. Jaskiewicz, 2nd J. Philbrick, motion carried unanimously. 4. Citizen Comment 5. Correspondence a. February Budget Report Motion to accept, T. Braddock, 2nd, C. Jaskiewicz, motion carried. 6. Harbor Master Report No appointment has been made yet. There has been no reply to an email sent to the Governor’s office by J. Brennan last week. C. Jaskiewicz to call his contact at the Governor’s office. Harbor Management Commission March 27, 2012 Page -2- 7. Old Business a. Concert Series-acts have been booked and schedule has been approved by Council. b. Council action on the Vision statement-A.Bergren to follow up with Corporation Counsel for resolution for the second meeting in April. c. Planning for relocation of the boat launch-G. Steadman discussed the meeting regarding the boat launch relocation. J. Philbrick asked if it was the plan to include anyone from the general public. C. Jaskiewicz explained that it is too early for that. This would be a preliminary meeting to discuss the proposal and then involve the public at a later point. G. Steadman said that the idea was to look for funding sources. When dredging was explored for another location a consultant was brought in to report on the feasibility of the project. He suggested that the same procedure be used for the boat launch relocation study. He would like to seek funding to pay for someone to come up and look at the specific four sites that have been identified. J. Martin asked if anyone has run sonar at the sites to see what was out a few feet from shore. C. Jaskiewicz said one is directly on the channel. G. Steadman said that a professional survey of the depths would need to be done on any site that was chosen. Motion for J. Mereen to arrange meeting with the identified agencies (NDCD, COCP, RDA, PW Director, Planning Director, NPU Director) to plan for the relocation of the boat launch and to work with Alan to secure finding for an engineer to look at locations and depth of water within the next 60 days, C. Jaskiewicz, 2nd T. Braddock, motion carried unanimously. d. River trails map grant application G. Steadman called same grant program from the interpretative panels and discussed the kayak trail mapping concept if that was a fundable project under the small grant program (under $10,000) and it is. He asked if he could develop a project that would meet the scope of the allowed funding (a waterproof trails map) This would be due April 9th. This would include the preparation and printing of the trail map. He asked for volunteers to help with the id of the water trail and also include one panel at the principal point of access. Motion to allow Geoff to prepare a grant application to be submitted by the City Manager before April 9th to the LIFF to work to establish a water trail, A. Bergren, 2nd T. Braddock, motion carried unanimously. Harbor Management Commission March 27, 2012 Page -3- e. Installation of a “harbor cam” G. Steadman reported on the web cam that the town of Stratford uses and that they would be a source of reference if the City of Norwich moves forward with the plan. They installed a well known brand camera that the public could also access for approximately $3200 and they have had good results. It needs power and a data line to the internet, it does not need to be hooked to a computer. A. Bergren to forward the email with the information to Commission members. C. Jaskiewicz asked if the HMC could apply to the Sachem Fund and CDBG for camera funds so multiple cameras could be placed in different locations. The Sachem Fund is a matching grant and the deadlines have not been posted. The CDBG deadline has expired. The HMC needs to communicate with the Police Chief to see where they are planning on locating their cameras and try to coordinate efforts. C. Jaskiewicz will research the Sachem Fund deadline and write something up this weekend. f. HMC Plan update G. Steadman reported that the maps are almost complete, but he was not able to bring them today. He will have them ready for the inter-agency group meeting. g. Fundraising idea update: Dinner update T. Braddock will speak to the owner of the marina restaurant as soon as he returns from abroad. 8. New Business a. Emancipation Proclamation Committee Proposed Amistad visit: City Historian-Dale Plummer D. Plummer reported on the planning for a visit of the Amistad to the Harbor on June 14, 15 and 16th during Juneteenth and the bell casting at Brown Park. He asked if there is enough draft (10 feet 6 inches) in the Harbor for her to come up. G. Steadman to check the maps and survey, but he thinks there is plenty of draft. He will confirm this and get in touch with Dale Plummer. b. SECTER CEDS Project Review Form (re: Boat Launch funding) G. Steadman said that an engineer’s services would be needed to develop cost estimates that would be needed to complete this review form. J. Martin pointed out that parking needs to be taken into consideration when applying for permits for fishing tournaments. Harbor Management Commission March 27, 2012 Page -4- c. Meeting of concerned parties for funding of improvements Discussed under Old Business “c”. 9. Other G. Steadman submitted an invoice for payment to close out the grant. Total amount $4602.00. Motion to pay, A. Bergren, 2nd C. Jaskiewicz, motion carried unanimously. Web Site:The electronic versions of the panels will be posted on the web page. A manager of Thayer’s is willing to email the City a fishing report weekly in return for a link to the Thayer’s site which will provide tidal charts and bait info. T. Braddock to speak to Thayer’s and arrange for this to be posted on the web. 10. Adjournment Motion to adjourn, T. Braddock, 2nd C. Jaskiewicz, meeting adjourned at 5:52 PM.