Harbor Management Commission

HARBOR MANAGEMENT COMMISSION March 26, 2013 MEMBERS PRESENT Alderman Tucker Braddock Alderman Charlie Jaskiewicz Chairman John Paul Mereen Vice-Chair Richard Benoit City Manager Alan Bergren Gerald Martin Lauren Miner MEMBERS ABSENT None OTHERS PRESENT Geoffrey Steadman-Consultant Michael Valentine-Harbormaster Jill Brennan-Recording Secretary Ryan Blessing-Norwich Bulletin Jason Vincent -NCDC 1. Call to order – Chairman J.P. Mereen called the March 26, 2013 meeting to order at 5:00 P.M. 2. Determination of Quorum It was determined a quorum was present. 3. Approval of Minutes Minutes of February 26, 2012 meeting, motion to accept with corrections, C. Jaskiewicz, 2nd T. Braddock, motion carried. 4. Citizen Comment M. Blizard, RDA Chair attended meeting to encourage communication between groups. 5. Correspondence a. February Budget Report-Chairman reminded G. Steadman to submit invoices, motion to accept C. Jaskiewicz, 2nd R. Benoit, motion carried. b. GNACC River Fest Dock Usage-Chairman Mereen submitted letter approving, motion to send, R. Benoit, 2nd C. Jaskiewicz, motion carried unanimously. Harbor Management Commission March 26, 2013 Page -2- 6. Harbor Master Report-M. Valentine reported increased activity along and on river. Chair Mereen asked for prices on a danger buoy, motion for HMC to expend funds for an appropriate buoy, C. Jaskiewicz, 2nd T. Braddock, motion carried. G. Steadman believes that the DEEP must be notified to place the marker. He will supply the name to M. Valentine and he will notify. C. Jaskiewicz would like the HMC to petition the State to push the demarcation line up to the Falls. 7. Old Business a. River Trails map grant application-G. Steadman has spoken to Jason Vincent regarding the most appropriate base map to work with. He asked the Harbormaster to pass the word to kayakers for their input and to ask them to come to next month’s meeting. J. Martin suggested making a small questionnaire and pass it out at the Harbor and get the feedback right then. M. Valentine will collaborate with Jason Vincent on this. b. Installation of a “harbor cam”-on hold until further notice. c. Fundraising planning-Ticket sales are underway and advertisements have been sold. The goal is to sell 30. C. Jaskiewicz asked HMC members to submit business owners’ addresses so that he can send out the ad solicitation. He has solicited several businesses for silent auction items. Political advertisements will be accepted. L. Miner and C. Jaskiewicz will collaborate on the mailing list. The menu has been finalized. d. Thames River Spring Tournament-the flyer was distributed to members and G. Martin has received the approved permit from DEEP. The time has been changed from 3am-11am at the Greenville Dam to 500 ft north of the Gold Star Bridge. The HMC will purchase the signs, motion to expend up to $150.00, C. Jaskiewicz, 2nd T. Braddock, motion carried. The tournament will take place on May 4th. e. Rock the Docks-There will be 6 nights instead of 7 and it will begin after the 4th of July week. f. CTHMA date for re-scheduled meeting-no date has been set yet. June 5th, 10th or 11th will be the date, and the topic will be the late Senator Gunther’s contributions to Harbor Management. The Lt. Governor may also be a speaker. There will also be recognition of the Aliano award. Harbor Management Commission March 26, 2013 Page -3- 8. New Business a. Norwich Rocks t-shirts-R. Benoit distributed a template for a design idea. He received an estimate of $6.50 per shirt, over 144 there would be a .75 cent per shirt savings. Light grey was a suggested color. J. Vincent suggested adding a “CT” so people would know the State. Other suggestions are to add a boat name “Rose City, CT”. They can be available for the fundraiser. Motion for R. Benoit to order 144 shirts, C. Jaskiewicz, 2nd T. Braddock, motion carried unanimously. b. City Clean-ups: G. Martin requested cigarette butt receptacles in Howard T. Brown Park to the left of the gazebo. The CM will check with PW. He asked that Police patrol up past the ice cream shop as there were numerous empty liquor bottles. c. T.V. Appearance Community Friends with Deb Kievitz: G. Martin will be on this show and he would like some slides to promote the Fishing Derby, HMC fundraiser, Dragon boats, etc. He needs these emailed to him as soon as possible. d. C. Jaskiewicz would like to discuss the summer youth program with Gayle Adams from the DOI. e. April 6th at the Bishop School the Recreation Department has a class to teach people to be fishing instructors if anyone is interested. 9. Other: Motion to suspend the rules to add discussion of a meeting attended by JP Mereen, G. Steadman and J. Vincent of the CT Maritime Association, C. Jaskiewicz, 2nd, R. Benoit, motion carried. Discussion followed. The Norwich projects that are currently underway and initiatives that the HMC is pursuing were on the agenda. J. Vincent put together a pr esentation. Chair Mereen would like to request a letter of support from the Association for the HMC boat launch project. The next step is to see how the HMC can follow up on this at their next meeting. G. Steadman distributed the document that J. Vincent prepared for the meeting. J. Vincent commented on the positive aspects of the meeting and the awareness that was brought about the lack of State recreational resources in the City of Norwich. 10. Adjournment Motion to adjourn, G. Martin, 2nd T. Braddock, meeting adjourned at 5:40 PM.