Harbor Management Commission

HARBOR MANAGEMENT COMMISSION MEETING MINUTES Tuesday, October 23, 2018 City Hall, Room 319, 5:00 PM MEMBERS PRESENT: Chair Tucker Braddock, Alderman Joseph DeLucia, Peter Barber, Mark Sicuso & Zechariah Stover OTHERS PRESENT: Consultant Geoff Steadman, Harbor Master Rich Thayer & Recording Secretary Melinda Wilson MEMBERS ABSENT: Alderwoman Joanne Philbrick, Michael Gualtieri and Jerry Martin CITIZENS PRESENT: None 1. Call to Order: Chair Tucker Braddock called the meeting to order at 5:00 PM. 2. Determination of Quorum: It was determined a quorum was present. 3. Approval of Minutes: On a motion by Pete Barber, seconded by Alderman DeLucia, the September 25, 2018 meeting minutes of the Harbor Management Commission (HMC) were unanimously approved as presented. 4. Community Policing Report: The Norwich Police Department was not represented at the meeting. 5. Correspondence: a) Financial Reports: On a motion by Pete Barber, seconded by Zechariah Stover, the August and September financial reports were accepted as presented. 6. Harbor Master Report: Harbor Master Rich Thayer reviewed the recent sea plane landing in the harbor. The landing was tested it and it worked well. Now the owners of the sea plane company have requested to land and take-off three times/day. Discussion ensued about the safety issues involved. Mark suggested inviting the owners of the sea plane to the next HMC meeting. Geoff mentioned there are FAA requirements. He will review what Norwalk did in the past. He will also check with the Coast Guard. The HMC decided to invite the FAA, Coast Guard, Port Authority, and CT Airport Authority to the next meeting, as well. Rich let the HMC know that the Heritage Trail has an area that has inches of mud on it that was washed up in the rainstorms. The NFA students can’t run on it. Tucker will contact DPW to take care of it. 7. New Business: Alderman DeLucia asked about the pending marina sale. Tucker noted that the marina is still for sale and the new owner would have to be approved for a lease with the city. Alderman DeLucia also asked if Mel Weise can extend his permit for fuel. Tucker said Deanna and Mel 1 are working on extending permits through 2020 for a 5,000 gallon of gas and 5,000 gallons of diesel above ground tank. 8. Old business: a) Review of last month’s presentation: Tucker noted the good turnout of 18 people at the presentation. There were good questions asked and answered. The whole idea was to try to get feedback from the citizens in the city to move forward with upgrading the Harbor Management Plan. b) Survey Update: The survey is still open. c) Osprey nest: Rich suggested another site for an osprey nest along Heritage Trail between the Episcopal Church and the bridge. d) Obstruction on east branch of the Yantic River: Rich will add something to the top of the broken piling so it can be seen by boaters. e) Harbor Management Plan Review Update: Geoff said the plan will take support from the survey results. He has gone ahead and prepared a draft of revised goals and policies that HMC can begin to review next month. He asked how to address a new site for the boat launch. Discussion was held regarding the city charter budget requirements. Alderman DeLucia explained that the entire cost of a project must be designated upon initiation of the budget request and, once approved, the entire amount much be spent. If the project comes in under budget, the remainder must be spent on other capital projects in the city. Discussion ensued regarding options for a new boat launch. Geoff noted he needs a cost estimate for the repair and/or replacement of the docks at Howard T Brown Park and the cost of permitting the work in order to proceed with the Port Authority grant proposal. Tucker will talk with DPW and DEEP. Tucker will work with Geoff to get the capital budget request in on time. 9. Citizen Comment: None 10. Other: a) 2019 Calendar: On a motion by Zechariah Stover, seconded by Mark Sicuso, the HMC unanimously approved continuing with the current schedule of meeting held on the fourth Tuesday of each month, except December when there is no meeting, at 5 PM in City Hall Room 319. b) Zechariah reported that the Harbor Fire test was completed. The next step is to determine 2  anchoring to stanchions or to the shore. Tucker said either would be fine. The cauldron floated well. On a motion by Mark Sicuso, seconded by Pete Barber, the HMC unanimously authorized the harbor fire group to anchor or tie off the cauldrons as they prefer. c) Mark reported on the Region #4 NE County Port Security meeting. He will have Rich added to the invitation email list for the monthly meeting. d) Geoff reported he went to the NL Port Authority meeting. They indicated they want continuity with Norwich and to do projects that are mutually beneficial. He shared Tucker’s contact information with the Chair of the committee. 11. Adjournment: On a motion to adjourn by Mark Sicuso, seconded by Zechariah Stover, the Harbor Management Commission meeting adjourned at 6:24 PM. Respectfully submitted, Melinda Wilson Recording Secretary 3