Harbor Management Commission

HARBOR MANAGEMENT COMMISSION MEETING MINUTES Tuesday, February 25, 2020 City Hall, Room 319, 5:00 PM MEMBERS PRESENT: Chair Tucker Braddock, Mayor Peter Nystrom, Alderman Mark Bettencourt, City Manager John Salomone, Michael Aliano, Michael Gualtieri, Sofia LeWitt and Mark Sicuso OTHERS PRESENT: Officer Zachary Desmond of the Norwich Police Department, Consultant Geoff Steadman and Recording Secretary Melinda Wilson MEMBERS ABSENT: All present CITIZENS PRESENT: None 1. Call to Order: Chair Tucker Braddock called the meeting to order at 5:01 PM. 2. Determination of Quorum: It was determined a quorum was present. 3. Approval of Minutes: On a motion by Mayor Peter Nystrom, seconded by Michael Gualtieri, the January 28, 2020 meeting minutes of the Harbor Management Commission (HMC) were unanimously approved as presented. 4. Community Policing Report: Officer Desmond reported the policing of the harbor continues. 5. Correspondence: a) Financial Report Mike Gualtieri reported on the January 2020 financial report. The report shows a monthly fee for the data line of $75.40 for the harbor cam and secretarial expense. On a motion by Mayor Peter Nystrom, seconded by Alderman Mark Bettencourt, the January 2020 financial report was unanimously accepted. 6. Harbor Master Report: Harbor Master Rich Thayer was not present. 7. New Business: Mike Aliano reported there may be a placement for the restaurant announced this week. 1 8. Old Business: a) CT Port Authority Grant Advocacy Chair Braddock reported that he spoke at the last CT Port Authority (CPA) meeting. He informed the CPA members and attendees that Norwich has put extensive effort and funding into the plan to repair and add safety features to the docks in the harbor. The grant proposal to complete this work is awaiting funding by the CPA. The grant award may be on the March 18, 2020 CPA agenda in New Haven. The CPA is allocated funding annually for the Small Harbor Improvement Project Program (SHIPP). Per Chair Braddock, $11 Million has not yet been allocated to small harbors. b) Harbor Management Plan Review Geoff Steadman asked HMC members for any comments on the draft Harbor Management Plan (HMP) that he handed out at the last meeting. Receiving none, he handed out Chapter 2 draft in hard copy to the HMC members. He asked for updated information on both fire and police protection of the harbor. Office Desmond and Mark Sicuso both offered assistance with these descriptions. Mr. Steadman would like any last comments so he can compile a final draft of the HMP for the state’s review. He also asked for a list of non-governmental groups involved in management of the harbor. Mr. Steadman will email the draft to HMC members for electronic suggested edits. 9. Citizen Comment: None 10. Other: Mike Aliano noted that the state is now charging a $5 fee on boat registrations to combat invasive aquatic species. If out-of-state boaters bring their boat north of Route 95 to inland waters, they are required to pay this fee to the state Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP). Officer Desmond commented on the new law, how it effects boaters and how it will be policed in Norwich. Chair Braddock suggested the information on the law and payment to DEEP be added to the city website. Mayor Nystrom offered to follow-up. 11. Adjournment: On a motion to adjourn by Alderman Mark Bettencourt, seconded by Mayor Peter Nystrom, the Harbor Management Commission meeting adjourned at 5:33 PM. Respectfully submitted, Melinda Wilson Recording Secretary 2