Harbor Management Commission

HARBOR MANAGEMENT COMMISSION MEETING MINUTES Tuesday, October 27, 2020 TurboBridge Virtual Meeting, 2:00 PM MEMBERS PRESENT: Chair Tucker Braddock, Alderman Mark Bettencourt, City Manager John Salomone, Michael Gualtieri and Mark Sicuso OTHERS PRESENT: Consultant Geoff Steadman and Recording Secretary Melinda Wilson MEMBERS ABSENT: Mayor Peter Nystrom, Michael Aliano and Sofia LeWitt CITIZENS PRESENT: None 1. Call to Order: Chair Tucker Braddock called the meeting to order at 2:01 PM. 2. Determination of Quorum: It was determined a quorum was present. 3. Approval of Minutes: On a motion by Alderman Mark Bettencourt, seconded by City manager John Salomone, the September 22, 2020 meeting minutes of the Harbor Management Commission (HMC) were unanimously approved as presented. Michael Gualtieri abstained due to non-attendance. 4. Community Policing Report: None 5. Correspondence: a) Financial Report: Mike Gualtieri raised the issue of an additional bill from Docko in the amount of $3,624.03. On a motion by Mike Gualtieri, seconded by Alderman Mark Bettencourt, the HMC unanimously approved the payment of the invoice in the amount of $3,624.03 to Docko. Mike also reviewed expenses and balances. On a motion by Alderman Mark Bettencourt, seconded by Mark Sicuso, the September Financial Report was accepted. 6. Harbor Master Report: Harbor Master Rich Thayer was not present. Chair Braddock clarified the ongoing issue of the no-wake buoy. The buoy is covered in the lease for the marina. The no-wake buoy is owned by, and the responsibility of, the marina. It should be put in on 4/1 and pulled out on 11/1. 7. New Business: a) HMC Meeting Schedule: Discussion was held on the days and times of the HMC meetings for 2021. It was decided to schedule the meetings according to the current recurring schedule. It was also agreed among members that if an essential virtual meeting must be held, it will be held at 2 PM on a regular meeting day. On a motion by Mark Sicuso, seconded by Mike Gualtieri, the HMC 2021 meeting schedule was approved with the existing recurrence of fourth Tuesdays of each month except December at 5 PM in City Hall Room 319. 8. Old Business: a) CT Port Authority Grant Chair Braddock reported that the Small Harbor Improvement Projects Program (SHIPP) grant was unanimously approved by the Connecticut Port Authority Board. It was one of nine proposals approved. Two projects were for docks and seven were for dredging. So far, the funding has not been released.  b) Harbor Management Plan Review Geoff Steadman mentioned that the SHIPP grants assist smaller harbors along the coast. The program was established when a similar program of the Department of Transportation was discontinued. The association of Harbor Management Commissions supported the creation of SHIPP by the CPA. The association will meet next week to discuss and provide comments to Governor Lamont and the legislative transportation committee with the goal of gaining agreement that the CPA should continue the SHIPP. Alderman Bettencourt asked if anyone has gone to local legislators about small harbor issues. Chair Braddock encouraged HMC members to reach out individually. Geoff also reported on a Superior Court case in Greenwich, CT, which is relevant to all HMCs in the state. The case challenges the extent to which the state Department of Energy and Environmental Protection is bound by Harbor Management Plans. The outcome may require legislative clarification. c) Review of 9/22 Meeting Discussion Chair Braddock reviewed the 9/22/20 meeting discussion with Jason Vincent, President of the Norwich Community Development Corporation (NCDC). Jason shared some ideas about developing properties along the harbor. His ideas which were well received. Geoff noted that the draft of Chapter 2 of the Harbor Management Plan (HMP) needs to be reviewed by HMC members, and this relates to the conversation. He asked that members try to do this review prior to next month’s meeting. State approval of the HMP would reinforce support for the plan for development of these idle properties. 9. Citizen Comment: None 10. Other: None 11. Adjournment: On a motion to adjourn by Alderman Mark Bettencourt, seconded by City Manager John Salomone, the Harbor Management Commission meeting adjourned at 2:43 PM. Respectfully submitted, Melinda Wilson Recording Secretary