Harbor Management Commission

HARBOR MANAGEMENT COMMISSION MEETING MINUTES Tuesday, June 27, 2022, 5:00 PM Norwich City Hall, Room 319, In Person/ Turbo Bridge MEMBERS PRESENT: Chair Tucker Braddock, City Treasurer Michael Gualtieri, Alderman Grant Neuendorf, David Bishop, Sofia LeWitt, Mark Sicuso (via Turbo Bridge) OTHERS PRESENT: Coastal Area Planning Consultant Geoff Steadman (via Turbo Bridge), Robert Castronova – City Purchasing Agent, Kaitlyn Griffiths Recording Secretary MEMBERS ABSENT: Michael Aliano, John Salomone CITIZENS PRESENT: None 1.Call to Order: Chair Tucker Braddock called the meeting to order at 5:05 PM. 2. Determination of Quorum: It was determined a quorum was present. 3. Approval of Minutes: On a motion by Mark Sicuso, seconded by Michael Gualtieri, the May 23, 2023, meeting minutes of the Harbor Management Commission (HMC) were unanimously approved as presented. 4. Harbor Master Report: On behalf of the Harbor Master Richard Thayer, Chair Tucker Braddock reports he is working with the docked boat owner at the beach area south of the old scrapyard to remove the boat. Another concern is a sunken car in the Shetucket River and who is responsible for it. Chair Tucker Braddock will be going to the Police Station tomorrow to discuss further action. Sofia LeWitt enters the meeting. Chair Tucker Braddock would like to suspend the rules; On a motion Michael Gualtieri, seconded by David Bishop, the rules are suspended unanimously accepted by roll call vote. Chair Tucker would like to correct the order of the current agenda. Changes are as follows; 7. New Business c. Norwich Fireworks 8. Old Business a. RFP- Howard T. Brown Park b. RFP- Heritage Trail c. Revenue Sources d. Consultant- Geoff Steadman Also to allow Robert Castronova to talk about “Old Business a. & b. before New Business” before he must exit the meeting. On a motion by Michael Gualtieri, seconded by Alderman Grant Neuendorf, the changes to the agenda were unanimously accepted as presented by roll call vote. 5. Correspondence: Nothing to report. 6. Financial Report: Michael Gualtieri reviewed the revenue, expenses, and balances of the May 1st – 31st 2023 report. Mr. Gualtieri reports the $75.40 expenditure of the data line is for the Harbor Management Commission’s share of the harbor cam. On a motion by Mark Sicuso, seconded by Alderman Grant Neuendorf, the April 2023 Financial Report was unanimously accepted by roll call vote. 8.a Old Business: a) RFP- Howard T. Brown Park: Mr. Castronova presents the commission with the accepted bid entitled “City of Norwich, Brown Park Dock Replacement” totaling $1,740,475.00. Mr. Castronova explains that the City has waived fees for certain items including but not limited to; disposal of the floating docks, railings of shoreside docks and reduced lighting. There is a permit for in water work, which will be allowed during the months of September to October. On a motion by Michael Gualtieri, seconded by Mark Sicuso, Harbor Management Commission approves to put the airmarked funds into the City Council Agenda for their next meeting which was unanimously accepted by roll call vote. b) RFP- Heritage Trail: Mr. Castronova states that there is no RFP for Heritage Trail at this time, that there needs to be written constructive advice stating the scope of work needed for the application. Geoff Steadman will write what is needed and send it to Mr. Castronova to proceed. Robert Castronova left the meeting. 7. New Business: a) NCDC – C.I.F. Grant: Chair Tucker Braddock restates the approved statement from last meeting as follows; “The Norwich Harbor Management Commission (NHMC) understands that the Norwich Community Development Corporation, acting as the economic development agency for the City of Norwich, intends to submit an application for waterfront planning funds available through the Connecticut Community Investment Fund 2030 administered by the CT Department of Economic and Community Development. The NHMC encourages and supports such an application, with the understanding that any waterfront projects to be pursued with the granted funds will serve to advance the goals of the Norwich Harbor Management Plan, including but not limited to, goals for public access, sustainable economic development, environmental conservation and enhancement, and coastal resiliency, and that the projects pursued will be designed and conducted in coordination with the NHMC and Commission on the City Plan and subject to review by the NHMC for consistency with the Harbor Management Plan.” Chair Tucker Braddock and Geoff Steadman restate that this is approving the NHMC’s support for the application to be written and submitted with the consistency following the Harbor Management Plan. Geoff Steadman suggests writing a letter to NCDC stating the priority plans in the Harbor Management Plan including the above statement. On a motion by Mark Sicuso, seconded by Michael Gualtieri, to have a letter written stating the support of NHMC and transmit Geoff Steadman’s statement above was unanimously accepted by roll call vote. b) Mooring for Boats- Thames River: Chair Tucker Braddock expressed concern of mooring of boats along the river. Conversation pursued between Harbor Management Commission members of what written rules, regulations and who’s authority it is to manage these instances. Geoff Steadman reads literature from the Harbor Management Plan regarding boat mooring. Clarification of the process of citations and authority will be brought to the next meeting. c) Norwich Fireworks: Chair Tucker Braddock states that City of Norwich plan to have a firework display over the Harbor on July 2nd, 2023, with a rain date of July 9th, 2023. On a motion by Michael Gualtieri, seconded by David Bishop, the Harbor Management Commission gives their approval for the fireworks display at the Harbor which was unanimously accepted by roll call vote. 8. Old Business: d)Income Sources: Sofia LeWitt restated several ideas to the Commission; one is a “Dog Beach” location within an inlet of the river, if possible, another is “sponsor a Bench” where benches with plaques can be erected around the city at locations with views of the river. Discussion persisted of these ideas which the Commission is on board with. Sofia LeWitt presented further details to the Commission, a discussion ensued regarding the Fairview Reservoir is not within the scope of the Commission, but the details of Heritage Trail will be investigated and brought to next meeting. Alderman Grant Neuendorf presented a variety of ideas to the Commission including, a fishing tournament and tri athlete event, in which further details will be investigated and presented at next meeting. e) Consultant – Geoff Steadman: Geoff Steadman restates regarding the Harbor Management Plan legislative; they are waiting to hear back from DEEP for a meeting. Mr. Steadman suggests finishing the draft of the Harbor Management Plan now that the Susan Cohen vs DEEP court decision has been made, and to include drafts of any upcoming projects in the Plan. 9. Citizen Comment: None 10. Other: None 11. Adjournment: On a motion to adjourn by David Bishop, seconded by Alderman Grant Neuendorf, the Harbor Management Commission meeting adjourned at 6:13PM. Respectfully submitted, Kaitlyn Griffiths Recording Secretary