Harbor Management Commission

HARBOR MANAGEMENT COMMISSION MEETING MINUTES Tuesday, October 24, 2023, 5:00 PM Norwich City Hall, Room 319, In Person/ Turbo Bridge MEMBERS PRESENT: Chair Tucker Braddock, City Treasurer Michael Gualtieri, David Bishop, Sofia LeWitt (via Turbo Bridge), Mark Sicuso (via Turbo Bridge) OTHERS PRESENT: Coastal Area Planning Consultant Geoff Steadman (via Turbo Bridge), President & Executive Director – Norwich Community Development Corporation Kevin Brown, Kaitlyn Griffiths Recording Secretary MEMBERS ABSENT: John Salomone, Alderman Grant Neuendorf, Michael Aliano 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 Michael Gualtieri, seconded by David Bishop, the September 26, 2023, meeting minutes of the Harbor Management Commission (HMC) were unanimously approved as presented. 4. Harbor Master Report: Nothing to report. 5. Correspondence: Nothing to report. 6. Financial Report: Michael Gualtieri reviewed the revenue, expenses, and balances of the September 1st – 30th 2023 report. Mr. Gualtieri reports the $74.40 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 David Bishop the September 2023 Financial Report was unanimously accepted by roll call vote. 7. New Business: a) Howard T. Brown Park – New Docks: Chair Tucker Braddock states the new docks are underway, there were a few issues with hitting ledge but have since been resolved. He states progress is being made. Harbor Management Commission (HMC) members have suggested a visit by the HMC to see the progression and the undertaking of the new docks. Consultant Geoff Steadman asked if any of the work was invoiced, response was there was not much to invoice yet but will be done soon. b) Old Docks- New Location: Chair Tucker Braddock states that the city owns the docks, but there is an interest with someone taking the docks and repurposing them across the Thames River for the condos there. It is understood that they will take the ones in good condition and use them and the other ones they will depose of properly. c) Sale of Marina and/or Towers: Chair Tucker Braddock reports that the sale of the marina has been completed as of today, that it is now owned by JMC Marina Holdings LLC. It is his understanding that they plan to get the marina in “working order” at first and then the possibilities of more improvements to come thereafter. Kevin Brown added that these are practical and pragmatic owners, they also have “first refusal option to buy the towers” at this time. Mr. Brown states that DATTCO and RACE are meeting tomorrow to engage in city work, and states that he is involved in the meeting with the new marina owners tomorrow in which he will invite them to the next HMC meeting. Mr. Steadman states that the Harbor Management Plan (HMP) could potentially include in the language, support, and services to provide help for the new owners with the marina in the future. Chair Tucker Braddock suggests introducing how HMC perceives the HMP, let the new owners know how and what HMC can help with in the future, but to first hear their ideas and planning. 8. Old Business a) Norwich Community Development Corporation (NCDC) – Community Investment Fund (C.I.F.) Grant: Kevin Brown has stated to HMC members that the grant was not approved, this was due to ownership of the marina at the time, other aspects of the application were fulfilled. Mr. Brown states that the new grant application submission period is from October 16, 2023, until December 15, 2023. He states that C.I.F. grants are bifold; they are for lifting destressed communities in support and access to the public, and they are for a positive economic development for that community. He also states that since there are new owners of the marina, they can now be brought in on this application, that this new grant application can be focused on the marina. Mr. Brown has suggested including a “gap cost” added into this next application. There is to be a copy of the current HMP, and the slide show presentation sent to Mr. Brown and Chair Tucker Braddock. The letter of support that will be submitted with the new application will also be redone but Chair Tucker Braddock and sent to Mr. Brown. There was a suggestion to have a special meeting for HMC before their next meeting in November to further discuss the new grant application details as well as to meet the new owners of the marina. b) Mooring for Boats- Thames River: Chair Tucker Braddock expressed the ongoing concern of mooring of boats along the river. Mr. Braddock reiterates that the Harbor Management Plan highly discourages the mooring of boats. Chair Tucker Braddock states that the HMC very strongly discourages mooring and/or anchoring of boats along the Rivers and Coves. Chair Tucker Braddock will be reaching out to the local police department tomorrow to find out the current situation and the hiccups in this process. He will also talk to Chief Daly tomorrow to see if the police department has a designated person for handling harbor discretions and/or a committee for it. c) Car Removal – Shetucket River: Chair Tucker Braddock states the car that went into the Shetucket River, now sits in roughly 24’ of water. Chair Braddock also states that this is being handled by the Taftville Volunteer Fire Department Dive Team. Chair Braddock will be meeting with the Chief of the Taftville Volunteer Fire Department on Saturday morning to discuss the ongoing process. d) Consultant – Geoff Steadman: Geoff Steadman states that there has been no decision made on the Heritage Walkway trail Request For Purposal(RFP) yet. There were 3 firms that presented proposals, all of which are qualified. There is to be a decision on which firm will be chosen soon. Mr. Steadman reiterates that Mr. Salvatore, which was HMC contact for DEEP relations, is now back in a position at the Department of Transportation and does not know the new contact at this time. He states his concerns regarding the CT Port Authority position and the future of them as well. Mr. Steadman states that he has talked to DEEP, have stated to him that the Harbor Master can station all vessels, they say that the boat in question is considered moored and the police should now have the authority to give a citation to the owner per state statues. Mr. Steadman mentioned a newspaper article that headlined the possible merger of the port authority with the airport authority. This newspaper article will be discussed at their next meeting. Mr. Steadman reiterates that HMC should make the proper amendments to the Harbor Management Plan (HMP) to include the HMC credibility as it should be, and to have language mimic that of the NCDC Grant to cover the projects under that as well. Chair Tucker Braddock requested for a copy of the current plan to be submitted to DEEP for approval and then be given to the city council to be ratified and on record. 9. Citizen Comment: None 10. Other: None 11. Adjournment: On a motion to adjourn by David Bishop, seconded by Michael Gualtieri, the Harbor Management Commission meeting adjourned at 6:14PM. Respectfully submitted, Kaitlyn Griffiths Recording Secretary