Harbor Management Commission

HARBOR MANAGEMENT COMMISSION MEETING MINUTES Tuesday, January 23, 2024, 5:00 PM Norwich City Hall, Room 319, In Person/ Turbo Bridge MEMBERS PRESENT: Chair Tucker Braddock, Michael Gualtieri, David Bishop, Mark Bettencourt, Stacy Gould, Sofia LeWitt, Mark Sicuso (via Turbo Bridge) OTHERS PRESENT: Coastal Area Planning Consultant Geoff Steadman (via Turbo Bridge), Brittany Dwyer (via Turbo Bridge), Kaitlyn Griffiths Recording Secretary MEMBERS ABSENT: John Salomone, Michael Aliano CITIZENS PRESENT: None 1.Call to Order: Chair Tucker Braddock called the meeting to order at 5:06 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 November 28, 2023, meeting minutes of the Harbor Management Commission (HMC) were unanimously approved as presented. 4. Harbor Master Report: Chair Tucker Braddock reports that he has been in contact with Harbor Master Richard Thayer. Mr. Thayer expressed his concerns of the needs requiring a Harbor Master to Chair Tucker Braddock. Geoff Steadman reminds HMC of a Harbor Master’s authority and necessity of carrying out duties within the Harbor Management Plan (HMP). That a Harbor Master is governor approved and required and holds duties outlined in general statues. 5. Correspondence: Nothing to report. 6. Financial Report: Michael Gualtieri reviewed the revenue, expenses, and balances of the November 1st – 30th 2023 and December 1st-31st 2023 reports. Mr. Gualtieri reports the $240.00 expenditure in December’s report for 3 months of recording secretary fees. Mr. Gualtieri also reports a correction of the Harbor Management Commission’s share of the harbor cam of $223.20. This expenditure will reflect November and December 2023 and January 2024 charges in the January 2024 report. On a motion by Stacy Gould, seconded by David Bishop both the November and December 2023 Financial Reports was unanimously accepted by roll call vote. 7. New Business: a) Consultant Geoff Steadman- Harbor Management Plan: Geoff Steadman states that he had the meeting with DEEP in coordination with the Mayor of New London for the authority of HMC within the HMP throughout Connecticut. This topic of concern was vaguely discussed and members of DEEP are reviewing what has been presented and is to schedule another meeting for further discussion. Mr. Steadman states that there are several towns in the process of completing HMP and are unable to until this matter is resolved. Mr. Steadman restated that if HMC was having difficulty will the removal of the car in the Shetucket River due to funds, that an option would be to file with DEEP for “Funds for Abandoned Vessels” fund. 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 their future of them as well. He also states his concerns about the future of the SHIPP grants. Currently Mr. Steadman has been in contact with Mr. Hammond about these concerns, Mr. Hammond has stated that they hope to announce a 3rd round of SHIPP grants for next quarter of the year but it is contingent on hiring another person in place of Mr. Salvatore. b) Budget – Harbor Management Plan: Chair Tucker Braddock presented a proposal of asking city of Norwich to increase the HMP funds from $7,000.00 to $7,500.00 to be used for any correspondence. Michael Gualtieri stated that this would be for the July 2024 – June 2025 fiscal year. On a motion by Michael Gualtieri, seconded by Mark Bettencourt, Chair Tucker Braddock will present the proposal of an increase of funds from $7,000.00 to $7,500.00 to the city of Norwich was unanimously accepted by roll call vote. c) CIF Grant – Status: Chair Tucker Braddock states that an updated status will hopefully be known in roughly 2 weeks if there are funds received for any part of this grant application. 8. Old Business a) Sale of Marina: Chair Tucker Braddock reiterates that the sale of the Marina was successfully acquired by Mr. & Mrs. Dewyer and that HMC couldn’t be more thankful for it. He states that they are doing great and envisions wonderful improvements in the future. b) Heritage Trail Grant - Status: Chair Tucker Braddock reiterates that the RFP has closed. He states that RACE has responded with a bid, which Robert Castronova, City Purchasing Agent, has approved. RACE has started work on the project. HMC was awarded a $40,000 SHIPP grant for the design and permits for this project. Discussion pursued with HMC members. It was suggested to have some HMC members go and check out the site and its’ progress, along with developing a document of HMC’s visions and expectations of the finished project. David Bishop has photos of the site and will send them to HMC members. c) Car – Shetucket River: Chair Tucker Braddock restates the car that went into the Shetucket River sits in roughly 24’ of water. Chair Braddock also states that the removal process was being handled by the Taftville Volunteer Fire Department Dive Team. Chair Braddock restates that there was a firm from Long Island that was working on the docks that was willing to lend their cables to the Fire Department Dive Team, but they were stolen after the placement of them. They are willing to still help the next time they are down here and make another attempt. The next time they will be back in the area is March. d) Revenue Sources: Chair Tucker Braddock states that HMC is still looking for sources of revenue. Currently there is one idea that is being considered by both Chair Tucker Braddock and Michael Gualtieri, which is a “Striper Fish Tournament” that is proposed to take place in 2025. Mr. Gualtieri has been in contact with Chelsea Groton Bank that supports the idea and will be setting up a meeting to discuss further details. Mr. Gualtieri states there are a couple of other local businesses that have expressed interest in the idea and will be in contact. Mrs. Dwyer(new Marina Owner) has also restated their interest in and support of this event. 9. Citizen Comment: None 10. Other: Discussion of the status of the “Boat Moored on the Thames River” pursued. What HMC knows is that the owner is now in Saybrook and still refuses to move the vessel and was without other intervention. Members of HMC suggest looking into other funding sources or programs to help with the removal process. Consultant Geoff Steadman states that he has been in contact with Kevin Zawboy on this matter and is willing to reach out again to discuss possible options for HMC to utilize. On a motion by Mark Bettencourt, seconded by Stacy Gould, Consultant Geoff Steadman will further pursue options available to HMC for removal of the vessel was unanimously accepted by roll call vote. A reminder to all members of HMC that have not yet reapplied their applications with Harbor Management Commission for the current year, need to do this at their earliest convenience with all updated contact information. 11. Adjournment: On a motion to adjourn by Michael Gualtieri, seconded by David Bishop the Harbor Management Commission meeting adjourned at 5:50PM. Respectfully submitted, Kaitlyn Griffiths Recording Secretary