Harbor Management Commission

HARBOR MANAGEMENT COMMISSION MEETING MINUTES Tuesday, February 27, 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 OTHERS PRESENT: Coastal Area Planning Consultant Geoff Steadman (via Turbo Bridge), Brittany Dwyer, Kaitlyn Griffiths Recording Secretary MEMBERS ABSENT: John Salomone, Sofia LeWitt, Mark Sicuso CITIZENS PRESENT: Brian Kobalarz 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 January 23, 2024, meeting minutes of the Harbor Management Commission (HMC) were unanimously approved as presented. 4. Harbor Master Report: Chair Tucker Braddock has been in contact with Harbor Master Richard Thayer and there’s nothing new to report. 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: Michael Gualtieri reports that he has been in contact with Sandy, the City Accountant and Orla, the Deputy Comp Controller about financial corrections that will be made in the upcoming February Financial Report. These changes will consist of six months of the Harbor Management Commission’s share of the Harbor Cam and a reversal of the $3,035.70 received as State Grant Revenue. 6. Financial Report: Michael Gualtieri reviewed the revenue, expenses, and balances of the January 1st-31st 2024 report. Mr. Gualtieri restates the reversal of funds for the State Grant Revenue in the amount of $3,035.70. On a motion by Stacy Gould, seconded by David Bishop the January 2024 Financial Report was unanimously accepted by roll call vote. 7. New Business: a) Consultant Geoff Steadman- Harbor Management Plan: Geoff Steadman reports that he has been in contact with Kevin Zawoy from DEEP about the sunken boat, to which DEEP feels no need to be involved at this time and that it should be handled by the Harbor Master and local Police Department. Mr. Zawoy told Geoff Steadman that Harbor Management Commission can draft an email with the details of this situation along with the concerns and suggested resolution and send it to him. Currently the Harbor Master has been in contact with Mr. Zawoy and local Police Department. Mark Bettencourt suggested having Mike Driscoll draft an infraction to the Police and have the Harbor Master sign it. Geoff Steadman restates that he had a meeting with DEEP in coordination with the Mayor of New London for the authority of HMC within each Town’s Harbor Management Plan (HMP) throughout Connecticut last month. This topic of concern was vaguely discussed and members of DEEP are reviewing what has been presented and he is to schedule another meeting for further discussion. Mr. Steadman restates that there are several towns in the process of completing HMP and are unable to until this matter is resolved. Currently there has not been a follow up meeting scheduled. Mr. Steadman restated that if the 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 under the “Funds for Abandoned Vessels” fund. Mr. Steadman reiterates his concerns regarding the CT Port Authority position and the 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 and is planned in March. Mr. Steadman also states that Mr. Hammond would like to be a part of any kind of dedication for the completion of Howard T. Brown Park. b) CIF Grant – Status: Geoff Steadman states he will make a call this week to see if there’s any progress on this. c)CT Port Authority- Chair Tucker Braddock restates the decision earlier in the meeting about the concerns of the future of the CT Port Authority as well as the next round of SHIPP grants that will be announced in March. 8. Old Business a) Heritage Trail Engineering Grant: Chair Tucker Braddock reiterates that the RFP has closed. HMC was awarded a $40,000 SHIPP grant for the design and permits for this project. He states that RACE has responded with a bid, which Robert Castronova, City Purchasing Agent, has approved. RACE has started work on the project. Discussion pursued with HMC members. Chair Tucker Braddock, Harbor Master Richard Thayer and Michael Gualtieri made a trip down to the subject area this morning. It was again 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 that were sent to HMC members. b) 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. They are willing to still help the next time they are down here and make another attempt. They will be back very soon, possibly in the first few weeks of March. HMC members c) Boat on the Thames River: Chair Tucker Braddock restates the concerns and the lack of progress on this situation as previously discussed earlier in this meeting. 9. Citizen Comment: None 10. Other: Brittany Dwyer – Co-owner shares that they have a plan of action for the projects in the marina. She states that the plans are dependent upon monies received through the CIF Grant and would hopefully know by the next Harbor Management Commission meeting. Mrs. Dwyer shares progress made with the restaurant renovations and getting someone to sign on for a year-round facility. She states that they do have someone signed on for the ice cream shop which will hopefully have an opening date sometime in April. Also, that the tent will be going back up in March or once the weather is more desirable. 11. Adjournment: On a motion to adjourn by Stacy Gould, seconded by Michael Gualtieri the Harbor Management Commission meeting adjourned at 5:57PM. Respectfully submitted, Kaitlyn Griffiths Recording Secretary