Harbor Management Commission

HARBOR MANAGEMENT COMMISSION MEETING MINUTES Tuesday, March 26, 2024, 5:00 PM Norwich City Hall, Room 319, In Person/ Turbo Bridge MEMBERS PRESENT: Chair Tucker Braddock, Michael Gualtieri, Stacy Gould, Mark Sicuso (via Turbo Bridge) OTHERS PRESENT: Coastal Area Planning Consultant Geoff Steadman (via Turbo Bridge), Kaitlyn Griffiths Recording Secretary MEMBERS ABSENT: John Salomone, David Bishop, Mark Bettencourt 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 Stacy Gould, the February 27, 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. 5. Correspondence: None 6. Financial Report: Michael Gualtieri reviewed the revenue, expenses, and balances of the February 1st-28th 2024 report. Mr. Gualtieri states the expenditure of $377.00 for the commission’s half of the Harbor Cam, which is now up to date. On a motion by Stacy Gould, seconded by Mark Sicuso the February 2024 Financial Report was unanimously accepted by roll call vote. 7. New Business: a) Consultant Geoff Steadman- Harbor Management Plan: Consultant Geoff Steadman reiterates his concerns regarding the CT Port Authority position and their future as well. Mr. Steadman states there was a legislation committee meeting last week for further discussion of the CT Port Authority merging with the CT Airport Authority, there’s still no full statement of the outcome. Currently Mr. Steadman has been in contact with Acting Commissioner Mr. Hammond about these concerns, Mr. Hammond has stated that they announced a 3rd round of SHIPP grants for the next quarter of the year in March and the grant applications are due by July 1st. Mr. Steadman states that NCDC did not receive the full amount of the Connecticut Investment Fund Grant Request that was applied for, but they did receive a partial amount. He reached out to Kevin Brown, President of NCDC for more information for the actual amount and which projects were approved. Mr. Steadman states that the Heritage Walkway design will be done shortly. He also talked about applying for additional funds for permitting costs for the right-hand dock at the Howard T. Brown Park. Mr. Steadman discussed the sunken barge that remains in the river. He states Mr. Hammond discussed the possibility of including these costs in this round of SHIPP grants as well. To do this, an estimate of probable cost is required to determine if the City would be willing to provide a 20.0% cost share. Geoff Steadman restates his 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. This topic of concern was vaguely discussed and members of DEEP had to review what had been presented and DEEP 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 also states that The Marina American Warf has been in discussions of expanding boundary lines of the property. These could potentially be through extending docks and the navigation channel. Chair Tucker Braddock suggested to have Brittany and Patrick Dwyer come into elaborate more and share with the commission. b) CIF Grant – Status: Chair Tucker Braddock states that about 2 million dollars were granted, which was only a partial amount for what was applied for. He states that Mr. Brown determined to reapply for the next round of grants for what wasn’t awarded with this last application. 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 were announced in March and applications will be due July 1st 2024. d) Heritage Trail Walkway- Progress: 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 been working on the design, it includes the bump out considered taking back 3 feet, maintenance costs, railings to appease DEEP, apron off the main platform, a solid concrete slab with existing rock slabs. This design should be done within 2 – 4 weeks or earlier. e) Howard T. Brown Park – Progress: Chair Tucker Braddock states that the docks have come out nicely and encourages everyone to check them out. He restates the possibility of applying for funds to add the right-hand docks, which were in the original design but could not be funded with the existing grant because of cost. 8. Old Business a) Car – Shetucket River: Chair Tucker Braddock restates the car that went into the Shetucket River sits in roughly 24’ of water. HMC members discussed what could be done at this point, there was a suggestion for using an entity called Survival Systems, of which has divers that retrieve various items. Chair Tucker Braddock will reach out to them to see if this is a possibility. Mark Sicuso asked if there was any movement on collecting fees from the owner, there has been no success. b) 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: HMC members asked if there’s been anymore information for the Fishing Derby for the 2025 year. Michael Gualtieri states he is awaiting a meeting with potential sponsors. 11. Adjournment: On a motion to adjourn by Stacy Gould, seconded by Michael Gualtieri the Harbor Management Commission meeting adjourned at 5:33PM. Respectfully submitted, Kaitlyn Griffiths Recording Secretary