Harbor Management Commission

HARBOR MANAGEMENT COMMISSION MEETING MINUTES Tuesday, September 24, 2024, 5:00 PM Norwich City Hall, Room 319, In Person/ Turbo Bridge MEMBERS PRESENT: Chair Tucker Braddock, Michael Gualtieri, Stacy Gould, Michael Richardson, David Bishop OTHERS PRESENT: Coastal Area Planning Consultant Geoff Steadman (via Turbo Bridge), Brittany Dwyer (via Turbo Bridge), Kevin Brown (via Turbo Bridge), Bob Phoenix, Pat Kennedy (Kennedy Divers), Kaitlyn Griffiths Recording Secretary MEMBERS ABSENT: John Salomone, Mark Bettencourt, Mark Sicuso CITIZENS PRESENT: None 1.Call to Order: Chair Tucker Braddock called the meeting to order at 5:00 PM. 2. Determination of Quorum: It was determined a quorum was present. 3. Approval of Minutes: On a motion by Stacy Gould, seconded by Michael Gualtieri, the July 23, 2024, meeting minutes of the Harbor Management Commission (HMC) with the correction of 7. A Paragraph 8 “Grant changed to Hammond” were unanimously approved as presented. 4. Harbor Master Report: Chair Tucker Braddock, on behalf of Harbor Master Richard Thayer, reports that there is an approach to move forward with the boat in the Thames River. Mr. Thayer has the back up needed to proceed, alongside the police, in which a sticker, stating the removal, is placed on the vessel. 5. Correspondence: None. 6. Financial Report: Michael Gualtieri reviewed the revenue, expenses, and balances of the August 1st-31st 2024 report. Mr. Gualtieri states the expenditure of $75.40 for the commission’s share of the Harbor Cam. On a motion by Stacy Gould, seconded by Michael Richardson the August 2024 Financial Report was unanimously accepted by roll call vote. 7. New Business: a) Consultant Geoff Steadman: Geoff Steadman reminds HMC members of the Grant Applications that were submitted, the Heritage Walkway Project and the Howard T. Brown Park Dock Completion. He states that we are waiting to hear the decision of those applications from the CT Port Authority and their next meeting is October 15, 2024. Mr. Steadman also reminds HMC members that once the applications are accepted, if they are, that they then go before the Bonds Commission for approval, this is where the monies would be allocated. Geoff Steadman reminds the members of HMC that the CT Port Authority has hired a new person to take on the position and responsibilities of Mr. Salvatore. The newly appointed individual currently is Eric Dissolve. Mr. Steadman discussed corrections to Norwich Harbor Management Plan (HMP). This would include describing the HMC authority and understanding of future projects involving the marina and other NCDC projects. The HMP is the next focus while HMC waits for Grant approvals. Mr. Steadman restates the complications entailed with this topic for any new members of HMC and the steps needed in the future to move forward on HMP. He has been in contact with John Pinto, from Norwalk, on taking current material from HMPs and updating the introductory and proposal sections. Mr. Steadman hopes to have a draft done by the end of the week and will send Stacy Gould a copy. Mr. Steadman will have an invoice for his services completed and sent over to Michael Gualtieri, which will be voted on at the next HMC meeting. c) Committee Discussion- Fishing Tournament Details: Chair Tucker Braddock reviews the details that the subcommittee has discussed so far. It is projected that “The Norwich Harbor Fishing Tournament” will be held September 12,13 & 14 2025. There will be Pro and Amateur categories and a Kids tournament Day. The projected time frame for the Kids tournament Day will be Sunday September 14, 2025, 10:00-11:30am. He states that this is a big undertaking, and the next steps are to look for the “background support”, any workers to help in the event and any other support needed. Michael Gualtieri has a message left for him by Jen Kawecki, American Trades Association, that he will reach back out to. Mr. Gualtieri would like to promote this event through the Harford Boat Show, hosted at the casino, on January 25th, 2024. He is waiting to hear back from Angela Adams for a date & time to meet. Brittany Dwyer has heard for Miss Kawecki as well, who offers to help in anyway she can. Mrs. Dwyer is in contact with Tammy from Boats Inc, that is willing to counsel and help where she can. The next meeting for the subcommittee is October 10, 2024, 5:00pm @ Administrative Office Marina at American Wharf to continue discussion and planning for this event. d) Committee Discussion- Fishing Derby Details: Chair Tucker Braddock restates the details discussed earlier in this meeting. Geoff Steadman stated there may be a need for a “Marine Event Permit” from DEEP. Something for the committees to look at as they plan. b) Habor Fire & Glow: Chair Tucker Braddock states the past occurrences of a Harbor Fire in Norwich and then opens the discussion to Kevin Brown, NCDC. Mr. Brown discusses the conceptual planning that has been done for this event so far. He states a lot has been discussed, they plan to have 2 or 3 hot air balloons at this event for static pictures to be taken in the balloons. The event is planned for November 15, 2024. They hoped to get in touch with and coordinate with the right people to bring back the Harbor Fire with this event. There is still planning to be done for this event for even more additions. Chair Tucker Braddock states that there may be a permit that is needed for this, and it would be a good idea to have the police & fire boat involved. 8. Old Business a) Car in Shetucket River - Removal: Chair Tucker Braddock states that the car has successfully been removed at no cost to the city. The Kennedy Diving Group has removed it, Northeast Towing Service took it & took claim of it. b) Moored Boat in Thames River- Status: Chair Tucker Braddock restates that Rich Thayer has a handle on this and the boat will be tagged soon. 9. Citizen Comment: None 10. Other: HMC members discussed who the contact person from the police department would be in the event of issues in the harbor/use of police boat, Tom Lazaro. HMC members discussed the new potential member of HMC, Bob Phoenix, who is attending tonight’s meeting. Kevin Brown left the meeting. Chair Tucker Braddock introduces Patrick Kennedy from the Kennedy Divers Group. Mr. Kennedy discusses an “Apprentice Piloting Program”, which entails the piloting of boats up into the Thames River. Mr. Kennedy states that he has already holds his federal piloting endorsement, but is applying into the program to obtain the state endorsement. This endorsement is beneficial to Norwich because it gives the option for larger vessels to be piloted up the Thames River and into Norwich Harbor. A federal endorsement allows U.S. flagged ships to be piloted vs a state endorsement allows other country flagged ships to be. What is asked of from HMC is a letter written to the CT Port Authority with the endorsement of the piloting program and encourage new pilots to get federal endorsement for the upper Thames River. Mr. Kennedy will draft bullet points he wishes and HMC can then edit and put their endorsement/support to send to the CT Port Authority. 11. Adjournment: On a motion to adjourn by Stacy Gould, seconded by David Bishop the Harbor Management Commission meeting adjourned at 6:00PM. Respectfully submitted, Kaitlyn Griffiths Recording Secretary