Westport Island Shellfish Committee

April 11, 2006 meeting minutes

 

The following is a summary of discussions held at April 11, 2006 Shellfish Committee meeting.

                                    

The Committee met at 6:00 PM in the Town Office.  Committee members in attendance were David Bertran, Jerry Bodmer, John Nelson, Mike Muchmore and Alternate Committee Member, Lincoln Richardson.                                                                   

Ron Aho area biologist for DMR attended as a Committee Adviser.  Also attending the meeting was Commercial Harvester Forest Smith.

 

APPROVAL OF MARCH 14 Minutes:  A motion was made to accept the minutes from the March 14, 2006 meeting and was seconded. After signing the minutes by the Committee members, a copy of the minutes was provided to the Town Selectmen and copies were posted at the Town Office.

 

2006 LICENSE PROGRAM STATUS: David advised that the Public Notice for clam licenses was posted in last week’s Wiscasset Newspaper.  David agreed to put the License Sign up at the board on the front of the island.

 

SQUAM CREEK SURVEY:  The Committee agreed that they would meet at Squam Creek on April 15th at 7:00am.

Jerry will provide the map and survey forms for the survey as well as the survey boxes.           

The team assembled to date includes Forest Smith, Thomas Seigars, Jerry, Dave, Mike, Clem and possibly Donna.

The Committee decided that barring any major issue, the opening date of the Squam Creek flats will be May 2nd . The Committee provided a written request to open the flats to Ron so that he could expedite permission. Information gathered during the survey will be returned to Ron for additional analysis. Jerry & Donna will need to remove the closure signs from Squam Creek the day before the opening.

 

 McCARTY COVE SEEDING: The seeding plan for McCarty Cove is scheduled for May 13th at 6:00am.

6 to 8 volunteers will be needed and John was going to contact volunteers as well as ask Brenda Bonyun to seek help in the Westport column of the Wiscasset Newspaper. Jerry provided to David the list of people who had volunteered to support Committee efforts.

Forest agreed to find and stake out (10) potential areas to seed in McCarty Cove prior to the seeding.

Clem will purchase the clam seeds from “Down East Institute” and will provide the Committee the cost incurred. He will seek the final approval from the Army Corps of Engineers. He will seek volunteers to cut the netting and attach the toggles prior to the seeding date.

The Committee requested that Donna make (6) signs (CLOSED FLATS DUE TO RESEEDING) to be used at McCarty Cove after seeding.

Further planning will take place at the next Committee meeting…or sooner.

 

2006 TOWN REPORT:  Mike provided a copy of the potential statement to be used for Town Report to the Committee for consideration and it was accepted to be used as written. 

 

SHELLFISH COMMITTEE APPOINTMENTS: David will recommend the following to the Selectmen. 

 

Committee Appointments for 2006:

David- appointment expires 01/11/07 (chairman)

Joe- appointment expires 09/18/09

Mike- appointment expires 05/22/08 (2 yr. alternate)

Clem- appointment expires 06/15/10  (vice chairman)

Donna- appointment expires 06/15/11

Jerry- appointment expires 08/07/07

Lincoln- appointment expires 03/07/07 (alternate)

John’s term will expire 05/22/06

 

CONSERVATION CREDIT PROGRAM TRANSFER: The Committee recommended that Donna take on the Program.  John will contact Donna by week ending the 16th with turnover.

 

OTHER BUSINESS:

1.  David reported no progress with new flat openings and will approach David Etnier (Deputy Commissioner) for help.

 

2. Warden Status: Both Joe and Lincoln will undergo training this year. Mike turned over his radio to the Committee for Lincoln’s use.

 

 

 

NEXT MEETING:  May 9, 2006 at 6pm in the Town office

 

 ADJOURMENT:

 

                                               

 

Chairman – Dave Bertran                _______________________________

 

Vice Chairman – Mike Muchmore               _______________________________

 

Member– Jerry Bodmer                               _______________________________

 

Secretary – Joe Donohue                              _______________________________

 

Member – John Nelson                                 _______________________________                                                             

                                                                                   

Alternate Member – Clement Sledge         _______________________________

                                                                        

Alternate Member – Donna Curry              _______________________________

 

Alternate Member – Lincoln Richardson   _______________________________

                                                                                                 Signatures

 

 

Submitted by Jerry Bodmer for Joe Donohue - Secretary