Westport Island Shellfish Committee

Meeting Minutes

March 18, 2008

 

 

Present:  David Besecker, Lincoln Richardson, Clem Sledge, Donna Curry, Eugene Fairfield, Dave Bertran, Mike Innes

 

 

Approval of minutes from previous meeting: Minutes from previous meeting were approved by committee members.

 

 

Conservation Credit Program Guidelines:  New set of guidelines has been drafted and revised. There was extensive discussion about how the credits should be allotted. The committee decided that there should be a limit of four credits given for participation at meeting, and each meeting should be limited to one credit. Since the committee anticipates conducting several activities this year, including sampling and possible seeding (next spring), support would be appreciated

 

The committee also clarified who would be eligible for a license if more than one individual has accumulated at least ten credits. The intent was not to have a “competition” but rather to have individuals support the efforts of the committee by contributing time and energy. The new conservation credits are clearly spelled out in the attached document on page 4 (Commercial Shellfish License Requirements).

 

 

Application for Commercial License:  The committee extended the discussion of conservation credits to the process of applying for a license. The committee solicited input from the Town Clerk, Michelle Chartier, regarding whether an application process would help ensure that individuals applying for a commercial license have met the criteria. Attached is a draft of the application for a commercial shellfish license. [Ron Aho, after being shown the first draft of the application, clarified that the committee, nor town, could require that an individual have a state commercial license in order to apply for a town commercial license. The new draft on page 5 includes his suggested changes.]

 

This process allows applicants several opportunities to get to the Town Office, rather than a one-shot chance to buy the license without risk of losing the opportunity. David will draft a notice for the newspaper since it must be advertised at least ten days before the sale of the commercial licenses. [David’s draft Public Notice is attached – see page 6] Included in the notice will be an announcement about the sale of residential licenses as well.

 

 

Potential Flat Seedings for 2009:  The committee is looking for accessible flats for residents since Squam Creek is now off limits. One possibility is Heal’s Cove, which is accessible to residents through Bunyon Preserve.

 

The committee also decided to try to survey McCarty Cove (which was seeded two years ago) before May 1st. If the survey found the cove to be productive, this could be opened for residential clammers and applicants could be notified of the opening when they buy their new licenses. Sunday, April 13th, is the date chosen for the survey. Since low tide is about noon, the committee plans to meet at McCarty Cove at 10:30.

 

 

Warden’s Report: Squam Creek has still not been posted.

 

 

Maine Clammers Association: Lincoln has made several attempts to contact the MCA and no one has returned his calls.

 

 

Dr. Beal’s Visit: Dr. Beal is slated to comet to Westport at the town hall on March 20th. Lincoln put a notice in the paper for interested individuals to attend.

 

Since Dr. Beal did not want an honorarium, the committee will contribute $100 to Downeast Institute (www.downeastinstitute.org) since that was Dr. Beal’s suggestion. L

 

The committee also decided to give one credit for participation in Dr. Beal’s talk.

 

 

Next meeting: The next meeting will be held on April 8, 2008.

 

 

Action Items:

ü      Donna to contact Dr. Beal regarding Squam Creek data

ü      Donna to contact Joe for last year’s newspaper blurb; also ask about boxes for surveying and sheets for surveying

ü      David to draft newspaper blurb

ü      Lincoln to check with Ron regarding a required report on the number of licenses that can be given since DMR is supposed to send approval to the town so that licenses can be sold

ü      Clem to write personal check for Downeast Institute and then will get reimbursed from town clerk since warrants can only be done on Mondays

ü      Dave to update sign at head of island for new shellfish license

ü      Clem to draft application

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Conservation Credit Update as of March 18, 2008

 

 

Individual

Activity

Date

Points Accrued

 

 

Forest Smith

Committee meeting

May 1, 2007

2

Clam “school”

May 12, 2007

4

Seeding and brushing of Fowles Cove

June 2, 2007

4

Survey of McCarty Cove

June 9, 2007

4

Committee meeting

October 2, 2007

2

Committee meeting

February 12, 2008

2

 

TOTAL TO DATE

18

 

 

 

Mike Innes

Committee meeting

May 1, 2007

2

Clam “school”

May 12, 2007

4

Committee meeting

May 21, 2007

2

Seeding and brushing of Fowles Cove

June 2, 2007

4

Committee meeting

August 6, 2007

2

Committee meeting

September 4, 2007

2

Committee meeting

October 2, 2007

2

Committee meeting

January 8, 2008

2

Committee meeting

February 12, 2008

2

Committee meeting

March 18, 2008

2

 

TOTAL TO DATE

24

 

 

Respectfully submitted,

 

Lincoln Richardson                                                       Clem Sledge 

 

_________________________________                  ___________________________________

 

 

Dave Bertran                                                                Donna Curry 

_________________________________                  ___________________________________

 

 

David Besecker                                                            Eugene Fairfield

_________________________________                  _________________________________

 

Commercial Shellfish License Requirements

 

 

1. To qualify for a commercial shellfish license or renewal of such license, an individual must have obtained at least 10 credits of conservation work in the 12-month period prior to submission of an application. The required conservation credits may be obtained for activities such as surveys, seeding, brushing, and other work as designated by The Westport Island Shellfish Conservation Committee. Of the 10 credits required to qualify for licensure, no more than 4 may be obtained by attending meetings of the Conservation Committee. One credit is awarded for each meeting attended, up to the limit of 4 credits.

 

 

2. If more than one applicant qualifies by virtue of obtaining 10 conservation credits, the incumbent license holder will receive the license.

 

 

3. If the allocated commercial license/s are not sold within the 90 days after May 1, such license/s shall be available to any applicant meeting the criteria enumerated in paragraph 1.

 

 

4. Applications for license may be obtained from the Town Clerk of Westport Island after April 10 and must be returned in person to the Clerk by the last business day of April.

 

 

Town of Westport Island, Maine

Application for a Commercial Shellfish License

 

For Applicant

 

Name  ________________________________________________________________

 

Street Address  __________________________________________________________

 

City   _________________________________________________________________

 

 

I hereby declare that the foregoing information is true and correct. I also understand that, in order to obtain a commercial shellfish license for Westport Island, I must have at least ten up-to-date credits earned by participating in the Westport Island Shellfish Committee approved activities.

 

Date ____________________________________________________

 

Signature of applicant  _______________________________________________

 

 

 

 

For Westport Island Shellfish Committee

 

The applicant, _______________________________________________, has earned _______ credits in the preceding 12 months.

 

Signature of Committee Chair _________________________________________

 

 

 

 

For Town Clerk of Westport Island

 

Date application submitted __________________________________________

 

Signature of Town Clerk ____________________________________________

 

PUBLIC NOTICE The Town of Westport Island will be issuing one (1) Residential Commercial and one (1) Non-Resident Commercial Shellfish license for the year 2008-. 2009 shellfish season which is set to begin on May 1, 2008. Licensing will follow the process contained in Section 5 of the Town of Westport Island Shellfish Conservation Ordinance. To qualify for a commercial shellfish license or renewal of such license, an individual must have obtained at least 10 credits of conservation work in the 12-month period prior to submission of an application.. The applicant for a license must produce two pieces of acceptable identification showing current residence address.

Applications for a license may be obtained from the Town Clerk of Westport Island after April 10 and must be returned in person to the Clerk by the last business day of April. The town clerks office hours are 4:00 PM to 8:00 PM Tuesdays and Thursdays.

All Shellfish licenses will go on sale starting at 4 PM Thursday May 1. A holder of a State of Maine Commercial Shellfish License is not eligible to purchase or hold a Recreational Shellfish license. Resident Recreational Licenses will be limited to thirty-one (31) and Non-Resident Recreational licenses are limited to four (4).

Resident Commercial Shellfish License……………………….…$150.00

Non-Residential Commercial Shellfish License…………………. $300.00

Resident Recreational Shellfish License…………………………...$15.00

Non-Resident Recreational Shellfish License……………………...$30.00