Westport Island Shellfish Committee

May 9, 2006 meeting minutes

 

The following is a summary of discussions held at the May 9, 2006 Shellfish committee meeting.

 

The committee met at 6:00PM in the town office.  Committee members in attendance were David Bertran, Joe Donohue, Donna Curry John Nelson, Jerry Bodmer and Lincoln Richardson.  Amy Fitzpatrick and Deacie Couture directors for DMR attended to address the committee on current plans of DMR.  Also attending the meeting was Forest Smith.

 

Minutes:     A motion was made and seconded to accept the minutes as read.  This was approved by the members of the committee.  After signing the minutes by committee members, a copy of the minutes will be given to the town selectmen and a copy will be posted at the town office.

 

Status of Squam Creek South Opening:  Amy Fitzpatrick and Darcie Couture discussed with the committee their current plans for completing the study that would allow DMR to make a decision on opening these flats.  Amy and Darcie will be writing a report concerning the sanitary conditions in the proposed flats, with Darcie crunching the numbers and Amy completing the shore line survey. 

Amy stated that she has the results of the committee’s population survey that was completed last summer.  Their plans are to complete the study and have the results available by early June.  They will contact Jerry and other committee members if they need any additional information about where septic systems are located in the flats or if any other information is needed from the committee.  The Committee thanked Amy and Darcie for their efforts and we committed to help them in any way that would be needed to insure that the study would be completed in a timely manner.

 

Status of Squam Creek Opening:      Dave reviewed with the committee the results from the last clam survey taken at Squam Creek on April 15 and analyzed by Ron.  He stated that the results indicated a dramatic increase in the size and quantity of the current clam population, with the quantity of legal size (>2”) Clams being more then 662 bushels.  Based on these results the committee opened these flats on May 2, 2006.   It should be noted that Forest Smith and Tom Sager participated in the survey on April 15.

 

McCardy Cove Seeding:        Clement Sledge has made arrangements to have the seedlings shipped to his address on Friday and has obtained all other equipment required to perform the seeding starting at 6:00 AM Saturday morning May 13.   Those participating in the seeding will be Dave, Joe, Donna, Clem, Lincoln, David Blake and Forest. 

 

Dave will notify DMR that we are closing McCardy Cove for conservations reasons as of Saturday.  Donna will be responsible for making and placing the close signs at McCardy Cove.  Dave went over the procedures for the actual seeding operation.  The operation will be performed weather Rain or Shine.  The committee is especially grateful to Clem for all the work that he has done to make this seeding operation a success. 

 

 Transfer of Credit Program Nelson to Curry:  John went over the program and procedures as they are now laid out; stating that attendance at meetings is now credited as two hours.  He also recommended that the meeting minutes be used to reflect participation in the credit program in lieu of having people complete actual credit forms. 

 

Other Items:  Joe and Lincoln went over the warden training that they attended in April.  Lincoln stated that the only major change to enforcement was that now municipal wardens can write tickets for violations in closed Clam Flats.  Joe was informed by people at the training that if a municipality declared any currently closed area as a “conservation closure” the town would receive the benefit of any fines collected in those areas.  Dave requested that Joe research this matter further. 

 

Licenses:    Jerry went over the status of current licenses that have been sold and issued, stating that 8-9 have been sold with an additional quantity being issued to juveniles under 12. 

Linda Davis has requested that the Committee update the existing flier that she gives to applicants when they purchase a license, by adding a section explaining and answering the most frequently asked questions.  Donna agreed to update the existing flier and provide copies to Linda Davis.

 

New business:      Dave thanked John for all the work that he has done while a member of the Shellfish committee.  He stated that John was a founding member of the committee and has been responsible for much of the progress that the committee has made during the past three years and that we will miss his contribution to the committee work.

   

Next Meeting:  A motion was made by David that we adjourn.  The Next meeting will be held on June 13, 2006 at 6:00 PM.   

 

 

 

 

 

Member – Dave Bertran Chairman _______________________________

 

Vice Chairman – Mike Muchmore               _______________________________

 

Member– Jerry Bodmer                               _______________________________

 

Secretary – Joe Donohue                              _______________________________

 

Member – Lincoln Richardson                     _______________________________                                                              

                                                                                   

Member – Clement Sledge                           _______________________________

 

Member – Donna Curry                         _______________________________

 

                                                                                                 Signatures

 

 

Submitted by Joe Donohue - Secretary