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HomeMy WebLinkAbout04/18/1997 . Fishers Island Harbor Committee MINUTES Friday, April 18, 1997 at 4:30pm at the Utility Offices NEXT MEETING: Friday. ~ June 13th at 4:30pm at the Utility Offices )0 SUBJECT: Review New (and amended) Mooring Requests If "',ft -"'" PRESENT: Elby Burr, Tom Doherty, Dick Hale, Leslie Goss, Steve Malinowski, and 6'/' . Harris Parsons. - (reCeived comments on the meeting from: Frank Bohlen, Scudder I Sinclair, Bobsie Macleod, Allie Raridon, Tom Johnson, Margie Purnell) ABSENT: Frank Bohlen, Chippy duPont, Ken Edwards, Jr., Louisa Evans, Tom Johnson, Bobsie Macle<,ld, Margie Purnell, Allie Raridon, Bill Ridgway, Scudder Sinclair. The Committee reviewed memos between Town attorney Dowd and Louisa Evans and Leslie Goss on codifying portions of the Harbor Management Plan. Several suggestions were made: . . The Committee again agreed that the Fishers Island Harbor Committee should be codified within the Town Code. Members felt that it should be clearly stated in the Code what it is the Committee does, and the structure of the Committee. Presently the Committee is referred to only in the mooring permit process as deciding where moorings are located and anchorages as well. The Committee approved the proposed language as outlined by Leslie Goss in a March 31 memo to Louisa Evans (attached for those who have not yet seen it) with the addition to Section 33-2 (D) that the Committee appoints it's own chair annually at the post boating season meeting. . The Committee agreed to strike proposed language for codification regarding private property owners maintaining fixed structures at a level so as not to cause hazards to navigation and damage to persons and property. Committee members were concerned about the subjectivity of enforcing such a provision and felt that the proper place for this provision is where it currently resides in the policy document recently passed by the Town Board. . The Committee requested clarification in codification of the permanent moorings section that any mooring in waters bounding Fishers Island be located by the Committee and that there is a mooring plan specific to West Harbor. . . The Committee discussed and then declined to propose for codification a date certain for completed mooring applications due into the Bay Constable. The Committee felt that a due date is already specified in the policy document recently approved by the Town Board and that the Bay Constable could reiterate the date in a cover letter for annual solicitation of mooring applications. . The Committee requested clarification that a guest vessel using a private . mooring should be compatible with the vessel of the mooring permittee. The tackle and the mooring circle should safely accommodate the guest vessel. . The Committee queried whether proposed language for codification regarding noise would work. They suggested using state decibel criteria if the "reasonable man" standard cannot work. Steve Ridler form the NYDOS Coastal Resources Program spoke over the conference phone of project ideas and zoning suggestions for Fishers Island to incorporate in the Southold LWRP. The three areas for projects include: recreation and public access, habitat restoration and water quality protection and enhancement. Specific ideas in the area of recreation included establishing a park with a boat ramp in the vicinity of Dock Beach, Southold Town's obtaining first right of refusal on the Navy property if and when it is declared surplus, making a small park at any areas where there is parking congestion like at ends of roads to fishing spots or beach spots. For habitat restoration ideas he suggested various harborside revegetation efforts. For water quality enhancement he suggested examining run-off impacts from road ends and storm drains. Zoning suggestions included down-zoning the MI and Mil designations at Silver Eel Pond which allow for the type of development Fishers Island has traditionally . avoided (casino, hotel, etc.). Steve Ridler requested that the Committee work with interested parties to identify additional projectlimplementation ideas and create a wish list over the next few weeks. He also suggested sending a letter to Louisa, Ken Edwards, Sr. and Valerie Scopaz about changing the MI and Mil zoning. Finally, Steve requested a copy of the Goss to Evans memo that outlines proposals for codification of parts of the Harbor Management Plan for he and Bill Sharp, NYDOS attorney, to review. Terms expiring due to staggered terms established when the Committee was chartered last May include Goss for the Civic Association, Burr and Sinclair for West Harbor and Macleod for Hay Harbor. Leslie mentioned that Civic President Speedy Mettler had asked her to remain on the Committee until the Harbor Management Plan had been approved and codified by Southold and work was completed with NYDOS Coastal Resources Program. Elby Burr expressed interest in serving a second term. Scudder Sinclair expressed interest in serving an additional term unless there was another West Harbor property owner who was passionate about serving. Leslie asked the Committee members if they knew of anyone who had expressed interest in serving for West Harbor. They identified no one. Leslie mentioned that a few years ago, Chris Edwards said his father wanted to serve, but she had heard nothing from Ken or Chris since. Bobsie Macleod expressed interest in serving a second term. Leslie said she would put these names at the PO and submit them to Louisa for consideration by the . Town Board at their May 7th meeting. . . . applications for the the 1997 boating season. Elbyand Dick said that they would help. The Committee agreed that there had not been enough changes to the mooring map of September 1994 to engage the services of Chandler, Palmer & King at a cost of over $750 to remap moorings in West Harbor. Leslie mentioned that the next meeting would be devoted to reviewing new mooring requests. She said that notice of the meeting will be posted at the PO with special emphasis on the opportunity to speak before the committee regarding a new mooring. The Committee agreed that applicants with completed applications (including filled out inspection form and payment) should receive a mooring sticker from Tom Doherty. The Committee agreed that applicants with completed applications except for a completed inspection form should be issued stickers on a "good faith" basis with a letter reminding them that their inspection form needs to be completed and that referencing the business that maintains the mooring is not sufficient. Leslie reported that to date, there is only one new application for a mooring. The meeting adjourned at 6:30pm. The Committee reviewed the Harbor Regulations for last summer and made no . changes with the exception of Dick Hale being the Assistant Bay Constable with his telephone listing of 7170 and double checking the phone number of the MarinalYacht Club. The same set of Harbor Regulations can be used for the 1997 boating season with these amendments. Leslie asked Tom Doherty if there had been any communication with Southold Bay Constable Don Dzenkowski about offering a Boating Safety certification course for operators under 18. He said Don hasn't said or offered anything at this point. Leslie mentioned that we cannot risk another cancellation by volunteers of the Coast Guard auxiliary. Leslie said she would ask Sarah Rose if the Yacht Club or John Evans could take over instruction of such a course. She said she would also ask John Clavin again although he had declined once before. Before the Committee meeting got officially underway, Tom Doherty mentioned that Connecticut Boat Operators licenses would be required in 1997 for anyone who owns property in CT, regardless of primary residence or where the vessel is registered. Therefore, Islanders with CT property holdings would be subject to the new regulation. The Committee then discussed the configuration of channels coming into West Harbor. The channel leading into inner West Harbor is very obvious. It is maintained . as broadly as possible to prevent anchoring in the mooring fields adjacent to the channel. The configuration into the MarinalYacht Club is less obvious but difficult to mark due to docks, moored vessels sitting in the channel on a particular breeze, the Coast Guard nun and the "rock" piling. It was suggested that a larger "fairway" mark be put 30 yards further out than it currently exists (not so far that vessels anchor behind it in the mooring field) and use four small marks (2 red and 2 green) to set up a more obvious entrance to the MarinalYacht Club. Dick Hale of Pirate's Cove said he would see if there is enough Town equipment to cover the addition of four marks and a larger fairway mark. He said he would get back to the Committee. The Committee approved Tom Doherty's Notice to Bidders for setting and maintaining channel marks. The notice will be posted immediately at the PO in order to get marks into the water by May 23rd, 1997. Leslie mentioned that in the fall a meeting should be held that would be devoted exclusively to discussing West Harbor gridding. There is a perception among Island boaters that mooring space is hard to get. The 100 skippers have expressed interest in being moored together. These and other factors are putting pressure on the Committee to grid the harbor and move moorings accordingly. All agreed that this will be a major exercise for the Committee. Leslie asked for assistance in updating the mooring map with previous summer's amendments noted as accurately as possible in preparation for new .