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HomeMy WebLinkAbout07/19/1996 (2) " , . Fishers Island Harbor Committee MINUTES Friday, July 19 at 4:30pm at the Utility Offices Present: Frank Bohlen, Elby Burr, Tom Doherty, Chippy duPont, Louisa Evans, Leslie Goss, Bobsie, Steve Malinowski, Harris Parsons, Margie Purnell, Allie Raridon, Bill Ridgway, Scudder Sinclair Absent: Ken Edwards, Jr., Tom Johnson, Bill Wall NEXT MEETING: Friday October 4, at the Utility Offices -- time will be either 12:3Opm or 4:30pm (depending on Ridler attendance) SUBJECT: Revised Tackle Inspection Forms for Applications Finish Up L WRP with Ridler (bring copy of 1/4/96 draft) Approve 1997 Mooring Stickers SEE SPECIAL NOTES ATTACHED Leslie Goss opened the meeting with an announcement that Rodney Short of the USCG Auxiliary will return to the Island to conduct a Boating Safety Course on Friday and Saturday August 9 and 10 at the Utility Offices. Louisa Evans suggested that some people attend from the Yacht Club or PCM in order to be certified to teach the course in following years. Leslie mentioned that Rodney will write to Southold Bay Constable Don Dzenkowski on behalf of Tom Doherty. Don will in turn write to Albany requesting that Tom Doherty be able to teach the course in coming years. Leslie provided an update on progress of the Southold L WRP at the state level. She also . shared a recent memo from Town Attorney Laury Dowd and Town Councilperson Ruth Oliva regarding the Fishers Island Harbor Management Plan. The memo had questions I )<1 about the designated management agent function, use of the language "should" throughout the document, and the Committee's broad vs. ministerial discretion powers in allocating moorings. Leslie shared her response to the Town with the Committee. . A discussion regarding procedure and criteria for mooring allocation ensued. The Committee agreed that the Plan, specifying mooring allocation procedure and criteria, will go to public hearing and that there is no need for separate public hearings to be conducted for specific mooring allocations. Members also commented that the recommended allocation procedures and criteria are standard and widely used. The Committee moved on to a discussion of who will handle mooring application paperwork and record keeping. Leslie mentioned that Tom Doherty did not want the job any longer and suggested one option might be having the function delegated to the Committee by the Town. The Committee could then hire an individual to handle mooring applications. The individual could be paid from a deduction in Tom Doherty's salary, although Tom's salary would remain higher than the other Fishers Island Bay Constable, given he is the Head Bay Constable. Or the Committee could solicit the Town for an additional $500 to pay for mooring application processing since the position of Harbormaster had been eliminated saving the Town $2,500 per year. Louisa was not encouraging about the prospect of the Town providing additional funds. Tom Doherty offered to continue to conduct the paperwork if applications could be sent out the first week of January with strict instructions that completed applications be returned to him by March 31 or requests would not be entertained by the Committee until the mid- summer meeting. This would avoid having masses of paperwork fall on Tom when he is very busy in the late spring/early summer. . The committee agreed that the mooring inspection form should be clarified and lack of the form accompanying an application was enough to deny an application for a mooring/renewal. Chippy duPont agreed to work on the application for review and approval at the next meeting. Tom Doherty suggested that to avoid confusion among applicants about whether their application has been approved or denied, a dated sticker should be sent to approved applicants to be placed on mooring balls. Elby Burr offered to design and produce the stickers. he will report at the next meeting. Tom Doherty reported that things have been quiet on the water so far this summer. PCM and FrYC reported that their respective staff are on scene at the Marina/Yacht Club. Some FrYC staff are still undergoing an education process re: different procedures for transient and private mooring uses. Some Committee members mentioned that the "no wake" instructional bouys are hard to read and face the wrong direction. A suggestion was made to use white lettering on the background of colored channel markers. A Committee member reported on several jet skis in inner West Harbor. Louisa mentioned that the Town is trying to develop jet ski regulations and that the Committee might want to stand by to see what the Town comes up with. . Leslie noted several mooring steaks still in the water in mid-July. Chippy mentioned that several of those moorings are serviced by Dodson's. Different Committee members agreed to speak to permittees of the remaining mooring steaks. The Committee briefly discussed mooring applications. Confusion re: the Doyen storm mooring was cleared up when it was reiterated that a letter must be sent to the neighbors of the applicant by the applicant merely informing the neighbors of the pending application and that questions and concerns should be directed to the Committee. Mr. Doyen was under the impression he needed letters of approval from his neighbors. Leslie agreed to speak to the Doyens to clarify. The Committee discussed whether or not a policy should be developed for stand off moorings. The sense of the Committee was that there is no need to address this issue at this time, as long as stand off moorings aren't placed in navigable waterways or interfere with anyone else. The Committee discussed the lone piling marking a rock in the channel adjacent to the Mobil Dock/Marina. Several members of the Committee stated that this piling should be removed as it is a hazard to navigation being in the middle of the turning basin and in the vicinity of the mooring field. Chippy asked if the rock was even still a problem given that the harbor/channel has been silting in over the years. It was noted that Gwenmore, currently working on the Island, would probably remove the piling for free if they could keep the piling. Leslie agreed to draft a letter to the Town requesting permission to have the piling removed. . See attached mooring record for Committee decisions on mooring requests. Bill Ridgway commented that a subcommittee of the Harbor Committee should be set up to address mooring placement. The meeting adjourned at 6:20pm . SPECIAL NOTES Town Bay Constable Don Dzenkowski objects to the Committee's request to remove the piling markin~ a rock in the channel/turn basin adjacent to the Mobil Dock/Marina. His objection is based on the fact that the Town argued with NYS DEC for a permit to sink the piling on the premise that a fixed object marking a submerged hazard is safer than a nailing marker which could be hit and dragged off its mark. He is concerned over the Town's liability if the Town now goes backward on the safety issue and pulls the piling out and installs a noating instructional buoy. Don recommended putting additional renector tape of a light on the piling to make the piling less of a navigational threat. I need to know if the Committee wants to fall on this particular sword. I need an official vote. Call me at (503) 635-3471. As of right now, Jean Cochran knows Don's thoughts and will wait for the Committee to get back to her. . Also, Bob Calhoun stopped me with his FIDCO hat on and asked if FIDCO, FIYC and some members of the Committee could sit down and talk about operations on scene a the MarinaIY acht Club. A meeting would take place sometime between Saturday, September 28 and Saturday, October 5. Let me know if you are interested in participating in such a meeting. .