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HomeMy WebLinkAbout05/12/1995 / . . . Fishers Island Harbor Committee MINUTES Friday, May 12, 1995 at 4:30pm at the Utility Offices Present: Frank Bohlen, Elby Burr, Tom Doherty, Chippy duPont, Louisa Evans, Leslie Goss, Steve Malinowski, Bill Ridgway and Bill Wall Absent: Tom Doyen, Cynthia Estabrooks, Cindy Gillan, Harris Parsons, David Patterson, Scudder Sinclair and David Wilmerding NEXT MEETING: Friday, May 26 at 4:30pm to 6:30pm at Utility Offices SUBJECT: Finish addressing comments received on 3/95 draft of the Fishers Island Harbor Management Plan. Leslie Goss called the meeting to order stating that the purpose of the meeting would be to address harbor management and operation issues for the '95 boating season and then address comments received on the 3/95 draft harbor management plan (HMP). Fishers Island Bay Constables Tom Doherty and Bill Wall gave a brief report about operations last summer. They said that during patrols they spent most of their time urging captains to move anchored vessels from channels and mooring fields. They had two calls about overnight anchoring in Hay Harbor. They received occasional calls about noise on West Harbor and the Yacht Club area after the Pequot closing time. Tom Doherty says his greatest concern is how to provide certification courses for motorboat operators at least 10 years but not 18 years of age. He is in contact with the Bay Constable in Southold and anticipates that he and Bill Wall will receive training at a June course and then will be certified to provide the course once in July and once in August to junior . operators on Fishers Island. Chippy duPont asked whether CT junior operators' licenses could be honored by the Fishers Island Bay Constables. Bill Ridgway asked the Bay Constables if they felt the transient program was working. The Bay Constables said they believed that the Pirate's Cove Marine (PCM) staff managing the FIDCO docks and operating the Yacht Club launch were available to meet the needs of visiting boats. Frank Bohlen emphasized the importance of the PCM dock crew and launch operators as the "front line" for visitors to the Island. He said that these people should be visible, available, courteous and clear in describing local regulations and amenities. He suggested that they should be very familiar with the proposed HMP. Bill Ridgway suggested that the specifics of these "management duties" be outlined in the HMP by saying something like "...The Fishers Island Harbor Committee seeks to ensure that between 8am and 8pm during the boating season, Channel 9 shall be monitored, all boats entering the harbor shall be . met by launch or at the docks and provided with a copy of the local regulations, and clear directions on where to moor, anchor or dock, and transient mooring fees shall be collected." Different strategies for addressing unauthorized, after-dark mooring pick ups were discussed. The committee discussed new mooring requests. The committee agreed to send applications to Bill Bloeth, Peter Dederian, Chris Roosevelt and Eliot Wadsworth as it was believed that there is room in the west mooring field to accommodate these boats in an area where boats of similar size are located and because the applicants are either residents or lessees of Fishers Island. The committee agreed that given the new policy included in the proposed HMP, all other requests for applications would be politely denied because of lack of residency on the Island. Frank Bohlen emphasized the need to be courteouS when responding to the request to avoid fostering ill will toward the Island from potential visitors and in the cruising community. Leslie Goss agreed to draft a letter referencing the goals and policies set out in the proposed HMP. The committee agreed that a questionnaire addressing eligibility and boat type, size, etc... be developed for new mooring application requests. Chip dupont asked about the placement of the Coleman mooring which is not currently in the mooring field and is "somewhat" adjacent to the Coleman property on West Harbor. Leslie deferred the question until later in the meeting (subsequently forgotten and will be addressed at next meeting). Frank Bohlen suggested that the community be reminded that the committee would eventually be gridding the harbor and moving some moorings as part of a long term strategy to optimize use, being mindful of environmental protection and aesthetics. Leslie Goss agreed to bring this up in the Harbor Committee Report at the next quarterly Civic Association meeting. The committee agreed that the 1995 fee for an overnight transient mooring shall be the same as 1994 at $25.00. The mechanics of maintaining those fee deposits and what percentage should go to the manager and what percentage should go to the FlHC are yet to be - determined. The committee agreed that the transient moorings should be located in a distinctively marked group/line out near the rock pile. This would necessitate moving two moorings that are currently in closer to Burr's beach out to that area. It was also noted that mooring #80, believed to be Bob Doyen's mooring, had dragged too close to Burr's beach and should be moved to its original position. Tom Doherty mentioned he would inform Bob Doyen. Bill Wall mentioned that Bob Doyen needed his tackle inspected/changed, and that now would be an appropriate time to reset the mooring. The committee agreed that it would be unduly burdensome to extend the no wake/speed zone beyond where it currently exists out to the flasher in West Harbor as anchored boats are . . . . . . , usually far enough way from the channel to avoid being disturbed. Bay Constables agreed that they would monitor safe operating conditions and if they noticed captains throttling up or speeding near anchored boats they would ticket those captains. The committee felt this was more of a safe operating issue rather than a genuine need to extend the zone further out into the harbor. The committee approved the Harbor Regulations used in 1994 as the 1995 Harbor Regulations. Leslie Goss mentioned that Penni Sharp had contacted the committee about old floats, rafts, planking, etc... that has washed ashore on or adjacent to her property and who should she contact to get this cleaned up. Chippy duPont mentioned that he believed that much of the debris belonged to the Yacht Club. Frank Bohlen agreed to ask the Yacht Club about this. Frank Bohlen brought a written request from Jim Thompson and Patricia Hickey to live aboard their schooner, the Marietta, on a mooring in West Harbor this summer. The letter outlined their intent to purchase a 1000 lb mooring, place it at a location described by the committee, and install appropriate holding tanks. The committee agreed that in view of Mr. Thompson and Ms. Hickey's commitment to minimize impact on the harbor and fully cooperate with the wishes of the committee, combined with the new mooring and holding tanks, an exception to Section 15 (3/95 draft) of the proposed Fishers Island Harbor Management Plan should be granted. The meeting adjourned at 6:30pm