HomeMy WebLinkAbout08/12/1994
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Fishers Island Harbor Committee
MINUTES
Friday, August 12, 1994 at 4:30pm
Fishers Island Utility Offices
Present:
Frank Bohlen, Elby Burr, Chippy duPon!. Leslie Goss, Steve Malinowski. Harris
Parsons, Bill Ridgway, Scudder Sinclair, and Louisa Evans
Absent:
Tom Doyen, Cynthia Estabrooks, Cindy Gillan, David Patterson, David
Wilmerding, Tom Doherty, and Bill Wall
NEXT MEETING: Fridav, Seotember 23rd. 4:3Ovm to 6:3Ovm at Utility Offices
SUBJECT: Complete Mooring, Anchoring and Vessel Safety and move on to Sanitation
Regulations, Safety, and Definitions.
West Harbor Survev
Bill Ridgway stated that Chandler, Palmer & King (CP&K) would be able to survey (prism
plotting technique) West Harbor in mid-September for the purposes of providing a contour map
including depth and placement of existing moorings. The charge would be approximately $700, to
conduct the survey, provide maps and a computer disc. The committee agreed to supply a boat and
fuel to conduct the survey. Leslie Goss indicated that the Civic Association would probably be
able to pay part of the bill. Chippy duPont stated that he would determine if there was money
available at Pirate' s Cove Marina from revenues generated by the transient mooring program
administered by the Marina. Steve Malinowski asked if it would not be simpler and cheaper to
photograph the harbor from the air. Frank Bohlen suggested that the information gathered from
the proposed survey could not be provided from a simple overflight with a standard camera. Frank
stated that it was necessary to gather this more detailed information for the purposes of sound
harbor management planning and in the event that modifying the current mooring arrangement is
necessary .
A MOTION was made to hire Chandler. Palmer & King to conduct a survey of West Harbor
sometime in late September and provide contour maps (including placement of existing moorings)
and a disc for the price of approximately $700. excluding a boat and fuel. ADOPTED.
Harbor Management Plan
There was long discussion of rafting and whether to regulate practices in the anchorages
as well as the mooring areas. Most of the committee feIt that the Plan should regulate rafting in the
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mooring areas, and that boaters will use common sense in the anchorages, Also, Bay Constables
could correct what they perceive to be an unsafe rafting condition in the anchorages (this is
addressed in the section following rafting, on correcting an unsafe mooring/anchoring situation).
The other discussion on rafting involved whether or not owners of rafted vessels could leave the
vessels. Proposed language in this section now reads:
"Rafting on a single mooring will only be permitted for not more than three boats during
the daylight hours and two boats at night, providing the raft does not interfere with adjacent
single moorings or anchorages, Owners or operators of rafted vessels shall not leave the
raft unattended and shall be available to tend to the vessels in the event of heavy weather."
"If any vessel shall be found in the judgement of the Bay Constable to be anchored or
moored or rafted within Fishers Island waters in an unsafe or dangerous
manner, or in such a way as to create a hazard to other vessels, or to persons or property,
the Bay Constable shall order and direct necessary measures to eliminate such unsafe or
dangerous condition. Primary responsibility for compliance with such orders and
directions shall rest with the owner of the improperly anchored, moored or rafted vessel or
his authorized agent. In an emergency situation, the Bay Constable or his delegate, without
liability, shall board such vessel and cause the improper situation to be corrected, and the
. owner of the vessel shall be liable for any costs incurred in effecting such correction".
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As the committee began discussion of mooring plans, it became evident that using language in the
Old Lyme Harbor Management Ordinance as a model for Fishers Island situations was not going to
work for mooring and anchoring, Leslie Goss and Elby Burr offered to design an outline that
encompassed all the information and much of the language in the Old Lyme Plan, but in a way that
made sense for Fishers Island. (The outline for Article IV on Mo.-oring, Anchoring and
Vessel Safety is attached. Please review this carefully and bring your comments
to the next meeting.)
During the discussion on mooring plans, there was much time given to considerations for
waterfront property owners. their rights to privacy, rights to moorings, and rights to comment on
or object to adjacent property waterfront uses etc....
The meeting aqjoumed at 6: 15pm