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HomeMy WebLinkAbout04/17/1993 ~~ . . . . FISHERS ISLAND CIVIC ASSOCIATION HARBOR COMMITTEE MINUTES April 17, 1993 9:00am at the Fishers Island School L> 0\'f'\ Present: Tom Doyen, Chippy duPont, Leslie Goss, Steve Malinowski, Bill Ridgway, and Scudder Sinclair. . Absent: Frank Bohlen and Cynthia Estabrooks. Also absent were Ex-Officio members John Clavin and Ray Edwards. Harbor Committee Membership/Representation Those present agreed that in order to have a truly representative group making recommendations on Fishers Island harbor issues, it was important to expand membership of the Fishers Island Civic Association's Harbor Committee (FICA/HC). The Committee chair will contact the heads of the following organizations and associations and ask for a designee to represent that organization on the committee: Hay Harbor Club, Hay Harbor Property Owners Association, FIDCO, Fishers Island Club, Fishers Island Yacht Club and Island People's Project and other users of Dock Beach. This list complements existing Harbor Committee membership which currently has representatives from the Fishers Island Conservancy, the Lobstermen's Association, Pirate's Cove, Goose Island, Aquaculture interests, Fishers Island Civic Association and several West Harbor property owners. Members present also agreed to extend Ex-Officio membership to the part-tiIlle Bay Constable. Purpose of the Harbor Committee After Goss gave a brief history of the establishment of the FICA/HC, members of the committee agreed that the mission of the committee, consisting of broad representation from all harbor user groups, was to become the entity recognized by the Town Board of Southold and the Fishers Island community through the Fishers Island Civic Association, as that which devises and reviews all harbor policy and regulation in conjunction with the Town appointed Harbormaster. Chair Elected Members present, representing a majority of the current voting membership, recommended Leslie Goss to serve as chairwoman of the committee and will forward her name to the Board of Directors of the Fishers Island Civic Association for approval. Term length was not discussed. Harbormaster Issues The new salary for the Harbormaster as adopted in the FY93 Town budget was brought.to the attention of committee members. It was determined that the salary and year-round position description may be an attractive job opportunity for some year-round residents. A discussion about possible year-round residency . page 2 requirements will be delayed until membership of the Harbor Committee is further expanded. . . Members received copies of the Summer '9] Harbor Regulations developed by the Harbormaster. The members were advised that in a prior discussion with Coss that the Harbormaster said the '93 Harbor Regulations would be similar to the '92 regulations (which were similar to the '9] regulations), Members of the committee expressed an earnest desire to participate in the development of '93 Harbor Regulations. As per the prior discussion between Coss and the Harbormaster, the members were brought up to date on mooring applications and the tackle inventory. . Members emphasized the importance of making the West Harbor gridding/layout process all inclusive. Malinowski stated that it was essential to have all live-aboard moorings in one place to track their pollution impacts on the harbor's water quality. Coss suggested that a small number, approximately six, of transient moorings be available in a clearly designated area to demonstrate a good faith effort at reciprocity with CT and other NY cruisers as well as to provide refuge in bad weather. Ridgway stated that a management system would need to be developed and implemented for those transient moorings. Doyen expressed the need for better enforcement of no anchoring in channels as this practice can impair Sea Stretcher operations and impose other dangers. duPont expressed concern about the placement and width of the channels on a year to year basis. Coss enquired about the nature and enforcement of any existing on-board sanitation regulations. The random dye testing of visitors' holding tanks in Nantucket harbor was discussed by the members. No members were aware of any recent progress in repairing the Boat Ramp near Pirate's Cove. Conservanc;y Issues Members requested that the Conservancy conduct water quality testing in certain areas (near Dock Beach at the base of Madeline Ave. and East Harbor) with greater frequency to determine pollution trends in those areas. There was a discussion between Malinowski and duPont about water quality testing guidelines and determining impacts from both live-aboard boats and land-based sources. Open Discussion Members discussed the fact that on Fishers, there currently exist two harbor related committees, the Harbormaster Advisory Committee and the Fishers Island Civic Association Harbor Committee. Members strongly recommended merging the committees. Merging the two committees will provide the broadest possible forum for reviewing harbor issues to the heads of all Fishers Island harbor user groups and will provide the Town of Southold with recommendations regarding the harbors of . .. . . . . , page 3 Fishers Island built on consensus and endorsed by the Fishers Island Civic Association. It was determined that membership to the FICA/HC should be extended to current membership of the Harbormaster Advisory Committee as identified by the Harbormaster with any other suggestions for membership he may wish to make. Next Meeting- Date The members hoped to conduct a meeting of the expanded and merged committees in time to review proposed '93 Harbo~ Regulations with the Harbormaster prior to Memorial Day weekend. Respectfully Submitted, Leslie O. Goss .,