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HomeMy WebLinkAbout03/30/1991 ,.,.".'" CIVIC ASSOCIATION HARBOR ADVISORY COMMITTEE The Fishers Island Civic Association's Harbor Advisory Committee met Saturday, March 30, 1991 at 1:30 pm in the School Library. Present were Committee members Frank Bohlen, Tom Doyen, Leslie Goss, Dick Hale, Bill Ridgway, and Bob Wall. Ray Edwards, Town Councilman, was also present. Bill Ridgway indicated that a number of documents had been collected and that they were available for the Committee's use. Frank Bohlen had provided a copy of the Noank Harbor Management Plan, which while hopefully more formal than we need on Fishers Island, provides much useful material. The Lombardi Associates report on the pollution around Hay Harbor is in hand, and copies are available from the Conservancy thru Mary Linda Strunk. We also have a copy of the proposal to dredge Hay Harbor. John Clavin has replied to Bill Ridgway's letter of February 25, 1991, and included the 1991 West Harbor Regulations with that response. Both letters are attached. Considerable discussion ensued about the new Hay Harbor water skiing and anchoring regulations. Southold passed a Town Law in 1990 prohibiting water skiing within 300' of shore which effectively bars water skiing in Hay Harbor because of its small size. John Clavin's proposal for permitting was discussed, but the feeling was that having to get a permit for each occasion was prohibiting. The consensus was that the present self-policing system with no water skiing until after 5pm works well and doesn't need changing. Ray Edwards commented that if the Civic Association wants the Town Board to exempt Hay Harbor from the water skiing regulation he would be glad to take the request to the Town Council. The Chairman will write Mr. Mettler with a recommendation from the Committee that the Association make such a request. Discussion followed about anchoring in Hay Harbor along with signage and dredg- ing. It was generally agreed that the dredging issue was outside the purview of the Committee. Ray Edwards restated that the existing or a new channel would not have any additional or upgraded buoys unless that was what the Harbor residents wanted. It was assumed that the no anchoring regulation meant no overnight anchoring, which is not a known problem at this time. After discussion, it was agreed that a sign prohibiting anchoring might make Hay Harbor more attractive during the day because it pointed out that access was available. Therefore it is the Committee's recommendation that no signs be placed around the harbor, and that the situation be more closely monitored this coming summer. - 1 - The Committee's consideration then turned to West Harbor. Ray Edwards made the Committee aware that a master grid of West Harbor had been prepared by Chandler, Palmer, and King, and that he believed John Clavin had the updated version. Bill Ridgway stated that he felt that communication was the biggest problem, and if transient boaters knew where they were expected to anchor and not anchor, they would generally comply. The preparation of a West Harbor chart showing channels, moorings, and transient anchoring areas for use by the Constables and Pirates Cove launch as a hand out was proposed. Discussion also focused on Steve Malinowski's aquaculture beds. The Committee would like him to furnish, not only the location of the beds, but also a recommend- ation of the size of the buffer zone that should be provided around the beds. It was noted that this must be a reasonable sized buffer. Leslie Goss observed that marking the beds as "shellfish" invited pilferage and suggested that signs just say "no anchoring" . Frank Bohlen observed that we are fortunate in that we have some breathing room because some space has become available in the harbor for a variety of reasons. Now the job is to comprehensively plan for the use of this space. This includes transients, room for shelter in stormy weather, channels, moorings, aquaculture etc. Obviously this can't be done without the Harbor Master, and it was suggested that our next meeting should be with John Clavin, when he comes north in early May. This meeting would be to review and discuss the mooring grid and overall harbor plan. By then we should have Steve Malinowski's input on the recommended shellfish buffer. It was also suggested that no moorings be moved until this meeting is held. Bob Wall noted that the Bay Constable's jurisdiction, for law enforcement, extends beyond the mouth of the harbor and covers all of the waters within proximity to Fishers Island. There was extensive discussion of a mooring program and who should have the responsibility to supervise and oversee it. Dick Hale made the point that if Pirates Cove does not have any commercial moorings, then there is no incentive for it to monitor the mooring usage. It was also agreed that the issue of allowing commercial moorings was different from the issue of harbor management. - 2 - The question of the Yacht Club's, FIDCO's, Pirates Cove's, and the Harbor Master's role in day to day harbor management was not clear. Frank Bohlen offered to try and clarify the Yacht Club's position by talking to Peter Rugg who has been given this assignment by Commodore Rubinow. Dick Hale agreed to work with Frank Bohlen to formulate a single proposed plan, that represents all interests, for discussion at the next meeting. Respectfully submitted . ~ r57 c ~ )Jl----- William C Ridgway III Chairman - 3 -