Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAboutDraft WWSAC minutes 3.12.2026On //2024, on a motion by committee member , seconded by committee member , the Waterways & Shellfish Advisory Committee voted to approve these minutes as written. YARMOUTH WATERWAYS AND SHELLFISH ADVISORY COMMITTEE MEETING MINUTES March 12, 2026 MEMBERS PRESENT: Julian Mallett (Chairman), Bob Churchill, Rick Crawford, Jack Moynihan STAFF PRESENT: Dave Condon, Kathryn Brooks OTHERS PRESENT: Bob Perry, Mark Burgess _______________________________________________________________________________ At 5:34 p.m. Dave Condon, Director of Natural Resources, read the open meeting law and explained the meeting audio was going to be recorded. Agenda 1. There was no public comment. 2. Notice of Intent a. Cape Cod Engineering Inc., 222 Pleasant Street, reconstruction of an existing licensed pile supported pier, platform, ramp and float Bob Perry presented the project explaining it came before the committee in 2022 and was denied. Even though it was the same plan as the current dock the project was denied because Conservation wanted to see the dock have higher clearance over the marsh and the platform eliminated. Conservation also did not want any further seaward expansion. All pilings will be replaced. There will be about an 8’ separation between the pier and float. Mr. Crawford motions to recommend this project to conservation with a condition the dock does not exceed the length listed in the Chapter 91 license. This motion is seconded by Mr. Churchill and it passes 4-0. b. Shorefront Consulting, Dinah’s Pond, Dinah’s Pond entrance channel dredging Mark Burgess present on this project. HE explains there will be a 25’ channel, there is an abundant population of shellfish which will be removed, and spoils will be brought to a local cranberry bog who offered to take it. He has a couple plans for staging and removal including using nearby private property or the Follins Pond Boat Ramp. Director Condon compares this project to a dredging project at Sweetheart Creek where all the shellfish were removed or relocated by commercial permit holders in Yarmouth. Depending on the time of year, the same could apply for this project. If the area is open for commercial shellfishing, permit holders can bring to market any shellfish legal size and seed would be relocated. Commercial permit applications now include interest in being contacted for projects such as this. Mr. Burgess said he was going to have John Lowell, from Dennis do the work. The Director said that would be fine, but he would only be relocating, not taking anything to market for sale. Chairman Mallett said the project seems like it would improve navigation and water movement/flushing of Dinah’s Pond. On //2024, on a motion by committee member , seconded by committee member , the Waterways & Shellfish Advisory Committee voted to approve these minutes as written. Mr. Churchill motions to recommend this project to Conservation with a condition that the shellfish are removed or relocated in accordance with Town of Yarmouth Regulations. This motion was seconded by Mr. Crawford, and the motion passed 4-0. 3. Packet Landing Resiliency Project Support Letter This upcoming June will be the completion of the second year of this project. The next step is construction, which we are looking to secure funds for. CZM combined with other grant programs, so now they are all included in one application. It’s a March 20 deadline and we are looking for $2.6 million. We have already received $504,000 from the Community Preservation Committee and we will need to get the approval at spring Town Meeting. The Director read the letter and the Chairman signed on behalf of the committee. This letter will join others written by the Town’s Fire Department, Natural Resources, Mass Oyster Project and more. Mass Oyster Project has plans to continue the partnership with the town for the educational upweller at Packet Landing. Continuing to get additional money for the project looks good for our grant application. Director Condon read the uses Packet Landing provides from the regulation book. 4. Approval of Meeting Minutes: 11/20/2025 Mr. Crawford motioned to approve the minutes as written, seconded by Mr. Churchill. The motion passed 4-0. 5. Committee Discussion & Division Updates The Gray’s Beach boardwalk has been damaged in the most recent storm and will take an estimated ¼ of a million dollars to repair. The pier structure leading down to the boat slips was also damaged. The boardwalk is not covered by insurance and it is currently unknown if the pier is covered. The old drive in site has been turned into a park which will open on May 1, 2026, and there will be a grand opening to celebrate. Our upwellers, located in this area, will have some upgrades coming including a new fence, electrical panels, and cameras, thanks to money from the community preservation fund and Community Development Department. The Town Way to Water project is almost complete and a draft of the results should be coming soon. The railing at Englewood Beach will be replaced, and that project will be going out to bid soon. Educational signage will be incorporated with the new rail. No upper Bass River dredge updates but we still need permitting and a plan of what to do with the spoils. Our shellfish constable is out on leave with no date of return so we are down two full time staff members. We have an employee at the police academy who we hope to get trained as a NRO after he completes the academy in May. The shellfish program over wintered oysters that hopefully survived the storm. We will be purchasing oysters again from the Town of Falmouth for 2026. Chairman Mallett brought up how successful the Barnstable program is and wanted to know how we can expand. The Director explained we are limited by funds and staffing but we continue to make progress and improve the program. The Nature Conservancy is going to be working to get oyster reefs in On //2024, on a motion by committee member , seconded by committee member , the Waterways & Shellfish Advisory Committee voted to approve these minutes as written. Bass River, hoping to establish a population. The shells collected with the Mass Oyster Project will be used on the Nature Conservancy oyster reef project once they have sat for a long enough period of time. Mr. Churchill made a motion to adjourn the meeting, seconded by Mr. Crawford. The motion passed 4-0 and the meeting adjourned at 6:41 p.m.