05/22/2019 SHELLFISH COMMISSION Minutes

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��cotitirvo� 9,01vn of Mashpee SheCCfish Commission 16 Great Neck Road North Mashpee,MA 02649 MINUTES OF MEETING 5-22-19 Attendance: Peter Thomas, Steven Marques,Ashley Fisher and Richard York. Public: Tom Smith, and Richard Cook Convene Meeting: 7:00 PM Public Comment: None Approval of Minutes: Motion: Thomas made a motion to postpone the approval of the 4-19-19 Shellfish Commission minutes until the next meeting. Marques seconded the motion. All voted unanimously in favor of postponing the minutes. Shellfish Constable's Report The Shellfish Division was able to complete the 1,000 remote set oyster bags that were ordered for the fiscal year thanks to the 12 volunteers that attended the volunteer day at the Dennis Transfer Station. The volunteers were able to complete 850 of the cultch bags in that one day. The remainder of the bags were completed by our staff the next day. The volunteer day went very smoothly, and the volunteers that showed were very interested in attending future volunteer opportunities. Mashpee Shellfish Constable Ashley Fisher appeared in Falmouth District Court for the matter of Kenny Thompson's unpaid shellfish citations. The Magistrate at Falmouth District court sided with the town, and Thompson has until June 26th to pay the $750.00 dollars in citations. On June 7th the Ashley Fisher will appear at the Boston Division of Marine Fisheries for a herring to review Thompson's Shellfish Transaction Card issued by the state of Massachusetts. During the hearing review the Division of Marine Fisheries, Massachusetts Environmental Police, and Town of Mashpee Shellfish Constable will determine whether the issued citations will result in any further suspensions or revocation of Thompson's state permits. The Shellfish Division has hired two new year round individuals to fill two positions, one being a full- time year round waterways assistant and the other being a 30 hours per week year round position. One July I" the 30 hour per week position will become a full time (40 hrs. /week)positon for the start of the new fiscal year. Both individuals are highly qualified for the positions, and are capable of fulfilling both the duties of a Deputy Shellfish Constable and a Water Quality Technician. Rachel Fordham and Dominick Vitale are a wonderful addition to the Department of Natural Resources. Over the next few weeks the Shellfish Division will be working on gear maintenance and construction. The land-based upweller system needs 48 new silos to be constructed with 1.2 millimeter mesh. These silos also need to have leveling arms to be installed. The Floating Upweller System needs 20+ silos to be constructed with 3 millimeter mesh,and painted with antifouling e-paint or net minder. The Quahog seed is expected to arrive in mid-June of this year. Three seasonal waterways assistant positions have been filled and they will help to prepare for the growing season.