03/21/2022 SELECT BOARD Minutes - Laserfiche WebLink

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R Mashpee Select Board Minutes March 21. 2022 APPOINTMENTS & HEARINGS Public Hearing: 2022 Shellfish Regulations: Discussion and Approval of 2022 Shellfish Regulations: The Mashpee Select Board opened the Public Hearing on the 2022 Town of Mashpee Shellfish Regulations continued from February 28, 2022. Ashley Fisher, Director of Natural Resources was in attendance with Shellfish Constable Donovan McElligatt to review the 2022 Shellfish Regulations with the Select Board. This matter was deferred from the February 28, 2022 meeting to ensure appropriate language relative to Aboriginal rights would be included in the document. It is anticipated the regulations would be promulgated effective April 1, 2022 for the upcoming shellfish season. Town Manager Rodney C. Collins advised there has been discussions with Tribal leadership and with Town Counsel, however the regulations have not been fully finalized between the Town and Tribe. It was noted the Town and the Tribe are expected to conduct a joint meeting to further review and develop common consensus on this matter and other issues of common interest. It was anticipated the meeting would be held in March. Due to scheduling conflicts the collective meeting was delayed and it is expected to held on May 16, 2021 Peter Thomas, Chair of the Shellfish Commission made note of his disappointment this matter has been delayed with little input from the Commission. The Shellfish Commission represents the license holders of the Town of Mashpee and aspires to have the best shellfish program on Cape Cod. The Town of Mashpee Shellfish Rules and Regulations have needed to be revised for some time. The Shellfish Commission has worked on the revisions for the past two years and ample communication has been provided months in advance. In the spirit of communication, a Tribal liaison attends regular meetings and it is the intention of the Shellfish Commission to give the Tribe what they have earned. Mr. Thomas recommended the dialogue remain transparent as the Town moves forward with this document. In fairness it was noted the Tribal liaison to the Shellfish Commission is one individual. The Tribal entity maintains a Natural Resource Commission and a Natural Resource Department. Interaction and dialogue would provide the best practice with those entities. The Tribe is seeking to ensure its Aboriginal rights are respected, including more equitable efforts of the Town of Mashpee to value those rights, more so than land acknowledgement. Town Manager Rodney C. Collins indicated the Town has the outmost respect of the Mashpee Shellfish Commission. A meeting with the Tribe is forthcoming, and this matter should be resolved soon. The Select Board agreed to continue the Public Hearing to May 16, 2022, Carlton Hendricks, Vice -Chair of the Tribal Counsel reaffinned the need to provide language into the draft Shellfish Rules & Regulations to acknowledge Aboriginal rights, and to maintain an open line of communication with the Town of Mashpee, directly through the Town Manager.