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RI Coastal Resources Management Council

...to preserve, protect, develop, and restore coastal resources for all Rhode Islanders

In accordance with notice to members of the Rhode Island Coastal Resources Management Council, a meeting was held on Tuesday, March 9, 2010 at 6:00 p.m. in Conference Room A, Administration Building, One Capitol Hill, Providence, RI.

MEMBERS PRESENT
Michael M. Tikoian, Chair
Paul Lemont, Vice Chair
Dave Abedon
Raymond Coia
Don Gomez
Ron Gagnon, DEM
Bob Driscoll

STAFF PRESENT
Grover J. Fugate, Executive Director
Jeffrey M. Willis, Deputy Director
Caitlin Chaffee
Brian Goldman, Legal Counsel

1. Chair Tikoian called the meeting to order at 6:00 p.m. stated that he would dispense with the reading of the opening statement as it pertained only to permits being approved and that both of the permit applications that had been scheduled for the evening had requested and were granted continuances. Chair Tikoian asked the Council members to please keep their agenda packages for the rescheduling of the applications.

2. APPROVAL OF THE MINUTES OF THE PREVIOUS MEETING:

Mr. Coia motioned, seconded by Mr. Driscoll, to approve minutes of previous meeting, February 23, 2010. Minutes approved on a unanimous voice vote.

3. SUBCOMMITTEE REPORTS

No reports.

Chair Tikoian stated that the Ocean Special Area Management Plan Subcommittee has been meeting regularly, two times a month, and mentioned that the next meeting of the subcommittee would be Thursday, March 18, 2010.

4. STAFF REPORTS

Coastal Habitat Restoration Trust Fund Applications before the Council for Review and Decision:

Projects recommended for FULL funding:
1. Allins Cove Invasives Control and Upland Restoration ($6,891)
2. Buckeye Brook Brackish Marsh Restoration ($1,450)
3. Blackstone River Fish Passage Project, Main St. and Slater Mill Dam ($50,000)
4. Manton Pond Dam Fish Passage ($9,000)
5. Paragon Dam Fish Passage ($9,000)
6. Lower Shannock Falls Fish Passage Restoration ($50,000)
7. DEM mosquito abatement equipment maintenance request ($2,000)

Projects recommended for PARTIAL funding:
1. Round Marsh Salt Marsh Restoration ($15,000)
2. Restoring Hard Clams in Rhode Island’s Salt Ponds ($40,000)
3. Lower Pawtuxet River Ecosystem Restoration: Sediment Management ($41,659)

Projects NOT recommended for funding:
1. Sea Level Rise Vulnerability Assessment
2. Common Fence Point Restoration Maintenance
3. Oyster Restoration in Town Pond and Gooseneck Cove

Contingency List of Projects:
1. Lower Pawtuxet River Ecosystem Restoration: Sediment Management (additional $8,341)
2. Common Fence Point Restoration Maintenance ($3,200)

Caitlin Chaffee, CRMC Policy Analyst, gave the Council an overview of the process by which the applications were chosen for recommendation of funding, stating that applications were accepted in the fall of last year and selected proposals were contacted to submit full applications. Ms. Chaffee stated that out of 13 proposals, 10 were being recommended for full funding and that out of those 10 applications, two were for marsh restoration projects, five were for fish passage projects, one was for a shellfish restoration project, one was for upland riparian zone restoration, and one was for equipment maintenance/repair for RIDEM mosquito abatement projects. Ms. Chaffee stated that $225,000 was allocated for funding the projects. Vice Chair Lemont inquired as to the Buckeye Brook project and why the Trust Fund committee was only recommending the awarding $1,450. Ms. Chaffee explained that the project was to control Phragmites, an invasive species, using a treatment method of mulching at the mouth of the brook. Ms. Chaffee stated that the project had also secured additional funding from other sources. Mr. Gomez inquired as to the Common Fence Point Restoration Maintenance project. Ms. Chaffee stated that Trust Fund committee members had visited the site along with CRMC staff and determined that the maintenance dredging that was proposed in the application was not needed at this time. Therefore, the committee chose not to recommend funding the project this year, but that it was listed on the contingency list for possible funding, should monies become available, and maintenance needs arise in the future.

Ms. Chaffee stated that one of the goals of the R.I. Coastal and Estuarine Habitat Restoration Trust Fund and the Technical Advisory Committee is to leverage funding from other sources. This year’s funds will leverage more than $4 million dollars in federal and nonfederal funds. Ms. Chaffee stated that in addition to leveraging funding for larger projects, the state Trust Fund is able to fund smaller, community-based projects that might not be eligible for larger federal grants.

Vice Chair Lemont inquired into the Ten Mile River Project and the timeframe for start of project. Ms. Chaffee stated that CRMC in collaboration with the NOAA Restoration Center, had applied for and received Stimulus funding, which was the last of the funding needed for this project. Ms. Chaffee stated that the Omega Pond Dam portion of the project was delayed due to the location of a gas pipeline that needed to be moved, which was being negotiated with National Grid. Ms. Chaffee also stated that construction on the Hunts Mills and Turner Reservoir fish ladder projects were tentatively scheduled to start in the fall of 2010.

No further questions from Council members.

Project #2 The RIDEM Mosquito Abatement Equipment Maintenance Project, was recommended for separate vote. Mr. Coia motioned, seconded by Mr. Gomez, for approval. Motion carried with 6 in favor and one abstention from Mr. Gagnon, RIDEM representative.

All of the remaining projects receiving full funding were recommended for combined vote. Vice Chair Lemont motioned, seconded by Mr. Driscoll, approval of funding. Motion carried on unanimous voice vote.

Mr. Coia motioned, seconded by Vice Chair Lemont, approval of partial funding of projects. Motion carried on unanimous voice vote.

Mr. Driscoll motioned, seconded by Mr. Coia, approval of the contingency list of projects. Motion carried on unanimous voice vote.

5. CATEGORY “A” LIST

None were held.

6. EXECUTIVE SESSION

Chair Tikoian stated that the Executive Session would only be about Personnel and would not include Litigation.

Vice Chair Lemont motioned, seconded by Mr. Coia, to go into Executive Session on Personnel issues. Roll Call vote taken:

Mr. Gagnon Yes
Mr. Gomez Yes
Mr. Driscoll Yes
Chair Tikoian Yes
Mr. Abedon Yes
Mr. Coia Yes
Vice Chair Lemont Yes

Motion carried.

The Council entered Executive Session at 6:20 p.m.

Respectfully submitted,
Grover Fugate, Executive Director

Reported by Lisa A. Mattscheck

CALENDAR INDEX

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