Director updates board: fund balance, relay contracts and equipment issues

The Childish Advisory Board received a detailed operational briefing from its director who reported the shellfish propagation fund balance and described current relay contract status and equipment problems.

The director told members the propagation fund balance is $312,440.85 and said the board had restarted a receipts/lease program that contributes 1% of gross receipts back to the fund. He said two customers ahead of the town were scheduled to take 650 and 150 bushels, respectively, and that once those smaller orders complete the remainder of the season’s stock would be allocated to the town. The director also said 782 bushels are currently out in the field.

Board members discussed a 61‑day quarantine/exemption requirement that affects when relay areas can be opened and reiterated that areas must pass three consecutive water tests after recent heavy rain. The director described an equipment failure (reduction gear on a dredge), trouble securing replacement parts from Virginia, and crew turnover that has constrained harvest capacity.

Members also discussed contractual terms for harvested boxes: the contract specifies a 40‑pound per‑box limit, and members proposed periodic scale checks to ensure supplier compliance with gross weight and to avoid paying for excess mud and water in boxes.

Chair and other members emphasized timing constraints: the board needs to be clear on the state water test results before opening conditional areas, and must observe the seasonal deadline (out of some islands by Oct. 31) to allow the requisite quarantine period.