Members Present: Kerry Adams, Alice Brock,
Heather Bruce, Gerard Irmer,
Members Absent: Melville Cote (excused), Beverly Dwyer Ormston
Advisory Staff: Jon Gilmore (Absent)
Harbor Master: Chris Flavell (Absent) Chief Meyer
Pier Manager: Rex McKinsey (Absent)
The meeting was called to
order at 4:30 p.m.
Review and approve minutes March 3rd ,
2004
Kerry Adams made a motion: To table discussion of
minutes until the end of the meeting.
Heather Bruce seconded
the motion and it was unanimously passed.
Jerry Irmer also announced that Monday March 22 at 6pm the Board of Selectmen will present the Mooring Fee change for discounts to Seniors 65 and up who are Provincetown residents.
Heater Bruce reported on the
progress her Chapter 91 Subcommittee is making. She feels they are on a roll, meeting every week and researching
and writing 6 hours a day or more. She
is starting to see the light at the end of the tunnel. She explained they have found a way to
discuss the changes they want to see in the interpretation of Chapter 91
without challenging Chapter 91 itself.
They are changing the vision statement and re amplifying options within
Chapter 91 that are better suited for the Provincetown Harbor Plan. Heather explained the reason there is so
much of a conflict of interest with the current Harbor Plan is that it was
originally drafted by Urban Planners in Boston who did not prioritize the
uniqueness of Provincetown Harbor. She
advised to the other committees to elaborate on the issues that are
cross-referenced within their sections as well as across sections. (Ex. Chapter
91 is dealing with parts of Land Use as well).
The Committee discussed formatting issues, to be sure
that all changes made from the original document can be easily seen, and that
the new document is as readable as possible.
Kerry Adams also requested that the changes be made in a way that allows
the committee to vote on accepting them section by section.
The Committee also discussed how they will present their
new Harbor Plan to the Secretary, especially after the earlier troubles of
trying to amend the Harbor Plan in 1997 and receiving no action. They wanted to know why that matter was
ignored and how they may avoid that reoccurring by following the proper
guidelines for submitting their amendments.
Motion made by Heather
Bruce: To draft a letter to the Secretary of Environmental Affairs regarding
proper guidelines for proposing changes within the Harbor Plan to be discussed
at the next meeting by the Harbor Committee.
Kerry Adams seconded the
motion and it passed unanimously.
None
NEW
BUSINESS
Organize
Spring Beach Cleanup
Chief
Meyer was present to discuss last years action and plans for this year’s Spring
Beach Cleanup. Last year on a Saturday
morning in late April, a morning that coordinated with low tide, a group of
around 15 people showed up to clean the beach.
The group consisted of 9 Americorps volunteers, some CASAS members and
other individual citizens. The volunteers
took out of date bright orange permit stickers to identify large trash items
(boats) to be picked up by the DPW mechanical “jaws” and thrown into a
truck. They also took garbage bags,
supplied by Chief Meyer, which they filled with rubbish and left in piles along
the beach for the same DPW truck to pick up.
Chief Meyer said the only problems to watch out for were to not trash
any boats that were still in use, and to watch out for rising tides near
seawalls. Overall he described the
event as very successful and covering much ground.
The committee discussed more details
with the Chief and decided they should look at the tide chart to decide a good
Saturday morning in April for the 2004 Cleanup date and advertise to the
town. Suggestions for advertising were
an ad in the paper, posters in Town Hall and an “Earth Day” program suggestion
to the elementary school. Everyone
suggested ways to bring more people out by giving more incentive such as a
contest, free soup or ice cream (donated from town businesses).
The committee decided to confirm a
date and research the ideas discussed to present at the next Harbor Committee
meeting.
Meeting Minutes of March
3rd, 2004.
Revisions were discussed by
the committee pertaining to language used on the second page. 1. It was the
Town Manager who presented the Harbor Plan to request and extension, not Jerry
Irmer. 2. The Secretary did not approve respond to the
changes because it was not within her authority. 3. To go before Board
of Selectmen Town Council.
Motion by Kerry Adams: To
accept the minutes of March 3rd with the discussed changes.
Heather Bruce seconded
the motion and it passed unanimously.
The next meeting will be in
Caucus Hall on Wednesday March 31st, 2004 at 4:30pm.
The Amendments to Harbor
Regulations / Mooring Fees will go before the Board of Selectmen at a Public
Hearing on Monday March 22, 2004 at 6pm.
Motion moved by Kerry
Adams: Adjourn Harbor Committee Meeting of March 17, 2004.
Alice Brock seconded the motion and it passed
unanimously.
The meeting was adjourned at
5:40p.m.
Respectfully Submitted,
Alison Boutin
Gerard Irmer, Chairman