PROVINCETOWN HARBOR COMMITTEE
Town Hall Caucus Room
Provincetown, MA
March 2, 2005

Members Present: Gerard Irmer, Chairman, Kerry Adams, Alice Brock, Heather Bruce, Advisory Staff Present: Rex McKinsey, Pier Manager

Absent: Ann Colbourn, Melville Cote, Alternate, Ted Meyer, Acting Marine Supervisor, Excused Absences

AGENDA
The meeting was called to order at 4:30 p.m.

Review/amend/approve minutes of 2/23/05

The minutes were read. Gerard Irmer requested that the years of the Regulations (mentioned in the first paragraph under New Business) be added. A motion was made by Kerry Adams to approve the minutes as amended and was seconded by Alice Brock. They were approved unanimously.

NEW BUSINESS

2005 Amendments to the Harbor Plan

The Amendments had been sent to the Town Counsel for review. The Committee reviewed the final draft of the Amendments and Summary, along with the suggestions made by the Town Counsel. Many of the suggestions were minor changes. The Committee approved of the Table of Contents which Rex McKinsey had written. Gerard Irmer felt that the recommendations on page 5 in the second large paragraph should be highlighted or bulleted and the Committee agreed. The Committee continued through the document and made other minor changes and clarifications, such as changing M.S.D. to Marine Sanitation Device.

Although most of the Committee had seen the corrections of the Town Counsel, only Kerry Adams had the additional comments. The Counsel had advised a better way to discuss the mean high water mark on page 26. The paragraph on page 27 about how the DEP processed licensing was discussed.

Other Business

Since it was nearly 5:30 (the time for the Public Hearing on the Harbor Plan Amendments), Gerard Irmer asked for approval of his letter to Keith Bergman about notifying the Harbor Committee on all harbor and beach related matters. The Committee approved the letter.

5:30 p.m. Although it was the announced time for the Public Hearing on the Harbor Plan Amendments, no one had arrived for the meeting. The Committee decided to continue reviewing the comments of the Town Counsel. The Committee generally agreed with the comments and took out some paragraphs and made some clarifications. The paragraph concerning the order in which the DEP reviews properties came up again. It was decided that the paragraph would be left in. It was felt that the DEP would probably have comments on this paragraph and that it would be better to wait and discuss it with them.

The Committee next began to discuss the Matrix section. Some additions and changes were made. Gerard Irmer brought up the point that the FEMA map is wrong. This will be addressed at a future date.

Public Statements

At about 5:50 Jim McGowan arrived to speak about the Amendments. He was very complimentary and said that they were a huge improvement. Mr. McGowan said that he thought it would help everyone, including the Town, and put the Harbor in the hands of the property owners and out of the hands of the bureaucrats. He thanked the Committee for their work.

Mr. McGowan left and the Committee returned to the Matrix. Several points were brought up such as lab tests for coliform bacteria, the floating docks, and the purchase of a beach cleaning machine. There were other clarifications and changing of wording.

Rex McKinsey said that the Committee can expect comments on the Amendments from the DEP and the CZM. These will have to be reviewed and possibly changes made He also suggested that the Committee ask Keith Bergman to let them know which warrant articles they may have to comment on for the Town Meeting, so they can be reviewed ahead of time. Then when the warrant article is read at the Meeting, it will be announced that the Harbor Committee approves or disapproves of the article. Mr. McKinsey also said that the Committee will have to make a request to the Moderator if they want to put out materials at the Town Meeting.

Mr. McKinsey also advised that if the Harbor Plan Amendments pass at the Town Meeting, they will then be sent to the DEP for approval. The Harbor Committee will have to negotiate with the DEP.

NEXT MEETING: March 16, 2005 at 4:30 p.m.

A motion to adjourn was made at 6:25 p.m. by Kerry Adams and seconded by Alice Brock. The motion was approved unanimously.

Respectfully submitted,
Cynthia Curran
Approved by ____________________________on ______________, 2005.
Gerard Irmer