PROVINCETOWN HARBOR COMMITTEE

Town Hall Judge Welsh Room
Provincetown, MA

April 13, 2005

Members Present: Gerard Irmer, Chairman, Kerry Adams, Alice Brock, Heather Bruce, Ann Colbourn, Melville Cote, Alternate

Advisory Staff Present: Rex McKinsey, Pier Manager, Ted Meyer, Acting Marine Supervisor

AGENDA

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

Review/amend/approve minutes of 3/23/05

The minutes were read. Heather Bruce wanted to add that she had been opposed to the idea of an access way at 451 Commercial Street. A motion was made by Kerry Adams to approve the minutes with the addition and was seconded by Heather Bruce. They were approved unanimously.

Review/amend/approve minutes of 4/04/05

The minutes were read.. A motion was made by Alice Brock to approve the minutes and was seconded by Mel Cote. They were approved unanimously.

NEW BUSINESS

2005 Amendments to the Harbor Plan

Gerard Irmer said that the Town had found some grammatical errors in the Plan and had made the corrections.

Chapter 91 License Applications

David Martin had been asked to attend today’s meeting, but has withdrawn his Chapter 91 application.

Town Meeting

Heather Bruce requested a discussion of the Town Meeting. The Harbor Committee had not been told about all the procedures they needed to follow. They had to have an unplanned meeting right before the Town Meeting to vote to approve the Warrant. The Committee also hadn’t know that they should have made a presentation to the Board of Selectmen before the Town Meeting.

Other Business

The Board of Health replied to Gerard Irmer’s letter. None of the other boards or committees have responded.

Gerard Irmer sent an email to Truman Henson today regarding his letter to Keith Bergman about the Harbor Plan. He had not received a reply at the time of the meeting.

Heather Bruce said that regarding monetary payments, the Amendments just take out the equation in Appendix C and use the DEP equation. Ms. Bruce thought that the Committee should write to Mr. Henson to ask for clarification of his memo and had written a draft of a letter to him. Mr. Irmer said that he had already sent an email, but Ms. Bruce thought a letter was needed. The Committee discussed Ms. Bruce’s draft. Regarding the Schofield line, Mr. Irmer said that the State had dumped the burden of surveying on the homeowners because of the expense of re-surveying the properties. He said using an airplane to survey the coastline is not accurate when there are so many small lots. The Committee made a few suggestions for changes to the letter. Mr. Irmer said he will work on the letter.

Alice Brock said that she thinks the Committee should meet with the Board of Selectmen so that they will support the Harbor Plan Amendments. Ted Meyer says he thinks that the Selectmen do support the Plan, but somewhat tenuously, because they haven’t reviewed it thoroughly. Heather Bruce said that since the Town Meeting passed the warrant it is now in the hands of the State. Kerry Adams felt that it still needs the support of the Selectmen. Rex McKinsey advocates meeting with the Board of Selectmen. He said that they should be given an Executive Summary and the Plan should be reviewed with them. He said that because the Selectmen have more connection with the State, they could be very helpful. He also said he thought that people who are appointed to Town committees should be given more training on how the political process works.

Board of Health

Gerard Irmer said that he wrote back to the Board of Health on March 30th. He suggested a joint meeting with them. Heather Bruce thinks the Committee should also meet with the Conservation Commission, especially regarding the concerns expressed by Dieter Groll at the Town Meeting. Alice Brock said that she thinks the Committee should meet with all the boards to explain the Harbor Committee and what it does.

Beach Cleanup

The Annual Beach Cleanup was discussed. Ted Meyer said that he can contact the Sheriff’s department about having the prisoners come to do it. Alice Brock said that she could perhaps provide the lunch. There are usually about 10 people including the guards. It was suggested that Ben and Jerry’s and Spiritus could be contacted about donating food. Mr. Irmer said that early May would be a good time. Other volunteers would also be sought, as well as students from the High School. Advertisements will be put in the newspaper. Rex McKinsey said that the Chamber of Commerce and the PBG should also be notified. The cleanup will probably be on a Friday. It cannot be on the weekend because of overtime costs for the guards.

It was decided that the Committee should meet in two weeks on April 27th.

NEXT MEETING: April 27, 2005 at 4:30 p.m.

A motion to adjourn was made at 5:34p.m. by Ann Colbourn and seconded by Kerry Adams.. The motion was approved unanimously.

Respectfully submitted,

Cynthia Curran