Public Meeting

HARBOR COMMITTEE

Wednesday December 14, 2005

 

Caucus Hall

Time: 4:30 pm

 

 

Members Present:          Kerry Adams, Alice Brock, Heather Bruce,

Mel Cote, and Gerard Irmer.

 

Members Absent:                 none

 

Advisory Staff:           Rex McKinsey and Doug Taylor

 

Others:                           Philip Scholl (still interested in becoming a member)

 

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

 

AGENDA

 

Review/amend/approve minutes of 11/30

Motion:  Accept the minutes of November 30, 2005 as amended.

Motion by Kerry Adams       Seconded by Alice Brock         Voted 5-0-0.

 

Public Statements

There were none.

 

New Business:

MacMillan Pier Management Report…… 

Rex did a presentation to the Board of Selectmen (BoS) on Monday night.  He passed out a summary of the presentation to the group.  Rex would like any concerns that the members of the Harbor Committee may have.  This subject will move through the next six weeks and the final presentation will be done by mid-January.  Rex recommends that no-one does anything until the general court decision comes through.  (Refers to mooring fees)  The decision has to do with how people permit their moorings.  Last summer’s campaign conducted by Rex brought 90 odd moorings into compliance.  Part of this has to do with the restricted zone behind the breakwater.  He has a waiting list of about 30 people and the rules regarding the wait list will change.  The wait list will have a cost and it will ascertain how the moorings will be put in. 

 

Rex just wants the Harbor Committee members to put in their comments.  Heather asked if storm drains might be part of this?  Answer:  No.  Alice wondered about blue dye in boats’ wastewater collection systems.  Alice also wondered if the Committee is going to meet with Rex at some point?  Rex said he’d welcome any and all feedback from the Committee members.

 

Any other business that shall properly come before the Committee

Jerry said that he received a check from Designers Dock – 353 Commercial Street –for the Harbor Access Gift Fund for a little over $300.  He’ll look into it. 

 

There were quite a few revisions to the letter that will be sent to Truman Henson in preparation for their meeting in January.  The title of the subject of the letter was readjusted to read:  An Analysis of Chapter 91 Licensing in Provincetown.  The corrections were minor but everyone had input into them. 

 

Heather has another document that she is working on which responds to DEP answers and refers to old minutes going back a few years.  They reinforce the quandary the state had in setting the rates and rules of Chapter 91.  It was decided that these documents would be saved so that they can be referred to at a later date.  Jerry wants the old minutes to be saved for the next round.

 

Alice Brock commended Heather Bruce and all those involved in this – for their diligence and hard work. 

 

Alice Brock, once again, would like the Harbor Committee to be a regulatory body.  She also suggested that something like Truman Henson’s letter should go to the BoS to show that this committee should be regulatory.  Jerry should put the case together.  Kerry thinks that we should get the Harbor Committee together.  Doug Taylor says that you have to come before the BoS with a plan.  The BoS want to hear solutions, not problems. 

 

Jerry showed the group a Schofield Bros., Framingham, MA map issued on April 12, 1996.  The Historic Mean High Water line was originally mapped in 1848 and updated in 1857. These are the present guidelines……  it was compiled with a scale of 1” = 40’     Everyone agreed that the line is completely off. 

 

Heather read former minutes where, Al Davis, a former long time member of the Harbor Committee, pointed out inaccuracies of the Schofield Bros. Historic Mean High Water line to the state.  Property owners can’t pay for the research necessary to straighten all this out.  Heather is trying to meet with Coastal Engineering to go over the maps.  Doug said that it should have a general overview. 

 

Kerry Adams said he had met with the BoS on the water quality plan.  (This was for the estuaries project.)  Rex and Kerry presented it to the BoS.  All were in favor of the study except for Cheryl Andrews.  Only Cheryl voted against it.  Rex said, “Brian Carlson the new Health Inspector has only been here for 4 months and he did a great job for it.  How about sending him a thank-you note?”  It was agreed that a note would be sent to Brian.

Motion:  Send a note to Brian Carlson thanking him for his work on the grant.

Motion by Kerry Adams        Seconded by Alice Brock       Voted 5-0-0.

 

Heather said that the Flagship has closed off their public access way.  It’s not a Chapter 91 access.  Doug will look into it.  The new owners have been very sensitive to the townspeople. 

 

Heather further asked that someone should go and check out the grate across from the Post Office.  It has constantly rushing water which potentially feeds into the harbor.  It was another promised chore!

 

Annual Report time……..  Alice and Ann tackled it last year.  Deadline is January 18th.  Alice will do it alone and will e-mail it to everyone for their approval. 

 

Next meeting: January 11 at 4:30pm. Joint meeting with Economic Development Council (EDC).

 

Adjournment at 5:35 p.m.

 

Respectfully submitted,

Evelyn Gaudiano

Evelyn Rogers Gaudiano

 

Approved by ____________________________on   January 11, 2006.

                             Gerard Irmer, Chair