Harbor Committee

Meeting Minutes from

Wednesday July 5, 2006

Meeting Room A

Town Hall, 260 Commercial Street

Time: 4:30 pm

 

 

Members Present:            Kerry Adams (arrived at 5:05 p.m.), Heather Bruce, Gerard Irmer, and Philip Scholl

 

Members Absent:                     Mel Cote (excused absence)

 

Advisory Staff:              Rex McKinsey and Doug Taylor

 

REVISED AGENDA

 

The meeting was called to order at 4:33 p.m.

 

Review/amend/approve minutes of 5-17-06 and 6-21-06

Motion:  Approve the minutes of May 17, 2006 as amended.

Motion:  Heather Bruce   Seconded:  Phil Scholl  Vote:  3-0-0

 

Motion:  Approve the minutes of June 21, 2006 as amended.

Motion:  Heather Bruce   Seconded:  Phil Scholl   Vote:  3-0-0

 

Public Statements

There were none.

 

Unfinished Business:

Old Business:

· Review 2005 Amendments to the Harbor Plan status

A letter will be generated to the state re: the Harbor Plan.

Heather will complete a draft.

 

· Washington Ave. Town Landing Status

Nothing has happened.

 

· Good Templar Place Town Landing status

ConCom will handle.

 

· Beach cleaning machine status; Cape Cod Beachcomber est.

The estimate has been sent out by the company but has not been received.  Jerry will follow-up.  Heather said maybe we should contact other towns and see how they handle the problems in beach clean-up, i.e. organic can't be accepted for recycling, etc.  Heather also suggested asking local hotels how they get rid of it.

 

· Status of obtaining maps of the harbor

Jerry needs to follow through on this.  He said he was interested but waiting to hear about costs, etc.

 

New Business:

· Announcement - BoS joint meeting July 10 on Harbor Plan

The Harbor Committee (HC) has to have a quorum (at least 3 members of the Harbor Committee).  Rex said the action happening from joint meetings is that both boards are able to make motions and vote.  The Board of Selectmen want to address:  1.)  Harbor Plan status and 2.) mooring fees.  Rex advised the HC that  they’re going to have to move on the Harbor Plan status. 

 

Doug Taylor stated the case succinctly "let’s get this resolved" will be the issue. 

 

The discussion went on and on based on whether the rules should be taken literally or figuratively.  With everyone's input the discussion became cyclical.

 

Kerry Adams arrived about here in the meeting.

 

Doug Taylor, addressing Heather Bruce, said, "You have to boil this down to a one paragraph."

 

Rex indicated that the HC's strongest point is that you were promised amnesty and you feel the state reneged on the agreement.  Rex further advised that you have to have a set of bullet-points.  Briefly describe how that happened and keep in mind that you need a professional presentation.  Jerry, also cautioned, "don't get too technical, just state the year that something happened and don't cite the numbers, etc." 

 

Rex, still advising, suggested going back to Heather's original subcommittee and getting the correct tone for your presentation.  Take appendix B, for example,  – we can make some of the corrections and look at the site specifications and make it palatable. 

 

Jerry said you want to define the 1978 regs, the 1999 Harbor Plan had nothing to do with amnesty. 

Appendix A is the assessor’s list of waterfront properties.

Appendix B didn’t differentiate between amnesty or non-amnesty. 

Appendix C has quite a few problems.

 

Kerry said that if you want to bring the BoS on board with you, you have to help them understand this. 

 

Rex said, "Describe what the stalemate is – and if the BoS has questions - you should have ready answers.  The Harbor Plan is much larger than Chapter 91.  Beach cleaning is important, town landings, storm remediation and water quality.  And when you finish the BoS will be on board with you." 

 

Kerry kept hammering away, "What do we need from the BoS?"  (You have to tell the BoS – that we need their help – ask for a letter to the DEP.)

 

HB said we’d like their support because this will probably run into a legal affair. 

 

Rex seemed very concerned about the mooring fees.  He's pushing for sensitivity regarding the increases.

 

· Beach cleanup on July 5 review

It began at 9:a.m. – Jerry will send a thank you to the Sheriff’s office for the use of their prisoners.  And one to Marie, at Café Maria, and to Scott Campbell, the Asst Harbormaster.  They cleaned quite a few areas with the three people sent.  Lunch was provided by Café Maria.  Clean-up debris from the last clean-up at Gosnold Street was found still languishing there. 

 

Another clean-up in the fall?  Yet to be determined.

 

· Chapt. 91 license database status

It was agreed to invite Marty Huey to the next meeting in order to get an update on the Chapter 91 license database.

 

Waterways Application W96-9001-N     437-439 Commercial Street

Heather visited the property on Sunday with Phil Scholl.  Heather comforted the woman and assured her that the HC would support her thus……

Motion:  Send a letter to Lou Gitto stating that the Harbor Committee does not recommend public access to the beach through this property.

Motion:  Heather Bruce   Seconded:  Phil Scholl     Vote:  4-0-0.

 

Waterways Application W06-1600-N   49A Commercial Street

A letter was written to Lou Gitto on June 17, 2006 stating the HC's concern with the fact that the applicant is increasing the footprint of the residence into Commonwealth Tidelands by 128 sq ft.  The Committee felt that this was not necessary and the foot-print should be kept at 874 sq ft.

 

Waterways Application W96-6137-N and W04-1068-N  License # 11390

The HC had no great problems with these two applications since Frances John Santos is providing a walk-way to the beach and public restrooms.

 

Waterways Application W95-4741-N     371-373 Commercial Street

After a bit of discussion the following motion was made:

Motion:  The amnesty applicant is willing to provide public access; we therefore have no objection.

Motion:  Heather Bruce     Seconded:  Phil Scholl      Vote:  4-0-0.

 

Waterways Application W96-8240-N  77, 77A, 79 & 81 Commercial Street

Heather feels the HC needs more time to formulate an opinion.  She would like to talk to Ann Maguire, Harriet Gordon, and James O'Connor (the owners) to see what their feelings are. 

 

· Waterways Appl. W96-5023-N, 623 Commercial St.

This case and the next one had been previously discussed.

 

· Waterways Appl. W96-5984-N, 361C Commercial St.

See above.

 

· Any other business that shall properly come before the Committee

Heather Bruce wants water quality reports sent directly to the Harbor Committee for their information.  She was advised to contact the Health Agent and will do this.

 

Next meeting: August 2 in Town Hall at 4:30pm.

 

Adjournment happened at 6:10 p.m.

 

Respectfully submitted,

Evelyn Gaudiano

Evelyn Rogers Gaudiano

Approved by ____________________________on ______________, 2006.

                                    Gerard Irmer, Chair