Provincetown
Public Pier Corporation (PPPC)
Town Hall
Auditorium
Present: Lee Ash, John Baldwin, George Hitchcock and Paul DeRuyter
Excused Absences: Chip Bradish
Other Attendees: Rex McKinsey, Pier Manager, John Davidson, PPPC Admin
Paul DeRuyter called the meeting to order at 4:04PM.
Annual Public Hearing on PPPC Performance
Public Statements
Joe Francis,
Gave Ice Machine history, complaining why it has taken 1.5 years for ice machine. Stated excessive cost going to New Bedford for ice. Joe wants to know why machine is off all the time. The cost of shoveling ice is both financially and physically draining. It is not the pier manager’s job to make ice, HM staff is not turning ice machine on. It’s 2005 and we still have to shovel ice. Fall is here and the good fishing months are now past. Feels that non-essential pier issues (benches-transportation center) have taken precedence over other more important pier priorities.
Paul DeRuyter: No excuse for the ice machine not working, The PPPC did not have a signed lease with the town until July 1st, 2005. The PPPC were interim caretakers. Hands were tied until the agreement was signed. The PPPC took over the operation that Profish started with ice machine. One of the main problems was that the power was insufficient. Reassess power needs and implement changes.
Joe Francis experienced the same lease issues with Profish and stated: Why would the PPPC want the ice machine.
Paul DeRuyter: Wants to talk until Joe has heard enough. Let’s not look behind but forward. Wants Joe Francis to leave satisfied knowing that we have heard him.
Lee Ash: Grant for transportation paid for the benches/transportation center. The board has many other issues that were inherited. The PPPC is coming out from behind the 8 ball. Not all other priorities have been taken care of either at this time.
George Hitchcock: I’ve been hollering for a year about the ice machine.
Phil Taves: Let’s get it done.
Rex McKinsey gave update on ice machine status, test run scheduled for Monday after Arty of Quahog Electric gets the motors hooked up.
Lee Ash: Why was the ice machine switch left off?
Rex McKinsey: Needed to have room for Wesly Miederos to work.
Paul DeRuyter: This pier is not run by government-minded employees, it is a quasi corporation and will try to operate as a business.
Joe Francis: How often are other public statements made?
Rex: Complete board changeover kept the ice machine project behind by 6 month’s. Storage capacity: 10 tons can make 8+tons per day.
Joe Francis: Ice machine needs to make at least 20 tons of ice daily. Wants an automated computerized ice machine.
Rex: Bigger ice plant within the existing building.
Joe Francis: Offloading system bothers him. Offloading building? Not a lot of money in fishing any more with costs increasing.
Paul DeRuyter: What recommendations could Joe or whomever suggests making fishing more profitable.
Paul DeRuyter: Identify economic engines for the pier, Profish input needed.
Joe Francis: There are two set of fishing economics: guys who go out themselves and other fisherman with crews that are businesses and need quantity to make money.
Phil Taves: Looking at ice machines on the Internet: lease purchase possibilities, can the PPPC enter into these types of arrangements.
Paul DeRuyter: Let’s get what we have up and running as currently designed.
Joe Francis: Past experience in looking at cost of ice could not get it through the Profish group.
Paul DeRuyter; Need to service local fleet and meet their needs.
Albert Perry: town needs an ice machine, too physical to shovel ice.
Received written comments from Marty Huey.
Public Statements are closed per Paul DeRuyter at 4:31 PM
Meeting Minutes
A motion was moved
to accept the minutes for the meeting of 9/8/05
Moved by: George Hitchcock Seconded by: Lee Ash Yea: 3 Nay: 0 Abstain: 1
Directors
Statements
George: Wants ice machine going. We should make at least 20 tons a day. We are missing out on a lot of money by not making enough ice to sell. We really need something to encourage the day fisherman to use the ice.
John Baldwin: Agrees with George Hitchcock, lets move beyond history, time has come to make ice.
Lee Ash: No comment
Paul DeRuyter: Copy of letter to Rex (storm). Follow-up on last meeting in regards to a challenge to the appropriateness of last meeting/vote.
Read letter to David Flowers/Robin Reid see attached.
George Hitchcock: Felt pressured to vote last meeting. Did not want to hold up businesses from moving forward.
Lee Ash: Did best that we could.
George Hitchcock: We can’t say no to money.
Paul DeRuyter; Need to balance use of pier, don’t allow too much of one thing: supply vs. demand
Lee Ash: Feels that we need to ask more people what they think of large party’s on the pier.
Paul DeRuyter; October 24th Master Plan: referred to tickler list. Begin meshing our goals with other boards/commissions. What can the pier do that speaks to economic development.
Wants the board to think about economic engines in reference to the town as a whole.
Pier Manager Report:
Referred to Master Planning Process Document:
1) Board needs to be thinking up ideas and such to bring to the table at the all day meeting. Open your minds and bring out the possibilities. There are limits to what we can do: physically and accommodate the competing uses.
2 Harbor/Pier regulations
Joint meetings w/ harbor committee, Paul DeRuyter NO.
Staff recommendations
Rates (see master plan doc.)
Paul DeRuyter: We will not manage harbor by committee.
Review of Tickler List
Paul DeRuyter: explanation of financial info. FY O4 done, Reconciled bank account for FY 05
George Hitchcock: Night watchman should be hired. Homeland security money?
Lee Ash: Thought that we were going to hire a watchman as well.
Paul DeRuyter: Defer security to a later discussion.
Rex McKinsey: 1st step for Homeland grant is getting the security audit.
Back to Master Plan doc
3) Staff to Board Communications
Rex McKinsey: Weekly Report
Lee Ash: Not necessary from Rex to provide more than the current Pier Manager’s Report, hard for Rex to delegate. How are you delegating?
John Baldwin: Agrees w/Lee, the tickler is enough; current interests are there, wants reports on out of the ordinary events.
George Hitchcock: The person hired for this position (harbormaster/pier manager) would be in the office more and that more of the daily work load would be delegated to staff. He should be doing more economic development. Job assignments should be created to go with the particular needs of the pier, janitor/boaters/handy man/traffic control. Assistant Harbormasters should not be the cleaners/painters. Wants Rex developing ways to increase revenue.
Paul DeRuyter; Communication every two weeks is enough. What matters is producing results. The board looks to Rex to complete the tasks on the tickler. Would like him to develop more economic engines.
2 types of Boating Infrastructure Grants; Less than $100K state approved only anything over $100K you compete nationwide.
Handicap accessible gangway 1st then build of there.
Paul DeRuyter made a motion that the board has directed the pier manager to reschedule police training to February under the condition that the workflow and priorities of the pier manager are not interrupted.
Paul DeRuyter withdraws the motion.
Paul DeRuyter will clarify with the town to see if Rex’s police training is mandatory. And will talk about it next time.
Lee Ash: Is there a yearly maintenance checklist?
RM: Yes, Will Provide
Rex McKinsey to Police Academy
:
George Hitchcock; Feb 2nd
John Baldwin: Feb 2nd
Lee Ash: Feb 2nd
Paul DeRuyter: Rate matrix as an agenda item before 11/10 meeting for CPI.
Paul DeRuyter; Two quick items:
1) Flex Route bus program; transportation center by buses/ties in w/pier. See e-mail from Rex.
George Hitchcock volunteered to be liaison for the above.
2) Move review tickler to be right after minutes.
A motion was made to adjourn the meeting @ 6:00 pm
Moved by: George Hitchcock Seconded by: John Baldwin Yea: 4 Nay: 0
Minutes Respectively
Submitted by
John Davidson
PPPC Administrative Assistant
________________________________________________ ________________________________
Paul DeRuyter, Chair Date