Provincetown Public Pier
Corporation (PPPC)
Judge Welsh Hearing Room
Members
present: Lee Ash, Len Clingham, and
George Hitchcock.
Members
absent: Kerry Adams and Phil Tarvers
Staff: Rex McKinsey (arrived
The meeting was called to
order at
Public Hearing
Pursuant to Chapter 13 of the Acts of
2000, the Provincetown Public Pier Corporation will conduct a public hearing
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Pier Events |
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Pier Events |
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July
4th Week |
Other
High Season |
Shoulder
Season |
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Large
Events |
$5000 |
$5000 |
$5000 |
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Pavilion
Events |
$1000 |
$1000 |
$1000 |
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Rate Classification |
Current |
Proposed |
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Trapshed space |
$5000 |
$5000 |
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Non-commercial Transient |
$2
per foot/night |
$3
per foot/night |
At their meeting on October 26, the Directors discussed
changing the rate structure for events on the pier to allow for pavilion
events, artist trapshed rates and rates for large yachts. As the board cannot adopt rates higher than
advertised, the rates for events and trapsheds are advertised at the highest
rate. The board may adopt these rates,
lower rates or take no action at the hearing.
Comments thereon may be submitted in writing to the Provincetown Public
Pier Corporation,
The Pier Corporation had
received one letter of support and no one in the audience had any comments –
thus the following motion was made:
A motion was made to approve
the rate structure as proposed by staff.
Staff Recommended Event Rate
Structure
Pier Events
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July 4th
Week |
Other High Season |
Shoulder Season |
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Large Events |
$5000 |
$2500 |
$1000 |
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Pavilion Events |
$1000 |
$500 |
$250 |
Motion: George Hitchcock Second: Lee Ash
Y: 3 N:
0
Jeff Johnson, captain of a
fishing vessel, and float owner 7W, said that he’s been down here for over 30
years and “you guys keep jamming the rates up to me.” He went on by saying that he thinks the Pier
Corp. fails to realize that that’s my float.
“If you guys want insurance why don’t you get it?” When he started it was very little for his
float space and now it’s $400.
A motion was made to approve the minutes of
Motion: Lee Ash Second: George Hitchcock
Y: 3 N: 0
Attorney Edward Patten began
a lengthy soliloquy in which he said would shed light on the historical developments
that brought us to this place. The
chair, Len Clingham, interrupted and asked him to state who he was
representing. At first he refused and
when Mr. Clingham insisted, Candace Nagle was identified as his client. Mr. Patten said that he may represent all the
float owners in the future.
Mr. Patten said that he had
been the attorney for the Float Association when License 4915 was
negotiated. At that point in time there
was no discussion about public or private and, in addition to that, economic times
were very different. The float license
fee was 50% of what it is now and some of them made profits from this; thus
subletting was a non-issue. A few
restrictions were placed on lease holders, i.e., no booze cruises, no
airplanes, etc. There was no
exclusion of recreational boating.
Attorney Patten said he was
not going to dwell on declines in fishing stocks, etc. He urged the Corporation to recognize that
the DEP in one of the sections of the lease talks about the improvement of
private enterprise. He concluded by
saying that the Corporation now has the ability to resolve whether there is a
right to rent float spaces to non-commercial vessels.
Rex McKinsey arrived at this
point from his mandatory training course - almost
Candace Nagle said that the
float owners have been invited to go before the BoS – but if we can’t find our
way here - she’s inclined to go before the BoS especially if you don’t feel you
have the authority to change the current rules.
Candace continued by saying
that we’re running businesses and depending on your timetable – what are we
supposed to do about advertising and renting? - You have this snail’s pace of
making decisions!
Vaughn Cabral, owner of float
space 2W – asked, “Why aren’t we notified as abutters of everything that’s
going on? I had no idea on what’s going
on with the courtesy float. We rent from
the Pier Corp. – and why as abutters - aren’t we notified? We’re talking about making money from our
floats.
C. Milliken – Dolphin fleet –
said that we’re tenants of the pier not really abutters and were grandfathered
with a 99 year license. We’re only
talking about meeting notifications of only 11 letters. Mr. Patten said that
the group just wants to be notified of anything that would affect them. Mr. Patten says that you’re not required to
do it – but it would be nice to do.
Candace N. said that at the
Pier Corp. meeting on Sept 13th – a sub-tenant application of hers came before
the Board and if she had known about it she would have come to the meeting;
something has to be done for us to conduct a business. Since she was a no-show at that meeting,
there was no decision made.
Jeff Johnson (7W) said that
Rex did send him a letter informing him about this meeting. He also read about $39K generated from the
ferry – so what happened to it? Answer: the Town keeps it. Jeff then asked, “So what are you doing to
raise money other than jacking my fee up every year?”
Rex said, “We’re renting out
events for the pavilion, etc.” He
continued by saying that by the time the Pier Corp. got to the table – most of
the restrictions were in place - we can get into events - we can sell ice and
these tenants were already in place.
With fishing restrictions the way they are today, we can’t even build a
building to bring in extra income.
Candace N. complained that
you don’t have the signage on the pier and it hurts our businesses.
Vaughn C. felt the expansion
of the courtesy float will affect his business and if he wants to get a whale
watch boat it will make the turning room very difficult. Vaughn continued saying that last summer a
boat was tied to the courtesy float for 2 days.
He went to the Harbormaster’s office and asked about it and was told
that “we can’t police everything.”
John Salvador said that he
has concerns as well – and he didn’t think the floats are being maintained as
well.
Rex said that the Pier Corp.
inherited the courtesy float and it’s about 20 yrs old. We already knew it needed maintenance and we
wanted to do it as inexpensively as possible since we’re waiting for a grant. When a repair is mandated he gets it
done! John Salvador has a float space
and when he asked for repairs to it, he was also asked how he intended to pay
for it.
Candace, once again,
threatened to meet with the BoS per their invitation. Suddenly Candace asked for a hand vote from
the float owners who felt their concerns were satisfied at today’s
meeting. Len C. said there would be no
vote taking at the meeting and if they wanted to do that they could hold their
own meeting.
Milliken of the Dolphin Fleet
said that he had two boats drag moorings and it will cost him $50K to make
appropriate repairs. In the past he’s
tied up to Barry Clifford’s and you guys lost over $40K by my doing this. He’s just asking you to put your heads
together and try to find a solution.
George
H. asked staff to give us an estimate to have mailings about meetings every two
weeks to the float owners. The meeting
on the petition ended on that note with thank-yous all around. Candace seizing the opportunity to have the
last word said, “Will the Pier Corp take the direction of the BoS so if the BoS
mandates something – you would take it seriously?”
A motion was made to support
the 604B grant application.
Motion: George Hitchcock Second: Lee Ash
Y: 3 N: 0
Len thanked Pru Sowers, the
reporter, and Kevin Mullaney, the photographer, for attending the meeting.
Adjournment
happened at
Respectfully
submitted
Evelyn Gaudiano
Approved
by____________________________________________________2007
Len Clingham, Chair