Waterways Commission

The Harwich Waterways Commission met three times over the past year (Mar 1, Aug 30, and Nov 30) to deal with matters at hand. On November 30^th, I was made chairman of the Commission and I would first like to thank Charles Beggs for his direction on governing the Commission for the last year and a half. As a new member to the Committee, I hope that I can be direct and impartial, but most importantly support the mission of the Commission to be as fair as possible and back-up the Harbormaster when it comes to debatable issues and interpretation of regulations.

An important matter that the Commission determined non-debatable was a challenge concerning the transfer of a commercial slip from one generation to the next. Harry Hunt Jr. whose father had fished from Wychmere Town dock since the late 1960's was denied the transfer of the permit based upon regulations which read: "as with any non-titled or rented property slip, rentals cannot be passed through partnerships or willed to the next generation. A fair and equal system of waiting lists shall be maintained by the Harbormaster for the assignment of vacated spaces". This decision to uphold regulations was also backed up by the Board of Selectmen. This regulation is in place as a pledge by the Town to guarantee the publics right of access to municipal dockage and moorings. As a result, many of our fishermen and sons of fishermen are renewing their names on the waiting lists as there is no assurance that they would be able to simply take over the family business otherwise.

The Commission in March, voted to keep the recently sold vessel MISS JULIE berth on the south side of the Town Pier open to ease offloading pains at the harbor. The Selectmen had also heard from several voters and were in favor of keeping the berth open for offloading. We also confirmed the Harbormasters recommendation to relocate the SEA HOUND from Saquatucket Harbor to another vacated berth at Wychmere dock. A recommendation for a 3% increase in dockage fees was turned-down by the Board of Selectmen.

There were a number of issues bubbling around in the Waterways pot which we may or may not wrestle down in the coming year. These include more clearly defining the standard operating procedures to insure that all approved proposals be reduced to writing. Some of these are: set pre-qualification for certain waiting lists; define acceptable levels of ownership when it comes to partners in the vessel; define permits and qualifications for permits; fuel lease qualifications/town operation of fuel area.

The Town must be responsive to ingress and egress in its harbors and issues in the near future, as Allen Harbor will weigh heavily. The Town needs to repair the west breakwater and dredge the inner harbor without question. This plan is getting negative responses from the Cape Cod Commission, EPA and Federal Wildlife agencies, when they should have given their approval blessing sometime ago. This project, the longer it is delayed, will have a severe impact on the adjoining lands and seashore including siltation of existing shellfish beds, something which occurs each time a boat moves in the shallow harbor. There seems to be an avenue defined as "a fine line interpretation of the laws", when in fact all concerned parties should be working toward the successful completion of this rebuilding project.

The aforementioned paragraphs are just a "small shell in the ocean" that the commission is faced with. To face all matters requires, study, discussion and approval of matters brought before this commission prior to recommendation to the Board of Selectmen. This delegation has as in the past maintained a good rapport with the Board of Selectmen and will continue to due so in the future. We believe successful conclusions are achieved through good communication.

Respectfully,

Michael Cienava, Chairman

Charles Beggs

Robert Pistel

Lee Scarbrough

Fred Clancy

Alan McMullen

William Myers

Ted Barrett, Finance Committee Representative