WATERWAYS
COMMISSION MEETING
Community
Center,
Called to order at…7:
Members Present:
Members Absent: Fred
Clancy (excused),
Other Attendees: Peter Hughes (Board of Selectmen), Cyd Zeigler (Board of Selectmen), Rene Reed (Assistant Town Administrator), Ted Barrett, tom Leach (Harbormaster)
Minutes Read:
OLD BUSINESS: none
NEW BUSINESS:
1. Harbor Management Plan Draft by Board of Selectmen presented by Peter Hughes and Cyd Zeigler. After complaints from the public and a report from the Massachusetts Inspector General, the BOS instructed the Waterways Commission to look into the mooring regulations in the Harbor Management Plan and address the concept of FAIR and Equitable regarding the distribution and assignment of moorings in the town. After many meetings the Waterways Commission presented ideas to the BOS. After two public hearings, Selectmen Hughes and
Zeigler wrote a new draft version of the Harbor Management Plan. This was presented to the Commission.
The selectmen had questions for the WWC about some items in the document, as to whether they belong, such as:
1. Storm preparations
2. Dredge cycles
3. Oil Spill Contingency plan
4. Freedom contract: The BOS and Freedom signed an agreement the first year, but not there after. The Harbormaster, after failed attempts to getting Mr. McMullen’s signature, put the contract contents in the Harbor Management Plan. Selectman Hughes said something had to be done to get this signed. Selectman Zeigler said this has to be done.
The new version uses all moorings except the few Special Purpose Transient assigned to Boat yards, Yacht Clubs, Boat Rental Business by the Board of Selectmen come from a single Waiting List, administered by the Harbormaster.
To be on the list, one has to be 18 years of age.
Except for the Special purpose mooring, no person or business can have more than two in number of slips and or moorings assigned to them.
Mooring Service Agent with approval of BOS can inspect, set, and pull, moorings in an assigned area.
Commission Member Scarbrough pointed out the insurance requirement will eliminate the “small guy” from the mooring business.
A number of questions about the document brought up by members were actually items that have been on the document for a number of years. Mr. Hughes pointed out that the Waterways Commission would get the document back after approval by the BOS, to clean up and address items that don’t belong in the document. Conversation was busy, questions numerous, but in the end the BOS reps. and Waterways Commission Members agreed that the document was acceptable.
Motion: Endorse the document as presented with changes
from tonight’s Meeting. By
Vote: passed unanimously
Motion: adjournment by
Next meeting