Harwich Waterways Commission Meeting

January 16, 2001

Minutes

 

 

Members Present : Charlie Beggs,  Alan McMullen, Eric Winer, Lee Scarbrough

 

Excused:  Fred Clancy

 

Others: Ted Barrett, Tom Leach, Paul Donovan, Martin Moran.

 

Call to Order: Matt Hart in the absence of Chairman Cienava volunteered too chair this meeting and called the meeting to order at 1725 when a quorum finally arrived.

 

Dock Presentation

Matt Hart invited Martin Moran to present a dock plan for review by the Waterways Commission. Mr. Hart as a new member to the Commission said that he was unclear about the standards of the Commission when it comes to this dock review thing. Matt insists that the meeting should be operated as a public hearing with regard to advertising and notice. Reluctantly, he opened this “hearing”.

 

Martin Moran presented the plan of Daniel Keefe at Chase Street on Herring River. The plan is to add a dock and float to an existing bulkhead. The dock portion will extend out ten feet and the gangway and float will extend an additional 22’ for a total of 32’ into the river. The owner plans to tie-up a 25’ boat to the outer end. The float is 10’x8’ and will be held by two 3” pipe piles.

 

Mr. Moran said that there is a 4’ clearance beneath the pier but a stairway is provided for public access. This proposal is one property south of the Ferrantino dock.

 

Matt Hart wondered why the engineer did not propose going the other route of dredging next to the bulkhead and taking advantage of the generous bulkhead space. Perhaps this answer lies in the question of oyster bed. Charles Beggs thought that this question would be discussed at the Shellfish meeting in the future.

 

Lee Scarbrough said he believes the far shore needs to be shown with the plan to satisfy questions in the Dock & Pier By-Law about clearance of the deep-water channel. The Harbormaster said he was also concerned about the size of the float being so small. Charles Beggs agreed this 8x10 is small but would be serviceable.

 

The Commission decided that more information was needed and to table the plan for now. They wanted to visit the site before the next meeting where they will take up the plan again on January 31st.

 

IS the Waterways Commission a Commission?

Matt Hart reported that he, with permission from Mike Cienava, approached the Town Administrator about research that he had been doing on the actions of Town Meetings over the years in the creation of the Waterways Commission. Matt felt that the actions of Town Meeting dictated that Waterways is truly a full commission with full autonomy. Mr. Melville has sent a letter on to the Town Counsel seeking a legal opinion about all this. Tom Leach said he was told by the Town Administrator that he had heard informally that the word “develop” or “development” that was used in the Town Meeting latest and most pertinent article brought into question the idea of whether or not the Commission was a rate/rule setting group or a recommending committee. Matt points out that no other committee has this kind of “work-up” by the Town Meeting that is not autonomous as the Golf Commission, the Cemetery Commission and the Water Department Commission to name a few, and the idea may be mired in the lack of enthusiasm of a few Selectmen to give the Waterways Commission power.

 

Articles

Mr. Hart took up the next item on the Agenda being a discussion of Articles for Town Meeting. A motion by Eric Winer to put forward two articles was seconded by Charles Beggs and voted unanimously.

 

To see if the Town will vote to raise and appropriate or transfer from available funds a sufficient sum of money to upgrade wiring and replace twelve (12) power centers at Saquatucket Marina and act fully thereon. By request of the Harbormaster/Natural Resources Director. Estimated cost: $ 13,000

 

To see if the Town will comply with the provisions of the Dept. of Revenue legal counsel letter 93-412 (5/24/93) and establish a Waterways improvement and Maintenance Fund from the Boat Excise Revenues as pertains to MGL Chapter 60B secs 1-5G. By request of the Waterways Commission.

 

 

(editorial note: The Harbormaster added to the list of articles based on prior Commission meetings the following two articles to bring the total to four. To see if the Town will vote to raise and appropriate or transfer from available funds a sufficient sum of money to replace the boating courtesy float at Allen Harbor and to act fully thereon. By request of the Harbormaster. Estimated cost: $ 8,000. To see if the Town will vote to make the clerk position at the Harbor full-time and appropriate a sufficient sum of money for this purpose and act fully thereon. By request of the Harbormaster.)

 

Reminder

The Waterways Commissioners need to visit the Keefe dock site again before the next meeting for background.

 

Next Meeting

The next meeting should be scheduled for January 31 at 5 PM.

 

Adjournment 

The meeting was adjourned at 6:35 PM.