Waterways Commission Meeting
Harwich, Massachusetts
Meeting March 19, 2002
(Town Hall Library Room)
MINUTES
Members: Charlie Beggs, (Acting Chairman) Eric Winer, Lee Scarbrough and Allan McMullen
Others: Paul Donovan, Harry Hunt, Ted Barret (Finance Committee Representative) and
Bruce Gibson (Candidate for Selectmen)
Open Meeting : Charlie Beggs opened the meeting at 5:02 PM
The Minutes for the
previous meeting, held on March , 2002
were not available.
New Business:
Discussion about the nomination and election of a new Chairman of the Waterways was discussed. Acting Chairman, Charlie Beggs indicated that Matt Hart was interested in becoming the new Chairman, and he asked if any other members on the Waterways Commission were interested in being nominated. There were no other names presented.
Matt Hart indicated that he was willing and interested in the position and that he believed he could bring a balance to the board as far as a moderator and chairman.
Eric Winer nominated Matt Hart and that was seconded by Lee Scarbrough. The vote was unanimous in favor of Matt Hart becoming the new Waterways Commission Chairman. The decision was made that Charlie Beggs would continue as acting chairman for the remainder of this meeting and that Matt Hart would begin as the chairman at the next Waterways Commission Meeting on Tuesday April 2, 2002.
Slip or Mooring is to be used for the personal and sole
use of the slip or mooring holder
There was extensive discussion about slip assignments,
including how they were assigned and about the actual use of the boat assigned to that
respective slip. The “not allowing”
an individual not listed as the majority owner of the boat and /or assigned the
slip was discussed again. The discussion, including non-members of the
commission, lasted about an hour, with no conclusion. The acting chairman asked
for a decision about how the commission wanted to deal with the applications
that were in un-opened folders on the table.
A motion was made by Matt Hart and seconded by Alan
McMullen that:
“The
Application Files in question be held until the next meeting (
The vote was (4) in
favor of the motion and (1) abstention (Alan McMullen).
Charley Beggs instructed each
individual to create a phrase or sentence, that would
describe in more detail the “Personal and Sole Use” statement that is presently
in the regulations. This expanded description will be discussed and approved by
the commission at the next meeting prior to the discussion of the slip
assignment applications provided by the Harbor Master.
There was a recommendation for the addition of a
“Description” section in the Waterways Regulations where items such as Sole Use, Sole User and Personal use of a slip or mooring could be
listed and described was generally agreed to (no motion was made).
Dry
Winter Storage of boats in the town owned Saquatucket Harbor parking lot
Ted Barret addressed the board on the discussion the
previous evening at the Board of Selectmen’s meeting about the potential and
possibilities of Winter Dry Storage of boats in the town’s Saquatucket Harbor
parking lot. There were many comments about regulations, in and out dates,
paint pollution and fees. The consensus of the board that a more formal
discussion needed to include Tom Leach, the Harbor Master before any decisions
or suggestions could be made. It was generally decided to make this discussion
area part of the next meetings agenda.
OLD
BUSINESS
Miss
Julie Situation, on the Agenda for Board of Selectmen ?
There was some discussion by members of the board and
attendee Harry Hunt about the process to complete the “Miss Julie” situation.
Alan McMullen indicated that the decision was supposed to have been presented
to the Board of Selectmen, but he was not sure if it had been scheduled or
handed back to the Harbor Master. Alan accepted the assignment of meeting with
the town administrator, Wayne Melville to determine the status of the situation
and report back to the Waterways Commission with a suggested solution to the
situation.
(ed. Note.
Mike Cienava has a copy of correspondence
dated Novemeber 2001 sent to the Board of Selectmen
for their action. He does not know why it was delayed. He also provided Wayne
Melville with another copy of the correspondence during the February meeting.)
2
Year No-Use Rule for both Moorings and Slips
The next area of discussion surrounded the present
regulation that an individual assigned a mooring cannot leave it open for more
than two years, but there is no such restriction on a slip. The comment was
made that the town benefits from the additional income of these open slips
because the individual assigned a slip or mooring still has to pay the yearly
slip fee, and then the town can rent the slip or mooring for a daily fee. The
question as to this being fair to the individuals on the waiting list was discussed.
The statement was made that: “One individual from
The general consensus (but not a motion), was that more
discussion needed to take place about the “Open Slip – Mooring” regulation at
the next meeting that would include input of the Harbor Master.
Next Meeting will be at
ADJOURNMENT
Motion to adjourn by Matt Hart, seconded by Eric Winer. Meeting adjourned at 6:30 PM