Waterways Commission Meeting

Harwich, Massachusetts

Community Center Room #3

MINUTES—June 15, 2004

Meeting Called to Order 7:14 PM

Members Present: Paul Donovan Chairman, Fred Clancy, Murray Johnson, Matt Hart

Members Absent Lee Scarbrough (excused), Eric Weiner, Bill McShane (excused)

Other Attendees: Tom Leach (Harbormaster), MEETING OPENED: 7:20pm @ Harwich Community Center Rm. #3

Called to order 7:14

MINUTES READ: May 25, 2004: Motion to Accept by Murray Johnson, with spelling corrections, seconded by Matt Hart, Motion carried unanimously

COMMUNICATIONS: None.

OPEN FORUM:

Report of Town Officials: Items from Harbormaster Tom Leach

1. Pump out boat uses: Massachusetts Division of Marine Fisheries sent letters to towns using state grant funded Pump out Boats, that they are to be used only as pump out boats, unless there is a dire emergency. They are not supposed to be used as patrol or workboats.

2. Pleasant Bay Cruising Club. Requesting Special Purpose Moorings in Pleasant Bay. Under the Harbor Management Plan the club does not meet the parking requirements. The WWC took no action, letting the appeal go to the Board of selectmen

3. Damaged trailer of James Manville: Letter to Harbormaster seeking money to repair boat trailer damaged while using Allen Harbor boat ramp. No action taken, since WWC does not have this power, also note the trailer does not have a Harwich Boat Ramp Pass, to legally use a Harwich Boat ramp. The letter to the Harbormaster mentioned Allen Harbor Marine service truck used.

4. Appeal from Wequasett Inn to install three transient moorings: These would be for the use of customers. Location is far from Town landing and Pleasant Bay Moorings. To approve this would be allowing moorings that do not come from the wait list. Appeal forwarded to the Board of selectmen.

5. Correspondence from Beach Committee: Bill Griswald sites erosion at Town Beaches, Earle Road, Pleasant Street. Wants to know dredging schedule, so that sand may be placed on these beaches.

6. Harbormaster assigning 4 moorings in Allen Harbor:

7. Chartering from trailered boats: There are boat charter operations operating from trailered boats at the boat ramps. Harbor Management Plan has no provisions for this.

Fred Clancy, “ We were supposed to have on the Ramp Pass application that chartering was not allowed”

There is a need for Fines in the Regulations For Boat ramps in the Harbor Management Plan.

There is a need to post no powering on to trailers at our Boat ramps, due to the washing away of sand at the edge of the ramps

8.

OLD BUSINESS:

1. Dredging Allen Harbor Channel: Permitting in process.

NEW BUSINESS:

1. Mooring /slip refund: John Koopman, Jr and Dorothy Dee have requested refunds of their mooring fees, since they have decided to give them up, after applying and paying for them. Discussion centered on, that the town does not refund unused dump or beach stickers.

Motion: by Matt Hart “ to recommend that there be no refunds of mooring permit.”

Second by Fred Clancy

Action: passed unanimously

2.Appeal to be returned to the waiting list: Mark Fox

Motion: By Fred Clancy to return Mr. Fox to the waiting list # 169

Second: by Matt Hart

Action: passed unanimously

3. Dredging Saquatucket Harbor Channel: Usually done every several years by U.S. Army Corps. Of Engineers dredge Currituck. This year the budget has been cut or diverted elsewhere. The Harbormaster has a meeting with Mark Forrest, aid to Congressman Delahunt, next week.

ADJOURNMENT: Motion to adjourn at 9:10

Next Meeting July 21, Community Center 7PM