Waterways Commission Meeting

REGULAR MEETING

Harwich, Massachusetts

Community Center Room #5

 

MINUTES—November 16, 2004

Meeting Called to Order 7:05 PM

 

Members Present:  Paul Donovan Chairman, Murray Johnson, Bill McShane, Matt Hart, Lee Scarbrough

 

Members Absent Fred Clancy (excused)

 

Other Attendees:  Tom Leach (Harbormaster), Dan Lowery Ren Nichols, Craig LeBlanc, Ed Conway, Skipper Lee, Charlie Beggs

 

MINUTES READ:  October 19, 2004 – Matt Hart motion to accept. Murray Johnson second. Action- Passed unanimously

 

COMMUNICATIONS:

1.       E-mail from Harbormaster concerning additional boat yard moorings to be added to the Boat Yard Transient Moorings. A vote by the Committee is needed before the Board of selectmen will take action.

MOTION: by Murray Johnson……. as said in Sec. 3.8 of the Harwich Harbor Management Plan, the Harwich Waterways Committee recommends that the Board of Selectmen increase the Transient Moorings up to the allowable number specified by the Harbor Management Plan, as available.

Second: Matt Hart

Action: passed unanimously

 

HARBORMASTER ITEMS:

1.       110 letters of Mooring Permit Revocation were sent to mooring permit holders, stating that the mooring was not used as required by the Harwich Harbor Management Plan, or not inspected as required by the HMP. Chairmen stated that the Dec. 21 meeting would address anticipated appeals.

2.       Mentioned dredging plan done by Coastal Engineering, for Harwich Port Boat Works.

3.       Change in State Laws, that local governments cannot treat non-resident mooring holders different, from residents. The fee cannot be different. All monies from Mooring Permits are supposed to go into a Waterway’s Improvement Fund, which a town must create if a fee is collected for a mooring.

4.       Harbormaster showed an aerial photograph or Round Cove area, showing erosion of barrier beach and shoaling of entrance to Round Cove. He has discussed dredging the entrance, with the County Dredge and re-nourishing the beach north of the entrance. He has been in contact with Wequasett Inn, owners of the beach as far as funding to re-stabilize the beach area.

5.       Dredging of the entrance to Allen Harbor, by the county dredge has been completed. 12,000 cubic yards of sand removed out to the #2 Buoy and placed on beaches to the west of the harbor.

 

OPEN FORUM: NONE

 

APPEALS: NONE

 

OLD BUSINESS: None

 

NEW BUSINESS:

                       1.Allow the use of alternate Mooring Servicing Agent

                         Motion: by Murray Johnson ……recommend to the Board of Selectmen that the words “and alternates” be added to the definition MOORING SERVICING FIELDS, in the second sentence after mooring servicing agent.

 

Mooring Servicing Fields:  The mooring servicing fields are defined as follows: Allen Harbor; Wychmere Harbor (inner and outer); Pleasant Bay; Round Cove; Herring River.  All mooring servicing fields shall be assigned a mooring servicing agent and alternates after a public process.  In the event of a dispute between a mooring permit holder and a mooring servicing agent, the Harbormaster may elect to provide required mooring services, at fair market value and at the expense of the mooring permit holder.

                                                                           ……. also recommend that the Board of Selectmen amend the Harbor Management Plan Sec. 3.10 Mooring Hardware, Installation and removal. By adding the following sentences to the fifth paragraph, after the words “agent’s servicing area”

and strike the word “the” and add the words “a Harwich” to the next sentence.

HMP SEC 3.10 Paragraph 5

Where a mooring servicing agent has been assigned to be responsible for a particular geographic area, that agent shall be responsible for the hauling of the mooring, the inspection of all mooring hardware, and the correct placement of the mooring, within the agent’s servicing area.  An alternate Harwich mooring servicing agent may be used upon coordination with the primary mooring servicing agent and the Harbormaster to perform the services for the hauling of the mooring, the inspection of all mooring hardware and the correct placement of the mooring, within the primary mooring servicing agent’s area.  Fees will be charged to the mooring holder by both the primary mooring servicing agent and the alternate if an alternate is used.  All permit holders shall use the a Harwich mooring servicing agent for the inspection of all moorings in an area where a Mooring Servicing Agent has been assigned.  An individual may place his/her own mooring under the direct supervision of the mooring servicing agent responsible for that area.  The mooring servicing agent may charge a fee for this service.

 

(The intent is that all Mooring Servicing Agents are alternates for anywhere in town.)

                            Second: by Matt Hart

                            ACTION: Passed unanimously

                          2. WWC recommends amendment to HMP by creating the definition

             Boating Season

Boating Season:  The boating season shall be defined as the Friday of Memorial Day weekend through the Monday of Columbus Day weekend.

 Motion: By Murray Johnson

 Second: by Lee Scarbrough

Action: passed unanimously

                           3. WWC recommends that the HMP be amended by creating the definition Board boats

Board Boats:  Vessels that may be carried on car-tops which are but not limited to kayaks, canoes, dinghies, sunfish, sailfish, windsurfers, sailboards, rafts, etc.

Motion: by Murray Johnson

Second: by Lee Scarbrough

Action: passed unanimously

                            4. WWC recommends amending HMP 3.9 Mooring Forfeiture by adding the following words in red and striking the words “calendar year

 3.9       Mooring Forfeiture

 

Due to the demand for moorings in the waters off of Harwich, failure to substantially occupy a mooring during the calendar year will constitute forfeiture of the mooring on January 1st of the following year.  The owner of a mooring which is forfeited will be eligible to request a position on the waiting list.  Substantial occupancy shall mean a minimum of 30 days of mooring time during the calendar year boating season (ref. Definitions) by the boat registered to occupy the mooring.  “Board boats” shall not be considered as vessels that satisfy “substantial occupancy” (Ref Definitions).

   Motion: by Murray Johnson

   Second: by Lee Scarbrough

  Action

                         

ADJOURNMENT: Motion to adjourn at 9.10 PM

Next Meeting Dec. 21, 2004 Community Center Rm. #1 at 7PM