Waterways Committee Meeting
TOWN OF HARWICH
WATERWAYS COMMITTEE
Harwich Fire Station Conference Room
Wednesday, December 23, 2016 6:30 PM
MINUTES
Call to Order: 6:39 pm
Attendance and Introductions:
Members Present: Steve Root, Tom Thermistos, Joe Johnson, Dan Hall, Mort Terry
Members Absent: Matt Hart, Dan Casey, Roger Peterson
Others Present: John Rendon, Harbormaster; Heinz Proft, Natural Resources Director; Bill Neiser, Deputy Harbormaster
MINUTES:
Review & Approval Motion made by Joe Johnson to approve the Minutes of November 16, 2016. Seconded by Tom Thermistos. Approved by all.
CONSENT AGENDA: Nothing this month
OPEN FORUM: Nothing this month
FINANCIAL REPORT YTD & Monthly:
Presented by the Harbormaster and Steve Root (Copy included with Minutes) Harbormaster noted that Winter Storage income is new income and will go toward the debt service on the SAQ reconstruction.
NEW BUSINESS:
(Order changed from the agenda at the request of John Rendon)
- Proposal for a 25’ overall cap on all new Mooring Permits in Herring River. Ref: (a) Harbor Management Plan.
Harbormaster explained that due to the limited space in the Herring River waterway that as permit holders increase the size of their boats it has become increasingly difficult to place moorings in a way that is safe for other boats on moorings and docks and for navigation. Proposed a 25’ maximum manufacture boat length on all new Herring River mooring permits and on any new boats of current permit holders.
2. Include current Allen Harbor mooring field 25’ boat cap in the HMP.
There is currently a 25’ maximum boat length in Allen Harbor; however, it is not stated in the HMP. Harbormaster intends to include Allen Harbor cap in the HMP. There was some discussion on whether a maximum limit was needed in any other mooring fields. Harbormaster stated that he did not feel it was necessary at this time.
Motion made by Mort Terry to have no objections with the plan as submitted to put a 25’ maximum manufacture boat length cap on all new Herring River moorings (Item 1) and also add the existing 25’ maximum manufacture boat length cap on Allen Harbor moorings to the Harbor Management Plan (Item 2). Seconded by Joe Johnson. Voting: 5-0-0
3. Update Saquatucket Landside Project:
Harbormaster met with the projects architects recently to review and discuss preliminary drafts of the landside project. All members present viewed the drafts with Harbormaster explaining what can and cannot be done in the conservation and velocity zones and the different lay-out options being considered. Final plans and a firm estimate should be ready for Town Meeting. There was a discussion about the possibility that some of the large passenger vessels may not want to use the on-site ticket offices. Harbormaster stated that the mandatory use of the ticket offices may be attached to the vessel’s Docking Permit.
OLD BUSINESS:
1. Saquatucket Marina Updates:
- Still pushing the need for timely approval from the Army Corp of Engineers. Along with the many justifications already sited is the deteriorating conditions on the Chatham bar forcing many commercial boats to relocate to Saquatucket and without approval we will lose slips and we already have a significant waitlist.
- Congressman Keating’s staff is currently drafting a letter in support of the project.
- The first round of testing done on the second set of core samples taken looks good, however there is still many more tests to be done.
MONTHLY REPORTS:
Board of Selectmen: Nothing this month
Harbormaster: Financial Report (above)
Natural Resource Officer:
Heinz Proft stated that 2017 Shellfish Permits were now available and also explained improvements that were recently made, with help from MA Division of Marine Fisheries, to the sluiceway between Hinckley’s and Long Ponds.
CORRESPONDANCE: Nothing this month
NEXT MEETING: Wednesday, January 18, 2017 at 1830 Harwich Fire Station
ADJOURNMENT: Motion by Tom Thermistos to adjourn at 1933, seconded by Mort Terry.
All members voting in favor.
Minutes recorded by Bill Neiser
Authorized Posting Officer: Posted By:
W. Matthew Hart WWC Chairman
Signed Date: Jan. 07, 2018