Waterways Committee Meeting
TOWN OF HARWICH
WATERWAYS COMMITTEE
Harwich Fire House Conference Room
Wednesday,April 19, 2017
6:30 PM
MINUTES
Members Present: Mort Terry, Steve Root, Roger Peterson, Dan Casey, Joe Johnson, Matt Hart, Dan Hall, Jay Walpole & Tom Thermistos
Members Absent:
Others Present: John Rendon, Harbormaster; Bill Neiser, Deputy Harbormaster
Minutes: Motion made by Joe Johnson to approve the Minutes of March 15, 2017. Seconded by Dan Hall. 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). Revenues are tracking well.
Old Business:
- Saquatucket Waterside Project update given by the Harbormaster. The Army Corps of Engineers (ACOE) has provided a draft Suitability Determination to allow the disposal of the Saquatucket Harbor (SAQ) dredge spoils at the Rhode Island Sound Disposal Area as of April 17. There is now a 30 day public comment period on the dredging and the reconstruction before ACOE will give the project an approval/disapproval. It is hoped that there will be a positive decision by late May, leaving ample time to put the project out to bid with an anticipated start date by mid-October 2017.
- The final design for the SAQ Landside Project is completed and ready for Town Meeting.
New Business:
:
- The SAQ Landside project is on the Warrant for Town Meeting on May 1. The Board of Selectmen and the Finance Committee have given the project their full support. If the project is passed at Town Meeting, it will then be placed on the Ballot for the May 16 elections.
- Discussion about the new breakthrough and severe shoaling in the Chatham Harbor inlet and the impacts on the commercial fleet. The Harbormaster has been exploring options to provide assistance to the Chatham commercial fishing fleet if needed. Currently there is no permit that would allow a non-Harwich based vessel to unload or fuel up from June 1 to October 15. The Harbormaster will take no action unless formally requested to by the Chatham Harbormaster.
Monthly reports:
BOS: None
Harbormaster: Financial
Natural Resources: None
Correspondence: None
Next Meeting: Wednesday, March 21, 2017 at 1830 Harwich Fire Station
Adjournment: Motion by Tom Dan H Adjourn 7:28 pm. Seconded by Mort T.
Minutes transcribed by Bill Neiser, Board Secretary
Chairman: W. Matt Hart April 28, 2017
Signed:
The committee may hold an open session for topics not reasonably anticipated by the Chair 48 hours in advance of the meeting following “New Business.” If you are deaf or hard of hearing or a person with a disability who requires an accommodation, contact the Selectmen’s Office at 508-430-7513.