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News/Events - Meeting Minutes

TOWN OF SCITUATE MASSACHUSETTS

WATERWAYS COMMISSION MEETING

February 11, 2009

MEMBERS PRESENT: John Murphy, Vice Chair; Mark Patterson, Harbormaster; Steve Smith; Geoff Gaughan; Bill Schmid; Peter Toppan. ALSO PRESENT: Bob McHugh and Fran McMillen, Associate Members.

1. In the absence of Chairperson Howie Kreutzberg, Vice Chairperson John Murphy called the meeting to order at 7:20 PM at the Little Red Schoolhouse on Cudworth Lane.

2. Mr. Schmid made a MOTION to accept the revised Minutes of the January 7, 2009 meeting as written, Mr. Gaughan SECONDED the motion, all were in favor and the motion passed unanimously 6-0.

3. Harbormaster’s Report. Mr. Patterson reported that the dredge project began and ended on time, the post-dredge report looks good, the digging portion is completed and successful. Re possible impact on moorings, some may have been impacted, more fieldwork is needed to assess any possible impacts. Mr. McMillen said that there is a large area where there are now no moorings, winter logs may have been picked up.

Mr. Patterson reported that he visited Turn Harbor Marina in Weymouth that has a similar configuration to the one at the SMP.

He said that someone wants to donate a bench for the Scituate Marine Park (SMP), she has looked at granite benches at Swenson. Mr. Smith said that he will research benches, he recalled that settling on a standard design for the benches had been discussed. There was a discussion about the upland portion of the park, Mr. Toppan had volunteered to chair, Mr. Murphy said that a landscape architect would be nice to have onboard as well.

Mr. Patterson reported that on February 17 Laura Harbottle, the Town Planner, is having a meeting at Harbor Travel with merchants in the Harbor business area to discuss the Harbor Management Plan (HMP) and any possible Chapter 91 plans that businesses may have that might impact the HMP. Mr. Murphy mentioned the need for a dinghy dock.

Mr. Patterson also said that the Harbormaster’s office will have a table at the upcoming Kayak Expo at Norwell Middle School on March 21.

There was a discussion about the dock next to the Harbormaster’s office on Cole Parkway that has the fueling station on it. Mr. Murphy said that the owner requested another 200 foot coil for fuel and the SFD denied the request because of various safety reasons. He also said that it appears that the owner is attempting to upgrade the area, he appears to want to get new docks, and this is a good thing.

Mr. Smith asked about old docks that may be available that might be used in the ramp area behind the bowling area. Mr. Patterson said that this would be worth exploring.

4. Old Business. A. SMP Update. Mr. Murphy said that all four walls are up now and a private contractor has been hired to put up the roof, it is a challenging job and can be done while the VoTech students are on vacation this week. The cost of the roof without the shingles will be $5500. Mr. Toppan asked if the job had been put out to bid, Mr. Patterson said that he believed that three bids are necessary for work over $5000. Mr. Murphy said he thought that a number of bids had been obtained. Tom Gaffey has donated the roofing materials and he will also put them up. Regarding shingles for the siding, vinyl would be donated or cedar shingles would have to be purchased. Mr. Murphy said that they will bring this matter up to the Design Review Committee but that they are leaning toward the vinyl shingles, they are no maintenance and they look good. Mr. Smith suggested getting samples.

Re the front doorway, copper is being discussed for the frame as a curved design is being used, with lighthouses on either side. The VoTech students are working on a design and the metalworking shop will do the metal frame.

Decking and railing is still being looked at. There was a discussion about the cement, Mr. Toppan said that he has a three-bag mixer and Mr. Murphy said that he can ask Concrete Express about the cement, the owner has kept a boat in the Harbor for many years, he may be willing to contribute something toward the project.

Mr. Murphy talked about the trench that can be used for the water and for the electric conduit, Granite City Electric and Joe Callis have been involved. There was a discussion about piping. The hydrant will be moved over to the building. There will be a shutoff so that the water to the building won’t have to be shut off if the water to the hydrant needs to be shut down.

Re the boat that was moved in the boatyard, Mr. Patterson said that he will be the contact with Wally Foster going forward.

Sewer and water will be put in shortly, Mr. Murphy has informed the Conservation Commission and the Sewer Department.

There was a discussion about the electric service to the building and the marina.

There was a discussion about the Open Space Plan and that Mr. Patterson spoke with Ms. Harbottle about this, she said it is a time-consuming process and it is still being worked on.

Mr. Gaughan mentioned the Steamboat Wharf Marina boatyard lease and said that it is very well done, it is very thorough and that we could use some of these ideas in our lease. He mentioned the environmental compliance section, appropriate conduct of employees, etc, it would not be hard to take entire sections and drop them into our lease. Mr. Murphy suggested looking at this as a committee at a later date.

Travel lift: Mr. Patterson said that the RFP may go out in March.

B. Harbor Management Plan/G.Gaughan. Mr. Gaughan said that he received some good feedback from Dick Eckhouse. He also mentioned the feedback he received from Jason Burtner at CZM and that he is going to work on making it more user friendly. February 25 will be the next public meeting. He said that a municipal plan would be the most useful. Mr. Patterson said that it would be useful to have a clean draft at Town Meeting on April 13.

5. New Business. A. Review Plans Proposed Pier and Float Mod South River, 7 Berry Lane. Several WWC members said that they made a site visit and that it appears that the pier extends very nearly into the middle of the channel. Mr. Patterson said that he feels that extending it would be a hazard to navigation. He said that he has the DEP Chapter 91 application and that he will write to them in protest of the application. Mr. Toppan made a MOTION to recommend to the Selectmen that they write to DEP in protest of the application, Mr. Smith SECONDED the motion, all voted in favor and the motion passed unanimously 6-0. The deadline for comment is March 6. Mr. Murphy suggested also bringing these plans to the attention to the Marshfield Harbormaster and Marshfield Yacht Club as the project would impact them as well.

B. Boat Show. Mr. Patterson said that July 31-August 2 are tentative dates for a Classic Boat Show in Scituate. Envisioned: 20-25 boats, exhibitors, tents; a Friday night reception, boat show on Saturday, dinner on Saturday night. The idea for this event had been brought up several WWC meetings ago. He suggested taking the idea to the Chamber of Commerce for their support and then taking it to the Board of Selectmen. Mr. McMillen said that some boat owners get paid to bring their boats to such boat shows so it is something to watch out for.

Mr. Murphy suggested visiting the Boat Show being held in Boston this weekend to have a look at docking and get some information together. Mr. Patterson said he is going on Wednesday and welcomed anyone who wanted to join him.

Re Heritage Days: Mr. Murphy said that someone new will be running it this year and that they will be looking at scaling back some of the vendors etc as it has become too crowded in the Harbor business district.

Mr. Patterson mentioned the possibility of kayak storage at SMP. He suggested a fee comparable to that charged for dinghy storage, c. $250. There was a question about the Recreation Department’s Sailing Program.

Price for transient tieups: Mr. Patterson said that the price has not gone up in some time, he recommends it be raised from $2 to $3 per foot overnight. He suggested looking at charging people an hourly fee, c. $10 with a four-hour maximum, for those tying up for a short time. There would be no charge for the first half hour. There was a discussion about this. It was agreed that people expect to pay something when they are tying up. Mr. Murphy suggested $20 for three hours. Mr. Toppan suggested reviewing this again at the next WWC meeting.

Boat US discounts: Mr. Murphy said that Mr. Kreutzberg had mentioned looking into this for visibility and promoting Scituate. Mr. McMillen said that the Harbor is already saturated on summer weekends.

There was a discussion about the possible impact of the economic situation and fuel prices on the summer in the Harbor.

Mr. Smith brought up dredging needed in Herring River. There was a discussion about who is responsible for the area. The NSRWA might know.

The deadline for bids on the RFP for the boatyard is March 25.

The next meeting was scheduled for March 4, 2009.

6. Mr. Toppan made a MOTION to adjourn the meeting at 9:00 PM, Mr. Smith SECONDED the motion, all were in favor and the motion passed unanimously 6-0.

Respectfully submitted,

Jean Martin