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Hingham Harbor Development Committee
Meeting Minutes April 8, 2009
Meeting was called to order at 7:30 pm; a quorum was confirmed.
Committee Members Present:
Nick Amdur, David Beal, Robert Mosher, Alan Perrault, Adrienne Ramsey
Ken Corson, Deputy Harbormaster
Members Not Present:
Warren Nottleson
Other Speakers:
Bill Reardon, Ben Matthews, Brian Borchers, John Hersey
Kevin Paicos, Town Administrator
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Meeting called to order by Chairman Amdur at 7:30 pm.
Previous Meeting Minutes:
Minutes from the meeting of March 11, 2009 were reviewed. A. Perrault recommended a change
in the paragraph entitled “Parking at the Harbor”. The change was discussed and the change was
accepted. A. Perrault made a motion for approval of the minutes, seconded by R. Mosher. The
vote to approve the minutes was unanimous. The Committee Secretary will make the change in
the minutes and then redistribute to Committee members.
Dock and Pier Policy:
C. Daly gave an update on the status of the proposed warrant article to empower the
Conservation Commission to enact regulations for docks and piers.
At the Advisory Committee hearing on the warrant article the Advisory Committee voted to take
no action. The Advisory Committee felt that the DEP’s Small Docks and Piers document had the
force of law and that additional regulations for Hingham would be redundant. They also felt that
the issue needed to be “socialized” more to town residents, especially those with waterfront
properties or interests. The Advisory Committee felt that the warrant article could be readdressed
next year.
Based on the decision of no action, the Conservation Commission has withdrawn the warrant
article.
Whitney Wharf Fence:
N. Amdur advised that Vine Associates’ has approached Town Counsel to ask if the Town would
enter mediation on the issue of the fence. There are costs for the Town if they were accept the
offer mediation. The Board of Selectmen would have to make the final decision. Town Counsel
is now reviewing the proposal for mediation.
Harbor Parking RFP:
The need to continue discussion on the idea was discussed. The topic should be considered in
light of the potential Route 3A rotary removal. It recommended that other committees would ne
to be involved in the discussion.
Geese Control:
Ben Matthews has written a draft of a letter to the Board of Selectmen reviewing the issue and
recommending a number of potential solutions. It was recommended that copies of the letter also
be sent to the Trustees of the Bathing Beach, Harbormaster’s office and the Town Administrator.
Ben will complete a final draft of the letter and mail out (copy also to HHDC).
D. Beal with then write a letter from the HHDC to the board to Selectmen recommending a
solution. D. Beal reviewed three possible solutions:
Dogs
Egg addling
Ground spraying
Joint Meeting with Planning Board and Subcommittee of HHDC/HDIC/Planning Board:
C. Daly advised that the subcommittee has decided to wait until after Town Meeting to start up
the initiative again. C. Daly to contact subcommittee members in Mid May and arrange an initial
discussion.
7 Howard Road Pier Application:
C. Daly reported on the recent application hearing before the Conservation Commission. The
committee discussed the application and A. Perrault made a motion that the HHDC write a letter
to the Conservation Commission recommending that the Conservation Commission NOT
approve the application. The motion was seconded by R. Mosher. The vote on the motion was
unanimous. C. Daly to draft the letter, send to all Committee members for review and a final
version to The Conservation Commission.
Bel Air Road Dredging Applications:
C. Daly reported on the recent application hearing before the Conservation Commission. The
Committee discussed the applications. There was a general concern for precedent setting with
these applications but the overarching concern was the number of unanswered questions for the
application. A. Perrault made a motion to write a letter to the DEP, with copy to the
Conservation Commission, that these applications NOT be approved at this time. The motion
was seconded by A. Fowkes. The vote on the motion was unanimous. C. Daly to draft the letter,
send to all Committee members for review and a final version to The Department of
Environmental Protection.
Harbormaster Update:
K. Corson gave an update on the Safe Boating course, currently in progress, the Paddle Smart
Program and the annual mooring permitting process.
Ken advised that there is no new information of the Inner Harbor dredging but there is a meeting
scheduled for April 16th with Town officials and the engineering firm that will manage the
project. Ken also advised that the plan for adding floats at the launch ramp is delayed due to lack
of funding from the Commonwealth. It is not yet know if there is money in the Harbormaster’s
budget for the portable restrooms and staffing decisions for the department, for the summer, have
not been made yet. There is an upcoming meeting with the Town Administrator and the Police
Chief to finalize the staffing.
On the pumpout station that was planned for the Town Pier. K. Corson advised that the funding
came through from the State but there was not enough money to connect to the sewer line on
Route 3A. Estimated shortage was about $20,000. Application for a grant for additional funding
has been submitted.
Other business:
Resident John Hersey spoke to the Committee about storage of private and commercially owned
floats at Lincoln Maritime Center. Mr. Hersey stated that the floats are blocking public access to
the waterfront on Barnes Wharf I in the winter months. Mr. Hersey has notified the Board of
Selectmen of his concerns and recommended that the HHDC notify the Building Commissioner.
The Committee further discussed the potential removal of the Route 3A rotary. Town
Administrator, Kevin Paicos, commented that the Commonwealth will most likely retain
ownership of the land but would allow The Town of Hingham to determine the use of the newly
found open space. The tunnel cap over the Greenbush line is a good example of this type of State
and Town cooperation. Mr. Paicos advised that there was a Selectmen’s Meeting scheduled in
the next week and that removal of the rotary could move quickly as funding could come from the
Government’s economic development (stimulus) program. The signal box at the corner of Route
3A and North Street and the potential to relocate it was also discussed.
C. Daly advised that the Conservation Commission has the opportunity to buy 600 seedlings of
beach grass that could be planted near the boat ramp. This grass has been used in other areas to
help control beach erosion and reduce geese intrusion. Unfortunately the Cons. Comm. does not
have the $70.00 in the budget to purchase the grass for the State agency selling them. N. Amdur
suggested that the HHDC members could privately make a contribution, outside of the formal
meeting.
Resident Brian Borchers spoke to the Committee about his concerns about the water depth in the
Back River. Mr. Borchers advised that the Back River in the area of Stoddard’s Neck, in his
opinion, was in need of dredging. Mr. Borchers expressed concern that his mooring fees to the
Town have been increased significantly and that the funding would benefit the dredging of the
inner harbor only. The Committee and the Deputy Harbormaster agreed to check into the status
and history of the dredging of the Back River.
A. Perrault made a motion to adjourn the meeting. The motion was seconded by C. Daly. The
vote to adjourn was unanimous. Meeting adjourned at 9:36 pm.
The next meeting is scheduled for 7:30 pm on May 13, 2009.