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Hingham Harbor Development Committee
Meeting Minutes May 13, 2009
Meeting was called to order at 7:30 pm; a quorum was confirmed.
Committee Members Present:
Nick Amdur, David Beal, Robert Mosher, Warren Nottleson
Ken Corson, Acting Harbormaster
Members Not Present:
Alan Perrault, Adrienne Ramsey
Other Speakers:
Jim Clarke, John Hersey
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Meeting called to order by Chairman Amdur at 7:32 pm.
Previous Meeting Minutes:
Minutes from the meeting of April 8, 2009 were reviewed. D. Beal made a motion to approve the
minutes which was seconded by R. Mosher. A vote was taken and the motion was unanimously
approved.
Inner Harbor Dredging:
N. Amdur and K. Corson advised that the dredging was moving along as planned and it is still
scheduled to start in October 2009. The contract proposal for dredging bids is to go out in July.
The Harbormaster’s office will notify mooring holders when they will need to have their boats
out. Resident John Hersey commented that the Harbormaster should ensure that no private
moorings are stored on Town property while the dredging is taking place.
Dock and Pier Policy:
C. Daly gave an update on the status of the Dock and Pier Policy and the status of a few pending
pier or private dredging applications.
The Conservation Commission has denied the application for the pier at 7 Howard Road and the
hearing on the dredging applications for 21 and 23 Bel Air Road has been continued. The
Committee discussed our position on the these private dredging applications and it was generally
agreed that the private dredging is the “lesser of two evils” versus construction of a pier for
property owners that want to access to deep water from waterfront properties.
Parking RFP:
No update.
Transient Slips and Parking Issues:
The Town Planner has asked the HHDC to start thinking about the factor transient boaters use of
slips and if there is any effect on parking use. K. Corson advised that there has been increase in
the number of visiting boaters looking for transient slips or moorings. These visiting yachts also
provide a source of revenue for the town.
Route 3A Rotary:
The Committee discussed the potential future removal of the rotary and the possibility of having
more open space on the harborfront. D. Beal provided insight into the multiple traffic options at
this intersection including rotary, roundabout or signals.
Geese Control:
D. Beal advised that Resident Ben Matthews has issued a letter to the Board of Selectmen with
comments on the geese situation and also recommendations for resolving the problem. D. Beal
has crafted a letter to the Selectmen for the Committee recommending solutions to the problem.
D. Beal to forward to C. Daly for delivery to the Board of Selectmen.
Harbor Planning Subcommittee:
C. Daly advised that the subcommittee was trying to get all parties together for a initial meeting
this month.
Harbormaster’s Report:
K. Corson has been named as Acting Harbormaster. Mark Brennan has been named Deputy
Harbormaster. Both will have very limited working hours until July 1st.
There will be limited availability of the pumpout boat until July 1st.
No grant money has been received yet from the State for the pumpout boats but it is expected.
The Committee discussed portable toilets at the Harbor and hoped that the Harbormaster’s
budget had enough funds to put in at least on handicapped unit.
The Harbormaster keeps a record of the in-water location inner harbor moorings by permit
holders. The harbormaster communicates these locations to the two mooring service companies
and recommends that returning permit holders go back to the same location as last year. Privately
owned moorings should have the owner’s name painted on them.
No update on funding for the launch ramp floats.
The fireworks will be July 3rd this year.
C. Daly asked about the houseboat at Hewitts Cove Marina. K. Corson confirmed that no
mooring permit has been issued but it does seem to be back in the water.
C. Daly made a motion to adjourn the meeting. The motion was seconded by W. Nottleson. The
vote to adjourn was unanimous. Meeting adjourned at 8:47 pm
The next meeting is scheduled for 7:30 pm on June 10, 2009.