Link back to Harbor Development Committee page
December 9, 2009
Committee Members Present:
Nick Amdur, David Beal, Robert Mosher, Alan Perrault, Bryan Sweeney, Adrienne Ramsey, Ken
Corson- Harbormaster
Members Not Present:
Chris Daly
Other Speakers:
Jim Clarke
John Hersey
Dana Baxter
Meeting was called to order at 7:36 pm; a quorum was confirmed.
Previous Meeting Minutes:
The previous meeting notes were reviewed. Bryan Sweeny and Dave Beal pointed out some corrections
to wording and these changes were incorporated. The revised minutes were recommended for approval
by Bryan Sweeny and seconded. The vote to accept the revised minutes was unanimous.
Coastsweep 2009
A. Ramsey updated the Committee on Coastsweep 2009, which was held on Saturday, September 19,
2009. Turnout was low with about twenty participants despite promoting the event in the Hingham
Journal and to the high school and the Garden Club. The weather was rather windy and chilly that day
which may have deterred volunteers.
Beach Grass
A. Perrault asked K. Corson about the beach grass that the Committee assisted with its purchase. He
questioned whether there was a way to get the high school students involved in its planting.
J. Hersey commented on the migration of the geese.
Inner Harbor Dredging Update
K. Corson commented that the dredging is significantly behind schedule although the town was ready
when the window for dredging opened. He presented the Committee with a chart detailing the areas that
had been dredged as of December 1, 2009. The dredging was started on the northern most part of the
mooring field. The contractor did not start this work until the beginning of the second week of
November. The town has sent a letter to the contractor asking that there be an increase in workforce and
that the dredging be completed by the target date of end of January 2010. K. Corson stated that if they
do not finish the work by this date, the contractor will need to return next year at its expense. N. Amdur
commented that it is in both parties’ best interest that the work be completed this season. K. Corson stated
that the contractor does give a projection to the town every week, and this past week’s report
demonstrated that the work could be done on time. It does not, however, leave any room for delays.
Mooring Regulations
N. Amdur gave the audience background on mooring regulations. K. Corson is currently working on a
draft of the mooring regulations after researching other communities’. His draft will be completed by next
week for the Harbor Planning Task Force. After the holidays, the Task Force will work to review them as
regulations. N. Amdur questioned whether the mooring regulations needed to be completed before
mooring renewals were accepted. K. Corson answered that although they did not have to, his preference
was that the new mooring regulations would be in effect.
B. Sweeney asked for the background of the Harbor Planning Task Force. N. Amdur explained that the
Selectmen periodically appoint a Task Force to address an issue and that this task force’s composition is
members from the HDC, the Planning Board, the HDIC, the Trustees of the Bathing Beach and the Board
of Selectmen.
D. Baxter requested a copy of the draft before next week’s meeting, but the draft would not be ready until
that date.
J. Clarke suggested that the mooring regulations discussion be placed on the Task Force’s agenda to alert
residents that input was wanted. J. Clarke also asked whether or not a new set of mooring regulations
would require a change to the town’s by-laws. N. Amdur answered that any changes to the by-laws must
be approved at Town Meeting. K. Corson reviewed the generalities of the regulations.
K. Corson stated that he welcomed input from any mooring provider. A. Perrault suggested that extra
copies of the mooring regulations be available to the public at the Task Force meeting next week.
Harbor Planning Task Force Update
A. Perrault will submit a piece to the Hingham Journal to update the public on the Task Force’s work.
Its focus will be on the nature of a task force in general as well as address zoning related issues, the
rotary, access at Lincoln Maritime and budget issues. One example of a budget issue is the geese issue, as
where does the town allocate money from to solve this problem.
Harbormaster’s Update
K. Corson shared that seventeen mooring violations went through the court system this fall. There will be
revisions to how the harbormaster deals with violations in the future. He also commented that
optimization of the mooring field is underway, as the engineering firm has completed the Back River,
World’s End and the Yacht Club. The GPS coordinates of the engineering firm will be exactly where the
mooring anchor will be placed.
K. Corson updated the Committee on the pumpout facility. Although the designs were completed, the
funding for the project has been pulled. Although he will look into alternate funding, K. Corson does not
see the pumpout facility for next season.
D. Baxter questioned if there will be moorings added to accommodate larger boats. K. Corson said that
larger transient moorings will be added and that any suggestions for more be brought to him.
New Business
B. Sweeney raised the issue of the storage of the ramps and floats during the off season. He stated that
there was both a safety and access issue. K. Corson answered that they can explore other options for next
year. J. Hersey suggested that the floats be placed in the trailer parking spots.
J. Clarke asked whether the minutes for the meeting could be placed on the website. N. Amdur answered
that meeting minutes are posted when they are approved.
J. Hersey requested that the bathrooms at the bathing beach have more hours available to the public.
Members of the committee agreed that public and available restrooms at the harbor were a top priority.
R. Mosher made a motion to adjourn the meeting. A. Perrault seconded the motion. A vote was taken
and it was unanimous. N. Amdur adjourned the meeting at 9:05 pm