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Meeting Minutes September 09, 2010
Committee Members Present:
Robert Mosher, Chris Daly, Alan Perrault, David Fenton, Bryan Sweeney, Ken Corson- Harbormaster
Meeting was called to order at 7:08 pm by Secretary Chris Daly.
1. The committee reviewed the minutes as drafted for the June 09, 2010 meeting. A. Perrault made a
motion to approve the minutes. R. Mosher seconded the motion. A vote was taken and the
minutes were unanimously approved. D. Fenton abstained from voting as he was not a member of
the committee at the time.
2. C. Daly introduced David Fenton as a new member of the committee, recently appointed by the
Board of Selectmen.
3. Election of Committee Officers
a. C. Daly initiated a discussion on the election of new committee officers. With the
"retirement" of Nick Amdur from the committee a new Chair would have to be elected
and the election of a Secretary is due. The committee members discussed the role of each
position. A. Perrault advised that he would be open to the role of Chairman. C. Daly then
made a motion to propose A. Perrault as the new Chairman of the HHDC. B. Sweeney
seconded the motion. B. Sweeney also made a motion to propose himself as Chairman.
The motion was seconded by C. Daly. A vote was taken for the motion made by C. Daly
proposing A. Perrault as Chairman. The vote was 3 to 1 with A. Perrault abstaining. This
vote nullified the need to take a vote on the second motion made to propose B. Sweeney
as Chairman. A. Perrault was elected Chairman of the committee, with immediate effect.
A. Perrault requested that the Chairmanship be a one year term.
b. B. Sweeney made a motion to propose C. Daly as Secretary to the Committee. D. Fenton
seconded the motion. A vote was taken and the vote was unanimous in favor of electing
C. Daly as Secretary. The term to be one year.
4. A. Perrault gave an update on the Harbor Planning Task Force. The next meeting is scheduled fro
September 20th and the Task Force may now only meet once a month. The Task Force is currently
trying to determine their role and objectives going forward. B. Sweeney requested that the
committee review and discuss the Task Force agenda items before the Task Force meetings.
5. A. Perrault recommended that each committee member suggest three to four task, objectives or
action items that the committee should focus on in the next year. Each committee member si
requested to bring their ideas to the October meeting.
6. A. Perrault asked that the committee recognize the long commitment and service made by Nick
Amdur, Adrienne Ramsey and Dave Beal to the Harbor Development Committee.
7. Harbormaster Report and Discussion
A. Inner Harbor - Harbormaster Corson advised that there are 230 moorings (formerly 160) in
place in the Inner Harbor and there have been very few issues or complaints. B. Sweeney
requested details on mooring and harbor revenues versus expenses. K. Corson to bring this
information to the October meeting.
B. World's End Moorings – K. Corson advised that there has been a significant increase in
revenues from this mooring field versus previous years.
C. Hingham Yacht Club area mooring field optimization – the project is moving forward. CLE
Engineering is expected to provide a draft plan soon. Meetings have been held with HYC
members and eventually there will be a public meeting scheduled (joint meeting with HHDC)
to review the changes proposed for this mooring field. The goal is to better organize this
mooring field and to reduce the administration required to manage it. There is no objective to
expand it substantially.
D. Shellfish Management Plan – The Harbormaster has determined that the management plan of
2004 was never signed by the Division of Marine Fisheries. It was not signed over concern
about the fees to be charged to clam diggers. The Harbormaster will create a new plan and
submit it to the Division of Marine Fisheries for approval. K. Corson advised that Hingham,
Hull and Weymouth work together to rotate the clam diggers every few months between the
beds in each town.
E. Harbor Enterprise Fund – during the Harbormaster's update the committee discussed the
creation of harbor enterprise fund. It was commented that most South Shore towns have one
set up. With this type of fund monies are dedicated to the town's waterways and are not part
of the town's general fund.
F. Port Security Grant = Hingham, with Weymouth and Hull, has won a $1.9 million grant from
Homeland Security. The funds will be used to pay for new patrol boats, support vehicles,
computers and security cameras.
G. Mooring management software – The Harbormaster's Department continues to use the trial
version of the selected software for free. The committee discussed the potential future costs
and benefits of the software.
H. Amendment 3 and 4 of the Harbor Maintenance Dredging Project
a. Amendment 3 – Assessment and survey of the Hingham areas of the Weymouth
Back River (including the mooring field) and Weir River by CLE Engineering. K.
Corson would like to propose this project to the Board of Selectmen in October. This
project can be funded by some surplus funds from the Inner Harbor dredging
completed in February 2010.
b. Amendment 4 – is a full condition survey of the Inner Harbor. Total cost ranges from
$40,000 to $53,000
I. Geese Control – the Committee discussed the geese control project. It was agreed that the use
of the hired dog and his trainer has been at least somewhat effective. K. Corson to determine
how much money is left in the fund that was contributed by eighteen town residents.
Resident and former HHDC committee member recommended that the Town now take over
responsibility for geese control.
J. It was proposed that we hold the annual HHDC tour of the harbor with the Harbormaster in
September. The date of September 16th was agreed upon. C. Daly to file a meeting agenda
with the Town Clerk for this meeting.
8. C. Daly reviewed a number of additional pieces of business for the committee
a. Town Hall Open House scheduled for September 28th. The HHDC has been invited to
participate. Volunteers from the committee are needed.
b. The HHDC has received a letter from a law firm representing the Trustees of the
Reservations requesting copies of any documents relating to the death of Mr. Leon
Granahan in 2008 at World's End. It was agreed by all that the committee seek the advice
of Town Counsel before responding. C. Daly to contact Town Counsel.
D. Fenton made a motion to adjourn the meeting. R. Mosher seconded the motion. A vote was taken,
which was unanimous. A. Perrault adjourned the meeting at 9:25 pm.