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Meeting Minutes October 13, 2010
Committee Members Present:
Robert Mosher, Alan Perrault, Bryan Sweeney, David Fenton, Justin Woollacott, Ken
Corson- Harbormaster
Meeting was called to order at 7:05 PM by Chairman Alan Perrault.
1. Hingham Yacht Club Moorings. Note: Bryan Sweeney recused himself from sitting on the Committee for this discussion. A presentation with charts/visual aids was made by Harbormaster Ken Corson and Deputy Harbormaster Mark Brennan of the proposed mooring plan for the waters surrounding the Hingham Yacht Club. Harbormaster Corson initially pointed out that the goal of this exercise was to optimize the placement of boats by size and type (motor vs. sail) in a manner that eliminated current conflict with the channel and respected the historic mooring locations of individual boaters wherever possible. There were dozens of HYC members in attendance and several spoke after the presentation. The questions and observations included: conditions in the HYC mooring field area vary greatly from the far more protected Hingham Inner Harbor due to conflicting affects of wind, currents and tides; questions were raised as to who absorbs the cost of mooring relocations; several boater specific concerns as to whether the water depth and conditions on certain individual cases would be worse in a new location. The Harbormaster requested that individual concerns be forwarded to their office, preferably by e-mail, so they could be addressed wherever possible. The next meeting on this issue will be held at the HYC chaired by their Mooring Committee with updated plans from the Harbormaster.
2. Approval of Minutes September 9, 2010 Meeting David Fenton moved that the Minutes be accepted, seconded by Robert Mosher and unanimously approved.
3. Approval of Minutes September 16, 2010 Meeting David Fenton moved that the Minutes be accepted, seconded by Alan Perrault and unanimously approved.
4. Harbor Planning Task Force Update Alan Perrault mentioned that the last meeting of the Task Force had focused on discussions of: establishing an enterprise fund as a mechanism for handling harbor related costs without tapping the general fund; the ongoing geese control program; and the ongoing role of the Task Force.
5. Harbormaster Report Harbormaster Ken Corson reported that there were enough funds to cover the Springer Spaniel Zinger for geese control into November but that earlier resumption early next Spring may yield better results. He mentioned he'd received necessary funding to have CLE perform the work under Amendments 3 & 4 including an existing conditions survey/analysis along the Inner Harbor and studying the Back River. He mentioned that his Office would like to engage a web based service for handling mooring applications on-line.
6. Town Hall Open House Report Members Robert Mosher and Alan Perrault mentioned that they met a few interested parties while representing the Committee at the recent Selectmen sponsored Town Hall Open House.
7. Update on letter from Attorney representing the Trustees of Reservations No new information on this issue.
8. Geese Control As this had been discussed in Harbormaster's report, there was little further discussion other than an audience question as to whether CPC funds could be used to this end.
9. Discussion of Tasks and Objectives for the Committee for the coming year The individual members were asked what they saw as the Committee's priorities/objectives for the coming year. Robert Mosher mentioned: ongoing geese management; better harbor accessibility via a defined walkway; recruiting someone such as Eastern Mountain Sports to sponsor kayak programs on the Back River or elsewhere; meeting the Selectmen to be sure our goals/objectives were consistent with theirs. David Fenton's mentioned: improved pedestrian access; a better defined access from North Street/the Square noting the choke point at the signal box on 3A near 3 Otis Street and possibly looking at a bridge/walkway connecting that site and Whitney Wharf; improved access/use of the Steamboat Wharf parcel for passive recreation uses; having the Committee support goals that could make a difference in a year's time; better utilization and linkage between the Whitney Wharf, former Mobil station site and the Veteran's Park; improving access to the Bouve parcel from the Hingham Shipyard; creating some Back River access for kayaks and car top boats with some nearby parking. Justin Woollacott goals were: identifying low cost/no cost items that we can pursue for the betterment of the harbor and waters of Hingham; gaining a better understanding of revenue sources vs. costs for harbor activities and further transparency on this issue; public access improvement. Bryan Sweeney mentioned: focusing on issues that are consistent with the charge of the HDC and not on issues outside our jurisdiction (LMC negotiations, geese control, etc); improved public access along and to the Harbor as #1 goal; focusing on achievable objectives. Alan Perrault's goals were: improved public access through a defined harbor-walk with better access across Route 3A/link to the Square; furthering an Enterprise fund to help financially support harbor activities; working with the Harbormaster and other Town officials to pursue grant monies for harbor projects; and improving car-top boating/kayak access throughout Town, particularly along Back River working with Bare Cove Committee. 10. 7 Howard Road Pier Application This item is under Zoning Board of Appeals jurisdiction with a hearing being continued until 11/18. Several neighbors spoke regarding their concerns as to the affects of a pier of this length on navigation for kayaks and its interference with North Beach access use and vistas. The attorney for the applicant pointed out that the project had been significantly scaled back, had received US Army Corps of Engineers approval and received superseding MA DEP approval. It was agreed to hold this item over to the next HDC meeting to also have the benefit of the input of HDC Secretary Chris Daly who has the most history on the case. David Fenton moved to adjourn the meeting, Robert Mosher seconded the motion and it was unanimously approved. A. Perrault adjourned the meeting @ 9:05 PM.