Link back to Harbor Development Committee page

Hingham Harbor Development Committee
Meeting Minutes

Meeting Minutes December 7, 2010

Committee Members Present:
Robert Mosher, Chris Daly, Alan Perrault, David Fenton, Justin Woolacott, Mike Brazis
Ken Corson - Harbormaster

Committee Members Not Present:
Bryan Sweeney

• Meeting was called to order at 7:03 pm by A. Perrault, Chairman.   
• The committee reviewed the minutes, as drafted, for the November meeting. R. Mosher made a motion to approve the minutes. D. Fenton seconded the motion. A vote was taken and the minutes were unanimously approved.
• A. Perrault gave an update on the Harbor Planning Task force. There has been no meeting recently but there was some discussion of an RFP for a new bath house at the Bathing Beach with a potential food stand attached. The HHDC may need to contribute to the process of writing the RFP.
• K. Corson gave the Harbormaster’s report:
  1. The committee reviewed the latest plan for the HYC mooring field. The Harbormaster’s office held a meeting with the HYC membership to review. There will be no moorings on the north side of the channel between Langley and Sarah islands. The plan will go to the Board of Selectmen for approval in January. The committee had received a letter from resident John P. Ryan dated 10/12/10 expressing his opinion on the mooring field changes. A copy of the letter was passed to K. Corson.
  2. The new Harbor by-laws were officially put in place in October. Special Counsel appointed by the Selectmen is still reviewing the by-laws but this should be completed by the end of the year. They will then to the Selectmen for final approval.  
  3. Possible change in leased mooring rules. The Harbormaster is proposing that leased mooring s can only be supplied by mooring service providers that are licensed by the Commonwealth or the U.S. Army Corp of Engineers. C. Daly commented that this may cause some issues with mooring permit holders that wish to continue leasing their tackle and recommended that the Harbormaster’s office vet the idea with the public and with the mooring service providers.
  4. Moorings Online mooring management software – K. Corson recommended the adoption and purchase of this software. He stated that it will automate the permitting for the Harbormaster’s office and the mooring permit holders. The end cost to permit holders will be approximately $5 per permit.
  5. 2011 Mooring fees – the Harbormaster’s office will be recommending to the Selectmen that moorings fees be held at the 2010 levels.
  6. Dinghy Dock – a dinghy dock will be in place off the Town Pier in the spring of 2011. The dock was donated to the Town by the USCG. The Harbormaster will open a waiting list for this dock in the early spring.
  7. Full Condition survey of the harbor – The Harbormaster’s office is waiting for the $55,000 payment from the Waterways Fund in order to give the ok to CLE Engineering to start the survey. Committee members should send any ideas in regards to the Inner Harbor Walkway/Boardwalk to K. Corson so that it can be considered in CLE’s survey.
  8. Harbormaster’s office at the Shipyard – will break ground in spring 2011.
• Enterprise Fund discussion – The committee discussed the concept of an enterprise fund for the waterways of Hingham. It was agreed that we should invite a representative from another town that has an enterprise fund to join a future meeting and discuss the pros and cons of such a fund. C. Daly has left message for the Hull Harbormaster, Kurt Bornheim and is still trying to find someone from Scituate that could attend a meeting. K. Corson will email to the committee members the information he has on enterprise funds.  
• Route 3A Rotary – The committee discussed this project and its current status (on hold). A. Perrault with check with the Town Planner, Katy Lacy, for any updated information and J. Wollacott will check with Selectmen John Riley for the same. It would be helpful to find out what is needed to get this project re-started.
• Whitney Wharf – A. Perrault mentioned that a resident has expressed concern for safety at Whitney Wharf due to the condition of the fence. The Selectmen made the decision to remove the fence earlier this year (rather than fix it and continue the legal battle with the fence provider) but the fence is still currently in place. CLE can include an assessment of safety issues in their full condition survey.
• Invoice from Eagle Flag for regular replacement of the flags at Whitney Wharf. It was agreed to approve the invoice as the Committee has in the past. A. Perrault signed and approved the invoice. C. Daly to forward to the Selectmen’s office for payment.
• D. Fenton made a motion to adjourn the meeting. M. Brazis seconded the motion. A vote was taken and it was unanimously voted to adjourn the meeting at 8:45 pm.