With concern that a proposed 290-foot private dock on Goodspeed Island is not good for the public use of public waterways, Mattapoisett’s Marine Advisory Board sent a letter stating their position to the Board of Selectmen through Town Administrator Mike Gagne. The proposed dock had been discussed at their July meeting, at which time the majority of the board members felt such a structure would inhibit recreational use of the harbor around that location. Noting that they had not used the location for new moorings in an effort to keep the area open for public recreation, and that in the absence of specific bylaws that would manage this type of construction, they voted to let the Selectmen know their concerns. As of the August 28 meeting, they had not yet received a reply from the Selectmen.
The approved minutes of the July 31 meeting on this topic state: “…John Cornish makes a motion to write a letter to the Conservation Committee to refer to the waterfront management plan and delineation of recreation areas in decision making process, as well as consulting the MAB prior to issuing permit. Jeff Swift seconds motion and is unanimously passed. Robert Moore makes a motion that a letter be written to the BOS addressing the MAB concerns that there is a lack of bylaws regulating new piers and request new regulations be promulgated and presented at the next town meeting. Mike Chaplain seconds the motion and is unanimously passed…” Several members said that the beach right-of-way had been transferred from the previous owner to the new owner, which might make the obtaining of a permit easier for the applicant. Carlos DeSousa said some aspects of the project would have to be discussed in executive sessions.
In other business, Harbormaster Jill Simmons asked if she could remove a mooring that apparently is misplaced and presently interfering with a permitted mooring and the boat moored to it. The MAB members felt it was well within her scope of duties to have the errant mooring removed. She wondered aloud who should incur the cost associated with the removal. MAB stated the person who put it there.
Regarding the Waterfront Enterprise Fund, Selectman Paul Silva has indicated to the board that the town hall is still collecting all the necessary data and formatting it into an easy-to-digest format before releasing it to the MAB and the Harbormaster. DeSousa said they needed that piece before they could make recommendations on fee increases and finish their work on the ‘rules and regulations’. Chairman Alan Gillis said that he would be meeting with Gagne the following day to discuss mooring inspection processes and changes to the ‘rules and regulations’.
On the theme of mooring inspections, no changes will be made to the current regulations until the Selectmen have had an opportunity to weigh-in. That line item will be on the agenda during the BOS September 23 meeting.
Simmons gave her report which included: the purchase of three new floats to add spaces for dinghies; modifications to racking system at town landing to accommodate kayaks; a tour of the shoreline with members of the assessor’s office that resulted in the discovery of 51 floats and docks that have not been permitted; and the unexpected damage from a recent storm that caused one boat to sink and left others with expensive repairs.
Simmons also reported that there seemed to be a criminal group operating in the area stealing outboard motors and damaging vessels, saying that there have been numerous break-ins reported. She said that the thieves have a similar modus operandi from Rhode Island to Wareham and that when she was an officer with the New Bedford Police Department, it was deduced that the motors are hauled away and shipped off shore.
The next meeting of the Marine Advisory Board is scheduled for September 25 at 7:00 pm in the town hall conference room.
By Marilou Newell
