David Kaiser of the Mattapoisett Boat Yard met with the Mattapoisett Marine Advisory Board during its March 26 meeting to discuss services provided by his business for boaters in Mattapoisett Harbor and waterways.
Kaiser said that overall, the 2014 summer season had been a successful time for both the town and for his business, with just a few hiccups along the way.
“One of the concerns was Sunday pump-outs,” said Kaiser. He said that typically boaters contact the boatyard via cell phone to set up a pump-out day and time and that no one had complained about not being able to get a pump-out on Sundays.
“Sundays are problematic,” Kaiser shared. He said that it was tough to get “kids” to work on Sundays and that “not just anyone” can be tapped to run the pump-out boat. The skill level required was much more precise, he continued, than that required by a launch pilot.
“I’m happy to try and make that work,” he conceded. “We are not profiting from this,” Kaiser told the group, “but happy to assist the Town, as a business in the Town.”
Regarding launch services, he said that he has a solid group ready for the 2015 season and noted that these pilots are required to have several types of licensure and certification(s), including that provided by the Coast Guard. Kaiser commented that the cost associated with gaining these licenses can be as much as $700 and take up to three months to complete.
The issue of where to pick up and drop off boaters utilizing launch services was also discussed. The selectmen had wanted boaters to be able to get picked up and dropped off at the town wharves. Kaiser said that location was very difficult to access because of the marine traffic congestion. When he agreed to provide transportation services to boaters in the Mattapoisett Harbor and waterways, it was planned for pick up and drop off at the Barstow Wharf situated at the Town Beach, he reminded the board. To accommodate the Selectmen’s request, they had tried to go in and out of the Town Wharf area at Shipyard Park; however, this proved very difficult to negotiate and very time consuming.
The board members agreed that Barstow was not only better for Kaiser, but for the Town as well due to parking issues. At the Town Beach, parking was more readily available to day-trippers and easier to access by the launch service.
Kaiser said that new signage was ready to place at the Barstow Wharf informing the public how to connect with the launch drivers along with days and time of service. He asked that the MAB help him get the word out to the public.
Harbormaster Jill Simmons, also in attendance, said that she could work with the Highway Department to plot out parking spaces for better land use at the Town Beach.
They also discussed how to handle permitting parking spaces at this location since it is now fee based for non-residents. Further discussion with the town administrator was advised to try and come up with a viable solution.
Simmons gave a brief report noting that presently she and her team are reviewing winter damages to the piers and docks and that a new kayak rack will be constructed via a Boy Scout Eagle project in the spring.
The next meeting of the Mattapoisett Marine Advisory Board will be on April 30 at 7:00 pm in the Town Hall conference room.
By Marilou Newell
