During the August 26 meeting of the Mattapoisett Marine Advisory Board, Harbormaster Jamie McIntosh asked the members to weigh in on a proposal to posthumously honor longtime harbormaster Horace Field by naming the department’s boat after him.
McIntosh said that Field has been responsible for “bringing income” to the town in the form of the Waterfront Enterprise Fund, monies that help with every aspect of the critical operation.
While MAB members agreed that naming the 28-foot Stanley Bullnose after Field is an appropriate way to remember and honor his extensive service to the community, they also wanted to make sure his family is in agreement.
McIntosh said that preliminary discussions with the family have been positive. The board voted to support the plan. The Stanley vessel, which has been in service since July 2020, has 250-horsepower twin outboard engines measuring 28 feet long and 10 feet wide and features removal panels and drop-down doors for ease of hauling in accident victims or large items from the water.
In other business, McIntosh asked the board to consider additional language in the Rules and Regulations that would mandate the removal of vessels from wharves and floating docks during named tropical storms and hurricanes. He said that, while boat owners generally cooperate by removing their crafts during severe weather events, a more formal policy should be in place. The board agreed.
McIntosh also said that he met on site with Field Engineering to note areas of concerns on wharves needing repair and whether cranes could safely use the wharves for the purpose of dredging activities that are planned for the fall. Field’s team confirmed the wharves are viable for the amount of weight being considered. He also noted that new floating docks have been constructed and stored at the Transfer Station for future use. The new docks will provide an additional 48 square feet of space.
On the matter of the much larger project, repairs to Long Wharf, MAB Chairman Carlos DeSousa said that he met on site with Lieutenant Governor Karyn Polito during her recent stop in Mattapoisett. DeSousa and a contingent of town officials toured the wharf, pointing out areas of concern and areas earmarked for repairs and improvement using state grant funding.
To date, the town has received $216,000 from the Seaport Economic Council with another $54,000 from Town Meeting, money that will be used for design and engineering costs, both McIntosh and DeSousa confirmed. The project also received Community Preservation grant funding in 2014 and 2015 totaling $129,000, funding that has been used in part for immediate repairs and future work, according to Town Administrator Mike Lorenco. DeSousa said that a special construction committee would be established to oversee the massive repair project proposed for Long Wharf.
DeSousa also discussed meeting with the Select Board to discuss the need for a formal Waterfront Management Plan. He said that, overall, the Select Board was in favor of moving forward with a formalized plan with assistance from the Urban Harbor Institute of the University of Massachusetts/Boston but wanted to see “tangible results” from the effort.
The next meeting of the Mattapoisett Marine Advisory Board is scheduled for Thursday, September 30, at 7:00 pm.
Mattapoisett Marine Advisory Board
By Marilou Newell