A re-evaluation of the costs associated with building a pier into Aucoot Cove sent engineer David Davignon back to the Mattapoisett Conservation Commission on April 10 to request an amended Order of Conditions for a Notice of Intent filing by Jay Duker, 112 Aucoot Road.

The new request sought to decrease the length of the pier by 50 feet, bringing it down to 131 feet projecting into the cove. But the request also gave abutters Brad Hathaway and his daughter Jane an opportunity to re-open questions and concerns they have on the pier’s impact on what they believe is an emerging barrier beach.

For nearly an hour, the merits of the project were debated. The Hathaways contend that a beach nourishment project that was permitted in 2015 has caused beach sands to migrate over marshlands. They also said that the new plan positions the pier directly into wave action and gale force winds commonly generated from the south pushing into the cove.

Another abutter Richard Cederberg, 108 Aucoot Road, echoed those sentiments, adding that at low tide the pier and associated float would be high and dry, inaccessible to watercraft unable to maneuver in just a few inches of water. “At least eight times a month that float is going to be up in the air.”

Davignon conceded that the project had its problems, but that the Dukers had already received an Order of Conditions from the commission and this was merely a decrease in the length of the pier and nothing more.

Hathaway pressed on attempting to impress upon the commissioners the importance of another eel grass study to ensure the area in question was appropriate for a pier as well as tossing in the need of looking at FEMA guidelines and exactly how the pier and float would be secured.

In the end, Chairman Bob Rogers agreed that a new eel grass study or update was needed and that the commissioners should make a site visit to more fully understand the impact of the project on the wetlands. The application to amend the existing Order of Conditions was continued until April 24.

Reservation Golf Club, represented by Jeff Youngquist of Outback Engineering, came before the commissioners requesting an Order of Conditions for a NOI filing for the repair of existing cart paths and a culvert.

Abutter Mary Kelleher, 4 Reservation Road, asked that the application not be heard because she had not received an abutter notification, thus inhibiting her right to study the request in advance of the hearing.

After reviewing the list prepared by the Assessors’ Office, she was advised that her property had not been identified as an abutter. Rogers said, “Well, you are here now.” He told Kelleher that she would have an opportunity to ask questions.

The hearing quickly hit a snag as Youngquist pointed out the numerous jurisdictional areas in question. He said that the plan was to simply repair some existing cart paths and add two 18-inch pipes in a culvert for better drainage in and out of the marshlands.

But Rogers suggested the applicant consider a timber bridge over the culvert rather than adding pipes as a way to better manage the ebb and flow of tides.

Youngquist also told the commission that the club would be seeking a Chapter 91 license from the DEP, but given the backlog of cases, thought it would be many months before that application would be reviewed.

While the general consensus of the commission was in favor of a timber bridge and cart path repairs, the project was continued for two weeks to give the board and the applicant time to fine-tune the NOI filing.

Davignon returned to the conference room representing Brian Andrade who requested an extension of an existing permit to perform beach nourishment at 70 Aucoot Road. The request was granted.

Also coming before the commission was Ken Fortier of Civil Engineering Concepts representing Kristin Demong, 6 Cecelia Avenue, for the installation of a new septic system that would feature a “tight-tank” design.

Fortier described the difficulties of the site given its proximity to the harbor and landside wetland features. He assured the commissioners that the tank would be secured with concrete for ballast to keep it in place during a storm event. The NOI filing was conditioned.

Conservation Agent Elizabeth Leidhold reported that a site visit to Brandt Point Village, a sub-division off Brandt Island Road, found the site lacking in cleanup. She also said that a turtle barrier was in poor condition and needed repair. Leidhold said she had been in contact with Al Loomis, McKenzie Engineering, who assured her the repairs and cleanup would be completed within two weeks.

The next meeting of the Mattapoisett Conservation Commission is scheduled for April 24 at 6:30 pm in the town hall conference room.

By Marilou Newell

As the Mattapoisett Finance Committee wends its way through department budgets in preparation for the spring annual town meeting, they heard from Planning Board Administrator Mary Crain on April 6.

Crain’s overview of the planning board’s FY17 accomplishments and FY18 budget included thoughts on how the Planning Board will fit into the conversation of what to do about recreational marijuana sales establishments in Mattapoisett.

Crain said that in discussing the topic with Town Administrator Michael Gagne, the uncertainty at the state level gave cities and towns a bit more time to figure out if and how this type of business might integrate into Mattapoisett’s rural seaside image.

“It’s premature at this point in time,” Crain told the committee members. She said that while she is preparing bylaw language for the Planning Board to consider, with the state’s temporary moratorium in place, there was time to consider all the pros and cons. But she cautioned, “As a town, we don’t have a plan in place … we could be caught off guard,” and in the absence of zoning restrictions, the FinCom members ponder what might happen. One member apparently thought a retail pot shop might want to move into Ropewalk. Crain said that most likely after further study, the Planning Board would have something prepared for the fall special town meeting.

Crain presented a budget that reflected a change in the position she now holds with the Planning Board, increasing the FY18 budget by just over $8,000 on that line item. She wrote that “…the position has assumed all the duties of the planning board secretary plus expanded planning activities including drafting proposed zoning amendments, preparation of an updated subdivision rules and regulations, and, research into downtown improvements…”

Other increases include up-ticks in legal advertising, postage, and in-state travel for conferences and meetings. The total stands at $31,369 versus $21,440 in FY 17.

Also meeting with the committee was Harbormaster Jill “Sarge” Simmons.

At the outset of her comments on harbor-side needs, Simmons said she had not yet received projected earnings from the waterfront enterprise account, but she provided a summary of FY17 completed projects and FY18 plans.

Simmons said some critical piling repairs had been completed but that the wales were not fixed. She said repair to the horizontal support beams had been contracted out and that the highway department would also be completing some wharf repairs.

Simmons reported that channel markers had been purchased for Brandt Island Cove at a cost of $8,200. This became necessary, she said, when the Coast Guard was ordered to reduce aids to navigation by 50 percent on the eastern seaboard.

Along with the Marine Advisory Board, Simmons assisted in the updating of the waterways rules and regulations that was many months in the making. She said that documents were awaiting review by the Selectmen. The new rules included a more realistic mooring billing cycle.

A chronic problem of not enough dinghy spaces for the nearly 1,000 moorings in the inner harbor would be eased a bit, Simmons said, when additional spaces are created at Barstow. She said ongoing proceedings with the Conservation Commission were needed but that she had acquired floating docks at no cost from Marion.

Also in her report Simmons wrote, “With the assistance of town counsel we have put together a contract for boaters who have assigned spaces … on the piers and wharves.… The town never had one…. As a result, the town was exposed to significant liability.”

Simmons discussed the need for more dinghy spaces in her written presentation, saying, “Launch service is not satisfactory to many people due to the amount of time it takes for the launch to arrive at either the dock or the boat for pickup.” The additional spaces planned for Barstow would help ease that problem she believes.

Simmons wrote that a float installed at the end of the timber pier is used for the public safety boat, but that the fire boat will be kept at Barstow, a location where parking for responding fire personnel is available.

In her report, Simmons pointed to a second year of success in assigning moorings to everyone on the wait list. She said the FY17 season ended with 20 moorings still available.

Simmons said her department needs a small working skiff, and the harbormaster boat was good for open water activities such as rescues; however, for inshore work it was just too big. She’s asking for a Carolina Skiff which she described as “bare bones and pretty rugged.”

With the rising popularity in kayaking, Simmons hopes to install additional kayak racks at the landing. “I can’t build them fast enough,” she said.

The waterfront enterprise FY18 budget is projected at $171,368 versus FY17 $169,089.

The next meeting of the Mattapoisett Finance Committee is scheduled for April 13 at 6:30 pm in the town hall conference room.

By Marilou Newell