Summer may be over, but issues related to where boaters may engage in water skiing and tubing activities in Mattapoisett Harbor are still being debated. That was the case on September 26 when the Mattapoisett Marine Advisory Board met. In attendance was Harbormaster Jamie McIntosh.

            Months ago during the July 25 meeting, the MAB discussed the issue of whether or not an area located in the inner harbor near the Shinning Tides beach, locally designated as an area where water skiing could take place, was actually an area the United States Coast Guard (USCG) claims as anchorage space. During that meeting, then Harbormaster Jill Simmons said that the federal designation of anchorage superseded anything done at the local level. The problem associated with water skiing is that of boats exceeding the 25 mile-per-hour speed limit in that location and creating wakes in the mooring field.

            On September 26, the issue was again debated. Chairman Carlos DeSousa said he thought that putting a speed restriction would help. But McIntosh said he would be hesitant to do that. There ensued a discussion that included the idea of mandating that water skiers and tubers use the outer harbor area instead of being so close to shore. But McIntosh thought otherwise.

            “I wouldn’t want to send the kids out there further from shore,” said McIntosh. He pondered that maybe a speed restriction would help, but said that even a boat motoring at a low rate of speed threw a big wake. “It requires more study.”

            McIntosh said that if he has more staff next summer, staff that would be deployed on the water, they could monitor the harbor better. “We could shut it down,” if boaters were found creating big wake. With a “significant presence” on the water, said McIntosh, things might improve.

            Yet that wouldn’t solve the issue of whether or not the recreational space was actually an anchorage area.

            MAB member Bob Moore said, “We need to understand the interaction between local, state, and federal law… There has to be a proper reading of those altogether.” Moore said he wanted to explore it further and that he wants to find out if there had been any case law that might help clarify the matter.

            A USCG designated anchorage area is a place where boats and ships can safely drop anchor.

            McIntosh said he would look into the issue.

            In other matters, the condition of Long Wharf with respect to its ability to withstand heavy loads such as cranes and oil trucks was discussed. This concern sprang up as the board was talking about boaters placing large containers of fuel on floating docks as they prepared to head out to their moored boats. McIntosh said that practice should be limited to one jerrycan. He said that when large fuel trucks are servicing vessels tied to the wharves, the Fire Department should be alerted in the event a fuel spill occurs.

            The problem is related to fuel vapors in the air, which, if concentrated, can explode with the introduction of an ignition source. McIntosh said that if a can of fuel went into the water or if there were a spill from a fuel truck, the Fire Department would be better equipped to contain the spill.

            The members then dove into the condition of Long Wharf. McIntosh said, “We shouldn’t have trucks or cranes down there.”

DeSousa noted that marina operators sometimes pull the masts of large sailboats from boats tied up at the end of the wharf. McIntosh said it was a “judgment call” on the part of the marina whether to pull masts on the water or once the boat was out.

            The board concurred that the cranes were too heavy and might be in harm’s way at the end of the historic wharf. DeSousa suggested that marina owners be invited to the next meeting of the MAB to discuss the matter.

            “We have a duty to tell them they are using it at their own risk,” said Moore.

            “This will be on my radar now,” said McIntosh.

            Also during the meeting, McIntosh suggested that the staff needs more intensive training handling the pump-out boat. He said that such training should take place in the spring before the boating season gets underway. According to him, the department is averaging 30 pump-out requests were per week, and that an online form and other pump-out information is available on the Town’s website www.mattapoisett.net.

            The next meeting of the Mattapoisett Marine Advisory Board is scheduled for October 31 at 7:00 pm in the Town Hall conference room.

Mattapoisett Marine Advisory Board

By Marilou Newell

            The much beloved Leonard’s Pond was discussed during the October 1 meeting of the Rochester Conservation Commission. Before the commission was a Request for Determination of Applicability filed by the town for the purpose of making improvements to a gravel boat access path and to consider options for making the area ADA (Americans with Disabilities Act) compliant.

            Speaking on behalf of the town, Conservation Agent Laurell Farinon explained that she has been exploring design options for the access path, everything from asphalt paving to timber planks to simple grading and applying more gravel to the access point.

            Farinon explained that the path has been a source of concern as erosion has caused sediment flow into the pond.

            “The area needs to be stabilized,” she began. She said that the best solution would be “a low-key plan.”

            Access for people with mobility issues made finding a simple resolution and design rather difficult, Farinon shared. She said that most ADA compliant designs would require the removal of forested bank, something she said made the recreational area special and unique given its undisturbed state. 

            Continuing on, Farinon suggested the best course of action would be to maintain the access path as it currently exists using dense crushed gravel “to keep it as simple as possible.” She said the town wasn’t under any time constraints, so if the commission wished, she would continue to pursue design concepts looking for the best fit for the location. The filing was continued until November 5 to allow for more review.

            Coming before the commission with a Notice of Intent filing was John and Michelle Vinagre of 7 Ginny’s Drive for the construction of a 40×36-foot garage and associated driveway within a 100-foot buffer zone.

            Represented by engineer Stephen Chmiel, the project was described as including a 200-foot swale and permanent boundary markers. After Chmiel’s brief presentation, Farinon remarked, “The owners have been good stewards of the property.” She suggested that a positive Order of Conditions be issued. The project received conditioning.

            Also briefly coming before the commission was Sarah Rosenblat of SWEB Development USA representing Rochester Farms LLC and owner Craig Canning. Canning’s solar array project has been slowly working its way through the Conservation Commission review process for several months. All that came to a head on this night when the commission accepted the Abbreviated Notice of Resource Area Delineation of 3,850 feet of Bordering Vegetated Wetlands after Rosenblat pointed out the last remaining comments the commission requested on the plan of record. The project received the issuance of an Order of Resource Area Delineation.

            Another project receiving an Order of Resource Area Delineation was also for a solar array project. The filing of an Abbreviated Notice of Resource Area Delineation by Erica Buster, Quaker Lane, for 10,100 linear feet of Bordering Vegetated Wetlands and 1,600-feet of riverfront area met with approval after Jon Connel of SITEC, Inc. made the final presentation. Farinon suggested the approval and commented that peer review consultant John Rockwell of Marion had spent considerable time in the field making recommendations.

            Continued filings were two ANRADs, one for 0 Featherbed Lane and another for 0 Cushman Road filed by Joe Harrison of SunRise Investments. The hearing was continued to October 15.

            Also continued until October 15 was an NOI filed by REpurpose Properties for property located at Rounseville Road abutting Plumb Corner.

            The next meeting of the Rochester Conservation Commission is scheduled for October 15 at 7:00 pm in the Town Hall meeting room.

Rochester Conservation Commission

By Marilou Newell