1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 40 Town of Stockton Springs Harbor Committee July 9, 2015 Minutes 1. Call to Order The meeting was called to order at 7:07 p.m. 2. Roll Call Present: Bruce Suppes, Stanley Russell, Steve Henkel, Phil Dion, David Laing. Also Present: Les Bryant – Harbormaster, Peter Curley – Selectman, David Estes, Vern Thompson, Mac Smith – Recording Secretary. Absent: Darren Shute, Kenneth Wyman. Due to absence, Mr. Suppes appointed Mr. Laing and Mr. Dion as a voting member for the evening. 3. Minutes Motion was made, seconded and passed unanimously to approve the minutes of the June 11, 2015 meeting as corrected. 4. Harbormaster’s Report Harbormaster Les Bryant made the following report: Mr. Bryant thanked the condo association for the four new picnic tables at the harbor. They have been weatherized. Peter Hardester pointed out that the picnic tables are from a marketing group within the condo association. The rose bushes at the end of the Harbormaster’s shack are now gone and grass seed has been placed. Two water hoses on the docks have been repaired. __________________________________________________________________________ Approved – Harbor Committee July 9, 2015 Page 1 41 42 43 44 45 46 47 48 49 50 51 52 53 54 55 56 57 58 59 60 61 62 63 64 65 66 67 68 69 70 71 72 73 74 75 76 77 78 79 80 A hose on the pump-out barge has been repaired. The Harbormaster’s Boat is in the water and running pretty good. Mr. Bryant thanked Mr. Suppes for having the ladders welded. There is not a box for lifejackets yet. There was a car-parking safety issue in the past few weeks. The late fee letter will go out as soon as possible. A sign is needed regarding not dumping household trash at the harbor. There are four unpaid moorings, eight or nine late fees, and approximately five people on the mooring waiting list. 5. Financial Report Mr. Suppes presented the financial report. 6. Old Business LED Lighting - Discussion of the progress of the placement of LED lighting at the harbor was tabled due to Mr. Shute’s absence. Harbor Improvements - There was discussion of the septic, the new picnic tables, and the planned new flag pole at the harbor. The septic has not been pumped yet. Mr. Hardester said the American Legion wants to be involved in refurbishing the flagpole. Hermione - There was discussion regarding the visit of the Hermione to Castine. Vern Thompson said the boat that Melissa Terry planned to run for the event was not going to be available. Sight-Seeing Boat - Mr. Thompson updated the Harbor Committee on the sight-seeing boat project. He said the Select Board would be checking out the proposed parking location and __________________________________________________________________________ Approved – Harbor Committee July 9, 2015 Page 2 81 82 83 84 85 86 87 88 89 90 91 92 93 94 95 96 97 98 99 100 101 102 103 104 105 106 107 108 109 110 111 112 113 114 115 116 117 118 119 he was waiting for their approval. Mr. Suppes asked Mr. Thompson if he would return when the project was closer to reality. Mr. Thompson replied in the affirmative. Mr. Curley asked Mr. Thompson if he would be going to the Planning Board regarding the project. Mr. Thompson said he believed he did not have to but would if necessary. Mr. Curley advised Mr. Thompson to check with John Larson, the town’s Code Enforcement Officer. Assistant Harbormaster - Mr. Suppes updated the committee regarding David Estes’ offer to serve as Assistant Harbormaster on a volunteer basis. Mr. Suppes said he did not take the issue to the Select Board because two Select Board members were in attendance at the meeting at which Mr. Estes volunteered. Mr. Suppes said there had been some discussion regarding the proper procedure for filling a new position. Mr. Curley said there was only one Select Board member present at the meeting and that the issue had been raised with the Town Manager. Mr. Curley said the Town Manager raised concerns regarding liability in the event of injury and other issues. Mr. Curley said at this point it is a dead issue. Mr. Dion said he thinks the Assistant Harbormaster position is a good idea and would like to move forward with the idea and creating a position description. Mr. Russell said the idea should be brought before the Select Board to create the position and that the Harbor Committee had to think about possibly funding the position in the future. Motion was made, seconded, and passed unanimously to bring before the Select Board the possibility of creating an Assistant Harbormaster position, with compensation to be determined year by year. Harbor Ordinance - A copy of the revised Harbor Ordinance was passed out. 7. New Business Election of Officers – Bruce Suppes was nominated to be Chair of the Harbor Committee. Steve Henkel was also nominated. Mr. Henkel declined the nomination. Mr. Suppes advised the committee that when his house sells, he will be leaving town. The vote was 4-0-1, with Mr. Suppes abstaining, to elect Bruce Suppes as Chair of the Harbor Committee. __________________________________________________________________________ Approved – Harbor Committee July 9, 2015 Page 3 120 121 122 123 124 125 126 127 128 129 130 131 132 133 134 135 136 137 138 139 140 141 142 143 144 145 146 147 148 149 150 151 152 153 154 Darren Shute was nominated as Vice Chair of the Harbor Committee. The issue was tabled due to Mr. Shute’s absence. Harbor Ordinance By Laws - Mr. Suppes said at the next meeting the committee should revisit the committee’s by laws. He said the position of Secretary is listed but not necessary, as the town’s Recording Secretary is doing a fine job. Mr. Suppes said he would like to continue auditing the books but establish an official auditor. Parking Signage - There was discussion of no parking signs. The issue of cars parking on both sides of the road and causing a hazard was discussed. There was discussion about which side of the road cars should use to park on. There was discussion of cutting back some brush to enhance visibility. Lifejackets - There was discussion of placement of a box for lifejackets. Mr. Suppes asked if the committee should build its own. Mr. Russell suggested the vocational school might build it. It was the committee’s consensus that Mr. Russell’s idea was a good one. Mr. Suppes and Mr. Bryant said they would come up with a rough drawing. Flag Pole - Mr. Hardester said the American Legion did not like the proposed spot for the flagpole. The consensus of the committee was that Bruce Suppes should talk to the Town Manager about the issue. Dingy Tie-Up - Mr. Dion raised a concern about the tie-up for dinghies. He said his dingy was damaged due to another dingy tied up next to his. He said he counted seventeen dinghies without stickers. Mr. Bryant said the policy has always been first come, first serve. Mr. Suppes raised the possibility of assigned spots. Mr. Suppes asked Mr. Bryant to come up with a better dingy layout for next year. 8. Adjournment Motion was made, seconded and passed unanimously to adjourn. The meeting was adjourned at 8:40 p.m. __________________________________________________________________________ Approved – Harbor Committee July 9, 2015 Page 4