3/2/1999 WATERWAYS COMMISSION Minutes

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ATA HI'EE WATERWAYS OMMU ION MINUTES,2 MARCH 1999 hairrnan Jing Hanks called the meeting to order at 7:00 p.m. in Conference Rooms.##3,Mashpee Town Hall, Present: Jim Hanks,Bill Taylor, Jerry Daly,Paul Lumsden and Fred Fordham, Others: Ed Baker PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD: Mr. Baker said he believes the hang up on the Mashpee River Dredging has been in getting some kind of an agreement on disposal sites. Mr.Baker suggested that this Committee send a letter to the Conservation Commission regarding a preliminary meeting. Mr. Hanks said he and Mr.Daly met with Diane Borctos on January 29. Mr. Hanks stated that it was left up to us to provide then with a document that would lay out all the alternatives and the pros and cons on why we recommend which sites in what order. The next step is to get a draft into their hands by Tuesday of next week for them to review and tell us whether it is going to do the job or not, we would then send the document to the Conservation Commission under a cover letter,make a presentation, and have a hearing with thew, we may have Paul Lelito coxae with us to talk about the habitat improvement issue. Mr. Baker agreed with .fr. Danks. Mr. Baker went on to say that to hire there has been sort of a discussion between people who are not really the Conservation Commission,but the Conservation Agents, purporting to know what the Conservation Commission thinks. Mr. Hanks said originally he and Mr.Ellis had talked about digging up the Stenberg parcel and putting the dredged material there and then trucking it away from there, Mr, Ellis then went to Bob Sheerman and discussed the idea. Mr. Sherman thea went to the Conuidssion and told them the Harbormaster wanted to dig a big hole on the Stenberg parcel,put all the muck in there and leave it. Mr. Hanks went on to say that he did go to one conservation hcaring when the Commission was discussing plans for the memorial to Harry Desrosiers on the southern portion of the Stenberg pared. Mr. Hanks had asked them to postpone closing the hearing until they could hear an official position from the Waterways Commission, when he was assured that the use was not closed out because the area was not subject to the wetlands protection act,but was subject to the conservation laws}Mr. Banks withdrew the request with the understanding the Conservation ComiWsslon would listen to our proposals. Mr. Hanks stated he has not ruled out that parcel,because he believes we can get enough support to use it. Mr. Daly stated that he would favor the gully on the northern part of the Stenbenrg Parcel. Mr. Hanks pointed out to make that area work,there would have to be a lot of construction in the wetlands. Mr, Baker said if you looked at Mashpee's Focal Comprehensive Flan}there is a discussion of the potential that the Stenberg parcel be considered for canoe and small boat launch. Mr.Baker's interpretation is that this project would create a path to the water. His other thought, in the same portion of the plan, is that Mashpee really does not have any clearings with picnic tables. So far, the talk has been about restoring the property to as good or better in terms of wildlife habitat. Another thought he had was that there is no parking area on that side of the river. 1