1995-Annual Town Report - Laserfiche WebLink

Home Browse Search

Report of the port for this effort and for the actual dredging from wherever the funds are available. Waterways Commission Zoning By-law Changes To the Honorable Board of Selectmen We requested of the Executive Secretary and the and the Citizens of Mashpee: Planning Board that the Zoning By-laws (Chapter The Waterways Commission has been quite active 174) be amended to correctly reflect the name of the this year and has worked on a number of issues. Our "Waterways Commission" as opposed to the "Inland activities are summarized below: and Coastal Waterways Committee" as it used to be known. A public hearing was held as required by the Revised By-Laws Zoning By-Law, and we anticipate an article in the May 1996 Town Meeting to effect the change. We worked closely with the Harbormaster Depart- Aquaculture ment and re-wrote the Waterways By-laws (Chapter 170) to bring them up to date and make them consis- We began looking into the issues pertaining to use tent with the Massachusetts General Laws. The by- of the waterways for commercial aquaculture farms laws were adopted by the Town Meeting in October, because of recent high interest on the part of prospec- and will become effective after the Attorney General has approved them and a public notice is published. tive growers and the state government. As it is now, We expect this to happen sometime in 1996. we have recreational and commercial shellfishing being conducted in waters shared by boat mooring We also started a review and updating of the water- fields, docks, and swimmers, with little or no con- ways related regulations.These include the Waterways tention.However,if aquaculture becomes an extensive Regulations, Mooring Regulations, and Regulations venture in our waters, there may be contention among pertaining to the Public Access Boat Ramp at Mash- the users pee-Wakeby Pond. Boat Parade County Dredge Bill McKay, a member of the Mashpee 125th Ben Gordon has served as our representative to the anniversary committee, met with us several times to County Dredge project, and has served on the com- plan a boat parade to be held on 3 July 95. The parade mittee tasked to hire the Dredge Superintendent. The was a success, although there were a limited number dredge is in the process of being built, and is expected of boats and an un-cooperative fog off the Coast. Anne to be put into service in the fall of 1996. and Ben Gordon led the parade in the"BB Marshmal- low", a 35 foot Sea Ray. We don't know if it was Dredging because he had the biggest boat, the best decorations, or was just first in line, but anyway he won top honors We initiated action to renew former dredging from the judges stationed at the new State facility at mits in Waquoit and Popponesset Bays, and all p er-so to g South Cape Beach. Bill had to suffer the indignity of acquire new dredging permits for the Mashpee River being towed home when his antique engine decided to and Ockway Bay. We prepared and issued a Request quit, but we hope he will organize a similar event for For Proposal (RFP) for engineering services to obtain this summer. the permits, but found that the total scope of effort In conclusion, we are looking forward to another exceeded the amount of money appropriated at Town safe boating season this year, and wish you all the Meeting. It seems that the amount of sampling and testing of sediments, marine life, and water quality same. Plus engineering services needed to satisfy the approx- imately 18 agencies that are involved has become Respectfully submitted, quite expensive. It is particularly expensive and time James P. Hanks, Chairman consuming to obtain permits for areas that have not Bennet E. Gordon, Jr., PhD, Vice-Chairman been dredged before. Frederick J. Fordham Frank Dan Homeyer We are revising the first RFP to be two RFPs; the Donald R. Lund first will be to permit the maintenance dredging of William E. Rowland Waquoit and Popponesset areas, and the second is for Herbert Silver the Mashpee River. We will be seeking funding sup- 133