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HomeMy Public PortalAboutPleasant Bay Alliance -- 2011-06-14 Minutes Pleasant Bay Alliance Steering Committee Meeting Minutes June 14,2011, 4 pm Brewster Town Hall Attending: ADM Thompson, Judith Bruce, Fran McCiennen, Chuck Bartlett, Chris Miller,Larry Ballantine. Coordinator: Carole Ridley. Guest: Russ Schell (Brewster) The meeting was convened the meeting at 4 p.m. Minutes of May 10, 2011 were approved unanimously. Reorganization ARM noted that the June meeting is the meeting for reorganization. Nominations for Chair were opened. Judith nominated AIlin, and the motion was seconded. The vote was unanimous. Nominations for Vice Chair were opened, Ailin nominated Judith, and the nomination was seconded. The vote was unanimous. Nominations for Treasurer were opened. Jane Harris was nominated and the motion was seconded. The vote was unanimous. Coordinators Report: The website, www.pleasantbay.org is up and running. The next Muddy Creek team meeting is Wednesday. June 15th Materials for the meeting were emailed out today. A request has been made to provide more time to review materials prior to meetings. The project is moving along well and on schedule. An interesting discussion at the last team meeting focused on the question of providing recreational access through a culvert, to allow kayaks etc to enter Muddy Creek from Pleasant Bay. Some safety- issues were brought up in view of the 100-foot length of the culvert. These will he examined as design concepts arc raised. A proposal from Graham Giese was circulated. The proposal would combine historic tide gage data from Meetinghouse Pond and the Fish Pier, and provide and analysis and report. The Committee requested that Carole review the proposal with Conservation Agents to see of this is something they would find useful, or if they would moth tw the proposal in any way. Chris also suggested that Steve McKenna he contacted for input and to see if MCZM had any funds available. There was a unanimous vote to fund the proposal up to$9,000 pending feedback from the Conservation Agents. The dredging background paper, draft resource management plan amendment and figures were reviewed. Carole explained that the T1zC held a meeting with six members present. The documents and figures were revised based on that input: to include reference to safe haven for the commercial fleet;to note the fact that the increased tide range is making low tides lower, which makes navigation difficult in some areas; to note that the only i reason these areas are improvement dredging is because Chatham did not get permits to dredge prior to the ACEC d:signation; and to add reference to historical depths and vessel sizes. Carole noted that the sense of the TRC is that the documents should he sent to state officials as a draft,so that they can provide input and offer clarification on the variance process. One open question is whether a variance would be granted for an area or on a project by project basis. Judith expressed concern about the effects of dredging in general. and that once the variance process was open, it would be likely that dredging projects would get permitted. She also expressed concern that allowing dredging might be a w,ay for people to push back on wastewater infrastructure. However she was supportive of the changes, and of sending the draft to the state for review and clarification. Larry noted that the work group and TRC had taken a close look at the issues and felt that this was an indication that the next step should be taken. It was voted that the package of dredging material should he send to the state as a draft for comment and clarification on the variance process. As is customary, the Steering Committee agreed not to schedule a meeting in July and August, and to meet only if the need arises. Carole will keep the Committee updated on activities via email. The next scheduled Steering Committee meeting will be 4 pm on Tuesday, September 13th at Brewster Town Hall. The meeting was adjourned at 5:30 pin. Signed Date // . e/LO .