HomeMy WebLinkAbout2007-11-13 Harbor Committee Minutes
City of Bangor Harbor Committee Minutes
Meeting: Tuesday, November 13, 2007
City Council Chamber
Committee Members in Attendance:
Councilor Peter D’Errico; Daniel Cassidy, Temp chair
City Staff:
Jim Ring, City Chief Engineer; Jerry Ledwith, Harbormaster
Guests: Councilor Geoffrey Gratwick
Minutes from October 17 were reviewed.
1. Submissions for Cruising Guides
Modifications+ of the Bangor entry for A Cruising Guide to the Maine Coast were submitted to the author.
This highlighted the availability of 10 moorings for the 2008 season, as well as other community assets which
cruisers would find attractive.
The process for making updates to other guides will be investigated, and a plan for further updates will be
made.
2. Mooring Logistics, Dockage Issues.
The process is underway to have moorings set for this coming year.
A suggested mooring and dockage fee structure will be developed for submission to the council at the
December meeting.
Suggestions for dock allocations, and policies will also be part of the agenda for the December and
January meetings. These need to be in place by February when notices are sent to the seasonal dockage
customers.
3. Security
Homeland security funds will hopefully be available to provide video surveillance for harbor security. Efforts
to secure these funds are ongoing.
4. Harbor Master Job Description/Waterfront procedures
The harbormaster’s job description previously prepared by Jerry Ludwith, was circulated and reviewed.
Minor modifications were suggested. The document is attached. It was suggested that this undergo an
annual review.
Policies and procedures need to be developed to cover periods when the harbormaster/harbor assistant
are not available for incoming vessels (i.e. spring/fall shoulder seasons; after hours high season). These
will be addressed at future meetings.
At some point a work/study position for a Maine Maritime Academy student could be considered.
5. Small Boat Access
Small boat (defined as hand carried, hand powered) in-town access on the Brewer side has be
eliminated with their shoreline rehabilitation project. Two efforts are in process on the Bangor side.
i. Improved access on the up-river dock with a widened gangway and an attached “low dock”
access
ii. Longer range consideration of a small boat access point in the Dunnett Cove area.
7. Harbor Activity
The Coast Guard will station an icebreaker in Bangor over this coming winter. This was applauded as a
favorable development.
Ciambro’s Eastern Fine Paper facility will be shipping product on the River. Jim Ring noted that they
will be dredging a channel. Little else is known of the details of their plans.
8. Tar Remediation
Jim Ring and the City have ongoing consultations with experts to work out the details of this project. Core
samples combined with GPS precision mapping of the area is currently underway.
9. Future Agenda items
December – Discussion of fee structure for moorings/dockage to be submitted to the Council
December/January – Discussion of procedures for allocation of dockage and moorings for seasonal and
transient craft.
March – Invitation to Brewer to send a representative to discuss mutual issues related to the Harbor.
City of Bangor
HARBOR MASTER JOB DESCRIPTION
PORT OF BANGOR
GENERAL RESPONSIBIILTY:
Primary responsibility is limited to the harbor, channels, contiguous public lands and city structures. Duties and
powers are defined by the following referenced rules and regulations:
a. 38 M.R.S.A. Sections as amended.
b. Chapter 140, Municipal Ordinance, Bangor, ME.
c. Rules of the Road, International and Inland U.S. Coast Guard (NAVRULES - Colregs).
d. FCC Rules, Part 83.
e. Maine Marine Resources Laws contained in Statutes (Title 12, 32, 17, 10, and 38).
RESPONSIBLE TO:
The Harbor Master reports directly to the City Manager or his/her designate and shall be appointed annually by
City Council.
SPECIFIC JOB RESPONSIBILITIES:
The following are duties customarily required of the Harbor Master:
1. Allocates and regulates mooring spaces in the harbor. Assigns mooring numbers, collects any
fees, maintains mooring records and technical specifications of ground tackle. Administers the
annual registrations of moorings.
2. Assists mooring applicants in defining ground tackle requirements to ensure minimum
specifications are maintained, depending on location, boat size, and configurations.
3. Supervise the placement of each mooring, and periodically verify its condition and position, to
ensure the safety of vessel, adequacy of swing room and best use of available space. When
required, he shall order any deficiencies corrected.
4. Establishes and maintains anchorage areas and transient channels.
5. Maintains private aids to navigation in accordance with U.S. Coast Guard Regulations.
6. Keep the harbor and channels free of obstructions and insure the proper use of the Rules of the
Road.
7. Seasonally monitor VHF channel 16 radio frequency during normal working hours and maintain
communications with harbor traffic as necessary.
8. Patrol the harbor to ensure compliance with State and local marine resource laws. Assist other
law enforcement agencies in their duties.
9. Maintain current local marine charts, coast pilot, tide calculator, and post local notice to
mariners.
10. Be alert to any pollution in the harbor. Investigate and report to the Maine Department of
Environmental Protection and the U.S. Coast Guard, as required. Monitor cleanup and assist
within the capabilities of the Department.
11. Control the use of all public docks, floats, boats, moorings, and collect fees as established by
City Council Order.
12. Maintain visiting vessel schedules and coordinate anchorages, assist pilot's crew and passengers
to ensure the highest degree of safety practical.
13. Make harbor checks for overdue or missing vessels as requested by other agencies and assist in
rescues or other emergencies within the capabilities of the department including, but not limited
to maintenance of an emergency harbor plan and keeping available equipment in a high state of
readiness.
14. Assist vessels during first port of entry from a foreign port in obtaining U.S. Customs Clearance.
15. Monitor the condition of all docks, floats, moorings, utilities, structures, and harbor master boat
for proper and safe operation. Report all deficiencies to appropriate departments.
16. Provide essential and customary courtesy services to the local and visiting public as the position
is one of high visibility and may be the only contact between the public and local officials.
17. Participate in harbor planning, and act as a non-voting member of the Harbor Committee.
18. Maintain appropriate records, logs, and files as required.
19. Supervise and direct the activities of subordinates when assigned.
20. Maintain liaison with federal, state, local, public, private agencies and organizations.
21. Perform other duties as assigned by the City Manager or designee.
KNOWLEDGE:
1. Commercial and recreational marine industry.
2. Maritime law and navigational science.
3. Marlinespike seamanship.
4. Small boat Nomenclature.
5. Ground tackle and appendages as they relate to moorings, floats, and navigational aids.
6. Marine construction sufficient to recognize need or deterioration of existing plant and oversee
new construction or repairs.
SKILLS:
1. Small boat handling and navigation.
2. Oral and written communication skills.
3. Administrative and organizational procedures.
ABILITIES:
1. Establish and maintain long and short range planning.
2. Maintain good relations with the general public, fellow employees, and other agencies.
PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS:
1. 2 or 4 year degree in marine management skills.
2. Five years experience in a marine-oriented industry, public or private.
3. Ability to operate small craft.
4. Class III Maine State driver's license.
5. Experience afloat in an ocean-going vessel with duties pertaining to deck, navigation, and
operational specialties.
6. Law enforcement experience or training.
7. Any equivalent combination of experience or training.
Reviewed, Harbor Committee 11/07