HomeMy WebLinkAbout2007-09-12 Harbor Committee Minutes
City of Bangor Harbor Committee Minutes
Meeting: Wednesday, September 12, 2007
Harbor Master’s Bldg, 88 Front Street
Committee Members in Attendance:
Michael Gilmore, Chairman; Richard Reinhart, Daniel Cassidy, Scribe
City Staff:
Jim Ring, City Chief Engineer; Councilor Geoffrey Gratwick
Minutes of the August 8, 2007 meeting were accepted
Follow-up Discussion:
Jim Ring reported continuing to work with Ron Gastia, Chief of police on security cameras for
at least the seasonal dock and the heavy cruise ship dock. Hopefully this can be funded in part with
Homeland Security Funds.
It was reported that two additional cruising guides, the Embassy Guide and Points East do not
even list the Port of Bangor facilities.
1. Budget
Jim Ring reviewed in detail the Harbor Budget.
The current year budget is $68,811 which is offset by specific harbor revenue of $32,596 with the
difference covered by the city’s general fund.
The fiscal year begins in July, thus each single operating season straddles two fiscal years. Budget
requests for the following year must be submitted by February.
The personnel budget is $17,819 which covers the Harbormaster for 26 weeks (40 hrs) and a Harbor
Assistant for 13 weeks (30 hrs).
2. Role of the Committee in Planning
The committee discussed developing a specific plan for the Harbor. Aspects of this plan would
include:
Develop a proposal for allocation of space/resources for serving a mix of visiting boaters and seasonal
boaters on the waterfront.
Establishing a timetable so that choosing any plan would be done in a timely fashion so as to allow
listing Bangor’s facilities in the 2008 cruising guides.
Coordinating such a plan to allow the timely booking of next year’s seasonal dock rentals.
Establish a specific calendar of committee work items through this winter and spring to meet these
goals.
Specific assignments before the next committee meeting are:
1. Jim Ring: Provide a Harbor Master job description; Develop a survey of other ports in the
Penobscot/Kennebec areas. The committee discussed searching out the cost for a 30 foot
vessel for mooring rental per night, week & season; dockage per foot per night, week &
season.
2. Dan Cassidy: Attempt to list the deadlines for submission of harbor information to the various
cruising guides to meet their next publication deadlines.
3. Geoff Gratwick, Dan Cassidy: Both would discuss with different divers the possibilities for
setting and maintaining moorings in the Harbor.
3. Harbor Activity
There have been 8 visiting boats since the last harbor committee meeting. This included the period of the
Folk Festival. This modest number is an actual increase in activity from earlier in the season.
4. Small Boat Access on the Waterfront
Renovations to the small up-river dock to have a wider ramp and low-access to accommodate hand carried
small craft were discussed, and one design was reviewed. This appears to be the easiest and least costly
solution.
Eventually shore access in Dunnett’s Cove (downriver of the coal tar reclamation site) offers some advantages
over the long term. This would involve a permitting process. Suggestions here might include a walk down
incline cut parallel to the shore line, or a walk-down ramp that would be removable over the winter river-ice
season.