HomeMy WebLinkAbout2009-07-16 Harbor Committee Minutes
City of Bangor
Harbor Committee Minutes
Meeting: Thursday, July 16, 2009
City council Chambers
Committee Members in Attendance: Richard Reinhard; Daniel Field; Jim Ring, City Engineer;
Daniel Cassidy; Robert Woods; Harbormaster, Jerry Ledwith; Susan Hawes, Council
Representative
Guest: Tracy Willette, Parks and Recreation Director
I May 14, 2009 minutes: Accepted as distributed
II Fiscal Year 2010 Budget Impacts on the Waterfront:
1. There shall be an approximate 50% reduction in the Waterfront Budget
2. Docks have already been place and will remain in for the year.
3. Effective immediately the Assistant Harbor Master Position will not be filled; the
Harbormaster position is reduced from 40 to 32 hours, in FY 2010 it will be further reduced
to a $1,500.00/yr position
4. Docks 5 and either 2 or 3 will be placed for Summer 2010. Other docks will be stored.
Suggestions raised in discussion
Consider an arrangement to partner with an independent contractor to run the docks
available for private vessels. This would allow continuation of waterfront activities
with no or perhaps minimal cost to the city.
Ladders should be installed for safety since there will be no personnel present on
the docks
Corporate financial sponsorship of some waterfront facilities should be explored.
III Updates
Tar Remediation
City Engineer, Jim Ring, reported that permitting is near completed, as is design with the
contracting process underway. The intent is to begin work in September with completion before
the ice is in this winter.
River Park Project
Construction has been delayed by the higher than expected rains. This year’s improvements,
including much of the underground utilities and water drainage work should be completed prior to
the Folk Festival.
IV Harbor Activities
The Economy and poor weather has limited waterfront usage. Activity is expected to be lower
than average this year. There will be more shore-side events this year, and this interest seems to be
increasing.
V Future Agenda Items
Harbor History Project – Report deferred until the next meeting
Army Corps permitting and future waterside usage will be addressed after all permitting
is completed for the Tar Remediation Project.
Development of a “Boating Club” should be explored. This could be an organization that
would foster activities on the Waterfront.
o August Harbor Committee Meeting – Discussion of what form this could take and
how it would interact with the city. Committee members will prepare concepts to
discuss initial thoughts at this meeting.
o October – An open meeting to bring together interested parties to discuss what
interests exist and how they may develop. Jim Ring will investigate a meeting site
for an evening 2 hour open forum
o Specific organizations should be targeted to participate. These should include (with
designated contact persons):
Penobscot River Keepers (Jerry Ledwith)
Maine Canoe and Kayak Racing Organization (Terry Willette)
Brewer Parks and Rec (Terry Willette)
University of Maine Club Rowing
MOAC (Maine Outdoor Adventure Club) (Dan Cassidy)
Bangor Parks and Rec
Paddle and Chowder Club
o Consider role of “adopt a dock”or similar such marketing that already exists for
some Bangor parks, (e.g. Sea Dog sponsorship of Dock 2). To this end, costs
figures for such a sponsorship program should be reviewed by the committee