Just when it seemed as though things were coming together for the Marion Harbormaster Department, the recent loss of two key staff members has Harbormaster Adam Murphy once again improvising during an extremely busy season.
Carl MacDermott, retired from his job as a captain in the Bridgewater Police Department, is working 40-plus hours a week to help Marion mitigate the departures of Dave Wilson and Andrew Miller from key positions in the Harbormaster Department.
Murphy has been so impressed with MacDermott’s assistance that he assured the Marion Marine Resources Commission during its meeting Monday night that MacDermott can speak for the department.
“If I’m not around, just please find Carl. Publicly, I want to thank Carl MacDermott for that. He’s been pretty motivational to me to keep us charging in the right direction,” said Murphy.
Wilson took a job with the Army Corps of Engineers, and Miller left to work for Homeland Security. The loss of the experienced Wilson especially stings because of his willingness to perform rescue missions in difficult conditions, something Murphy said is hard to find.
“I’m confident, we’ve got a good group of guys,” said Murphy, noting that Nick Favroski is splitting his time working for the Harbormaster Department and Barden’s Boat Yard.
The personnel changes come at an otherwise-triumphant time for the Harbormaster Department, its shiny new office rising high and overlooking Sippican Harbor from Island Wharf. Murphy estimates that the new building will become operational in October.
“I want to get it right, do it right,” he said, noting that furniture delivery is estimated to be five weeks out.
Meantime, the much smaller, existing office was recently taken down from its elevated underpinnings and has been relocated at the end of Island Wharf where it remains powered up and fully operational.
There has been lively discussion as to the destiny the 43-years “staple of the harbor.” Murphy is interested in possibly relocated the building at Old Landing, but the one thing all stakeholders agree on is its capacity to continue serving the town.
Other changes at Island Wharf include the removal of one of the two bathrooms at the site and the opening up of the area now furnished with picnic tables.
“Next step, bar-height bar stools,” said Murphy, admittedly concerned about their security but noting that “the Facilities Department is doing a fantastic job.” There is no longer a roof at the old Harbormaster site, but MRC member Greg Houdelette has received positive feedback about the umbrellas now present.
“The people I’ve talked to say it’s a wonderful move,” he said.
Member Ray Cullum said the feedback he has received is always about public access.
“The vision’s starting to come together,” said Murphy, who hopes to see another major project at Island Wharf completed.
The Harbormaster Department is trying to procure grant funding to replace the seawall and is scheduled to appear before the town’s Conservation Commission this month.
Murphy’s request will be to peel back 3 feet from the seawall and slow down the process of erosion by supporting the wall with a riprap construction atop the wall. The plan would include a 3-foot retainer of stone adjacent to the seawall. If his method is not approved, he’s concerned that the finish grades at the site will wind up in the water.
Regarding the parking situation at Island Wharf, Murphy has requested the Select Board schedule the Marine Resources Commission for a conference to achieve a mutual understanding of the competing uses of the parking lot.
Amidst the construction projects, the department removed the upweller. Where it concerns aquaculture, the buck still stops with Murphy, but he is hoping to delegate those duties going forward. MRC member Scott Cowell said he is willing to help manage the town’s shellfish program.
Another major topic of discussion on Monday night was mooring management. As of Monday, Marion had 118 uninspected moorings. Of the 118, 60 are located in inner harbor.
Murphy was shell-shocked at the response he has received since taking orange violation stickers purchased a half-dozen years ago and applying them this summer to inform boat owners who are overdue for their required mooring inspections.
“My email blew up. Then I had people ratting themselves out,” he said. “It’s cleaning up a lot of the issues. If you get any complaints, that’s what’s driving it. Some inspections have been done, but the divers aren’t getting their paperwork done.”
Within the next week, a new database will allow inspectors to electronically update information, something Murphy wants to see happen within 10 days of an inspection. “Once the online system is up and running, there’s no excuse for it,” he said.
MRC member Cheryl Souza is assisting the town with implementation of the new database.
Murphy also noted that Marion’s inner harbor has 12 open moorings among 200. “That’s a lot of revenue,” he said. There are 280 people on the waiting list for a mooring in Marion.
The members engaged in a lively discussion regarding the regulations governing the use of winter sticks (in place of moorings) and harbor safety.
Murphy shared with the commissioners that Marion performed 146 pump-out operations last week, compared to eight he said that were performed in Mattapoisett.
The estimated delivery date of the town’s new patrol boat is May 5, 2025.
The next meeting of the Marion Marine Resources Commission is scheduled for Tuesday, September 24, at 7:00 pm at the Police Station.
Marion Marine Resources Commission
By Mick Colageo