Modernizing its operations and communicating with town authorities on what the function of the marine department should be were topics discussed at Monday night’s Marion Marine Resources Commission meeting at the Music Hall.
MRC members talked about the need for repairing a seawall, a town structure. Members expressed concern that town authorities will ask the MRC to cover entire costs for the project, although the structure is a town entity.
Interim Harbormaster Adam Murphy said there are discussions that it will cost $9,000 to design and engineer a grant for the project. The deadline is approaching in February.
MRC members said the commission generates revenue but some of that revenue goes into the general town treasury. However, when it comes to funding Waterways projects, the MRC cannot access those funds, yet is expected to help finance some major projects.
Members said it might be wise to set up a meeting with Town Administrator Geoffrey Gorman, so all sources know what the expectations are for the MRC and for the town at large.
Murphy, who is in regular talks with Chief of Police Richard Nighelli, agreed. He proposed a meeting with the MRC, Gorman and Nighelli to iron out what the funding and enforcement expectations are for all sources connected to Waterways issues.
“We need to change (funding) mechanisms so we are maintaining facilities with the appropriate funds,” Murphy said.
“Some of this is normal, smalltown stuff we are going to take care of, but when we talk about serious money, then (town authorities) say, ‘We’re not it,'” MRC Chairman Vin Malkoski said.
MRC member Cheryl Souza said events such as a pier “washing out” raises questions as to responsible department and funding sources.
Murphy also discussed introducing a fob system for using a public watering hose by Old Landing and something similar for public showers. Murphy said his staff shut down the watering hose by Old Landing because boaters were leaving the hose on and wasting water. He also said that hose required quarters, making for a difficult collection process. Murphy shared stories of how he and other staff have walked into a bank with a bucket of quarters. He also said some people have used public shower facilities as urinals.
On a similar note, the MRC has streamlined the process for mooring boats – a computerized system in which boaters and town authorities can view the length of the docking chain, coordinates and specifications.
In other MRC business, Assistant Harbormaster David Wilson reported that despite heavy rains and a local algae bloom, town beaches and waterways are clean and in good shape for swimming so far. He also reported that the town, for the second consecutive year, received a shipment of dead quahogs.
MRC members said it is likely a shipment issue as authorities are receiving a shipment of undersized quahogs.
The next meeting of the Marion Marine Resources Commission is scheduled for Monday, August 21, at 7:00 pm at the Music Hall.
Marine Resources Commission
By Jeffrey D. Wagner