So >> the signs are there. >> Thank you. >> Wireless. I'll get that. Sorry. U comes and does a little work, but she's sick. So, >> uh so anyhow, that's what's up with the
emit sign and I'll put it back in the spring. >> Okay. >> Uh number two and a half, which is not on your agenda. I have invited our new town administrator to step in when it's convenient for him and
say hello. So, that may happen depending on if it's convenient for him. >> Very good. >> He uh was going to come today, but apparently had a flat tire, I'm told. >> You mean he was going to he didn't come
to work at all because of a flat tire? >> I'm not uh privy to that information. All I know is >> somebody told me that he was hoping to come tonight to this meeting. >> Ah, okay. Well, good. There's always next month. Uh, number three, if we can
move along, uh, is head wall repair Wendy Henderson. >> Mr. Woodall has not gotten back to me with an estimate. He had said he would be willing to give us an estimate, but he has not done that and I followed up with him day before yesterday and still
haven't heard anything from him. So, I think we should either shop for someone else or plan B. >> I think we need to shop for someone else. Um, somewhere in the file cabinets back there, there are the records of a company that was I think they were from
Marian or Matapoet that did the original wall work and they were great. >> So, >> the other side, the east side was Dartmouth. Um, was >> I know who it was. >> Oh, >> yeah. But they didn't want to bid on the
west side, >> right? But maybe they've got time now. I [clears throat] do repairs. >> So, um, so we we'll have to get >> Dave Maderas, but I can't remember the name of his company. >> We have to get some estimate of >> what level of official going out to quote we need to do cuz
>> right >> depending on the amount you do need to be >> the procurement act >> more or less organized about that. >> Yeah. >> And what level of work do we want done? I mean, we could probably get the town
to fill in with larger rip wrap and stabilize things, but >> I mean, it's not rebuilding the wall the way it should be. I mean, one capstone is in the river. >> Mhm. >> That should be should be removed and replaced, but I suppose we need to decide what that level of work is. I
guess or we could ask for >> I mean a whole rebuild like they did last time. Yeah. Maybe we could if you can get in touch with that guy and see if he'll come and advise us and I'd be happy to pay his hourly rate and would entertain a motion
to pay his hourly rate to do an evaluation. >> So moved. >> Second. >> I will contact him and >> and offer to pay him his hourly rate to come and
think about it. I think we should vote. >> Yeah. >> All in favor? >> I I >> motion I >> This was to reach out to Dave Maderos. Is that Yes. >> Yeah. I don't know the name of his company. I'll let I'll let you know. It
isn't Dartmouth Stone. No, it isn't. >> Okay. I remember it. >> Okay. Um we are at Hicksbridge Landing. Um,
next steps. Uh we have met on site with the engineer from GZA and his permitting specialist from GZA and they're making and along with the conservation agent
who was our town conservation agent who is fully in impressed and I think approving of what they plan to do and they have a strategy for how to approach the various regulatory bodies that are
way beyond my ability to remember and report but they are organized and so they are moving ahead with what they are doing and we will continue to find out. There are also two pending grants for
many many dollars that we have submitted through the help of the planning board which is great. Um, so we hope to have more money coming in soon also. And >> that money could be used towards design as well as construction or just
construction or >> a lot of it is permitting and >> uh and then also potentially matching funds for actual construction. And a lot of this again is beyond my full understanding, but if we get the money, we will let you
know what it's for when we get it. Is that submitted to this to the Commonwealth? >> The grants, who are the applications submitted to? >> You mean who's the money coming from? Uh >> the >> don't know exactly. >> Okay.
So that's what we know about that. M I may >> Yeah. >> ask a question on this even though I'm not a member of the committee. So you visited with us select board a little while ago and talked about the landing and made it pretty clear I think that this is really our select board responsibility.
>> Mhm. >> Um and I think that was well wellreceived. Um I was wondering later on what then should we be doing uh in the meantime? Is there a role is is it something that Mr. the fatality should be getting
involved in now. Sort of like a handoff from the Riottown administrator to the new one. Is are we in a pause until we uh because I I don't think they know what to do and I don't you know what what our next step should be or would
you be >> formally saying folks it's time for you to take over? >> Right. Well, but on some level we've never been in charge of that landing. >> All right. Uh, and on some level, nobody
has been in a structured way in charge of that landing. >> I mean, the new marine services director didn't even know that it was his responsibility because that was not passed on to him. So, he didn't know that he had to arrange to get the floats taken out,
for example. Um, and I I did send him a notice of today's meeting and I'm trying to include him in some of our meetings because it's more than just Hicksbridge. >> But I think the town needs to someone needs to do some writing about
what needs to be done. >> Some thinking about what are the tasks seasonally that need to be done there. What are the budgets relative to that that need to be reviewed and whose responsibility is that? and how are you going to fund that responsibility?
>> Mhm. >> Um and particularly if you know as we go through this process of rehabilitating it uh there's going to be decisions to be made
about that. I mean we we have involved the new marine service harbor master as much as we can >> uh and it's sort of rolling along and with the help of the planning board um
and I think a lot there won't be that many decisions that will involve the select board but I think that the select board needs to identify who's in charge of that and and what are the responsibilities because I don't that was ever really written down. It was
sort of passed down >> and in a slightly haphazard way over over the decades. I'm not blaming anybody. It's how a lot of business in Westport has been done. >> Um >> yeah, I just want to keep the ball rolling and keep the select board. They're kind of busy, but if we can
focus on this >> to the extent it's needed, >> then they will appoint it might be the the town administrator anyway, >> but maybe not. Um, but he should be involved and understand what is actually taking place, what the history is here. >> Mhm.
>> I would suggest if you have time to sit down with him and just go over this or if you want me to be there, that'd be fine, too. >> I'm sorry. Sit down with who? >> The new town administrator. >> Yep. >> Yeah. Cuz he's probably going to end up with it in one way, shape, or form, >> right? >> And uh that would that would get on his
list, so to speak. >> He may not be I doubt that he's aware of, >> right? And there's an item uh later on in the business not anticipated time of posting that will be relevant to that so that we can see what's going on.
>> Okay. Well, keep me involved if you wish and I'll do whatever you need. >> Yep. and and he coming from a local town that I think used to have a landing commission and now doesn't and they have multiple public facilities
and so he will have some experience in how things are administered there. >> Mhm. Oh yeah. >> Which will be useful. >> Well, he has a lot of experience I think will be useful in many y >> respects. >> [sighs] >> So, we are raging along here at two
minutes per item here. Uh, number five, Hicksbridge float bumpers. Wendy Henderson. We met with um Brendan Blunt who built the new docks at Hicksbridge to ask him for his advice
regarding the float bumpers bumpers for the floats on the face of the floats at Hicksbridge. um because some boats are getting not appropriately bumpered when they come into the the dock as as it is now.
And um Brandon sent us a estimate I received I think today. >> Um and Dharma Voyage has approved some funding to take care of that. So, um, I haven't presented to the harbor master
yet, but he was there at the meeting and endorsed what Brendan had suggested, which is vertical bumpers every two foot plus or minus on center over where the floats are. So, there's space between each section of floats that won't have the bumpers on them, but these vertical
bumpers will prevent or locks from ripping the ripping the bumpers off. And they should be pretty pretty durable. and they'll extend down below the bottom of the float so that if a boat, you know, tipped over a little bit further, it wouldn't catch on it and pull that
off. >> And this will also be good for like Boston whalers and skiffs and things. This is not just, but we certainly appreciate this estimate is for $2,367. the the efforts of Dharma Voyage to fund that and certainly it will make the
floats a little safer because it'll create a space so if if someone puts their hand between their boat and the float they will not get their hand pinched the way they they could. Um, just to be clear, the old old floats had
very old uh fire department hose nailed along and fire departments no longer use that kind of hose. So, it's sort of not available and this is going to be more effective.
So, thank you to Dharma Voyage. >> So, as long as Power Master is okay with it, I think we're good to roll with that. So hopefully have it installed before the ducks go back in the water in the spring. >> And again, this is the kind of thing this isn't really up to us.
>> Mhm. >> This should this should have gone to a select board, not us. >> But they're busy. >> Well, keep them working. You know, it's [laughter] job's the job, >> right? But I, you know, this is just becoming more clear unless
they at some point want to make it our responsibility officially. I mean, which I suppose they could do if they were they wanted to fund to restructure the landing commission so that we could do that. There are things
in the town charter that do suggest that the landing commission is responsible for more than just the properties that are deed to the landing commission. >> U and that's what I was told. And so there's been a difference of
opinion over past years, but the prevailing has been we only do the properties that are deed to us. Uh and but at the same time here we are helping out a lot with some properties that aren't needed to us.
>> So there you go. >> Well, it's one of our few landings where we can actually put a boat in the water at the landing. >> I [laughter] Well, it would seem to me that the select board had no issue with taking over responsibility.
>> But the question is what happens next? That's that's really what I want to stay on top of. >> Right. Yeah. And again, I think you can look at the model of what goes on in Dartmouth and other towns. >> Number six, uh, as people may know, the West Hicks
bridge landing is now installed and is actually being used even in the winter. Every time it snows, I see that there's wheel tracks left in the snow. >> So, and deer tracks, too. >> And deer trucks, too. [laughter] Um, there still needs to be some signage
installed and certainly one of the signs will say permit required. Uh, but if somebody doesn't want to buy a permit, they should be using it now because at some point that may change. Um,
and it occurred to me to invite the members of this commission and the highway department guys that built it and our liaison selectman to a noon noon time ribbon cutting ceremony
at some point in the future to be determined. I've checked with the the highway department. They think that they would make them feel great about doing it. Um, so I'm going away for a couple of weeks. Probably want to wait till it's a little bit warmer and get some of
those signs installed. Uh, and then I the highway department thought a noon time event would be best because there that's when they go to lunch and you would give us guys a little bit of extra lunch. So I will let you know that maybe a month from now on relatively short
notice when the weather is good. I wanted to ask a question on that. Just in observing the uh the land, the new layout, I noticed where the stones were. Uh was that a change from what uh had been discussed before? And even if it it
is and it isn't, I don't I don't really care. I was just wondering. So, there's a little entrance now. >> There's an entrance, >> a designated entrance, but I was concerned about the area between the road. And I'm drawing a little picture to myself right here. Uh, and the stones
kind of like to the west of of the entrance. There's room enough there to park cars if one wants to park uh, you know, the long way. And >> you mean parking kind of on the road >> almost? Well, is is a wider spot now
because of the movement of the rocks. So, you could put a car there without, you know, running into the road roadway. >> Well, it looks wider. Uh, and this was pretty carefully engineered and measured by myself and the highway department. The space between the what I'm calling
wheel stops >> and the asphalt is less than the space that used to be between the rocks and the asphalt. It may look like it's more because it's been graded, >> okay? >> But it's actually less. And we had to make a decision about how close to the
road do we get >> because we don't want people parking parallel on the road. And there will be a sign that says parking only at wheel stops. And we're just going to have to see if people start being
if people start parking parallel there, which would be potentially dangerous. >> Uh in which case we might have to move those wheel stops a little bit closer to the asphalt. We'll just have to kind of see. We did put we put them in line with the uh guard rail on the bridge which
was the advice of the highway surveyor. Um and you know the hope because if people start parking there too their their front or back will overlap the wheel stops a little bit. >> So and we and there's reflectors on them
so people won't hit them at night we hope. >> Okay. >> So that was the intention. >> Well that answers the question. I thought there was more space, but if there's not, then it's not an issue. >> It's because it's been graded, I think. Uh >> but people people park in crazy ways, too. So, we're just going to have to
see. >> Okay. >> Uh we also moved the historical sign in and I let the historical society know and they didn't get back to me, so I guess they're okay with it. >> Good.
And we'll be making a sign that says something here about mud season. Um because it will be there'll be a yellow plastic chain across the entrance when it gets to mud season because we don't
want people in there when they're going to sinking into it, especially until the grass grows back. Any questions about that? No. Hearing none, moving on to the spring elections number seven.
Uh, I need to report that I misinformed the public I made a mistake at our last two meetings. I thought my term had ended. It turns out I have another glorious year here. >> Yay.
>> Wonderful. [laughter] >> Oh boy. >> It's a good thing, I think, Jeff. >> Mhm. Yeah, >> Wendy will be leaving us. She's been very helpful. Uh, and will be missed and we may call on you for technical advice
at some point, but I know there's at least one person who's taken out papers and I fully expect to support him in that. And >> who's that? >> Sean Leech. >> So, I'm hoping that he'll actually get signatures and pass them in.
I may offer to get some signatures for him. Hold up. May I ask what is how long is the term commissioner? >> Three years. >> Three years. Okay. >> Seems like just yesterday. >> Yeah, I thought it was cuz I remember we talked about that. [laughter]
>> Well, anyway, this is good news. I'm glad uh we're here. >> Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. [clears throat and sighs] Number eight, past minutes approval. I think I dropped the ball on that one because I believe that you were not at
our last meeting. >> No, I was. I sent you the meet the minutes right after the meeting. >> Yeah, right afterwards. >> Really soon. >> You know, I looked for them because I was going to print them and bring them and distribute them >> and now I'm remembering that and I could
not find them. So, we'll have to do that at our next meeting. >> Sorry. That's part of why I was hoping not to do this anymore. >> [clears throat] [laughter] >> Other business not anticipated at time of posting.
I have three items. Uh in the past, we have never gotten around to asking for a warrant article to raise the overnight parking fee from its historical from I think probably a previous century $5.
Um, so I would like us to consider raising it. Um, the parking the parking penalty fee at the beach is 50. So it seemed like that might be consistent and easy enough
for the police department without printing new paperwork and stuff. So I would like to have some discussion about that and after discussion hopefully a motion. >> Is this like a penalty the $5 right now
>> or is this an actual Okay. >> Yeah. >> So this is an infraction basically, >> right? So if you park overnight and you get caught, >> it's $5. >> $5. That does not apply to Westport Point. Um, and people can still go to
some of the landings at night to fish. They're just not supposed to spend all night there. >> And this is just for the overnight parking. It's not the parking fine if they don't have a pass. >> That's the next item.
>> Okay. [laughter] >> So, what do people think? Is $50 enough? >> It's cheaper than the campgrounds. >> It's a start. >> Yeah, it's a big jump. And I mean, but I
don't think we've collected a whole lot on this fine either. >> I don't think it's ever been written. I don't think [laughter] it's worth the ink. >> I just have one question. This comes up all the time with these things because some people are may be unhappy
regardless of how much it is and how much it used to be. U is there's some appeal process here like if somebody has a truck and pickup truck and it gets stuck there or something. My sense is
speaking with uh and I'm sorry I've forgotten her name, but your administrative secretary that people [clears throat] come in and complain all the time about having been improperly ticketed and she
apparently adjudicates those complaints. So >> So there's no interaction with this committee. You're not involved in that. >> Correct. I mean, >> which is fine with me. I think that we would probably I expect I don't know exactly how this works but we would empower the police department make it
clear to them >> uh and because I think realistically it's going to probably happen on a complaint basis. >> I doubt that they're going to unless we start having a problem with people >> parking say behind the watershed building overnight a lot and basically
camping out there um I doubt that this is going to become a regularly enforced thing. I think it's more part of our concern was there was one or two people who started living at the head landing all summer
long >> with a tent and a vehicle. Now, the vehicle was actually parked on Drift Road, but I think potentially there's no overnight parking on Drift Road or any roads in town also. So, but
realistically, I don't expect the police to be to start patrolling for this. It's just when there is a problem, it gives us some enforcibility. >> Okay. Just curious. >> I would move that we
submit an artic warrant article to increase the overnight parking fine to $50. Is there any discussion of the motion hearing? None. >> All in favor?
>> Wait. Get a second. >> Second. I second that. >> Thank you. Moved and seconded. All in favor? I >> I I. Item B.
I'm not exactly sure what the fine is at Hicksbridge Landing. I think it's 25. >> That's kind of what I remember, >> I think. >> And from a discussion with the past harbor master, the amount of fees
taken in for parking stickers there in no way covers the the expenses of even having of the minor expenses that have gone on there in the past. So given that we we can ask for an
increase and asked to set a fine for the West Hicksbridge landing, I think we should encourage the select board to go along with that and
similarly request for the other one also because I mean my sense talking to the to the uh beach committee Even $50 is not enough to discourage people. Often times
>> it is not. >> How much is our Well, it's not our fee. Selectman's fee for parking uh to get a Hicks bridge pass. >> It went up >> $30. >> Yeah, I think it might be 30. >> I think it
>> And there's no senior discount. >> Okay. I think it was 15 and it it's now 30. >> I think it was 20. It went to 30 or it might have been 25. It went to 30. >> Yeah. In the finest 25. And I have to say that a couple officers were very
adilent about enforcing that last summer and I I welcome that. I think that they should. You know, they were doing their job. We'd see to the mayor sometimes twice a day, which is I think they were doing their job. So $50 would bring in some more money for the town for sure.
>> Well, and it would also preserve more parking for the people of the town because it'll be enough of a deterrent. >> So this is, if I may, just a permit for Hicks. The Hicks bridges east and west,
>> correct? Uh, have you got an opinion on the on this matter from the disability commission? >> No. Um, I believe for [snorts] there will be a disabled
spot at West Hicksbridge Landing. >> Okay. >> And certainly in the rebuild of East Hicks Bridge, there'll be two plus a pad and everything else. Um, and I believe that's either $200 or $300.
>> 300 for a if you park in a if you are not handicapped, I do not have a handicap placard and park in a handicapped spot. 300. >> Right. And I am not clear if, for example, a handicapped person
without a beach sticker but with a handicap placard parks for example at um at the Noble on the area that where you're supposed to have a parking permit from the town. Not they may not even have to have a beach
permit. >> You do need a beach permit, >> do you? >> You do. >> Okay, >> makes sense. So, >> you have to have a beach permit, but they if they have the handicap, they won't get the >> So, they just get a $50 fine. >> $50 fine.
>> Okay. Um, yeah, I I realize that this whole issue of why can't the public use West Hicks Landing because it's kind of a park, but there's so much pressure about maintaining access at that site for the
people of Westport and not the people from outside Westport that that's kind of how we had to go with there'll be permit parking there or we're not gonna let you open it at all. >> Well, that's different than what I'm bringing up.
>> Well, you ask me about the dis disability. >> Yeah. Well, I guess >> it would I'm just saying it would be nice if a disabled person from anywhere in the world could park at Hicksbridge, but they need a permit. >> Yeah, that wasn't even my question. I
was just wondering if this committee had the opportunity to avail themselves to opinion from the disability commission just as a matter of course. I think I think that's good for for all of us to do because we >> whether it's Jerry Webb Beach or East Beach or anything do it's just something we need to be more aware of.
>> Yeah. I meet with the chair of the disability commission >> for lunch every two weeks because he's my neighbor >> and uh I keep him apprised of how things are going on and he hasn't said anything about that. He did say so when's the sign going up?
>> Okay, that's good. You got rapport and that's if there's anything that needs to come up it will. >> Yep. Great. Great. >> For clarification, what would what's the question that we would ask the disability commission? Would it be >> if they have any opinion about
>> fine fine? >> Well, I was talking about the money quite frankly. Okay. >> The permit because the there was a question raised by the disability commission regarding the recent increase in the cherry web beach pass and it's the same for everybody. >> Mhm.
>> And they they weren't really complaining. just didn't have the opportunity to speak uh about it >> to us, the select board. I think they did have the opportunity to go before the beach committee earlier to talk about it. I'm not sure how that worked out.
>> What's the fine for not having a beach permit now? >> Uh I believe it's $50 for not having a beach permit and 300 if you're a nonhandic park in handicap. So 50 would be consistent with the beach.
>> That's my thought. Yeah. >> Mhm. >> Mhm. >> Speaking just about penalties. So, I'm a motion that we ask to have that increased to $50 to Hicksbridge fine. Second.
>> Is there discussion on the motion? >> Should we send that to the select board for their input because it's their landing? >> Oh, yeah. It's this is just a recommendation to them. >> Okay. your recommendation. Then I motion an approval from us about the West Hick
Bridge part of it. >> Generally, just so you know that I don't know who's going to write up these articles. Generally, they look for the board or the committee, whoever is submitting the article to submit it to
them in writing. They have legal review it and so forth. >> Okay? and they want those sooner rather than later because they're going to be looking at the town meeting warrant soon, aren't you? >> We talked about that last night and it's coming around. It's in February. I know
that, >> but we was explained that we really have a little more time than that, but the time is moving on as it always does. >> Well, I will I'm going away on Thursday for a week. Um, but I expect there's
been past warn articles about past increases that maybe somebody >> and a copy and paste. >> Yeah. [laughter] >> Work before. That brings us to does anybody else have any other business not anticipated at
the time of blah blah blah? Hearing none, let's set a next meeting date. Today is the sixth. There's historically not that much going on except we do have town meeting coming up.
So I would say either the could maybe push it to the 10th. Typically in the winter sometimes we've even gone two months but there is Hicksbridge happening and stuff too. >> February 10th. >> How about February 10th? 4:00
>> sold [sighs] and I am right now putting a calendar item in week ahead. LC agenda due Motion to adjurnn. Second. >> Sorry, what was the date? [laughter] >> February 10th, 10:00.
>> Okay. [sighs and gasps] It has been moved and seconded that we adjourn this fine meeting in 39 minutes. All in favor? I >> I
I sold