| # The Town of Cushing, Maine # Harbor Committee Proceedings

## Meeting September 12, 2012

The Harbor Committee met on 9/12/2012 at 7:00pm to hear a presentation by the Harbormaster regarding his appointment and recent findings. Committee members Randy Martin, Peter McBean and Orman Poland were present. Below is a link to that presentation.

The committee specifically approved a defined navigation channel for the Pleasant Point Gut outer harbor area, given the increase in the number of moorings in that area. No new mooring locations were deemed to be in obstructing or dangerous positions. A link to the chart depicting a 100ft channel is below. The speed buoy will be placed at the entrance to this channel and will apply to the entire inner and outer harbor areas.

A citizen request that a speed buoy also be placed at the western entrance to the gut was discussed, and the Harbormaster was directed to include this action in the same project. This buoy is to replace one that existed before, had been lost over time, and should be set at the approach to the entrance.

The Harbormaster noted that the mapping project is only going to record properly marked sites with mooring buoys. Lobster buoys used as markers will be ignored and deemed not to be a site. All sites must be validly marked in such a way that the owner can be readily identified by 7/1/2013.

A board member asked the Harbormaster to specifically address the issue of owners of one or multiple moorings in the Pleasant Point Gut inner harbor where there are no boats associated the location, or even owned by the person claiming the mooring. These moorings will be allocated to persons on a waiting list.

A number of float issues were discussed – specifically placement of floats in navigable waters and the hypothetical risk of rafted floats in the shallower waters. The Harbormaster will work with the USACE to determine regulations and current permits, and work with owners of floats in deeper water regarding alternative placement.

It was resolved that the activities of the Harbormaster be approved as presented.

The frequency of committee meetings was also discussed and it was resolved that a meeting will only be called when one or more issues need to be addressed.

The meeting adjourned at approximately 8:00pm.

Harbormaster's Presentation (PDF) Proposed new channel