3-19-09 PORT ADVISORY COMMITTEE MEETING, 6:00PM, MANCHESTER LIBRARY

In attendance were committee chair, Steve Pedersen, Joe and Margaret Guariz, Norma Brady, Eric Cisney, Ron Rada, Rosemarie Arthur,Bud and Wanda Larsen. (NOTE:  Dawn Gogle was unable to attend due to a family emergency).  

The first topic of business was an update of the planning for the March 28^th, Saturday, Port of Manchester Work Party, 8:00AM until the work is completed.   A terrific event notice created for us by Carol Campbell was handed out to everyone.  The notice will be posted in local businesses this Saturday.    The event will include cleanup of the park area, the dumpster area, painting of the yellow bull rail, cleanup of the restroom, and a beautification of the entire slope between the North and South floats.  Mature plantings from the library will be included, in addition to other native plants that Friends of the Library have obtained for the project.   Planting soil and bark have been donated and to date 24 residents have signed up to help.  A Manchester community group’s effort to have the boat launch and Pomeroy Park areas clean and ready for Spring.    Any extra plants or trees will be saved for the April 18^th Friends of The Library Plant Sale.    Workers will bring their wheelbarrows, tools, etc.    Commissioner Jim Strode will provide heavy equipment, The Water District will provide for the transportation of the dirt and bark.  Steve Pederson will make arrangements with Alan Fletcher and Jim Strode on location for dumping the materials being used.   Joyce Rada will provide coffee service.   Larsen’s have offered the use of their bathroom.

Main Street will be barricaded at Denniston Lane, with someone assigned to direct boaters through the west exit lane.  Guariz has a safety vest available.

Following discussion it was determined that the fee donation box needs some additional wording to bring attention to it.  It was agreed the word “PAY HERE” in larger black stick on letters be added to the side of the box where the boaters walk by it .  We have the letters and will apply them on the 28^th.

We have submitted the necessary documents from RCO as to charging for the parking of a few vehicles with trailers to the Port Attorney and the Commissioners, for their consideration.    The procedure is perfectly legal within the rulings of the RCO and recreation property.  This is a viable income source charging $10 to $20 a night in assigned spaces of the current waterfront area and the new parking that will be available to us, whatever the going rate is in other Port’s in the area.  It is also legal to charge twice the set amount to visitors from out of town.  It is the Port Advisory Committee’s recommendation that this source of income be researched and then developed for an income source. 

Wanda to contact Bob Ballard as the availability of a Port of Manchester boundaries map that could be reduced to go on the back of the informational bi-fold being prepared for handouts to the public.   The boundary streets need to be made clear to the citizens of Manchester, many of whom do not realize they live in the Port boundary’s as well as the Manchester Lamrid Boundary’s.  The main purpose of the brochure is an educational tool for contacts this group will be making to the public in the months to come.  Steve is putting the brochure together with pictures and information about historical Manchester, local activities, etc.  Ron Rada has volunteered to copy the piece for the group, thank you Ron.

We talked at length as regards a Levy Lid Lift.   All the pro’s and con’s were taken in to consideration.  The fact being that if there is not a lift, the Port is unable to do anything other than general maintenance and payment of obligations already in place from years back.  This would mean nothing extra for emergency issues.  Something has to be done, a decision needs to be made in time to be on the November ballot.  A point of fact is if you live in a home worth $275,000 the tax is approximately $42 per year on a .13 tax.  It the lift went to .20 per year it would be $55, at .25 it would be $68.75.   The Port Advisory Committee recommends that Port Commissioners ask for a minimum IDD tax of.25 at the November election, for a 6 year period.   Steve to check with Jim Avery as to the results of a minimum .25 now, and a vote for additional needed funds at a later date.  We need to know the exact wording of the legal statutes.   This group is ready to go to the public through the regular monthly meetings of the Commissioners to ask for Public Comment.  To also meet with other local organizations and go door to door if necessary to get the correct message to the citizens of our community. It was decided to use the slogan “CHARTING OUR FUTURE”  to promote positive thinking.   The slogan will be used for t-shirts available at the Manchester Market for use at the upcoming April Friends Plant Sale and the June, Father’s Salmon Bake.

Status of the proposed sign for the intersection of Mile Hill and Colchester was discussed.   A new permit request has been submitted by the Water District, after the original request could not be located.  The permit still needs to route through one more review process, at this point, there does not appear to be any roadblocks.  It is hope that things can be wrapped up next week.  Our fund raising efforts for pledges are within $700 of enough to complete the sign.  Immediately upon receiving approval for the sign, we can forward $2,100.00 to the designer, Dalton Art Studios, and work will be started on the sign.  It is expected that it will take approximately a month to complete the sign.  Total cost of the sign amounts to $4,574.10.  Mr. Dalton is donating the poles for the sign and the Manchester Fuel Farm has donated the necessary 3” rope to complete the sign.    Members of this group will make contact with those who have signed pledges to obtain their checks if they have no already paid in advance.    A big thanks to all these hard working folks, for their help.

At the last Port meeting a request was made by a local resident for the Port to erect a large sign out in the water to deter people visiting the park from going on to private beach property.     There being concern for dogs, horses, and people trespassing on private beaches.   The Commissioners elected to give the request their consideration and research.  The Port Advisory Committee recommends that there be no further action on this request.   The sign already in place says what is needed, the problem being that it is often ignored.   Placing a big, sign out in the water on Port Property where it could be destroyed by the first high tide with logs floating by was felt to be a private matter and not a Port matter.  The standard Block Watch rule also would apply here.  That rule is to call 911 on each violation, ask to have the deputy on duty call the caller back to go over the issue, maintain a record of each call in order to establish a pattern of violations.  This is the only procedure that is identified by law enforcement.  The Commissioners have no responsibility for instances that are occurring on private beaches.

Tonight’s meeting time was moved to 6:00PM from 5:30PM after we had been told the earlier time prevented some from being able to attend.  We publicized the time change, yet there was no participation from others at this meeting.  We determined the 5:30PM time every third Thursday would be re-instated .  The next meeting will be held on April 16^th, 5:30PM, Manchester Library.

Steve Pedersen is looking in to obtaining a container at no charge, and Mutt Mitts for use by visitors to the park who have animals with them.  

Unfinished non-priority Committee business not addressed this evening included the appointment of Dawn Gogle to the Manchester Citizen’s Advisory Committee and checkup on availability of a decorative bench for placement near the door of the parking lot rest room.  Permanent repository for historical and current records of the Port of Manchester. Status of large carrier in local waters. Leash law status. Special committee to work with Jim Strode to oversee pre-planning and construction issues for the Daniels Look property. Life Vest loaner program decision. Misc.

Wanda Larsen 3-21-09