8-20-09 Notes Monthly
Port Advisory Committee Meeting 5:30PM, Manchester Library
Those
in attendance included Steve Pedersen, Bud and Wanda Larsen, Ron Rada, David Kimble, Joe and Margaret Guariz,
Eric Cisney, Bob Edwards, Paul Gilligan, Rick Weixler, Norma Brady, Bob Lamb, Dawn Gogel,
David Denniston, Carrilu
Thompson.
Carrilu brought
the PAC up to date on the planning for the Saturday, August 29th
Manchester Celebration that will be held in the Pomeroy Park area.
Volunteers are still needed for some of the arrangements. Anyone who can help out please contact Carrilu
at carriwho@aol.com.
Setup for the event will begin at 3:30PM. Kiwanis Club will do the setup
for cooking the free hot dogs. They have already arranged for food handling
permits and the use of approved hand washing equipment.
Enough food for 350 people has been arranged. Big thanks to Dawn Gogel at the Manchester Grocery for arranging storage for
the hot dogs, etc. Food will be served from 5:30PM, until the food is
gone. KRL has arranged for posters to be printed and placed in
prominent Manchester locations. The PAC members were asked to spread the
word to friends and neighbors about this special event and will also be
announced at all public meetings scheduled for this week. With all
local organizations and Kiwanis Club participating it is felt that this can be
a very successful community endeavor. With everyone’s cooperation
it could become an annual event. There will be 4 different
entertainment segments during the evening and they will play until dark,
approximately 9:00PM.
Traffic
control will start at 4:15PM. Greeters and hand stamping will start also
start at 4:15 with shifts from 5 to 6 PM, 6 to7PM, and 7 to
8PM. Bud Larsen will take care of setting the restroom timers
for lockup at 9PM.
Bud
reported on the RAPsody Ride 2009 annual biking race
that has made one of their stops at the Port of Manchester for several
years. In excess of 300 bikers are expected. The bikers association
provides food and beverage, water for the bikers
cleanup use, a repair van (to be parked in front of Manchester Realty, big
thanks to the Ballard’s) and portable potty’s. Bud
to open up the restroom storage area by 6:30AM and put the drinking water hose
in place, also lock up the storage area after the racers have completed their
stop. (PLEASE NOTE: Alan Fletcher had an opportunity to
communicate with the sponsors of the race and a donation to the Port of
Manchester for use of the facility is expected in the mail. It could be a
future condition of use for future large group events to request a donation for
maintenance, etc. Good work Alan.)
Steve
reported that the complaint about the lack of Mutt Mitts at the launch area has
been taken care of by the District, many thanks. A lot of them have
been used and the lack of pet refuse is appreciated by everyone. It
was noted that the Port has had a heavy attendance so far this Summer. Those using the park seem to be doing a
better job of picking up their trash and a number of neighborhood residents
also add to assisting with the cleanup. The District is doing a
great job on keeping the two floats in good repair, as well as other
maintenance projects, this makes a huge difference.
There
was no new information available on the status of an official appraisal of
property that has been ordered by the Port Commissioners. As soon
as any new information is available PAC members will be advised. In
addition, there remains an open discussion period on setting up an IDD for the
future of the Port of Manchester and the community as a whole.
Ideas and letters may be forwarded to Alan Fletcher, contract manager for the
Port of Manchester Commissioners at afletcher@manchesterwater.org
. This will also be an agenda item at the September 14th Port
Commissioners monthly meeting. Most members of the PAC are in full
support of the IDD proposal.
The
25 page White Paper prepared by Paul and Janice Gilligan was discussed at
length. Those who had not been able to bring it up on their
computer were given copy’s. It was also
reported that copies of the paper are available at the Manchester Water
District. It is the recommendation of the PAC that a startup date
of January 1, 2010 be set for the beginning of collection of a mandatory fee
for boat launching. With the White Paper, it is time to move ahead and
not wait for the completion of the new parking lot already in the
works. A little over $300 was collected voluntarily this Summer, while the launches were in the thousands and many
did not pay voluntarily. A committee was established to come forward to
arrange the move to required fees, plus options, questions, ideas, etc. This committee to include Paul and Janice Gilligan, Joe and
Margaret Guariz, Bud and Wanda Larsen, and Bob Lamb.
The committee to meet as soon as possible to start moving
ahead. It is planned to have a beginning plan available to present
to the PAC at the September 17th meeting. (PLEASE NOTE:
Bud and Wanda will not be able to attend the September PAC meeting, someone
will be appointed to take notes at that meeting for future
reference). An announcement from the group to be
made at the September 14th Commissioners meeting.
A
meeting of Commissioner Strode, Alan Fletcher, and the PAC Special Project
committee is under consideration for a breakfast meeting in the near future.
We
discussed the need for a permanent repository for Port of Manchester records
back to the origination of the agency. Steve reported that the Port
of Manchester Attorney, Ron Thompson is agreeable to such a plan. It was
felt it is important to get a realistic view as to the volume of legal and
historical records to be considered. As are there 2 large file cabinets, 4,
6, other? These records need to be maintained in a regulated
temperature area under lock and key. As well as
available for study on an approved request. It was felt there were
those within the PAC that would be qualified to make a study and sort through
the materials.
No
word on planning for the Veterans of Foreign Wars Memorial Garden area.
Steve to again make contact with the VFW representatives before any changes to
the area are made. Carol Campbell has offered to
work with the VFW to make arrangements for the group.
Norma
Brady reported that she and Carol Campbell have set the date of October 31st
Halloween, for the next work party on the launch area slope between the two
floats. They feel they have enough plants, but will need more sword plants.
The amount of dirt and bark needed will be about 10 yards each. The
gardener for the Port has worked with Norma and Margaret Guariz
to reposition some of the sprinkler heads to reach the half of the slope that
has already been planted. Some of the plants did not survive the Summer, but the majority are in good condition.
Ron Rada volunteered coffee and hot chocolate
service, Dawn Gogle offered small pastries for the
volunteer workers. Mark your calendar and plan to sign on as a
helper for this community project. Dennis at the District was the
volunteer last time with his time and equipment for the dirt and bark,
etc. we are hoping we can count on him again for
a good job well done. It was suggested that an agenda item for the
September Commissioners meeting be to consider the removal of the large hedge
between Pomeroy Park and the park area between the North and South
floats. It was felt the hedge serves no purpose, and it’s
removal would open up the park to additional uses. The hedge was put in
place originally to separate Pomeroy Park from a private home that was located
where the launch area is now.
Steve
suggested that an affirmation of purpose for the PAC be put together. He
will look in to having it drawn up.
Wanda to talk with Arlene as to the webpage
and how we could initiate a contact number for questions, suggestions, etc. for
the PAC to evaluate.
Steve
will ask to have the PAC notes for each month included along with the Port
minutes for each months meeting. The purpose to better
inform everyone as to various activities underway or completed.
Respectfully
Submitted: Wanda Larsen