Harpswell Information

1. Introduction

2. Letter to Selectman with request for fulltime Harbormaster

3. Email to members of Committee informing them of Selectman Weil's offer

4. Email to Selectman Weil requesting advice on how to present amendment

5. Flyer given out at Town Meeting

6. Comments I have received

7. Comments made to Selectmen 5/26/05

8. Comments made at hearing for Harbormaster

Below is the flyer that was given out by the Committee to the Town Meeting

5/20/05

• This flyer was written by based on information provided by the Harbor and Waterfront Committee, Selectman Theberge and the Harbormaster.

• The Committee's amendment was not intended to increase the Harbormaster responsibilities, but merely give him the time to do what he was supposed to do.

• The Committee wanted the Flyer distributed so the town would not be surprised any more than necessary.

• I meant to give a Flyer to each Selectman, but may have only given it to Selectman Theberge. I gave one to the Moderator and to Ms. Eiane, who said it was OK to distribute.

• I tried to distribute the Flyer before the Meeting but, after consulting someone or something, Mrs. Knight, the Town Clerk, told that I was not allowed to distribute because it might influence the way people voted.

• When it became my turn to speak on Article 49, I told the Moderator about this issue. He saw no reason for the prohibition, and, after a vote by town meeting, called for the flyer to be distributed.

• A lawyer later confirmed the correctness of allowing the distribution.

• I still wonder who or what Mrs. Knight consulted and the reason for this obstruction.  But the whole thing smelled of obstruction and suppression. I hope I am wrong.

The Town of Harpswell’s Harbor and Waterfront Committee

The Committee will offer an amendment to article 49.

The amendment will ask the Town Meeting to approve an appropriation of $24,750 for Harbor Management.

This represents an increase of $4,500 which would be added to the current salary of the Harbormaster ($10,500), increasing it to $15,000. The committee expects this money would come from increasing resident mooring fees from $8.00 to $10.00 and a non-resident mooring from $40 to $50.

The committee believes this increase is necessary and important because there are several responsibilities which the harbormaster has not been able to complete. We are particularly concerned about the ability of the harbormaster

·             to oversee the more than 2400 moorings we have in Harpswell. This is more mooring than any other town in Maine.

·             to keep up with the abandoned and unregistered moorings in Harpswell

·             (with assistance from the committee) to reorganize Mackerel Cove so that there is adequate room for fishermen and other boater to have moorings.

·             To reorganize other problem areas, included but not limited to Garrison Cove, Water Cove, The Goslings and Quahog Bay