Posted on October 17, 2017
By Abigail Adams, Wicked Local Cohasset
“If we are going to invest money into the harbor, we want to know that it is being invested in the best interest of Cohasset citizens,” said Tim Davis, chairman of the Cohasset Harbor Committee
The Harbor Committee is back and is raring to improve Cohasset Harbor.
Lead by Chairman Tim Davis, the newly reconstituted Harbor Committee will look at how the town can best operate the harbor to benefit anyone who makes use of the harbor, including the town itself. One of the largest projects on the committee’s plate is the harbor study, which will be conducted over the next 12 to 14 months to determine both the current and potential utilization of one of the town’s most prominent resources.
Davis is a long-time member of the Cohasset Yacht Club and has always had a love for the sea. His two children both completed Cohasset’s sailing program, which his son ran for two years while in college.
Concerned by the recent depletion of the harbor’s fishing fleet, Davis is looking to improve upon that and other key aspects of the harbor that are often overlooked. Davis said the harbor plan to be developed after the completion of the study should address a number of issues. Finding the money to complete the suggested projects for the harbor after completing a harbor plan will be the next challenge.
“If we are going to invest money into the harbor, we want to know that it is being invested in the best interest of Cohasset citizens,” said Davis.
Cohasset was awarded an $80,000 grant from the state, with a matching $20,000 contribution from the town to bolster the development of the harbor study, which will ultimately lead to the development of a five-year harbor plan to be approved by the state.
The request for proposal (RFP) for the project has been submitted to the Massachusetts Office of Coastal Zone Management (CZM), who Davis said should approve the document by the end of the week. Davis expects anywhere from six to 10 engineering firms to respond to the 200-page RPF and is looking forward to seeing what can be done with the $100,000 allotted for the study.
Developing a harbor plan that addresses everyone’s best interests, Davis said, will also be a challenge as they attempt to accommodate a variety of viewpoints and visions for the future. In addition to catering to the needs of the local commercial fishing fleet and combating pollution, Davis may also look into incorporating dredging into the harbor plan long-term with the hopes of avoiding the problems that arose in the past.
“Having the opportunity to do the engineering, see what is there, and develop a long-term plan makes a lot of sense to me,” he said, “instead of just waiting until something happens and just thinking reactively.”
Additionally, the Harbor Committee will be looking at a number of other outstanding issues still swirling around the harbor. Fixing up the crumbling ramp on Parker Avenue, for instance, is on the committee’s radar as one of the major safety concerns.
The committee has also been asked to review the Massachusetts Coastal Camera Project which stirred up emotions in mid-July after town officials and residents discovered cameras were installed in the harbor without the permission of the Board of Selectmen. Davis said the committee may work with the Cohasset Police Department and Chief of Police Bill Quigley to craft the best possible solution residents can be comfortable with.
Making Cohasset’s coast more inviting in general is one of the ultimate goals of the Harbor Committee as it currently lacks a number of crucial qualities many successful harbors possess. Davis said he is confident that the harbor study and plan can help provide an even brighter future for the harbor.
“There really is a lot that can be done for the harbor,” said Davis.
Harbor Committee meetings are typically held on Wednesdays at 6:30 p.m. at the Cohasset Sailing Club on Lighthouse Lane. There is currently no date set for the next meeting. Check the town website: cohassetma.org for updates.
Source: Wicked Local Cohasset
