Herring River Restoration Project
Technical Committee
Meeting Minutes 02/16/06
Attendees: John Portnoy, Stephen Spear, Andy Koch, Bob Hubby, Jack Whalen, Carl Breivogel, John Riehl, Gordon Peabody, Diane Murphy, Tim Smith, Hillary Greenberg and Christine Bates
Chair Gordon Peabody called the meeting to order at 1:10 pm. He thanked the members for their continued work to get the MOU approved by the Wellfleet Board of Selectmen. John Portnoy moved to approve the January 3, 2006 meeting minutes as amended; seconded by John Riehl; passed 11-0.
Public Comments: George Price, Superintendent of the National Seashore, thanked the members of the committee. He stated Carrie Phillips is replacing Nancy Finley on an interim basis. Guests Eric Derleth and Steve Block were introduced.
MEETING:
It was suggested the stakeholders concerns and issues be kept track of. Also recommended was to get a management plan in place where the committee can present mitigations for the project, such as the increase of flow, alterations to the dike, tree/brush removal, etc. A process needs to be established to proceed to the development state, with a schedule of EIS.
Tim Smith gave an overview of the permitting process at the Federal, State, local and regional levels. He also reviewed various funding options. It was suggested the Town keep track of employee hours devoted to the Herring River Restoration Project for matching funding. There was discussion regarding how much money the Town of Wellfleet will have to be responsible for, George Price suggested a flow chart be established to determine steps needed to be taken, as well as goals reached.
Tim Smith recommended the committee look into hiring a consultant. He stated there are seven firms he is aware of that might be good candidates for the job.
Chair Peabody stated the Provincetown Restoration Project at Hatches Harbor went well and the permitting process is not difficult. He recommended the committee identify items we need to work on:
1. Need to go directly to the dike
2. Need to discuss the roads
3. Need to identify costs to the town to reduce fears
4. Need to get professional help from a consultant
The committee needs to identify each task, send out the list to consultants for bids, and interview for the consultant.
Further discussion took place regarding the elevations of the roads, and to review the Pole Dike area. It was recommended the committee get information on the utilities in the Pole Dike area.
Tim Smith recommended the following items the consultant would be responsible for:
1. Multi-permitting
2. Engineering / design (culverts and roads)
3. Habitat Management (during the process and after completion of project)
4. Understand all key areas of the species and plants in the project area
5. Funding
Tim Smith will e-mail information to the committee members for their review with examples of proposals, etc. He requested the members of the committee to come to the next meeting with any additional information or requirements they could identify.
The next Herring River Technical Committee meeting will be held on March 10 at 1:30 pm in the Library (conference room location).
John Riehl moved to adjourn the meeting at 4:30 pm; seconded by Stephen Spear; passed 10-0.
Respectfully submitted,
Christine Bates
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