Harbor Committee to Revisit Dredging

The delayed further action on the harbor dredging project last week, when a majority of committee members was unable to make it to the meeting, meaning that a quorum was not reached for official action.

Committee Vice Chairman, who last month met with the Board of Selectemen to discuss the dredging project and other issues, said that he expects the committee to revisit the dredging project at its next meeting in April.

"We didn't have a quorum, but there was some conversation and I think in general the committee knows the project is moving forward and we're trying to figure out how best to support it," said Swanstrom.

At issue is the committee's desire to see a full engineering study of the harbor take place before dredging begins and town management's interest in taking advantage of a $475,000 grant from thein fiscal year 2012, which begins in July.

"The (Harbor Advisory) committee's issue is that we want to see an engineering study done and it seems like that is going to happen, so I think we're really not that far apart on the issue," said Swanstrom, speaking as a member of the committee and not on behalf of the committee as a whole.

"I think it is unfortunate the way this has evolved, but in the end we all want what is in the best interests of the town," he added.

Swanstrom said a firm date for the next meeting has not yet been set, but he does expect the committee to meet in April.