(Correction) Official Says Harbormaster Obstructs Progress

Editor's Note: A previous version of this article has been corrected. The quote referencing the harbormaster should have been attributed to the chairman of the Board of Selectmen.

Turbulent emotions surfaced last week after Selectman Rich Malagrifa suggested that the town undertake a major plan for better utilizing the harbor and waterfront.

Town Administrator Andrew Maylor responded that the town can't even take small positive steps with the harbor.

"We can't even pick the low-hanging fruit off the tree ...," Maylor said.

The selectmen's chairman says it is the harbormaster who gets in the way of progress.

"For whatever reason the harbormaster (Larry Bithell) gets in the way," Matt Strauss said.

Chairman Matt Strauss said in an interview that if Bithell continues to obstruct then he would support investigating whether the town could remove him from the harbormaster post.

"If he continues to obstruct the positive things that different town departments and organizations are trying to do then the selectmen will have a discussion as to what the best course of action should be," the chairman said.

Bithell was unavailable for comment.

The town administrator said at the Nov. 21 meeting that the town has been prevented from allowing the town sailing program to moor sailboats on a float.

Strauss said the Friends of Swampscott Sailing organization has been willing to fund a float for the sailboats.

A float would free up space on the beach — where the boats are stored in season — guard against vandalism and be convenient for the students, who otherwise have to lug the sailboats to the water, he said.

Strauss said the has sought approval for two guest moorings in the harbor for at least a year, maybe longer, and been denied by Bithell.

Grant funding for harbor dredging has been a bone of contention and source of frustration the past year. Disagreements have arisen between supporters and opponents over the extent and location of dredging and who supported the application for state funding at the outset.

Malagrifa said the dredging is going to take place.

He also said that the harbormaster has a say in what goes in the harbor.

He also contends that the town and Harbor Advisory Committee have made progress.

Drains that tend to clog and raise a stink are being replaced in the fishermen lockers at the Fish House, he said.

The town installed pram racks last spring and has plans to install kayak racks this spring, he said.

Malagrifa has served as the board's liaison to the advisory panel.