Town Officials Renew Commitment To Harbor

The town administrator vowed to work with the harbormaster on goals, objectives and transparency and on providing the harbormaster the proper resources.

  Town officials have recommitted themselves to Swampscott's harbor and want to attend to its needs and harness its potential. Town Administrator Thomas Younger told the harbormaster, his assistants and members of the Harbor Advisory Committee last week that the harbor is crucial to the town. "Let's have (it) operating as a major asset," Younger said. He wants to put in place goals and objectives for the harbor and enhance transparency through regular reports. One of Harbormaster Larry Bithell's complaints under former Town Administrator Andrew Maylor was that the harbor office lacked even a computer or a printer. Younger said last Wednesday that Bithell would have a computer and printer within the week.  The town administrator said he …

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Harbormaster's Reappointment Slated For June 20

The part-time town position is now an annual appointment.

  Selectmen will take up the annual appointment of Harbormaster Larry Bithell at their next meeting, June 20. At the board's last meeting, June 6, Town Administrator Tom Younger said he and the harbormaster have been communicating and that Bithell has been cooperative. The relationship between the former town administrator, Andrew Maylor, and Bithell was contentious at times. Selectmen decided in February to make the harbormaster position an annual appointment, taking effect July 1. Board of Selectmen Chairman Rich Malagrifa said on Tuesday that the town administrator and the harbormaster had toured the harbor by boat since the June 6, meeting. The tour gave the administrator a different perspective of the harbor including a closer look at…

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Election Central

UPDATED: Chairman Defends Prohibition on Public Comment at Harbormaster Hearing

Challenger Glenn Kessler responds to remarks by Chairman Matt Strauss. The chairman on Wednesday addressed criticism levied against him by Kessler and others.

  Board of Selectmen Chairman Matt Strauss on Wednesday responded to criticism that he overstepped his authority earlier this year by restricting public comment at a hearing on Harbormaster Larry Bithell's job performance. Strauss said he has been criticized by those including Glenn Kessler, his opponent in the April 24, town election, for not allowing the public to speak at the Feb. 1, hearing. The hearing was held in public, at the request of the harbormaster. There was a large crowd. The chairman said his decision was based on the desire for the hearing to proceed in an orderly fashion. "Had I allowed all to speak, both for and against the harbormaster, the discussion, in my opinion, would not have been productive and, quite frankly, …

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Selectmen Make Harbormaster Annual Appointment

The position is subject to reappointment June 30. Meanwhile, the harbormaster maintains his term should remain permanent.

  Selectmen voted unanimously Wednesday to make the harbormaster an annual appointment, saying the annual review will inspire accountability. Board Chairman Matt Strauss and board member Jill Sullivan said Harbormaster Larry Bithell had become unaccountable to former Town Administrator Andrew Maylor and some members of the public. Bithell's 33-year tenure will be reviewed before renewal for the next fiscal year, which starts July 1. Bithell and his lawyer, Neil Rossman, were at Wednesday's hearing on complaints about the harbormaster’s job performance, conduct and term of appointment. Rossman disagreed with the board's decision to review the position annually and with the accountability and conduct assessments. Since 1998 the harbormaster …

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National Grid Wants Underground Lines on Humphrey

The utility will bring the proposal before selectmen Wednesday night at a public hearing. Selectmen are also scheduled to host a hearing tonight on complaints against the harbormaster's job performance.

  National Grid wants to install about three-quarters of a mile of underground conduit to carry electrical lines along Humphrey Street. The utility would need to excavate the road to complete the project, proposed from the Swampscott/Lynn line to beyond the intersection with Cedar Hill Terrace. The distance is about 4,400 feet. The company will bring the proposal to a public hearing before selectmen at Town Hall Wednesday night. The agenda item is slated for 7:15. An hour later, selectmen are scheduled to hold a hearing on complaints about the harbormaster’s job performance, conduct and term of appointment. The complaints revolve around the following topics: harbor dredging; the late August storm that damaged about 18 Swampscott boats; …

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Harbormaster Hearing Delayed

A lawyer representing Harbormaster Larry Bithell asked town officials to delay a hearing on complaints about the harbormaster's job performance and conduct.

  Wednesday's scheduled hearing on complaints about the harbormaster’s job performance, conduct and term of appointment was delayed. Acting Town Administrator Dave Castellarin said he expects the Board of Selectmen will hold the hearing at their next meeting, Feb 1. A lawyer representing Harbormaster Larry Bithell asked for the delay, Castellarin said. No further information was available. The complaints revolve around the following topics: harbor dredging; the late August storm that damaged about 18 Swampscott boats; winter storage of the harbormaster’s boat; and guest moorings, according to the selectmen's agenda packet. Selectmen will also talk about talk about changing the term of the harbormaster position to an annual appointment that…

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Selectmen To Discuss Complaints Against Harbormaster

A town lawyer found no evidence that supports a lifetime appointment for the town harbormaster and says the town employee serves at the will of selectmen.

  Selectmen plan to hold a hearing as soon as later this month on complaints against the harbormaster's actions as well as the tenure of his position. None of the complaints against Harbormaster Larry Bithell were made public at Wednesday's Board of Selectmen's meeting. But in November, the chairman of the board said the harbormaster was standing in the way of progress. "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," Chairman Matt Strauss said. On Wednesday, Strauss said that he asked the town's law firm to look into the harbormaster's term of employment after he had received …

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Amy OConnor

8:08 am on Wednesday, January 11, 2012

The harbor master has been incredibly helpful to my family. We are new boaters, and his actions have shown us only concern for water/boat safety. I sure hope that disagreements with Strauss aren't simply labeled as obstructionist. If he's disagreeing for good reason, then we should all hear about it. Based on patch articles, it sounds like Strauss has a plan that the harbor master doesn't support…   more ›