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Committee to send Mainland Developments jetty proposal to select board; committee weighs town dredging permit and barge purchase
Summary
The beach committee reviewed a Mainland Developments proposal for jetty repair and permitting, discussed a broad design/permitting cost range provided in the proposal (stated as 325–622 in the document), and agreed to ask the select board to place the proposal on its agenda. Members also debated whether the town should pursue its own dredging permit and longer-term equipment ownership for maintenance.
Members of the town beach committee reviewed a proposal from Mainland Developments to design and support permitting for repairs to the existing jetties intended to reduce erosion at the town beach. The proposal, shared with the committee during the meeting, outlines pre-application coordination, base mapping, design development, permit application work and bid administration and excludes construction, demolition and legal services.
Committee members said the firm’s materials include a stated total probable cost range described in the document as "anywhere from 325 to 622"; the proposal did not specify currency or units in the excerpt reviewed at the meeting. The committee agreed to forward the full proposal and the conditions sheet to John and asked that John place the item on the select board agenda so the firm can present to the board at a future meeting.
Discussion also touched on related maintenance work for the navigation channel. Committee members reported that a local operator, Charlie, previously held a dredging permit that has since expired and is preparing a new application. Members noted the risk of relying on a single private operator and discussed whether the town should apply for its own permit so it could hire certified subcontractors if needed. Committee members said some of Charlie’s sediment analyses are dated and may need updating before a town permit could be filed.
Longer-term maintenance options were raised, including buying a barge to support dredging and sand-handling work over several years. Committee members said the barge could increase the town’s flexibility for maintenance and channel work but acknowledged it would require budgeting and select board review. The committee asked staff to schedule the proposal for a select board update and to follow up on permitting logistics and any additional testing or documentation needed to support a town application.
Next steps: committee members will send the full Mainland Developments packet to John for distribution to the select board; the committee will arrange for the firm to present; and staff will clarify what tests and documents would be necessary if the town pursues its own dredging permit.
