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A Newsletter by the City of Saco, Maine	September, 2005	Return to newsletter index

Coastal Waters Commission

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The Coastal Waters Commission exists for the general purpose of studying and evaluating public usage of and boating access to coastal waters under the jurisdiction of the City of Saco and planning for its future use; to advise the City Council on policy matters; and to propose to the City Council regulations concerning the Saco River and the City's coastal waters. The proposed regulations and policies shall be consistent with federal and state law.

In addition, the Commission shall review and cooperate in maintenance and care of City-owned waterfront facilities with the Harbor Master and Public Works Department and plan harbor improvements in conjunction with the City, State and Federal authorities. The Commission shall sit as a Board of Appeals to hear an appeal from any person aggrieved by any decision, act or failure to act of the Harbor Master. The Commission shall regularly inform the City Council and other boards, committees, commissions or officials of the City as is appropriate of its activities.

Currently, the Commission, Public Works Department and City Administrator have been working on building a Bait Cooler for the local Fisherman, Lobsterman and Charter Boats to use. The city applied for and received approval for a Small Harbor Improvement Project (SHIP) grant from the Maine Department of Transportation (MDOT) for the construction of the Bait Cooler on the Camp Ellis Pier. Through the grant, the city will receive $100,000 for the construction of a building that would incorporate the existing fuel building with additional space for refrigerated bait storage to accommodate about 200 double stacked bait barrels, restrooms, an office for the Harbor Master, storage for the boat wastewater pump and the fire department's boat equipment, and lockers for the Charter Boat operators.

Oest Engineering was hired to design a 40' X 40' building and provide cost estimates. The estimated cost to construct the building is $240,381. The balance of the funding will be paid by existing and future funding from the Coastal Water Commission account and the City. The building design needed to get approval from the Saco River Corridor Commission, and permits were also obtained from the Department of Environmental protection. The bidding process for construction will start next month.

The Commission meets on the first Wednesday of the month at 7:00 p.m. in the City Hall.

The Commission consists of seven members as follows: Chairman James Bastille, Treasurer Robert Barris, Wayne Hutchins, Robert Morowski Jr., Peter Scontras, Joseph Stephenson and Todd Stewart. Donald Abbott is the Harbor Master, Roland Michaud is the Council Liaison and Michele Hughes is the Recording Secretary.