Northshore Harbormasters Association News
Harbormaster Training Certification Bill Passed
Congratulations to all who have worked so hard to get the Harbormaster Training Bill 509 passed – North Shore, South Shore, Cape & Islands and Anne Lynch and Associates. The bill was signed on December 23, 2008.
Senate Bill No. 509
House – No. 4791
Posted on December 23rd, 2008 by Administrator in North Shore
Abandoned vessels bill poised to become law
Kristen Grieco
The Gloucester Daily Times
Published: February 05, 2008 12:49 am
| The lengthy legal process that marina owners are required to go through when they want to dispose of an abandoned vessel in their yard is about to get shorter, easier and cheaper.
A bill easing the disposal of abandoned vessels, sponsored by Rep. Anthony Verga, D-Gloucester, is slated to become law within the next week. The House of Representatives and Senate enacted the bill last Tuesday, and it has been sent to the desk of Gov. Deval Patrick for a signature. |
State Rep. Anthony Verga, D-Gloucester, at Brown’s Yacht Yard yesterday, pushed legislation which will become law that would aid yacht yards when boats are abandoned. Deborah Hammond/Staff Photo |
The lengthy legal process that marina owners are required to go through when they want to dispose of an abandoned vessel in their yard is about to get shorter, easier and cheaper.
A bill easing the disposal of abandoned vessels, sponsored by Rep. Anthony Verga, D-Gloucester, is slated to become law within the next week. The House of Representatives and Senate enacted the bill last Tuesday, and it has been sent to the desk of Gov. Deval Patrick for a signature.
Abandonment often occurs when the owner of a run-down vessel incurs a bill for storage that adds up to more than the boat’s worth. The vessel then takes up valuable real estate in the yard, which can cost the marina between $240 and $300 a month in rental fees.
“The thing is, that 50 years ago, maybe lots of boat yards had extra space where they could tuck a boat,” Peter Bent, owner of Brown’s Yacht Yard in Gloucester, said when the bill was proposed in November. “In today’s world with real estate and taxes, every square inch of land is valuable and that boat’s taking up valuable land. We turn people away for boat storage.”
The current process for disposing of a boat is mired in paperwork and legal fees. A marina operator is bound by law not to touch the boat until acquiring its title — which requires hiring a lawyer and filing a petition in Superior Court. The filing fee for a lawsuit is around $300 a boat, but Russ Vickers, owner of the Hawthorne Cove Marina in Salem, said that legal fees can top $1,500.
The lawsuits are handled in Superior Court, often moving slowly through the waterlogged case load in an overworked court.
With the new process, marina operators would be able to gain the title without a lawyer, simply by going through a notification process and a waiting period. If a dispute ensued between the vessel owner and the marina, it could be handled at the district court level, which often makes the process more expedient.
“Local boat yards will now be able to regain valuable rental space that they were otherwise denied,” Verga said in a prepared statement.
If the marina chose to sell the boat, any money it would make above costs and outstanding bills on the boat would be held for two years for the vessel’s owner to claim. After the holding period, the money would go into a state trust fund administered by the department of Conservation and Recreation to be used solely for removing abandoned vessels.
To deal with the current laws, many boat yard owners simply turn away vessels that are in bad shape or look as though they are prime for abandonment — a tactic that takes a brisk business that could deliver another boat to pay rent on the spot.
Posted on February 6th, 2008 by Administrator in North Shore
Training Schedule 2007-2008
The Training Schedule for 2007-2008 is now posted. For the schedule, go here.
Posted on January 25th, 2008 by Administrator in North Shore
Training Schedule 2006-2007
The Training Schedule for 2006-2007 is now posted. For the schedule, go here.
Posted on December 3rd, 2006 by Administrator in North Shore
Stolen Jet Ski
Mr. Ryan Pepe, 144 Whitehall Rd., Amesbury, MA has reported a jet ski stolen from his home on/or about August 1, 2006.
It is a 2001 Bombardier RXDI, 9 feet long, yellow on top with a black bottom having yellow letters.
MS 4177 AE HIN ZZN60310B101
Please keep an eye out for this.
Posted on August 4th, 2006 by Administrator in North Shore
Charles J. Famolare
Famolare – Charles J., Town of Winthrop Harbormaster, of Winthrop and formerly of East Boston, passed away on Thursday April 20th, 2006.
Beloved husband of the late Mary A. "Patty" Famolare. Devoted father of Charles J. the III and his wife Nancy of Winthrop, Patricia A. Famolare of East Boston, Thomas J. Famolare Det.BPD and his wife Virginia of Weymouth, and Susan C. Guadagno and her husband Frank of East Boston. Loving son of the late Mary D. Famolare and Charles J. Famolare. Cherished ‘Papa Charlie’ to Kelly, Jamie, Lindsey, Cassiopeia, Kayla, Katie-Lynn, Gianna, Mary and Courtney. Loving companion of Janice Freda. Also survived by his many adopted children and grandchildren.
Funeral from the Ruggiero-Mazzarella Memorial Home, 971 Saratoga Street (Orient Heights) East Boston on Tuesday April 25th, 2006 at 10:00am. Funeral Mass in St.Joseph-St.Lazarus Church, 59 Ashley Street, East Boston at 11:00am.
Visiting hours are on Sunday April 23rd and Monday April 24th, from 4:00pm to 8:00pm. Relatives and friends are respectfully invited.
Charles was born in Boston in 1931. He was a retired Boston Police Officer, Station 6 South Boston, serving for over 41 years, and a US Coast Guard veteran of the Korean Conflict. He was very well known and respected in the community, and was the Town of Winthrop Harbormaster for many years as well as past member Winthrop Elks; past member Cottage Park Yacht Club; past Commodore East Boston Yacht Club; past member 1212 Police Explorers for over 25 years; and the founder of Famolare’s Catering Co. South Boston. Charles passed away peacefully at home surrounded by his loving family after a brief illness. He was 74 years of age.
Flowers are appreciated, or memorial donations in Charlie’s memory may be made to the St.Joseph-St.Lazarus Building Fund, 59 Ashley Street, East Boston MA 02128.
The Memorial Home is handicapped accessible and a children’s lounge is available. Courtesy valet parking at the front entrance and ample off street parking is also available. For transportation to the memorial home please call 617-569-0990.
Services will conclude with Charles being laid to rest in the Winthrop Cemetery in Winthrop.
Posted on April 22nd, 2006 by Administrator in Winthrop
1st meeting at Coast Guard Base winds up reorganizing MHA Parent Association
1st meeting at Coast Guard Base winds up reorganizing MHA Parent Association
BOSTON – (12/12/05) The inaugural meeting to enjoin harbormasters in a new Massachusetts Harbormasters Association (MHA) has netted a balance between North Shore and South Shore interests with the Cape & Islands Chapter. Basically, the meeting chaired by MHA president Dave Fronzuto to familiarize the entire MHA with its new by-laws has resulted in a re-shuffle of the parent organization, over-ruling the MHA’s existing By-Laws and creating a new e-board with 3 members each representing three chapters of the MHA. The meeting also voted to go outside the existing Association by-laws to to have the E-Board vote a new slate of MHA officers. The concept Western Massachusetts Harbormasters Chapter as proposed in the By-Laws seems to have been eliminated.
During the day long meeting chapter members agreed to caucus and present the MHA with a new Executive Board with term limits. Voted from the chapters to E-Board were South Shore: Paul Malone (3 yrs), Tim Rothier (2 yrs), Ken Corson (1 yr); North Shore: Rosemary Lesch (3yrs), Jim Caulkett (1 yr), Chuck Famolare (2 yrs); Cape & Islands: Stuart Smith (2 yrs), Dave Fronzuto (3 yrs), Jay Wilbur (1 yr).
Later in the day the newly formed E-Board met to select (by vote) a new MHA association Board from its group. Voted to be returned as President were incumbant David Fronzuto (Nantucket); a new Vice President James Caulkett (Gloucester) replacing Jay Wilbur; as Secretary Stuart Smith (Chatham) replacing Gary Golas; a new Treasurer Ken Corson (Hingham) replacing Greg Fraser. The new E-Board also voted to transfer $3000 from the existing MHA treasury (balance $7900) to help the fledgling South Shore Chapter get underway.
During the working session the MHA also heard from Coast Guard representatives about Maritime Domain Awareness and the new sector concept for the Coast Guard creating Sector Northern New England, Sector Southern New England and Sector South (to NY). The Association also heard from its lobbiest Anne Lynch of Lynch Associates about the state of various bills in the legislture effecting harbormasters. Lobbiest Lynch also brought up the question of how an amendment in the certification bill might include or exclude the Boston Harbormaster from certification requirements.
The objective of the Massachusetts Harbormasters Association (MHA) is to unify the Harbormasters and Assistant Harbormasters within the Commonwealth of Massachusetts in one Association, which in turn are separated in regional Chapters. in Massachusetts, there are four Harbormaster Association chapters as follows, the North Shore Harbormasters Chapter, the Cape and Islands Harbormasters Chapter, and the the Southshore Chapter.
Posted on December 13th, 2005 by Administrator in North Shore
Harbormaster wanted for the Town of Marion
Harbormaster wanted for the Town of Marion, Massachusetts.
Full-time, year-round Harbormaster, responsible for the safe and orderly use of Marion waters, including staff and budget management, environmental, search and rescue, mooring placement and assignment, shellfish management and enforcement. Independent and appropriate judgment essential. Reports to the Board of Selectmen under the direct supervision of the Town Administrator, with the advice of the Marine Resources Commission.
Certification as Mass. Harbormaster and/or Shellfish Officer desirable; required as part of ongoing training, along with CPR and first aid certification. Substantial boat-handling and seamanship experience and knowledge of personal computers, waterway operations, rescue techniques, local waters, applicable laws and regulations, boat maintenance and repair and harbor-planning principles. Ability to deal effectively and diplomatically with the public, government agencies and other Town employees and to enforce rules and regulations firmly and impartially. Ability to operate vessels in severe weather conditions and to respond promptly to emergency calls.
Letter of interest and résumé, which must be received by noon on September 7, 2005, to Town Administrator, Marion Town House, 2 Spring Street, Marion, MA 02738.
Posted on August 22nd, 2005 by Administrator in Uncategorized
Harbormaster Certification a Good Idea
Harbormaster certification a good idea Local harbormasters are all experienced and competent. But even some of them acknowledge they could use better, more unified training. A bill cosponsored by state Sen. Bruce Tarr, R-Gloucester, to establish uniform standards to certify harbormasters would do that. After a positive committee recommendation, it is expected to be taken up by the Legislature this fall. That is good. It is overdue. Indeed, while most communities have training requirements and standards for harbormasters, they are not consistent. Manchester Harbormaster Ronald Ramos, who is also police chief, says that, "training is often done on a catch-it-if-you-can basis." He and his five assistant harbormasters all come from the Police Department, but none of them are certified by any of the state’s three associations of harbormasters. A similar situation pertains in Ipswich, where Police Chief Charles Surpitski is also the town’s harbormaster. This is too risky, especially in an era when patrolling local waterfronts has homeland security implications and even trained police officers may not be familiar with maritime rules. Tarr, the main sponsor of the measure, is correct when he says uniform training and standards will make the state’s waters safer. And there are provisions in it that should make for a smooth transition. It will not throw out any current harbormasters. It would simply require that any new ones be certified or taking courses leading to that goal. That should give local communities the flexibility they need, since the course work and training can involve more than 350 hours over five years. It will not seek to reinvent standards that are already working. A commission that will include representatives of law enforcement officials and the three harbormaster associations will develop the course and examination requirements based on what the associations already have. A harbormaster is a public safety official. As is already the case with police and fire chiefs, it only makes common sense to establish uniform certification requirements for those in charge of area waterways.
Posted on August 5th, 2005 by dan in North Shore
Lawmakers propose mandatory certification for harbormasters
Lawmakers propose mandatory certification for harbormasters
By Claude R. Marx
Staff Writer
Lawmakers are sailing into uncharted waters with a proposed set of standards to certify harbormasters — who say it’s about time.
A legislative committee yesterday created a commission to devise educational requirements for those in charge of patrolling harbors in the Bay State.
While most cities and towns require their own training, some harbormasters say the current system does not provide adequate or standardized training.
"Training is often done on a catch-it-if-you-can basis, there is not enough of a uniform system," said Manchester Harbormaster Ronald Ramos, who is also the town’s police chief.
Ramos, who is not a certified harbormaster, said all five of his assistant harbormasters come from the Manchester Police Department. While they have general law-enforcement training, not enough training is available on maritime rules.
Salem’s acting harbormaster, Peter Gifford, agreed. A Salem police sergeant and a noncertified harbormaster, he said since most harbormasters do the job part time, it is hard to train them in a timely manner.
"They all have other jobs, so it’s hard to take them away from those and give them intensive training," he said. "Generally, those on my (harbormaster) staff are people with some law enforcement training who have a boat."
The state’s three associations of harbormasters administer programs for people on the North Shore, South Shore and on Cape Cod, but cities and towns are not required to send their harbormasters to certification classes.
But Sen. Bruce Tarr, R-Gloucester, wants to change that. Under the bill he is sponsoring, any new harbormasters and assistant harbormasters would have to be certified or be taking courses for certification. The state would make money available to local governments or organizations to help pay for the training. Existing harbormasters and assistant harbormasters who are not certified would be allowed to remain on the job.
The certification requirements would be written by a commission of police and representatives of the state’s three harbormaster associations. It will use the existing training programs as a foundation and build upon them, Tarr said.
Making training mandatory will make the state’s waters safer, Tarr predicted.
"Harbormasters are often by themselves, and it shouldn’t be left to chance the skill level that they have or the training that they may have received," he said.
The idea is being embraced by certified and noncertified harbormasters alike.
Today, harbormaster certification consists of 351 credit hours of classroom and water training over five years, as well as two exams and periodic quizzes. Harbormaster trainees take classes in subjects such as navigation, water-traffic rules and water patrol techniques.
Rockport co-harbormasters Rosemary Lesch and Scott Story run the training program for the North Shore Harbormasters Association.
"It has been proven to work, and by mandating that everyone undergoes the training, it will see to it that more people are exposed to it," said Lesch, who was in the first class of trainees when the certification program began in 2001.
Gloucester Harbormaster James Caulkett, who has had the job for seven years and served in the U.S. Coast Guard for 28 years, said the measure will remove some of disparities in the current training.
While Caulkett is not certified, he has taken courses in law enforcement to supplement his expertise on maritime issues.
Posted on August 3rd, 2005 by dan in North Shore
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