On Thursday, Nov. 21 the Harbors Committee finally had an opportunity to look back on the summer boating scene. It was the first time since mid-May that the committee has mustered a quorum – a point of contention for some members who regularly travel from the mainland to attend meetings.
Looking back is also a starting point to looking forward to what can be improved upon for 2020. In his report from the chairman, Denny Heinz first brought up the influx of sand into areas of Old Harbor, which he said was now on top of the breakwater. “That’s how much sand has come in there,” he said, adding that much of the problem was caused by nor’easters.
Heinz’s suggestion was to dredge the harbor and dump the resulting sand along the beach starting behind The Surf and moving north. “It hasn’t been done in a long time,” he said, explaining that the Army Corps of Engineers only dredges the channel, and not the area in front of The National Hotel.
Kate McConville, harbors clerk and assistant to Harbormaster Steve Land, said that Land occasionally has contractor Bain Transue “go in