Connecticut River Channel Markers 2009-2013- 2014 on website
Connecticut River Channel Markers Committee
Agenda and Minutes
Date: Tuesday, December 22, 2009
Time: 8:30 AM
Please use rear door
Place: Second Floor, City Hall, Room 11, 210 Main Street –
Contact: Wayne Feiden, Director of Planning and Development
Agenda
1.Update on Channel Marker Committee membership
2.2009 channel markers report
3.2010 channel markers plan
4.Current budget and funding status
5.Timing for next RFP for channel marking services
6.Other business
2010 Boating Season Channel Markers Committee Membership
1.Luke Brunell, Chair, South Hadley PRESENT
2.Bob Fowler, South Hadley alternate
3.Alicia Zoeller, Holyoke
4.Charlie Lydon, USCG Auxiliary (non-voting) PRESENT
5.Gary Pelissier, Hadley PRESENT
6.James Dostal, Northampton
7.Lisas Fusco, Northampton alternate
8.Jonathan Bates, HG&E (non-voting)
9.Paul Ducheney, HG&E (non-voting)
10.Rich Murray, HG&E (non-voting)
11.Stuart Beckley (non-voting)
Channel Marker Contractor
Kenneth Kubic PRESENT
There being no quorum, the Committee took no action but reviewed:
1.The 2009 season (smooth but for large flood displacement and some lost markers). The
members present agreed that the vendor was owed payment for the second flood
displacement and recommended that Northampton contract to replace damaged markers.
2.The 2010 season: The members present agreed that there was money to pay for putting
the markers in the river, but any displacement beyond that covered by the contract might
not be able to be reset depending on whether communities decided to contribute to the
fund this year.
3.Bid for 2011: The members agreed that Northampton should release an RFP for 2011-
2013 at some point during the upcoming boating season.
Connecticut River Channel Markers Committee
Agenda and Minutes
Date: Tuesday, February 1, 2011 (rescheduled from canceled 1/25/2011 meeting)
Time: 9:00 AM
Please use rear door
Place: Second Floor, City Hall, Room 11, 210 Main Street –
Contact: Wayne Feiden, Director of Planning and Development
Agenda
1.Update on Channel Marker Committee membership
What communities need to have new members appointed
2.Review budget and funding status
2011 invoices being mailed out
3.Review 2010 channel markers year-end report
4.Review 2011-2013 channel markers proposals and recommend vendor
5.Recommendation on replacement of missing channel markers
6.Other business not foreseen when agenda prepared
2011 Boating Season Channel Markers Committee Membership
1.South Hadley: Luke Brunell, Chair; Bill Nevill, South Hadley alternate
2.Holyoke: Alicia Zoeller
3.Hadley: Gary Pelissier
4.Northampton: James Dostal; Lisa Fusco, alternate
5.USCG Auxiliary (non-voting): Charlie Lydon
6.HG&E (non-voting) Jonathan Bates; Paul Ducheney; Rich Murray
7.Easthampton (non-voting): Stuart Beckley
Channel Marker Contractor (non-voting): Kenneth Kubic
Present: Luke Brunell, Gary Pelissier, James Dostal by speaker phone, Charlie Lydon, Kenneth
Kubic, and Wayne Feiden
Staff recommended renewing the contract with Pioneer Marine and reviewed the three bids that
were received.
Upon motion by Luke Brunell and second by Gary Pelissier, (with James Dostal supporting the
action by phone) the committee voted unanimously to recommend renewing the contract with
Kenneth Kubic d/b/a Pioneer Marine for an additional three years;
Upon motion by Luke Brunell and second by Gary Pelissier, (with James Dostal supporting the
action by phone) the committee voted unanimously to recommend three changes to the contract
to save funds without compromising boater or river safety:
1. Not replacing the three lost hazard (jet ski) markers near the Hatfield town line (one marked
HG and two marked JS).
2. Removing almost all of the markers two or three weeks earlier in the fall (but still after Labor
Day), which dramatically reduces the chance of displacements and loss because that avoids a
period when the river is often in flood.
3. Leaving the no wake markers by the Coolidge Bridge until later in September.
Gary Pelissier offered to approach the college rowing programs to see if they were willing to
contribute to the costs of maintaining the no wake markers that are heavily designed around the
needs of crew teams.
The committee adjourned at 9:55 AM.
Connecticut River Channel Markers Committee
Agenda and Minutes
Date: Wednesday November 2, 2011 Time: 9:05 AM
Place: Second Floor, City Hall, Room 11, 210 Main Street
Contact: Wayne Feiden, Director of Planning and Development
Members or Alternates Present: Luke Brunelle, Chair; Andrew Smith; Wayne Feiden
Other present: Ken Kubic, Pioneer Valley Marine
Luke Brunelle opened the meeting at 9:05 AM.
1.Minutes of February 1, 2011
Upon motion by Andrew Smith and second by Luke Brunelle, the Committee voted
unanimously to approve the minutes.
2.Review year-end channel marker program report
Ken Kubic presented the final report for the 2011 boating season and explained the Tropical
Storm Irene damage.
3.Review bids for channel marker replacements and replacement of missing markers
Wayne Feiden presented the bids received for the channel markers. The Committee agreed
to drop several of the markers that are not mission critical. The intention is to never replace
those markers and generally reduce the overhead of maintained markers slightly. The
committee by unanimous consensus to award the replacement marker contract to Ken Kubic
IF, and only if, FEMA will be reimbursing the City for 75% of the marker cost and if the
City can address the cash flow issues of slow reimbursement. If FEMA is not going to
reimburse, the committee will have to meet and identify more markers to cut.
4.Review budget and budget projection
The committee reviewed the existing budget and cash flow. With FEMA reimbursement the
marker program can continue although markers lost during the season may not be able to be
replaced unless more funds come in. Staff will explore whether Holyoke Gas and Electric
should be increasing. Luke Brunell thought that it was tied to a cost of living index.
The committee adjourned at 10:10 AM.
2011 Boating Season Channel Markers Committee Membership
1.South Hadley: Luke Brunelle, Chair; Bill Nevill, South Hadley alternate
2.Holyoke: Andrew Smith
3.Hadley: Gary Pelissier
4.Northampton: Lisa Fusco, Wayne Feiden, Northampton alternate
5.USCG Auxiliary (non-voting): Charlie Lydon
6.HG&E (non-voting) Jonathan Bates; Paul Ducheney; Rich Murray
7.Easthampton (non-voting): Stuart Beckley
Channel Marker Contractor (non-voting): Kenneth Kubic
Connecticut River Channel Markers Committee
Agenda and Minutes
Thursday November 15, 2012, 8:30 AM, Place: Room 11, 210 Main Street, Northampton
Members present: South Hadley: Luke Brunelle, Chair; Hadley: Gary Pelissier; Northampton:
Wayne Feiden; USCG Auxiliary (non-voting): Charlie Lydon; Easthampton (non-voting):
Jessica Allen; Channel Marker Contractor (non-voting): Kenneth Kubic
Minutes of November 2, 2011
1.Upon motion by Brunelle and second by Pelissier the
Committee voted unanimously to approve the minutes.
Review year-end channel marker program report
2.Ken Kubic presented the year-end
report. Upon motion by Brunelle and second by Pelissier, the Committee voted unanimously
to authorize Northampton to contract with Ken Kubic to replace two damaged markers and
repair one damaged marker provided the cost is essentially the same as the spring 2013 prices
for Tropical Storm Irene damage.
Possible removal of wood and stone crib/log anchor
3.The Committee discussed whether it
was worth spending resources to remove this hazard, both to make boating safer and reduce
future costs, as well as a similar approach to the underground cable under the river. No final
determination was made at this time.
Review budget and budget projection
4.The Committee reviewed the budget, which is in
much better shape than after Tropical Storm Irene. Current spending levels/income levels are
sustainable for the time being.
2014-2016 Channel Marker bid (to be issued summer 2013)
5.The Committee asked
Northampton to issue a bid again this coming summer. They will hold a late winter meeting
to review the details.
The committee adjourned at 9:30 AM.
2012-2013 Channel Markers Committee Membership
1.South Hadley: Luke Brunell, Chair; Bill Nevill, South Hadley alternate
2.Holyoke: Andrew Smith
3.Hadley: Gary Pelissier
4.Northampton: Wayne Feiden
5.USCG Auxiliary (non-voting): Charlie Lydon
6.HG&E (non-voting) Jonathan Bates; Paul Ducheney; Rich Murray
7.Easthampton (non-voting): Jessica Allen
8.Environmental Police (non-voting)
Channel Marker Contractor (non-voting): Kenneth Kubic
Connecticut River Channel Markers Committee
Agenda and Minutes
Thursday November 15, 2012, 8:30 AM, Place: Room 11, 210 Main Street, Northampton
Members present: Luke Brunelle, Chair; Gary Pelissier; Wayne Feiden;
Non-voting: Charlie Lydon; Jessica Allen; Kenneth Kubic
Minutes of November 2, 2011
1.Upon motion by Brunelle and second by Pelissier the
Committee voted unanimously to approve the minutes.
Review year-end channel marker program report
2.Ken Kubic presented the year-end
report. Upon motion by Brunelle and second by Pelissier, the Committee voted unanimously
to authorize Northampton to contract with Ken Kubic to replace two damaged markers (D
and J) and repair one damaged marker (8) provided the cost is essentially the same as the
spring 2013 prices for Tropical Storm Irene damage. The committee and Mr. Kubic agreed
that the two chains that need to be replaced are covered by the existing contract obligations.
Possible removal of wood and stone crib/log anchor
3.The Committee discussed whether it
was worth spending resources to remove this hazard, both to make boating safer and reduce
future costs, as well as a similar approach to the underground cable under the river. No final
determination was made at this time. There was also discussion of whether the cable
crossing the river is still used and whether it needs to be marked as a hazard. The Committee
discussed whether the USCG and/or ACOE might have funding to support hazard removal.
Review budget and budget projection
4.The Committee reviewed the budget, which is in
much better shape than after Tropical Storm Irene. Current spending is sustainable now.
2014-2016 Channel Marker bid (to be issued summer 2013)
5.The Committee asked
Northampton to issue a bid again this coming summer. They will hold a late winter meeting
to review the details. Planning and Development agreed to prepare the bid, which will
require pictures and documentation of all the markers. The Environmental Police requested
a no-wake buoy off Rainbow Beach as part of the next bid.
The committee adjourned at 9:30 AM.
2012-2013 Channel Marker Committee: voting members(contributing municipalities)
South Hadley: Luke Brunell, Chair Holyoke: Andrew Smith
Hadley: Gary Pelissier Northampton: Wayne Feiden
Non-voting members and others
Easthampton: Jessica Allen Marker contractor: Kenneth Kubic
USCG Auxiliary: Charlie Lydon Environmental Police
HG&E: Jonathan Bates; Paul Ducheney; Rich Murray
Connecticut River Channel Markers Committee
Agenda and Minutes
Tuesday July 16, 2013, 8:30 AM
Room 11, 210 Main Street, Northampton
Members present:
Voting: Luke Brunelle, Chair; Gary Pelissier; Wayne Feiden;
Non-voting: Charlie Lydon; Jessica Allen; Kenneth Kubic
1.Minutes of November 15, 2012
Upon motion by Gary Pelissier and second by Luke Brunelle, the Committee voted unanimously
to approve the minutes of November 15, 2013.
Luke Brunelle asked Jessica Allen, Easthampton’s representative, if Easthampton was prepared
to start contributing to the process. Jessica said that they were not in a position to do so but she
would pass it on to the administration. She informed the Committee that there will be a new
Mayor starting in January 2014.
Luke Brunelle asked Wayne Feiden, Northampton’s representative to the committee and staff
overseeing the contract, if Northampton was prepared to provide financial contributions to the
channel marker program in addition to staff support. Wayne said that city in-kind contributions
exceed the usual town contributions and there was no money available to also contribute cash.
The city does bidding (e.g., this year being preparing a three year bid), contracting, processing
and paying invoices, oversight, monitoring (e.g., this year updating the inventory and going to
the Vendor’s site to photograph all of the markers), special projects (e.g., last year fronting the
money for storm damage replacements and repairing prior to FEMA reimbursement to the City,
this year researching whether we can obtain permits to remove the rock/wood crib island that
held a log cable and that causes conflicts to navigation).
2.Consider options to reset and repair channel markers displaced and damaged by 2013 high
water.
The committee reviewed the process for approving displacements of damaged markers, based on
the contract and procurement standards. The committee and the vendor agreed that the
procedures in the contract must be followed or the vendor cannot be paid, i.e., approval by the
Chair and by the Director of Planning and Sustainability, whose charge it is to make sure that
procurement and contract standards are met.
Upon motion by Gary Pelissier and second by Luke Brunelle, the Committee voted unanimously
to approve spending $2,500 to reset markers displaced for a third time by high water (the
markers have already been reset twice in accordance with the contract at the Vendor’s expense).
The committee reviewed the markers lost to the high water and agreed not to replace them in
2013 and include the cost of replacing them in the contract when it goes out to bid.
3.Plan 2014-2016 Channel Marker bid (to be issued late summer 2013)
The Committee reviewed the bid from three years ago and agreed to use it as the basic bid. They
agreed that the two jet ski markers not restored after hurricane damage will not be replaced. The
committee agreed to reduce the time the markers are in the river to the time of heavy use,
reducing the risk of storm displacement, to the start of summer to immediately after Labor Day.
Planning and Sustainability will release the bid prior to the end of July with a bid opening in
September.
Gary Pelissier offered tentatively depending on the actual cost, of keeping in four no wakes near
the Coolidge Bridge until the end of September and accept the cost of replacing those markers if
lost or damaged in that month. He will make the final decision after bids come in and before a
contract is awarded. If this offer is executed, the City would sign a separate contract with
Pelissier.
4.Any necessary business not foreseen when this agenda was prepared
The committee adjourned at 9:45 AM.
Connecticut River Channel Markers Committee
Agenda and Minutes
Tuesday September 17, 2013, 10:00 AM
Room 11, 210 Main Street, Northampton
Representing Member Status Attendance
Hadley Gary Pelissier Voting member Present
Holyoke Andrew Smith Voting member Present
Northampton Wayne Feiden Voting member Present
South Hadley Luke Brunelle Voting member Present
Easthampton Jessica Allen Non-voting observer Absent
USCG reserve Charlie Lydon Non-voting observer Present
Environmental Police Vacant Non-voting observer Vacant
Vendor Ken Kubic Non-voting vendor Present
1.Public comment period: There were no public comments
2.Minutes of July 16, 2013: Upon motion by Luke Brunelle and second by Gary Pelissier, the
Committee voted unanimously to approve the minutes.
3.Review of bids for 2014-2016 Channel Marking Boating Season: Feiden went over the bid
results, one bidder Ken Kubic d/b/a Pioneer Valley Marine Recovery.
4.Action on related contracts for channel marking: Upon motion by Luke Brunelle and second
by Andrew Smith, the Committee voted unanimously to award the three-year contract to Ken
Kubic for Channel Marker Replacement and Channel Marker Maintenance, but without the
option of an extended season in the area near the Coolidge Bridge.
Upon motion by Wayne Feiden and second by Luke Brunelle, the Commission voted
unanimously to drop two unnecessary J and K no-wake markers from the currently
maintained list of markers and change 011 from a day marker to a no wake, freeing up old
equipment and saving $1,240 in current replacement costs as well as future replacement
costs.
5.2014 invoicing: For the 2014 boating season invoices, the Committee requested an invite
letter to the Holyoke Canoe Club to see if they are interested in voluntarily participating in
funding channel markers.
6.Winter 2013-2014 meeting and agenda: The Committee agreed that no winter meeting was
necessary to review the final year-end report unless new expenditures were needed or other
critical issues arise.
Upon motion by Luke Brunelle and second by Gary Pelissier, the Committee voted by
unanimous vote to adjourn at 10:35 AM