Potential Rockport Legislation

[adshepard]

Alan -

I can assure you that the Selectmen are not trying to make it difficult for divers. The discussion will be centered on whether or not to charge a fee for groups of divers who receive permits to dive off the beaches. Residents have been complaining about the trash that has been left behind after some of the divers leave the area. Of special concern is that on a few occasions knives have been found in the sand. We realize that most divers do not leave their trash behind.

Sheila


________

DSDO

Alan

 

[muldoonthief]

Will the permit/fee for "groups of divers" apply to classes only, or any "group" of 2 or more divers? Will they stop issuing permits for a given beach/date once a certain number have been given out? That seems like it would still be a violation of state law - they'd be denying access to the divers who turned in their application later than others.

Not to mention the incredible hassle of going to the town hall, filling out a form, getting a permit, going to the site, seeing that conditions are terrible, going back, getting a new permit, etc. And will they open the permit office at 6:00 AM on Sundays? It really seems that if they try to enforce this on all divers (instead of classes), it'll really make diving in Rockport difficult. Not that I think that's their actual intent or anything...

 

[nusspli]

Maybe the solution to the overcrowded beaches, such as OGB and BB, is to remove the resident only parking at other dive locations. The overcrowdedness is a direct result of not being able to spread out and go elsewhere. I would really hate to see a restriction on diving in Rockport. I drive 1.5 hours to relax and enjoy myself diving, and I would hate to have to go somewhere else (where? RI?). I don't think 'they' realize how far divers drive to get there and how much money they add to the local economy. I know we often stay over night, spending money on hotels and restaurants.

 

[oceancurrent]

So, what is the final word on the new "rules" for Rockport? Did they publish them somewhere?

Does anybody know if there is a way for us to appeal these regulations?

 

[MSilvia]

So, what is the final word on the new "rules" for Rockport? Did they publish them somewhere?

The final word will probably be decided tonight at the meeting.

 

[nusspli]

The final word will probably be decided tonight at the meeting.

I would definately sign a petition against it, and I know other divers that would as well. Does anyone know if there is a representative group of divers who are against this that attend these meetings?

 

[minigirl]

I couldn't make the meeting last night as I had a OW class to teach - did anyone attend??

 

[eab]

Since it appears the meetings aren't announced enough in advance so some of us can actually go, I was thinking of writing some letters. As a homeowner in MA, I pay taxes. Like many of you mentioned, I don't just drive to Cape Ann, dive, and leave, but I shop, have lunch or dinner, and so on. Sometimes I go to Cape Ann and don't dive.

Maybe those selectment need to hear things like that, things like others have been saying.

I may also suggest one/some of them trek to the Sea Rovers to meet some of us.

So, anyone got info?

 

[eab]

The five selectmen are Charles H. Clark, who is the chairman, Roxanne F. Tieri, Joanne N. Wile, Nicola A. Barletta, and Jonathan T. Weaver.

The snail mail address is Selectmen's Office, 34 Broadway, Rockport, MA 01966.

The email address is selectmen@town.rockport.ma.us

 

[PeaceDog]

Depends on how you look at it.

The board voted to raise the parking violation fees from $15 to $25, and no doubt this is great news for the pseudo-cops who rabidly enforce the parking codes (anyone who has spent more than 5 minutes at OGB will understand what I'm talking about).

The board also voted against an instructor's fee - for now. The proposed fee was $75, and the board thinks that "more research" needs to go into figuring out what an agreeable fee should be. They say that this fee will go toward "scuba cleanup costs." Hmm.

Interestingly enough, the local Cape Ann papers that reported this story quoted Norwood Avenue locals as very amicable and tolerant of divers at Old garden Beach. Amazing how they found the only 3 residents in all of Rockport that like us.

My favorite quote of the whole thing was the woman who said that she liked divers and that they are a good group of people, but, "the trouble is, there's just too many of them." Nice.

I think some of these people need to realize that the growth in the number of divers at a particular site is directly proportional to the growth in the number of resident-only parking signs and private beaches.

We'll see what happens.