A peek into the Harbormaster’s winter

Mar 26, 2019

MATTAPOISETT — Though the Mattapoisett Harbormaster’s winter voicemail greeting makes it seem like the office is closed for the season, behind the scenes there’s still lots happening to maintain and improve the waterfront. And usually, the Harbormaster will still respond within a day.

The harbormaster’s winter lasts from mid-to late November “depending on when Town Meeting is” to April 1, when Harbormaster Jill or “Sarge” Simmons tries to have the boats back in the water.

The winter months give Simmons the chance to get away from Mattapoisett for a bit. “Have laptop, will travel,” she quips, referencing the TV show, Paladin. However, even then she checks in with her messages and emails daily.

When she’s in Mattapoisett, the quieter winter season offers the chance to do repairs, which Simmons actually enjoys, because “I love building things.”  In past years, Simmons’ winter projects have included rehauling the office, and the storage area of the Harbormaster’s building.

Winter is also a time to get more administrative tasks done. Wharf bills are due Jan. 1, and after Feb.15 Simmons revokes the permits of anyone who still has not paid.

Simmons is also working  a number of grants for additional department funding. One is a grant through the Clean Vessel Act that would fund part of a pumpout boat for Mattapoisett.

Other grant have to do with the current state of the piers.

“I can see that something is happening. Cracks that were half an inch wide are now two inches wide,” Simmons explained.

An engineering plan for the wharf was made after Hurricane Bob in 1991, but Simmons is applying for a grant to upgrade that plan.

Another wharf-related project would involve getting a group to come down and dredge the silt that has built up on the side of the wharves.

She has also been working on a five-year plan to address the waterfront’s needs.

“The Board of Selectmen is very good about supporting us. They understand the docks are the focal point of the town, for a lot of people,” Simmons says.

Selectmen also recently informed Simmons that she was also in charge of the town’s aquaculture plan, an area that she has little experience with.

So, she decided to take a course on the subject at Roger Williams, and also took the Massachusetts Maritime Academy Shellfish Officer Certification course.

Simmons is also working on her remote pilot’s license, and plans to purchase a Maverick dual with two cameras, on her own funds. The cameras would include an infrared camera that she believes will be useful in locating lost or drowning boaters.

“Aviation charts and weather are totally different than marine charts and weather. It’s fascinating how different they are,” Simmons said. 

Just before reopening Simmons will clean the lifejackets for the summer season.