I tried to represent four main views. If you have other comments to add, post a comment to this link.
One vote per person unless someone wants to visit the site from differnet computers. Or you can haul your computer to your home, office, Plum Island Roasters, Nutcracker and the Library if you'd like to vote multiple times.
For the record, I haven't voted yet but I'm leaning toward, Yes. I fear we don't have a choice.
I intentionally left off any answer suggesting this is Plum Island's problem. I don't think that's a reasonable position. But tell me if you disagree.
Here's some background. Victor Tine has written many more articles on this subject as well. This is just one. UPDATE: Check out this direct plea in today's Daily News.
Newbury to commit thousands to 'Sand-a Claus'
By Victor Tine
Staff writer
NEWBURY - Selectmen will ask the Finance Committee for $10,000 to fund part of a Washington lobbyist's fee in hopes of convincing Congress to put up the money to replenish Plum Island beach.
A group of island homeowners put up $4,000 and is asking Newbury and Newburyport for $18,000 each to pay for the services of Marlowe & Co., a Washington lobbying firm that specializes in beach restoration projects.
Selectmen voted on Tuesday night to approve the town's share for the current fiscal year, which runs through June 30. The rest of Newbury's contribution would be allocated to the next fiscal year and would likely need Town Meeting approval, according to Town Counsel Anthony Penski.
Newburyport Mayor John Moak is expected to hold a meeting on Jan. 31 to discuss whether the city will also join the lobbying effort, according to Robert Connors of Annapolis Way, a member of the island homeowners' group.
Marlowe & Co. is headed by Howard Marlowe, who has been dubbed "Sand-a Claus" by the national newspaper USA Today for his ability to deliver beach replenishment funding to his clients.
"This is his specialty," said Selectman Joseph Story. "I think there's an awful lot of merit to getting someone who knows which hoops to jump through and which hoops not to jump through."
Selectmen Chairman Vincent Russo agreed.
"I think this a worthwhile investment," he said.
The beach between the south jetty at the northern tip of the island and what is known as Plum Island Center or Center Island has been badly eroded in recent years, notably by a nor'easter in April. The jetty itself is in disrepair and is channeling water in a corrosive pattern toward the beach.
"We have a sick jetty, creating a sick beach, that is owned by the federal government," Connors said.
The Merrimack River boating channel between the island and Salisbury Beach has not been dredged since 1999 and is filling with sand that could be used to replenish the beach.
For his $40,000 fee, Marlowe's task will be to persuade Congress to appropriate the estimated $3 million to $5 million needed to dredge the channel and deposit the sand directly onto the beach.
Southern Boulevard resident Lois Smith, a member of the Plum Island Beach Committee, mentioned a meeting held last Friday among federal, state and local officials to begin the planning and implementation of beach nourishment programs on a regional basis.
She asked if it would be worthwhile to pursue that path rather than hiring a lobbyist and raised the possibility that Marlowe might not be successful.
"Does he give the (town's) money back if he doesn't deliver the (federal) money?" she asked.
Russo and Story, who both attended last Friday's meeting, cited differences between the two approaches.
"This is a short-term thing. That's a long-term thing," Story said. "If we don't do the short-term thing, we'll never get to the long-term thing."
Russo, a physician, compared the beach to a patient. He said the dredging project was like stabilizing the patient in the ambulance and the regional approach was the surgery performed later in the hospital.
Plum Island Boulevard resident Alba Gouldthorpe, whose house sustained severe flooding damage last April, stressed that Newburyport needs to be brought on board for the project. She said if the island were breached at Plum Island Center, the Newburyport section of the island would be cut off.
"You've got to let them know. If we lose, they lose," she told selectmen.
Connors said there are 450 houses in the Newburyport section that are reachable only by going through Newbury. He also said that 150 of the 750 houses in the Newbury section are owned by Newburyport residents.
He said that putting up Newbury's share of the fee would show Newburyport the depth of the town's commitment.
"Newbury is going to lead by example. We're all in this together," he said. "I honestly believe we don't have any choice. We have to make this work."
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