Moak hasn't committed to the idea yet, but he's rightfully giving it a fair hearing. Obviously this will be open to the public so stop by if you're interested.
Regarding my knocks on John Tierney, here's an excerpt from Victor Tine's article:
Meanwhile, U.S. Rep. John Tierney said he is meeting with officials of the Army Corps of Engineers this week to discuss projects in his district and the Plum Island work is "at the very top" of his priority list.
The Salem Democrat secured $654,000 for the channel dredging in the current federal fiscal year, and Tierney said he would try to obtain an estimated $800,000 more in the fiscal year that begins Oct. 1. The cost of dredging the channel between Plum Island and Salisbury Beach, and then pumping the dredged sand directly onto the beach, has been estimated at $1.4 million.
So he's working hard at it with some degree of success. Still, something about hiring a lobbyist sticks in my craw. But, according to Victor's article, it's been done before.
Marlowe's 23-year-old firm, Marlowe & Company, represents more than 40 governmental entities in 12 states and has had particular success in obtaining congressional "earmarks" for beach replenishment programs, earning Marlowe the nickname "Sand-a-Claus."
A group of Plum Island homeowners raised the idea in recent weeks of retaining Marlowe's services. They have put up $4,000 of their own money and are trying to get both Newburyport and Newbury to appropriate the other $36,000 to make up the $40,000 fee.
One of the homeowners, Newbury selectmen Chairman Vincent Russo, has said on several occasions that he has been trying to work on beach replenishment through the area's congressional delegation for three years without success.
I'd be a lot more comfortable with the idea if the fee were contingent upon success. Should be an interesting meeting if it happens.
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