It’s been nearly 30 years since Cape Elizabeth took a in-depth look at its harbors, who’s using them and why and if any access probems exist.

That’s about to change this week when the Town Council is expected to approve the creation of a new, ad hoc Harbors Committee.

The council meeting will be held on Wednesday, Oct. 5, after the Current’s deadline, but prior to the meeting Councilor Caitlin Jordan said she requested the review as one of the council’s goals for the year.

“This issue has not been looked at or reviewed since before I was born,” she said, “and access is becoming an issue. Cape is a fishing community, and I want to preserve that for future generations.”

The town last conducted a major review of its harbors and coastal access in the late 1980s, according to materials prepared for the council by Town Manager Mike McGovern.

“With nearly 30 years having passed since the last review of how our coastal water resources are serving our fishing, aquaculture and recreational boating needs, it is an opportune time to review issues relating to our harbors,” the proposed charge for the committee states.

Jordan hopes to get “broad support” from her fellow councilors on Wednesday. She said creating the ad hoc Harbors Committee is “the responsible thing to do,” particularly if the town wants to be perceived as “friendly to the growing aquaculture economy.”

Molly MacAuslan, the council chairwoman, also supports the creation of the Harbors Committee.

“From my perspective, the existing harbor report is outdated,” she said prior to Wednesday’s meeting, particularly as it relates to usage of the town’s coastal waters and the impact of climate change.

“I don’t see any reason why we would not want to do this update,” she added. “As I see it, the goal would be to ensure the fishing community has better access. This will also allow us to grow and deepen our relationship with the state parks, which is probably a good thing.”

Under the proposed committee charge, it would review the town’s coastal waters and harbor ordinance; meet with state officials to determine the best options for boat access in the Kettle Cove/Crescent Beach State Park area; and update the maps the harbormaster uses to locate moorings, along with any other items the council may request.

McGovern has suggested that the Harbors Committee consist of five members – two councilors and three residents, as recommended by the Appointments Committee.

He is also recommending that the town set aside $15,000 from the undesignated fund balance in order to hire a consultant “who has expertise in issues relating to municipal harbors and boat access.” The money could also be used for any costs related to mapping the harbors, McGovern said.

The goal would be to have the committee up and running early next year. It would then report back to the council no later than Dec. 31, 2017.

In other action Wednesday, the council is expected to accept several paper streets around town for pedestrian and bicycle access and for various municipal purposes. Other, more controversial paper streets would be extended for another 20-year period and still others would be vacated entirely.

In addition, the council is being asked to approve the purchase of a new senior bus for use by Community Services.

In a memo sent to the Town Council, Kathy Raftice, the adult/senior program coordinator, said, “Having a 14-passenger bus would greatly enhance our current senior programming while also broadening future programming opportunities.”

She said such having such a bus “would allow us to eliminate the shortcomings of both of our current options, improve the overall experience of existing programming and open up a whole new world of leisure opportunities targeting Cape’s senior population.”

McGovern has recommended that the council approve the request up to $65,000. In her memo, Raftice said, “We can expect to travel between 5,000 and 10,000 miles a year and have a vehicle life expectancy of 10 to 12 years.”

Community Services now uses either a school bus or hires a van for its senior programming, Raftice said, and “each of these options presents their own unique set of obstacles.”

“The standard school bus seats are uncomfortable providing limited leg room, therefore reducing the length of travel involved in any trip we offer. The use of the school’s buses also creates a scheduling problem for Community Services as we must work around the school’s transportation schedule,” Raftice said.

While the “van for-hire option has provided some flexibility in scheduling and additional comfort for our participants,” she said, “the cost for providing this service only adds to the cost of registration fees” for the programs offered.

Kettle Cove is the primary harbor for the town of Cape Elizabeth.

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