By ROBERT BARBOZA

Editor – Westport/Dartmouth Chronicle

August 27, 2008

WESTPORT — The check is definitely not in the mail, but the Westport Fishermen's Association (WFA) and the Westport Community Preservation Committee are holding a signed IOU from the state Department of Conservation and Recreation (DCR) promising to "match" the $20,000 in CPA funds appropriated this year for the Horseneck Beach Lifesaving Station #69 restoration project.

Providing an update on the restoration work to the Community Preservation Committee (CPC) Thursday night, Jack Reynolds of the WFA handed over a copy of a letter from a DCR grants coordinator, pledging "matching funds" if the WFA submits the proper paperwork to the agency.

The only thing that remains unclear is how much help can be expected— the $40,000 figure mentioned in the letter is twice the town's appropriation of historic preservation Community Preservation Act funding this year.

The letter clearly states, however, "we are maintaining our commitment to match the CPC appropriation two to one," CPC co-chair Warren Messier said, reading from the document provided by Mr. Reynolds.

The WFA has already secured a verbal promise of a short-term lease of the property from DCR, and has enlisted the aid of State Rep. Michael Rodrigues and State Sen. Joan Menard to file legislation for the next session that would permit DCR to negotiate a long-term lease for the site on East Beach near Gooseberry Island.

The planned lease with WFA was initially held up by the DCR's reluctance to depart from policy allowing leases of state property only to municipalities, not private organizations, Mr. Messier advised CPC members. A lease similar to those issued to commercial vendors is being worked out, "except that we're non-profit," Mr. Reynolds reported.

The delay also killed the group's chances of getting the DCR grant for this fiscal year, Reynolds said, but the town's state legislators have assured him that the matching grant money will be earmarked for the Westport project in the next fiscal year.

The restoration effort is now halfway completed, and the WFA is embarking on a second season of fund-raising to finance phase two, WFA member Chip Gillespie advised the board Thursday.

The proposed visitor's center has been gutted inside, exposing the post and beam construction, while outside, the roof was replaced, along with new windows and siding. "The walls have been nicely restored; the windows replaced. The visitor's center is as it once was," Mr. Gillespie reported.

The group is in the process of finalizing plans for phase two, including re-siding the nearby boathouse and replacing the barn doors in front, Reynolds said. The WFA has already secured the donation of a genuine Lifesaving Service lifeboat to house in the structure.

Phase two should also finalize the proposed educational components of the lifesaving station restoration project," Mr. Reynolds noted. "We need to have a real, concrete plan" for artifact displays, historical information, and public use of the visitor's center, he explained.

The CPC is keeping a close eye on the project, as much of phase one was funded by $50,000 in Community Preservation Act money appropriated by voters at the 2007 annual town meeting.

"The structure restored so far is just great," suggested Mr. Messier. "I think you're doing a fantastic job out there."

WFA members said they hope to get the second phase of construction— exterior work on the boathouse— out to bid this fall.

In other business Thursday night, the CPC heard a report from co-chair Chet Atkins on the net total of certified funds raised by the two percent local assessment, standing at $358,503 for Fiscal Year 2009. That figure is to be reported to the state by Sept. 15 to qualify the town for its annual state match. Dwindling funds in the state's Community Preservation Act account has made it unlikely that the town will get the same 100 percent match it has in past years, it was noted.

"We don't know at what percent (the match will be); all we know is that it isn't going to be 100 percent," Mr. Messier said.

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