Amendment ID: S2023-172-R1

Redraft Amendment 172

Study of New Bedford State Pier

Mr. Montigny moves to amend the amendment by inserting at the end, the following new section:-

SECTION ___. The secretary of transportation and the secretary of energy and environmental affairs shall jointly submit a report regarding the capital and operating needs of the New Bedford State Pier to the senate and house chairs of the joint committee on transportation and the clerks of the senate and house of representatives, no later than August 15, 2014. The report shall include, but not be limited to:

(1) an analysis of the current state of repair of the state pier, including a description of all projects and expenditures needed to bring said Pier into a state of good repair and low-end and high-end estimates of the useful life of all physical components of said Pier and the estimated cost, as of the date of this Act, to replace same;

(2) for the prior and current fiscal years, any and all operating expenses associated with said Pier, including without limitation payments to all vendors performing any work with respect to said Pier and the salaries of all state employees who have performed any work with respect to said Pier;

(3) all persons and entities currently making use of said Pier pursuant to any written or unwritten lease, license, permit, invitation or other agreement; and

(4) a recommendation as to the most efficient structure for ownership, management, operation, and oversight of said Pier, including without limitation a recommendation as to which state agency or agencies should own or operate said Pier and what actions, if any, should be undertaken with regard to whether future operation of said Pier should include input and/or participation by municipalities or other governmental instrumentalities abutting the Port of New Bedford

(5) The study shall also make recommendations for improvements  and repair to infrastructure and enhancements to increase public access, facilitation of activities surrounding the offloading and transport of commercial fishing landings, expanding the use of the facility for water dependent cargo, short sea shipping, marine transportation, cruise facilities and non-water dependent related uses related to tourism and economic development, potential redevelopment and creation of  mixed use facilities to include; commercial uses, retail, restaurants, research & development, and public event space as well as strategies to increase awareness of the commercial fishing fleet while educating consumers on the benefits of locally caught seafood and the $25,000,000 authorized by chapter 312 acts of 2008, item 1100-2500 with regard to said Pier shall be used  to fund implementation of all recommendations of the study.