ROCKLAND — Rockland City Councilor Ed Glaser doesn’t entirely know that the need to dredge Lermond Cove sooner than expected was caused specifically by the pumping of the Cedar Street Quarry in 2016. Glaser is, however, in agreement that the maintenance dredging would be beneficial, that the waste can be dumped in the city landfill, and that granting a discount to the Port District is appropriate.

On Monday, Dec. 9, through Order 74 Authorizing Fee Reduction – Rockland Port District Dredge Spoils, councilors voted unanimously to allow the dredge waste to be dumped in Rockland’s landfill, and to charge the Rockland Port District Authority a reduced fee of $40 per cubic yards, as opposed to the $100 per yard usually charged.

“The Port District, as I’ve said before, is a sort of quasi local government group,” said Glaser. “And, so, we are sort of giving ourselves a tax break by allowing them to dredge and dump the spoils at a reduced fee.”

According to Glaser, Lermond Cove is “sort of the heart of Rockland’s waterfront in many ways.” It’s in a central location within the city. It’s along a well-used section of the Harbor Trail, and a destination for people wanting to see schooners.

Yet, if schooner owners cannot maintain their businesses due to the conditions of the Cove, those businesses are bound to leave.

Glaser estimated the amount of dredge waste to be approximately 500 square feet. He also stated his hope of seeing this dumping of Lermond dredge waste into the landfill as a precursor to a larger dredging project being planned for the Municipal Fish Pier.

“There aren’t a lot of places that you can reasonably dump dredge soils,” he said.

Reach Sarah Thompson at news@penbaypilot.com