Executive Order  No. 376: Establishing a seaport advisory council

WHEREAS, the Commission on Commonwealth Port Development (the "Commission"), was established pursuant to Executive Order No. 372 for the purpose of producing a report creating an integrated statewide strategy for the seaports of Massachusetts;

WHEREAS, the Commission's report recommends the establishment of a Seaport Advisory Council to coordinate and oversee the implementation of the Commission's recommendations for a statewide seaport strategy;

WHEREAS, the development and implementation of a statewide seaport strategy is critical to economic development in the Commonwealth, particularly its coastal cities; and

WHEREAS, the revitalization of the Commonwealth's seaports will significantly increase the ability of Massachusetts businesses to compete on an international basis;

NOW, THEREFORE, I, William F. Weld, Governor of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, by virtue of the authority vested in me as Supreme Executive Magistrate, do hereby order as follows:

Section 1. There is hereby established a Seaport Advisory Council (the "Council") whose purpose shall be to provide statewide coordination of all seaport-related planning and development activities and provide the Governor with policy and funding recommendations as appropriate.

Section 2. The Council shall consist of the following thirteen (13) members:

a. the Lieutenant Governor of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, who shall serve as Chair;

b. the Executive Director of the Massachusetts Port Authority, the Secretary of Administration and Finance, the Secretary of Economic Affairs, the Secretary of Environmental Affairs and the Secretary of Transportation and Construction;

c. a representative of the waterways operators within the Commonwealth, who shall be appointed by the Governor upon the joint recommendation of the Massachusetts Maritime Academy and the Boston Marine Society, and who shall serve a one year renewable tern; and

d. six representatives of maritime communities, who shall be appointed by the Governor as follows: one who shall represent the southeast region of the Commonwealth; one who shall represent the northeast region of the Commonwealth; one who shall represent the mid-coast region of the Commonwealth and shall be appointed upon the recommendation of the Mayor of the City of Boston; one who shall be appointed upon the recommendation of the Mayor of the City of New Bedford; one who shall be appointed upon the recommendation of the Mayor of the City of Fall River; one who shall be appointed upon the recommendation of the Mayor of the City of Gloucester. These representatives shall serve one year renewable terms.

Section 3. The Council shall have the following duties and responsibilities:

a. implementing a statewide seaport strategy as outlined in the Commission's report to the Governor;

b. coordinating state agencies' activities which are associated with seaport planning and development;

c. coordinating the planning of dredging projects on a statewide basis and providing technical expertise on dredging projects throughout the Commonwealth:

d. making funding recommendations for seaport development activities and projects to the Governor; and

e. reviewing state programs and regulations relating to the Commonwealth's seaports and advising the Governor as to their effectiveness;

f. holding meetings at least four (4) times a year.

Section 4. Administrative and technical staff support shall be provided to the Council, subject to the necessary and appropriate approvals by the agencies, authorities and other entities involved in seaport development and planning in the Commonwealth.

Section 5. Council members shall serve without compensation. Subject to appropriation, Council members may be reimbursed for their reasonable and necessary expenses.

Given at the Executive Chamber in Boston this 22nd day of December one thousand nine hundred and ninety-four.

William F. Weld, Governor
Commonwealth of Massachusetts

Michael Joseph Connolly
Secretary of the Commonwealth