Stramski Pier Project Drags On

The Stramski Pier Project, which has been in the works for more than five years now, will likely last longer than Harbor & Waters Board members would prefer as the result of recent problems with paperwork.

At their meeting Monday night, board members revisited plans to construct a public pier stretching out into Salem Harbor from a small beach off of Stramski Way, located about 100-yards from .

According to Chairman Gary Gregory, the town has completed all of the paperwork needed to send the project out to bid and now all they can do is wait for a signed approval from Gov. Deval Patrick.

After two failed attempts to send in the paperwork by mail, Gregory said the board opted to send a representative to hand-deliver the document and return with a signed receipt.

"So now they have it, everyone knows they have it and we are waiting for this last thing to come in," Gregory said.

Once they have Patrick's signature, Gregory said officials could put the project out to bid without needing to schedule a special meeting. Once the project is put out to bid, Gregory said project managers would be able to seek the approval of both the Department of Environmental Protection and the town's Conservation Commission before breaking ground.

"Literally all we’re waiting for is this piece of paper and then, poof!" Gregory said.

Those organizing the project have already invested $1,800 toward site analysis, so that they would know exactly how many borings and pins would be needed for the project before handing it over to a contractor.

The biggest problem facing board members now is a rapidly closing window of opportunity before local children return to the beach for the summer. If they were able to get the governor's signature and start the bidding process by April 15, Gregory said members might be able to choose a bidder by mid-May and complete construction in 4 to 6 weeks.

"If we don’t have this paperwork in and signed by (our next meeting) then there’s no way to get this done in time for the summer," Gregory said.

Although the chances of getting this done before it would interfere with summer programs may be grim, members seemed frustrated and ready to do whatever it takes to bring this project to fruition.

"So, that is depressingly where we are," Gregory said at the end of a 15-minute update about the status of the paperwork. "This is a snake-bit project for sure."