Boaters defend free anchorage in Old Harbor
By Abby Fox



The Friends of Old Harbor, a group representing mostly mainland
boaters, filled the community center some 30 strong on Wednesday, May
24, to tell the Town Council that they're alarmed about Harbormaster
Chris Willi's proposed renovation of Old Harbor because it would take
away free anchorage there.

The council listened, thanked the objectors, and made little comment.
Ahead of it are difficult decisions about changes in the harbor, which
most islanders see as necessary, and about financing the changes. Also,
any town plan would need assent from the Coastal Resources Management
Council and the Zoning Board.

The financing issue

As Town Manager Nancy Dodge defined the discussion early in the
meeting, the issue is whether the maintenance and management of Old
Harbor should be "self-funded" by revenue from slips, or subsidized at
least partly with taxpayer dollars.

Harbors Committee member Gary Hall said the committee's goal is to
"find a way to help fund repairs without going to the taxpayers," to
improve a harbor that's a "disgrace."

Furthermore, committee member Pete Tweedy said, "the Chief has had
difficulty managing the area." Chief Vin Carlone said that indeed,
"it's a difficult area to police" and that some people's behavior
"creates a great deal of aggravation" for the police department.

Beth Rousseau, the rescue squad captain, said in her experience "it's
not safe for us to be carrying patients over boats" that are rafted
together and that a facility with more decking would make it "easier
and safer" for the rescue squad to reach boaters.

Another issue, Harbors Com-mittee members said, was establishing a
legal right of way to Water Street.

Boaters' complaint

The boaters' group challenged Willi on every ground - legally,
aesthetically and financially.

John Nomer, a Narragansett boater and the group's spokesperson, said
he's been coming out to Old Harbor "for many years." The group fears
losing its "freedom to anchor," he said, as well as "the unique charm
and character of Old Harbor, by turning it into a commercial
enterprise." Isn't it contradictory for the town to oppose the
Champlin's Marina expansion in one harbor and then develop town
facilities in the other, he asked.

Member Dan Farnsworth, a boater from East Greenwich, argued with
Willi's projections of revenue from his renovation proposals. They're
"unrealistic," he said, because although Old Harbor occupancy probably
will reach 100 percent on weekends, it's likely to be only 10 percent
during the week. He questioned the proposed charge of $4 a foot for a
slip, which he said is higher than rates at Champlin's and in Vineyard
Haven and Oak Bluffs.

Even if the town charged $3.50 a slip, he said, he doubted the town
could get the revenue Willi anticipates. It would be wiser for the town
to support the renovation, he said.

Farnsworth also thought the $5,000 flat fee for a resident slip space
was too steep.

Darryl Paquette, the group's attorney, argued that the "right to anchor
is a fundamental component of navigation" and that it would take an act
of Congress to "remove the right to anchor in a federal harbor of
refuge."

After the three main speakers had their say, several boaters spoke up.
"I don't think it [Old Harbor] is as reckless as people think it is,"
one said. Another agreed that "I haven't seen a lot of dangerous
situations," and that Old Harbor has a "family atmosphere among the
boaters there." Most of the congestion and behavior problems the town
has brought up occur in the inner harbor, not in the outer anchorage,
they said.

Nomer suggested that the town should deal with bad behavior by handing
out a "handbook" about proper rules and etiquette, and by educating
people.

Carlone, however, suggested the safety concerns demanded more than
that. "We definitely need some help," he said. "We're trying to prevent
a fatality here." And Councilor Ned Connelly, who is also the fire
chief, said he sees "great potential" for a hazard in the future.

Councilor Mary Jane Balser spoke at length. She said, "I do realize
that you pay an awful lot for your boat," but with small boats "zooming
around" and the increasing fast-ferry traffic in Old Harbor, safety is
becoming a larger concern. "We have to rationally look at what our
needs are," she said, and find a way to "service our residents and our
guests in the safest way possible."