Oak Bluffs harbor posts record income

By Aubrey Gibavic - December 28, 2006

Despite a soggy June that deterred many boaters from making early season cruises to the Island, the town of Oak Bluffs, which leases dock space and moorings to yachtsmen visiting its sheltered harbor, posted its seventh consecutive year of record income. According to a report by harbormaster Todd Alexander, harbor revenue totaled $907,719, slightly higher than last year.

Mr. Alexander recently submitted next years budget, which closely resembles this year's operating budget, which totaled $230,000.

According to the annual report presented to the Oak Bluffs selectmen last month, Mr. Alexander noted an increase in the harbor's WiFi service, and a decrease in revenue from cruise ships. The report reflects numbers as of Oct. 10, the official end of the season in Oak Bluffs.

With improved technology, boaters may now lounge in the harbor with their laptops connected to the WiFi service provided by the town marina. There was a 158 percent increase in revenue from that service this year, to a total of $3,100. An additional $22,500 came from an increase in electricity charges to transient boats.

Despite three cruise ship cancellations due to poor weather, the vessels that did make it to the Island accounted for $22,000 in revenue. Mr. Alexander also estimated that up to $800,000 went to local business from passengers who spent afternoons shopping and eating in Oak Bluffs this summer.

"Any [business] before or after July and August is weekends, and if you don't have the weather, they just don't come. It's as simple as that," Mr. Alexander said.

Rates for seasonal moorings will be raised next year from $150 to $175 for a harbor mooring, and from $100 to $125 for moorings elsewhere.

Upcoming projects

Looking toward next year, Mr. Alexander sees changes in store for the harbor. Although no new structures or view-altering projects are proposed, the harbormaster does have plans for beautification.

Mr. Alexander said he will replace the steel portion of the bulkhead, swap the remaining plastic-covered power pedestals for metal ones, and work with the parking and traffic committee on a plan for the parking area where Seaview Avenue Extension and Circuit Avenue Extension meet next to the south jetty.

Replacing the bulkhead is the most important project facing the harbor at this time, Mr. Alexander said. The steel portion of the bulkhead, which runs from the Island Queen dock to the harbormaster's office, was built in the mid-1970s and was projected to have a 25-year lifespan. Mr. Alexander said the rest of the bulkhead was updated about 10 years ago, and this is the last bit of restoration the harbor needs to be stable.

"It's almost to where we want to be," Mr. Alexander said of the harbor. "We're also looking at the feasibility of rebuilding one side of the jetty, where it's sinking a bit."

The bulkhead project, including some work on the jetty, is estimated to cost nearly $2 million, according to town administrator Michael Dutton, who said that a matching grant from the state of up to $1 million is available until June 30, 2007. He said he will most likely ask for the rest of the money at the April town meeting, while searching for other sources of funding until then. The project's projected completion date is next fall.

When he interviewed for his current position in July, Mr. Dutton noted the bulkhead replacement project as one of the improvements he wanted to see approved. "We're really lucky there hasn't been a failure yet," he said in a recent conversation. "There are actually some holes in the metal pilings that could allow for spills into the harbor."

Replacing the plastic covering on the power pedestals - the units boats hook up to for electricity - has been an ongoing project, Mr. Alexander said. Replacement of the final 15 pedestal covers, which have either worn out or been vandalized, will be completed this winter. White painted aluminum coverings, which cost $800 each, will replace the plastic.

Mr. Alexander said while keeping the physical structure of the harbor up to date is important, the visual layout is also a priority.

"It is my opinion that beautification around the entire harbor is greatly needed," he said in the annual report. "This can be accomplished in stages and can be relatively inexpensive. Planting trees and bushes would enhance the harbor surroundings a great deal."

Mr. Alexander proposed lining the harbor boardwalk from the bathhouse towards Nancy's Snack Bar with 15-foot trees, planters, and grassy areas. He created a Google sketch, which allows users to grab an image from Google Earth - the search giant's satellite imagining system - to illustrate his improvement vision.

Twelve years in the making

Renee Balter, head of the parking and traffic committee, said she has been working on the idea for the harbor parking lot project for 12 years, and it is finally coming to fruition.

"People can no longer use the 'if it's not broke don't fix it' adage, because it is broke, and we do need to fix it," Ms. Balter said of the parking area where the Island Queen ferry loads and unloads.

Mr. Alexander has been working with Ms. Balter and the committee on their vision for the spot. Ms. Balter said they have been trying to implement pick-up and drop-off parking spots near the Island Queen for more than a decade, but they have met strong resistance from the residents who live and work in the area.

In August, Ms. Balter presented a plan to the board of selectmen during a public hearing, outlining a new parking layout, walkways to and from the ferry, and slight beautification upgrades. She was assaulted with complaints from people who insisted that the current layout works fine.

Ms. Balter said after that meeting she gathered contact information from the dozen or so people that were opposed to the project, and invited them to attend the committee's next meeting with their own ideas. She said the opposition group got together, outlined what they felt were appropriate improvements, and presented them to the parking and traffic committee in October.

"We needed to get all heads going up and down," Ms. Balter said. "Now the opposition is so minimal that I think we can begin to move forward with a plan." She said her committee and the local residents and business owners are now on the same page, and they are working with Bill Veno of the Martha's Vineyard Commission to draw up plans. They expect to hold another public hearing in front of the selectmen in January.

"Our main focus for 12 years has been to figure out a way to make everything happen that still happens, but to make that happen in a more orderly fashion," Ms. Balter said.

If approved, the committee is proposing to add pick-up and drop-off spaces for taxis, buses, and private cars at the Island Queen area; tear down the current guardrail along the harbor and replace it with a paved walkway; and add various signage, greenery, and possibly an awning for people waiting to board the ferry.

"We're not proposing anything major," Ms. Balter said. "Let's just see what we can do for this season, and go from there."

Ms. Balter said the parking and traffic committee does not have much money, but they are looking to the capital improvement committee, Community Preservation Act and the bulkhead project for possible funds.