The Edgartown select board approved a rate hike across the board for the Chappaquiddick ferry on Monday during a packed public hearing at Edgartown Town Hall, where Chappaquiddick residents made themselves clear — they are not happy with the adjustment.
The approved 12-percent increase, the third in six years, will take effect on August 1, and while passenger fares will remain the same, the price for vehicles will increase from $15 to $17, bicycle fares will increase from $7 to $8, and motorcycles and mopeds will increase from $9 to $10.
Chappy residents say that they are unfairly left with the burden of paying for the increase, and that the ferry operator is taking advantage of residents by baselessly upping fares.
Peter Wells, owner and operator of the Chappy Ferry, began his proposal before the town by presenting an assessment by Nardella & Taylor Certified Public Accountants, the same group who suggested a 15 percent rate hike in 2022. He said the increase is in the face of rising costs, an unpredictable economy, and infrastructure challenges due to sea level rise, as well as an absence of federal grants from the Trump administration.
“[Rate hikes occur] when I worry more about the money than the beating I’m going to take when I do ask for a rate hike,” Wells said.
Wells said that in 2019, expenses were 16 percent higher than revenue. After a fair increase then, expenses continued to increase, but after an approved rate increase again in 2022 of 15 percent, Wells said that the ferry’s head is now “above water.” Still, he wanted a buffer to prepare for the future.
“What I’m asking for is a 12 percent rate hike,” he said. “It’s not a number I picked out of a hat; it’s a number that will make things financially possible for us without a lot of worry.”
But many Chappaquidick residents expressed frustration, saying the fare increase disproportionately burdens them.
John Dropick, a Chappaquidick resident and member of the Chappaquiddick Ferry steering committee, compared the ferry to the process of repaving roads, where all Edgartown residents pay a fair share.
“When the town paves a road, the town does not request a 100 percent reimbursement from the people who live on that street,” said Dropick. “All the citizens in town contribute toward that pavement, myself included, even if I am never on that street.”
Dropick called the fare increase a “separate and special tax on the users of that ferry.”
“What I’m saying is it’s unfair to require him [Wells] to have to come up with that money. The town should be doing it. It shouldn’t be forcing him to collect from people living on Chappaquidick,” added Dropick.
Dana Strayton, Chappaquidick resident and member of the steering committee, asked for a fair and transparent process for setting rates, as well as clarification on the legal obligation of a private entity serving the public. “In my opinion, it is a town road — it’s our only access; it’s a monopoly. There is no other way for us to get there. We shouldn’t have to pay $25 to get to our house,” said Strayton.
Strayton also said a detailed infrastructure plan has yet to be presented to the steering committee. She argued that if the rate hike will be based on the infrastructure plan, then the rate hike should be postponed until an infrastructure plan is due, at the end of August.
“I feel like you should be postponing this rate increase until you have more information on that,” said Strayton.
Chappaquiddick resident Rob Strayton questioned the financial need for a rate hike. “There are a hundred ways you can carve up the books and make it look like whatever you want, particularly with a business that is so cash-heavy,” he said. “It’s ludicrous to say that somehow, this business is in trouble, and I would ask you to reject any rate increase at this time,” said Strayton.
Not everyone present at Tuesday’s hearing was opposed. At the back of the meeting room, Bob Colacray praised the ferry’s reliability and Wells’ dedication to keeping it running, and raised concerns about what could replace him.
“They’re super-dependable; they never break down,” Colacray said.
“I would be afraid that if you did go to RFP, that anyone would even want this business,” he added. “If Peter’s not here, who’s gonna fill his shoes? We all know what the state-run entity, the Steamship Authority, is like, and they are not dependable at all.”
After the select board voted to approve the rate hike in a unanimous vote, outside the meeting Chappaquiddick residents gathered to share their concerns over the hikes, the vague residential rate policy controlled by Wells, and how they felt about the entire process.
“[It makes me feel] unrepresented. Taxation without representation,” said Rick Biros, Chappaquiddick resident and member of the steering committee.
“There’s a saying on Chappaquiddick that we have,” said Biros.”All I want to do is go to my house and back, and go to the beach, and that shouldn’t be so hard.”
Sounds like a bunch of baloney to me…..3 increases in 6 years? What costs have risen? Fuel has held steady. Costs for seldom repairs and maintenance? Economic unpredictability? What’s the connection? No matter what the economy does, people still need to get to their homes. The economy has no effect on passage volume. And infrastructure challenges due to rising sea level? Give me a break. The distance is little more than a stone’s throw across the inlet. Fancy words that mean nothing. Have other businesses along that shoreline complained of issues of a rising sea level? It seems evident the owner/operator has just decided to vote a pay raise for himself. 12% is far more than what most workers get from their employees. He knows he’s a monopoly and is taking advantage. I would love to review his books and see just how much he is actually “struggling”. One person had it right when he said it’s ludicrous to think the ferry is in financial trouble. If an increase is determined to actually be essential to keep the ferry operating, the cost should be shared. One person compared it to the expense sharing of paved roads. It is a transportation connection that should be shared by all. I pay for roads I have never been on. I never had kids yet I pay heavily for schools. The cost should be shared and not burdened on those who have to use it to get to their homes. There should have been more input from, and more weight placed on the concerns of Chappaquidick residents. Unfortunately, this issue will not likely make any headlines or catch much attention because the reaction is likely…..”If they live on Chappy. They can well afford it”. MA is a state where government takes from those who “have”, and give it all to those who don’t “have”. Stick it to the wealthier in favor of those who choose not to work for a living. The main point here is how unfair continuous significant rate hikes are to one group in particular.
Where have you gone in the past 5 years that doesn’t cost more. So the captains and deck hands should be making the same pay for years with inflation the way it is? You choose to live on an island off of an island and doing so you have to expect things to cost more. We work are rears off for you and the tourist and a minor price hike is nothing. Have you bought beef lately?
I don’t use the Chappaquidick ferry at all. I’d think that the users should contribute more same as the Steamship Authority boats. You use it you pay for the use.
As far as the school system goes.
You should want to contribute to those who will be you and your families caregivers. You want competent educated people.