State Senator Susan Moran (D-Falmouth) is proposing legislation that would change the voting structure of the Steamship Authority board of governors, eliminating the majority control of Nantucket and Marthaâs Vineyard.
The bill, called âan act relative to municipal equity on Steamship Authority operations,â would give filibuster power to the three minority ports of Falmouth, Barnstable and New Bedford.
As it is structured now, Marthaâs Vineyard and Nantucket each have a 35 percent weighted vote on the board. The mainland ports of Barnstable, Falmouth and New Bedford each have a 10 percent vote.
âSenator Moran has proposed legislation that would provide on this board the mainland communities an effective veto over any actions taken by the authority, if none of them votes for any action. The Islands would no longer have majority control of the vote,â Steamship Authority special counsel Steven Sayers said at the Tuesday, April 20, Steamship board of gove
The Martha s Vineyard Times
Ferries look to return of food service
SSA board also hears updates on schedule, traffic concerns, and terminal project.
The concession stands on Steamship Authority ferries have been empty for a year. - Rich Saltzberg
Concessions, at least vending machine goodies, could be returning to Steamship Authority ferries in the middle of May. The idea of food trucks in the terminal parking lots was even floated, though it was never discussed in any detail.
During Tuesday’s SSA board meeting, general manager Robert Davis said the ferry line’s concession company, Centerplate, is looking for ways to begin providing some food and drinks on the ferries. He said it would likely be prepackaged foods that can be consumed on the outside decks during better weather.
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The Martha s Vineyard Times
Updated Dec. 16
Steamship Authority general manager Robert Davis received positive feedback from the ferry line’s board Tuesday morning as part of his annual evaluation. The four board members present credited Davis with an overall solid performance under the extraordinary pressures brought on by the novel coronavirus pandemic.
The board was advised of a major reservations overhaul initiated following a system crash in January, when general reservations opened for the season. The board voted 4-0 to award Thames Shipyard a $808,138 contract to overhaul the Governor, despite Rhode Island’s Senesco Marine being the low bidder. Davis noted that under state law, a former SSA employee who works at Senesco has yet to satisfy a one-year cool-off period before working on the ferry line’s ferries.