Should Portsmouth be paying for repairs to ferry dock in Bristol?

Town Council tables action to contribute $70,000 of the total cost

Jim McGaw
Posted 1/15/17

PORTSMOUTH — Saying it first wants to review a contract between the Prudence Island ferry operator and the Town of Bristol, the Town Council Monday night tabled a request to chip in …

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Should Portsmouth be paying for repairs to ferry dock in Bristol?

Town Council tables action to contribute $70,000 of the total cost

Posted

PORTSMOUTH — Saying it first wants to review a contract between the Prudence Island ferry operator and the Town of Bristol, the Town Council last week tabled a request to chip in $70,000 toward the cost of repairs to the ferry landing in that town.

A&R Marine, the company that provides ferry service to and from Prudence Island, is asking the towns of Portsmouth and Bristol to each contribute a third for dock repairs that will cost an estimated $210,000. A&R would pick up the remaining third.

“The dock is in very tough shape,” said Stephen Antaya, president of A&R Marine (doing business as Prudence & Bay Islands Transport), which took over ferry operations from Bruce Medley in the fall of 2014. 

The Town of Bristol purchased the dock from Mr. Medley for $800,000 and now leases it to A&R, which has two more years to go on the five-year contract with an option to renew.

“We knew we were going to have to do some work in Bristol and it’s come to the point where it’s necessary,” said Mr. Antaya.

In a Jan. 2 letter to Council President Keith Hamilton, Mr. Antaya said the dock repairs would cost an estimated $125,000, but after a review by Childs Engineering, that figure was bumped to $210,000.

“It would be $70,000 apiece,” Mr. Antaya said, noting that Bristol has a vested interest in the ferry as it brings tourists to town, while Portsmouth uses it as a lifeline for residents who live there as well as a mode of getting Public Works trucks and construction equipment over to the island.

In a Jan. 4 memo to the council, Town Administrator Richard Rainer Jr. proposed a way for the town to come up with its share of the funds, provided the council votes that way. Mr. Rainer said there’s still a balance of more than $150,000 left over from the $2.5 million bond for the recent Prudence Island road paving project. 

“Funds from the balance could be used for the dock repair if the council chooses,” Mr. Rainer stated in his letter. 

Expedited action is required due to the “extremely poor condition of the west face of the dock, the low level of traffic in the winter months, and availability of the contractor,” Mr. Antaya stated in his letter. “Failure to act could result in lost service to the island and constitute an emergency.”

The repairs would include the installation of a new, higher-capacity ramp and gallows which would reduce the need for higher-cost alternatives and ensure safe, continued service for Prudence residents, he said. 

A&R has had to reduce the weight limits on the dock due to its poor condition, Mr. Hamilton said. “Right now, we can’t bring larger trucks over there. If DPW has to bring a 10-wheeler with gravel in it … we can’t do that,” he said.

Bristol supports the proposal, Mr. Antaya said. “They’re going to request the funds at the (Jan. 25) meeting and once it’s approved, put it out to bid. We’re on board, Bristol’s on board,” he said, adding that bids for the job will be opened Feb. 15 and the work should take about four or five weeks to complete.

‘Driving force?’

Not everyone was ready for the town to spend money on a dock located in and owned by another municipality, however.

“What’s the driving force behind this — the Town of Bristol wants Portsmouth to have some skin in the game?” asked local resident Judi Staven.

She said the town should not contribute any funds unless it’s given some equity or ownership in the dock. “If you have to give money to A&R, it should be a loan — with interest,” said Ms. Staven.

Furthermore, she and council member Paul Kesson said the lease between Bristol and the ferry company states that A&R is in charge of maintaining the dock.

Mr. Antaya, however, said that doesn’t mean A&R is responsible for a total “rebuild” of the dock. 

Still, countered Mr. Kesson, he was concerned that any investment by Portsmouth could be for naught unless the new and improved dock could take “a 10-wheeler” over to Prudence.

Local resident Larry Fitzmorris agreed, saying that any agreement should specify exactly what vehicles the ferry will be able to transport after the dock repairs are made. “That ferry should be able to carry almost anything,” he said.

Mr. Hamilton said while he understands the sentiment that the town shouldn’t be spending money in a different municipality, Portsmouth has its own stake in the ferry. “We’ve come to the point where our citizens of Prudence Island suffer without adequate service if we don’t do something,” he said.

The council voted unanimously to table action on the matter until the Jan. 23 meeting so members can review the A&R Marine/Town of Bristol lease in detail.

Bristol’s take

Bristol Town Manager Steven Contente has indicated that the town may be willing to contribute to the dock. 

In an interview regarding town priorities in his administration, Mr. Contente spoke of the responsibility Bristol has to maintain the dock after purchasing it two years ago and leasing it back to A&R Marine. Mr. Contente also talked of a plan to expand the dock to more ferries and small cruise ships.

“If we’re going to continue to use it as a transient dock, we need to make sure it’s safe,” said Mr. Contente, noting repairs need to be made to the north wall, and west end of the dock needs a new ramp and gallows, and repairs to the structure underneath. 

“It would be beneficial to the town if other ferries or small cruise ships know about it. A Port of Bristol. It would increase visitors coming to town and spending money. Retailers and merchants would benefit.”

With additional reporting by Patrick Luce.

Prudence Island ferry, Prudence Island, A&R Marine, Portsmouth Town Council, Bristol Town Council

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Jim McGaw

A lifelong Portsmouth resident, Jim graduated from Portsmouth High School in 1982 and earned a journalism degree from the University of Rhode Island in 1986. He's worked two different stints at East Bay Newspapers, for a total of 18 years with the company so far. When not running all over town bringing you the news from Portsmouth, Jim listens to lots and lots and lots of music, watches obscure silent films from the '20s and usually has three books going at once. He also loves to cook crazy New Orleans dishes for his wife of 25 years, Michelle, and their two sons, Jake and Max.