During Thursday’s Town Council Regular Meeting, Councilman Andy Buchholz brought up serious concerns with the town harbor. The harbor has consistently lost money, and shortfalls have always been made up by using monies from the General Fund. However, things have gotten worse. According to the financial report, the harbor is down almost 43% from just last year.
“The harbor. Do we have any kind of idea why it’s down…43%. Is it losing transient or annual slip holders?” Buchholz asked Treasurer Debra Pocock.
Pocock did not have the numbers at hand, but said she would attempt to find out.
Councilman Steve Bennett echoed Buchholz’s concerns.
“I agree with Andy. To be down 43%, we need to do something. We need to have a work session and start exploring a harbor management company,” Bennett said.
The town has already had conversations with Oasis, a harbor management company based in Maryland.
In previous conversations, Mayor George Proto has told the Mirror that council is open to using a management company if they determine it is in the best interest of the town.
“When I do anything, I like to look around and see just how are other people doing this, and can we use some of that to maybe do better,” Proto said. “The harbor, as an attraction, is very important to the town. Our main goal here is to enhance it, to make it a better experience for the people that come to visit Cape Charles, but also for those of us that live here.”
Proto said he would schedule a work session soon to discuss the harbor issues.
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I hope these work sessions allow public input!
You might as well anchor out in the Bay as to dock in the harbor. The Harbor offers No protection! My wife and I spent a summer in there living on our boat. You need a seawall close to the first dock if you want boaters to use the marina. This is not rocket science!
Can we have the public restrooms back, please?
There are two public restrooms in the harbor master building.
don’t have to look far; Smitty is kicking it at the Marina…….and did at the Town Harbor
True, SO TRUE!
Have any scientific studies been done on the wave action and the harbor. It doesn’t take a rocket scientist to understand that the shape of the harbor is a great funnel with the widest part facing the bay. Whenever there are surges from the north or the south the harbor experiences great swells. If you look at harbors all around the world with similar problems they have built barriers to reduce the size of the harbor entrance. This could be achieved in Cape Charles by building a breakwater from Bayshore Concrete using large concrete rubble and rip rap to the first navigation marker. Similarly the breakwater along the fishing pier needs to be raised and reinforced so N’oreasters do not roll over it and into the harbor. A wimpy wave attenuator will not do the job.