With the harbor continuing to run deficits close to $50k, Cape Charles Town Council has sanctioned the formation of a “six-member focus group consisting of the harbor master and assistant harbor master along with a number of stakeholders.” On Thursday Town Council appointed Dora Sullivan as the town’s representative to the group. Along with Sullivan, the group is made up of harbormaster Charlie Farlow, Bob Panek, Tim Wivell, and Tom Bonadeo.
The focus group’s main task is to develop a plan for the future direction of the harbor. Facilities and services, including infrastructure and possible funding streams are all on the table for review. Eventually, a proposed plan would be presented to the Town Council for review.
Management Company
During discussion, Mayor Proto noted that one of the avenues he wants the group to explore is the possibility of retaining a management company to take over “operations at the harbor.” In conversations with boaters, some that have moved to the Oyster Farm marina with Smitty Dize, turning the harbor over to a for-profit management firm has been the end game all along.
While a professional management team may make operational sense, how that will improve the harbor’s ability to draw in boaters is still a question. The focus group will have to determine if the empty transient slips all summer were due to operational issues, or other external factors.
My wife and I have stayed in there several times in summers past and the bottom line is you need breakwaters up close. The multimillion dollar breakwaters you have are too far out. Way too much fetch between the existing ones and the docks often makes for a VERY uncomfortable stay. Simple but expensive solution.
The harbor was sustainable for the years Smitty was dock master. If the city had compensated him as they had promised, we wouldn’t be in this situation. It’s obvious, we need the right people making the right decisions and can see the harbor’s bigger picture. Other than the Beach, the harbor is Cape Charles biggest asset.
The days of, build it and they will come don’t work, the competition for boater dollars is stronger than ever on the bay. Look at any boater publication, they all advertise “EXCEPT” Cape Charles. Why, it cost money. If you want boaters to come, get aggressive and spend the advertising dollars necessary to promote the harbor for the great facility it can be.
I have boated for the past 60 years, including the entire East Coast. A Management team is an added expense and is not used in the hundreds of successful Municipal Marinas along the ICW. There are unknown motives here for someone or some group. Look internally or listen to the customers, before hiring so called experts.
The harbor is too industrial for pleasure boaters. It’s too late to make a change now that the Town has added a boat repair yard to the ” mixed-use “. Offer dockage at ” no charge ” to the commercial watermen in order to make it a working marina.
The future uses of the harbor will likely include material transfer barges and manufacturing plants. Those uses can take advantage of the existing railroad and the proposed new connector road.
Like I have said before, there are non- disclosed interests pressuring issues here.