Jamestown-Newport Ferry future unclear as sides far from deal
The future of the Jamestown-Newport Ferry is in choppy waters tonight, as ferry ownership and the Jamestown Town Council have yet to finalize a leasing agreement.
Discussions have been ongoing for months, as both sides have gone back and forth with proposals aimed at clearing up points of contention at East Ferry, like dock space, operations and public access to the dock area. That's been the historic location of the JNF.
Recently, talks have soured. Bill Munger, who owns Conanicut Marine Services, which oversees the ferry, says the Town Council called off negotiations last week.
"At this point in time, we're dead in the water," Munger told NBC 10 News. "If you end discussions, that effectively terminates the Jamestown-Newport Ferry operations from Jamestown."
Among the debate between the council and CMS is the ownership of the land.
The Town Council has argued Jamestown owns and controls the use of the waterfront space. In a statement, acting town administrator Ed Bello said the Jamestown-Newport Ferry has operated its two small ferries during the 2022 season by occupying the town-owned concrete float at East Ferry and had also used its 'Coastal Queen' Cruise vessel from the east side of this float without an agreement with Jamestown officials.
"The smaller ferries had for years previously operated out of the private marina area to the south owned by Conanicut Marine Service (CMS). This area was sold at the end of 2021," Bello said in a statement to NBC 10 News.
Munger says CMS rents property at the dock for JNF boats from TPG Marinas, which leases the property from the town.
"It's really a convoluted conversation that is way too premature to have because the space [TNF operates in] is still leased," Munger said.
Bello declined to speak with NBC 10 on camera, but described some of the back and forth the council and ferry ownership have had.
He wrote in a statement, in part:
"The Town Council offered for the ferry to continue its operation in the same fashion as they did in 2022, without interruption from the Town owned float into the 2023 and 2024 season, through a written agreement. The agreement was for 2 years at a cost [of] $12,000 per year. In addition, the Town would invest between $50,000 and $200,000 to complete the unfinished portion of the project as originally proposed by CMS /JTN Ferry in 2017. This additional float would restore the public space and access that previously existed in this area. The Jamestown Ferry service rejected the offer of a license agreement and instead demanded the exclusive use of this entire area thereby prohibiting public access for 15 years."
Bello said the lack of public access is a "stumbling block for the [town] council."
But many residents in the area are in support of the ferry. As on Tuesday evening, more than 1500 people have signed an online petition urging town leaders to get back to the negotiating table to work out a lease. It's still unclear when and if the two sides will meet again.
The ferry's service starts up near the end of May and provides thousands of people with rides and transportation. Munger says he had plans to use it for rides over to Newport's St. Patrick's Day parade, but given the circumstances, had to cancel.
"We want some common sense. We want this ferry to exist and so does the public, and that's what needs to get out: this town is eliminating public access, not expanding it," Sprague told NBC 10 News.
NBC 10 News sought an interview with Town Council President Nancy Beye, but she declined to comment.
The saga is expected to take center stage Wednesday at the town's Harbor Commission meeting. It's open to the public and starts at 5 p.m.