Stalled Negotiations in New Bedford Endanger SSA's Schamonchi
Service

By JULIA WELLS

Stalled lease negotiations between New Bedford city officials and
the owner of the Billy Woods Wharf in New Bedford may force a delay in
the start date for spring service on the passenger ferry Schamonchi
- or worse, a shutdown in the service altogether - Steamship
Authority managers said yesterday.

Service on the Schamonchi is set to begin May 21. But SSA chef
executive officer Fred C. Raskin confirmed yesterday that the opening
looks doubtful because of the problems with the lease negotiations.

"It's a problem and I am concerned, I am very concerned,
but I'm not sure it's a problem the Steamship Authority can
address," Mr. Raskin said yesterday.

"You're talking New Bedford politics - you tell
me," he added.

"This is purely political because of the stand we've
taken against [former New Bedford city solicitor] George Leontire and
company. They've been trying to put us out of business for four
years to drive the ferry uptown. But we feel there is room for both
- we'd gladly compete with a high-speed ferry in
town," declared wharf owner Carl Pimentel yesterday.

"I want to be very clear - it's not us
that's at a stalemate, we're not the problem here,"
said New Bedford city solicitor Matt Thomas.

The negotiations center on a 350-car parking lot that Mr. Pimentel
leases from the city, adjacent to the Billy Woods Wharf where the
Schamonchi docks, outside the hurricane barrier. Mr. Pimentel had a
five-year lease with an option to renew for five more years. The first
half of the lease ran out last October, and the city said it would not
renew. Later city officials offered to renew the lease for one year, but
Mr. Pimentel wants a five-year commitment.

Mr. Pimentel also owns another 300-car lot adjacent to the city lot.

The SSA bought the Schamonchi two and a half years ago for $1.3
million from the Thompson family, which ran the passenger ferry for 20
years. The ferry, which now runs between New Bedford and the boat line
wharf in Oak Bluffs, is set to begin its third season under boat line
ownership.

The news about problems with the Schamonchi comes as the SSA
governors prepare to take action on a license request for high-speed
ferry service between New Bedford and the Vineyard. A vote is expected
at the monthly boat line meeting next Thursday on the license request
from New England Fast Ferry. The board is expected to give management a
green light to negotiate a license. If the license deal is completed and
approved by the board, high-speed ferry service will begin from the
State Pier in New Bedford next summer.

New Bedford city officials have made no secret of the fact that they
want the SSA to run all ferry operations out of the State Pier.

"The only way we have any leverage is if the Steamship
Authority sticks with us and avoids just going along with whatever New
Bedford wants," Mr. Pimentel said yesterday.

Mr. Pimentel said he pays the city $34,000 a year for the lease plus
about $10,000 in city taxes. He charges the boat line about $3,000 a
year for the use of the Billy Woods Wharf.

The New Bedford city council was expected to take up the lease
dispute at a meeting last night.

"This thing is coming to a head - in fact tonight at the
city council meeting, the council is asking for an explanation of
what's gone on," Mr. Pimentel said.

Mr. Thomas said the city has tried to accommodate the Schamonchi by
offering the one-year deal.

"In order keep the Schamonchi running, we were willing to
grant a lease for one season. We want to try to facilitate the
situation. But Mr. Pimentel wants nothing less than another three to
five years of running it, and we're not willing to do that,"
the city solicitor said.

Mr. Pimentel said SSA managers waited until late in the game to get
involved.

"They didn't contact me until April 15 - Fred
called me and he said, ‘There's no reason we can't
move forward.' I asked him, ‘Is George Leontire going to run
the Steamship Authority with 10 per cent of the vote, or are you going
to go public with this thing?' " he said. New Bedford now
has a voting member on the SSA board of governors, but the votes are
weighted with the majority weight carried by the two Islands.

Mr. Pimentel said he will not agree to a one-year lease.

"No, we're not going to do that, we've been the
carrier outside of the dike for 15 years and we should be given the
chance to run the parking operations as long as the Schamonchi runs
where it is - outside of the dike. Until I get something I'm
not going to move," he said.

"I heard from [boat line] board members that they would shut
the ferry down if they didn't hear from us. But look, I am not
going to go hat in hand year after year to the [Mayor Frederick] Kalisz
and Leontire administration. This is it - make up your mind
now."

Mr. Raskin portrayed the boat line as something of an innocent
bystander in the whole flap, but at the same time he admitted that the
boat line is a player.

"We're not a player in this issue - well, I guess
we really are a player and we're concerned about it, but this is
what happens when you have new contracts to negotiate. Hopefully
we'll get some resolution," he said, adding:

"George wants to bring the Schamonchi to State Pier.
I've tried to press George to give more to Carl, but they've
said no."

Concluded Mr. Raskin:

"I think we'll have a season for the Schamonchi, but
it's going to be up to Carl."