Governor Files SSA Bill

By JULIA WELLS

Acting Gov. Jane Swift filed a bill yesterday to expand the
Steamship Authority board of governors by adding voting seats
for Barnstable and New Bedford.

"Changing times require careful examination of regional
concerns," wrote the acting governor in a cover letter that
accompanied the legislation.

The legislation was expected and is crafted straight out of
the governor's ferry task force report issued three months ago.

The task force was charged with studying an array of issues
around ferry service to the two Islands, including freight
service and whether New Bedford should become an additional
port.

The only real recommendation to come out of the report
centers on a subject that was not included in the original
charge for the task force.

The legislation filed yesterday allows for the two Islands
to retain voting control by having weighted votes that
correspond directly with the share of any deficit. New Bedford,
Barnstable and Falmouth would each pay 15 per cent of any
deficit. The Vineyard and Nantucket would share the remaining 55
per cent, with 30 per cent assigned to the Vineyard and 25 per
cent assigned to Nantucket.