Before a joint committee at the State House last week, Vineyarders urged lawmakers to pass a bill that would place term limits on Steamship Authority board members.
At a hearing before the Joint Committee on Transportation, a small number of Vineyarders joined virtually to support state Senate Bill S. 2395, or “An Act improving oversight and operations of the Steamship Authority.” If passed, the legislation would limit appointed board members to no more than three full terms on the board, or nine years total.
“I believe term limits for the Steamship Authority board will allow for the introduction of new ideas, experiences, and skill sets to address ongoing Steamship Authority challenges,” said Amy Cody, a co-founder of the Steamship Authority Citizens’ Action Group.
Advocates for the change say term limits would also be a way to increase transparency. Cody said at last week’s hearing that term limits would bring “healthy and robust governance” and increase the overall effectiveness of the board.
Citizens’ Action Group members also expressed concerns some members have overstayed their tenure, and highlighted members who have served directly after a family member. In some cases, the same family has represented a port community, like Nantucket, for around 20 years.
“Lack of turnover can cause entrenchment and long-standing conflicts — we see that — and alliances between board members,” said Beth O’Connor, a co-founder of the action group.
Additionally, members of the action group highlighted that residents of Martha’s Vineyard are dependent on the ferries to receive services that may not be available to them on the Island, including doctor’s appointments and veterinary care.
There was also support from a Woods Hole resident. Suzanne Kuffler, a member of the Southeast Massachusetts Regional Transportation (SMART) Citizens Task Force, said Woods Hole has been forced to absorb the impact of the ferry line’s operations — from heavy morning traffic to ongoing construction to the new terminal building — and said that more frequent turnover of Steamship board members is “worth a try.”
The measure has been supported by half the Island’s select boards and by the Dukes County Commission, which appoints the Martha’s Vineyard board representative. Current Steamship board members have differing opinions on the issue, with some supporting the three-term limit while others are opposed, as reported previously.
“This is all about bringing accountability, needed oversight in light of just a lot of mismanagement,” said State Sen. Dylan Fernandes of Falmouth, who filed the bill in January, and currently represents Plymouth and Barnstable counties, in an Oct. 15 post.
Sean Driscoll, Steamship communications director, said the ferry line was not taking a position on the bill. “We enforce the Enabling Act as written,” he said.
State Sen. Julian Cyr, who represents the Cape and Islands, said he became a co-sponsor of the bill after hearing Vineyard constituents’ concerns, and called the pending legislation “common-sense” term limits. He said the bill’s structure allows for a staggered replacement of board members.
“One of the challenges with these volunteer positions is finding people willing to serve on the board of governors and Port Council,” Cyr said. “You want to balance having institutional knowledge without complacency.”
While there are Vineyarders who feel frustrated about the ferry line’s operations and communication to the public — something Cyr said the Island’s reps in the state legislature have continued to “nudge” the Steamship about — Cyr also cited comments by Jim Malkin, the Vineyard representative on the board, that public complaints have made it difficult to attract talent. Malkin remarked earlier this month that public criticism has dissuaded some candidates from pursuing the general manager position.
Additionally, Cyr underscored that COVID’s aftermath has put more pressure on the ferry line’s performance. He said more people live on the Vineyard year-round, and housing unavailability has increased the number of commuting workers and vehicles relying on the ferries. “There’s a heck of a lot more demand,” Cyr said.
Cyr said that the bill still needs to be released from the committee, so it “won’t move anytime soon.” The committee is still taking written testimony.
If the legislation passes, current long-serving members who have already completed three full terms will be allowed to finish their current term and serve for another three years before the new limits are enacted. Additionally, anyone who was appointed to fill out a former member’s term will be allowed to serve three full terms after completing the appointment.
Why impose term limits on Steamship Authority board members when the various appointing authorities have the power to replace a member at the end of their three-year term?
Instead of introducing term-limit legislation (something they have yet to consider for themselves), Mr. Fernandez and Mr. Cyr ought to be pressing the appointing authorities of Martha’s Vineyard, Nantucket, Barnstable, Falmouth, and New Bedford to replace SSA board members when they are not up to the job.
The Dukes County Commission is the Island’s appointing authority. If the commissioners think term limits will keep them from failing in their responsibility to appoint capable SSA members, they ought to limit themselves to three terms.