Mayoral Candidates Discuss City Yacht Basin

Patch asked candidates for the May 3 election to share their opinions on more than a dozen topics relating to the city.

In this installment, the candidates for Havre de Grace mayor—incumbent Wayne Dougherty and challenger City Councilman Mitch Shank—discuss the city yacht basin in Havre de Grace:

Wayne Dougherty

Dougherty has been happy with the work from the marina commission, which was appointed within the past few months.

“They’re bringing that outside perspective in. These are citizens. They’re bringing their concerns. I’ve always listened,” Dougherty said. “They’ve come up with some great recommendations and it did not surprise me.”

Dougherty said three recommendations were approved immediately. In the recent budget review period, he said the commission has provided recommendations for fees, as well.

“They have come back from this budget period with recommendations for slip fees. They’ve come back with recommendations for our ramp down at Jean Roberts Park,” Dougherty said before calling the group of boaters on the commission “winners.”

Mitch Shank

Shank sees one easy solution—privatize the marina.

“The city shouldn’t be in that business,” Shank said. “It’s nice for the local citizens, and I understand. My biggest concern this last year, [Mayor Dougherty], in his budget—and it was one of the three reasons why [Councilman Jim Miller] and I voted against last year’s budget—some of those boat owners were going to be hit with a 35 to 38 percent increase [in their annual fees]. No way that should happen in one year.”

Shank said rates should increase, but not as much as proposed at one time.

“I think there are things that come out of that budget that I don’t agree with,” Shank said. “I don’t see why cutting the grass in the park should come out of their operational money. They want to do some repairs down on the Hutchins Park pier. Why would that come out of the marina? They wanted to make the marina fund pay to fix the roof on the snack bar. Money from snack bar rental goes into the general fund.”

Shank said the city needs to stick to its enterprise funds as separate funds.

“[Marina members] don’t get guaranteed parking spaces there,” Shank said. “But the city wanted them to pay 30-40 percent of paving the whole parking lot. Then I think the front row ought to be guaranteed for them.”

———

Other issues the candidates for mayor have addressed:

—April 20

—April 21

—April 22

—April 23

—April 25

—April 26

—April 27

—April 28