Equipment removal from Boat School generates concern

While the property and buildings of the Boat School in Eastport were transferred on September 22 from the Maine Community College System to the City of Eastport, by legislation enacted earlier this year, questions remain about ownership of the equipment and tools used at the school. The Washington County Community College (WCCC) removed some equipment before the transfer of the property, and according to the Friends of the Boat School intends to take most of the books in the library and the Travelift.

During this transition year, the freshman boatbuilding class is being administered by Husson College, and the senior class is being administered by WCCC. Negotiations concerning the transfer to the city of any of the tools and equipment used in the Boat School's programs are still continuing.

The Eastport City Council had considered seeking a court injunction to stop the removal of equipment, according to council President Earl Small. He says it's still an option, but he adds, "We want to work with WCCC to try to alleviate this."

WCCC had prepared a lease agreement with the city to cover the use of the equipment at the Boat School, and the city's attorney, Dennis Mahar, is currently preparing a counter lease proposal. Under the city's proposal, the Travelift would remain with the Boat School, while WCCC wants to lease it for two years, and then it would become the community college's property. "They also want the library books and some equipment," says Small. "We're saying we need this stuff here."

WCCC President Bill Cassidy says the community college owns the equipment and removed some of it in order to support WCCC's programs in Calais, while leaving equipment that the Boat School would need. "We are supporting Husson in their boatbuilding program," he says. But he adds, "We have a whole institution to manage."

Cassidy comments, "We are working on an arrangement with the city in regards to the Travelift." WCCC, the city and Husson are also working out a cost-sharing arrangement for utilities.

According to Meg McGarvey of Eastport, a member of the Friends of the Boat School, during the meetings held over the past two years between the community college, the City of Eastport, Husson College, the Department of Economic and Community Development, the Friends of the Boat School and legislators, the terms of the agreement for the transfer were for the land and buildings to be transferred immediately to the City of Eastport, while the tools and equipment were to be leased to the city for $1 a year with ownership reverting to the city at the end of five years.

Cassidy says WCCC is willing to loan equipment for Husson to use at the Boat School for a minimum of two years, but he says at no time did the community college intend to present the equipment to the city. "We're a public institution, and the equipment is the property of the college," he says.

The Friends believe that WCCC is not acting in accordance with the intent of the legislature. They maintain that the legislature's intent was to transfer the school as an operating facility to the city. However, before discussion about the equipment could occur, WCCC has been removing tools and equipment from the premises.

LD 221, which was enacted this year, only states that the land and buildings will be transferred from the community college system to the city. Previous legislation, LD 1948, which was enacted in 2006, directed the Department of Economic and Community Development to "facilitate the formation of partnerships with interested parties to strengthen and secure the future of the Marine Technology Center at Eastport." Neither bill makes mention of the equipment at the facility.

State Senator Kevin Raye comments, "I want to make sure that assurances that were made during the process are met in the final disposition of the facility."

Over the past year, WCCC has removed the welding equipment, ladders, tables and chairs, most of the computers, cleaning equipment, water coolers and a copier. According to McGarvey, other issues include ownership of the Otto Miller, a boat that was donated to the school and refurbished by boatbuilding students; ownership of the Travelift that is used to take boats out of the water for repairs or storage, which was purchased with federal funds and was intended for use by area boating and marine interests and the school's students; the library, consisting of more than 600 books that were donated by individuals to the Boat School for the benefit of the students; scholarship funds, which were donated to provide scholarships for students attending the Boat School; and the Whitehall boat, constructed by boatbuilding students, which is presently on display at WCCC.

The Friends of the Boat School, McGarvey says, believe that WCCC has invested little money in the maintenance of the school and assets, including the pier, floats, the Otto Miller and the Travelift that the community college now wants to own, control or have free use of. According to LD 221, WCCC will have access to the ramp and pier and floats at the waterfront in perpetuity, but the Friends believe the community college must pay the rate that other users pay for upkeep and repairs of these structures.

According to the Friends, WCCC has received over $450,000 per year in public funds to operate the Boat School. "It is our understanding that money will continue to flow from the taxpayers to WCCC even after WCCC no longer owns or operates the Boat School," McGarvey writes. The Friends argue that since WCCC is spending approximately $110,000 this year on the students at the school that the remaining $340,000 should be used to make repairs at the Boat School