Committee recommends maximizing local ferry fee, studies for larger regional increase

The Nantucket Harbor Plan Committee on Sept. 22 reviewed and tightened language in a draft harbor plan urging the town to adopt the maximum locally authorized ferry embarkation fee and to support regional legislative efforts to allow higher fees.

Committee members instructed staff to reword the recommendation so it calls for a warrant article at town meeting to raise the ferry fee from the current local rate toward the maximum locally allowed amount (the committee referred to $1 as a local ceiling) and to support legislative action to enable increases above that level. The committee also discussed the need to coordinate with other Cape and Islands ports if…