Barnstable County approves $50,000 emergency appropriation to hire tug for harbor ice breaking
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Summary
County commissioners unanimously approved an emergency ordinance to authorize up to $50,000 to hire a private tug for immediate ice‑breaking work after harbors iced in and a county dredge was immobilized. County staff said the cost may be reimbursable by the state through supplemental funding.
Barnstable County commissioners voted unanimously Feb. 11 to approve an emergency appropriation of $50,000 to hire private tug and ice‑breaking services after heavy ice immobilized county dredge operations and blocked commercial harbors.
County staff reported that local Coast Guard assets were limited — one 49‑foot craft intended for harbor work is out of service — and that several harbors were iced in, preventing commercial fishing and placing municipal and private docks at risk. Michael (county staff) told commissioners the emergency ordinance would allow the county to retain a private contractor immediately and begin ice‑breaking as soon as the assembly of delegates ratifies the appropriation.
The commissioners’ action began with a formal emergency declaration under the county charter, followed immediately by the ordinance to appropriate funds for “harbor ice breaking and dredge mobilization.” The motions carried without recorded roll‑call votes; the chair announced the actions carried unanimously.
Ken Cirillo and dredge staff described operational impacts: one county dredge is iced in and several scheduled dredging projects, particularly in Chatham, are delayed. Harbor masters and local officials provided photos and situational updates showing thick ice in some channels and damage risk to docks. Staff said one contractor is available and, if the Assembly of Delegates approves the appropriation in its virtual meeting, mobilization could begin as early as Friday of that week.
County staff indicated they will seek reimbursement through a supplemental state appropriation if the legislature provides it later in the spring. Commissioners also discussed longer‑term options — including potential statutory or policy changes that might allow municipalities to use snow‑and‑ice budgets for harbor ice clearing — but staff said the Department of Revenue currently considers snow‑and‑ice funds an ineligible use for this purpose.
The emergency spending item moves next to the county’s Assembly of Delegates for ratification and any reimbursement would depend on future state action.