Committee considers supplemental funding and local support to restore Swan Island ferry service

The committee heard a report back on a working group tasked with facilitating public access and resilience planning for Swan Island. Department officials recommended including two initiatives in the supplemental budget: a one‑time $50,000 upgrade to make the department's larger vessel Coast Guard‑certifiable and an annual $45,000 contract to retain a captain and operate a small passenger vessel for public access during the summer season.

Commissioner Judy Camuso described the approach: upgrade the larger boat to meet Coast Guard standards for special events and school groups and contract for a local captain to provide routine weekend service on a smaller, six‑pack licensed vessel. "The one‑time funding will be for the upgrade to get the boat inspected and certified by the Coast Guard," Camuso said; the annual contract is informed by local operators' feedback and budgeted around $45,000.

Ryan Robichaud, who coordinated the working group, said the group favored keeping public access free if possible; working group members discussed charging but recommended free access supported by a combination of state change‑package funding and local contributions. The town of Richmond has signaled it could reallocate up to $35,000 from tax‑increment financing to support the initiative, contingent on local approvals.

Next steps: Committee members discussed options — report a funding bill or include the request in the supplemental change package in March; members agreed to caucus and evaluate funding sources and possible drafting approaches before taking formal action.