Anchorage advisory committee recommends using reserves to secure one-year dry slip after Cruisers Appreciation Day

The Anchorage Advisory Committee on April 16 voted to recommend that the town cover a one-year dry-slip offer and to request that the town include the ongoing cost in next year’s budget. Chair (name not stated) moved the recommendation and Sam Lurie seconded; the motion passed on a voice vote.

The recommendation grew out of a post-event finance review for Cruisers Appreciation Day. Harbormaster Curtis reported event expenses including a $1,905 charge from Snug Harbor for catered meals and approximately $120 per sign board; Curtis said the committee’s bank balance was just over $4,000. "So with our expenses being a little over $2,000 … that gives us over $4,000 left in our bank account," the Chair said while proposing the recommendation to council.

Committee members discussed using a portion of the committee’s reserves to pay for a one-year dry slip at the south end of the island so the town could pick up the cost in the next budget cycle. Sam Lurie urged a quick decision, warning of possible urgency if the offer could be revoked.

Curtis said he will check the details and the Chair said they will forward the recommendation to the May council meeting: "I will write that up as a recommendation to council, and I will let people know that I can come to the next council meeting and make that recommendation." Curtis said the town staff will verify whether such a transfer is possible.

The committee also reviewed event follow-ups: John (last name not specified) will prepare thank-you emails and templates for participating nonprofits and sponsors and will draft an anonymous electronic survey to solicit participant feedback. Members discussed moving next year’s Cruisers Appreciation Day earlier in the season and possibly to a Saturday to improve turnout.

The committee did not provide a roll-call tally for the motion; it was approved by voice vote and the Chair will present the recommendation to the council at its May meeting.

Next steps: the Chair will prepare and submit the recommendation to the town council, and Curtis will confirm financial and procedural details for applying committee funds to the dry-slip offer.