Chestertown Mayor Chris Cerino says it’s time to move ahead with revitalizing the Chestertown Marina—separate from any plans Washington College has for its own properties on the Chester River.
“I suggest that this town move immediately to start revitalizing portions of the waterfront for which we have direct control,” Cerino said at Monday’s council meeting. “We can’t wait to continue to let our marina…deteriorate more than it already has.”
A comprehensive public-private plan that was being developed by college and town representatives died when the Chestertown Waterfront Task Force dissolved on Jan. 16. The Task Force was formed a year ago with representatives from the town and college to plan a shared future of the Chester River front. The college and the town are the two biggest landholders on the Chester.
Cerino said recent conversations with college officials and faculty led him to believe that there is a lack of agreement within the college on what to do with their three waterfront properties. He said the absence of a capital campaign was also an indicator that the college’s waterfront plans were a few years off.
After several years of debate over the town’s decision to buy the marina, Cerino pointed out that it was not motivated by profit–but to preserve public access to the Chester River front for residents and visitors. He said losing that access would hurt the local economy.
“This marina was purchased to preserve public access to the river,” Cerino said. “If this were to go into private hands and become condominium-ized, and the slips privatized, no one would ever be able to visit this town ever again via the Chester River. That would be a tremendous loss, not only for our economy, but for who we are as a community.”
Cerino said he was “under no illusions” that the town could run a marina better than an experienced operator but he pointed to the town’s ability to raise money from state and federal sources, something that a private marina operator can’t do.
The town was awarded a $40,000 grant from DNR in the summer of 2012 for engineering and design of the marina. Cerino said it was time to use it and send out requests for bids from engineering firms.
Janet Brandon says
Editor,
It is very heartening and inspiring to learn of Mayor Cerino’s vision for a flourishing marina. I believe most citizens will stand behind this initiative and fully support the effort. Go for it, and they will come. Not only are there cultural and aesthetic values to the initiative but there surely will be financial rewards. Congratulations and keep on keeping on with the mayor’s proposals. Thank You!
Janet Brandon
Stephan Sonn says
Editor,
This entire effort can be measured in lost opportunities to make this a dynamic college town thriving in new thinking and planning.
I can almost hear a sigh of relief from the people in this town who like it just the way it is.