HYANNIS – A bill is currently awaiting action by the Transportation Committee that would make changes to the Steamship Authority’s decision-making process.
The bill is meant to increase compromise, cooperation, and consensus between the mainland and island communities that have representatives on the Steamship Authority’s Board.
Currently, Nantucket and Martha’s Vineyard each receive a 35% vote, while their mainland counterparts of Barnstable, Falmouth, and New Bedford all only receive a 10% vote.
To remedy any discrepancies that may occur from those numbers, the bill would require that all items passed by the board would require the support of at least one mainland community.
This allows the islands to keep their veto power, but allows the mainland more say in the decisions being made.
Plymouth/Barnstable State Senator Susan Moran was the one to put forward the bill for consideration.
“For too long, the voting structure has functionally excluded the mainland communities from giving meaningful input on any major decision of the Steamship Authority,” said Moran in a recent press release.
The Joint Committee on Transportation must now deliberate on the bill before it moves forward.
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