WHEREAS, the Towns of Yarmouth and Cumberland have a long history of mutual cooperation between municipal governments; and
WHEREAS, the Towns of Cumberland and Yarmouth have common interests in docks on Chebeague Island in Cumberland and on Cousins Island in Yarmouth; and
WHEREAS, the docks on Chebeague Island and Cousins Island are used by residents of both Towns, particularly residents of Chebeague Island traveling by ferry between Chebeague Island and Cousins Island; and
WHEREAS, the Cumberland County Superior Court issued an "Amended Judgment and Order" in the case of Town of Yarmouth v. Chebeague Transportation Company, Docket No. CV-86-722, (Cumberland County Sup. Ct. 1988), which "Amended Judgment and Order" restricts the use for commercial purposes of certain property located on Cousins Island, owned by Winifred Blanchard and leased to Chebeague Transportation Company for use as a parking lot and as a staging area for barging, which land is described as Plot #1 on a plan entitled "Section No. 1, Plan of Partition of Nancy H. Hamilton Estate," which plan is recorded in the Cumberland County Registry of Deeds in Plan Book 22, Page 3, which property and the right of way thereto (across property, now and formerly owned by Barbara A. Sewell) is also shown on a plan entitled "Plan of lands Along Wharf Road, Cousins Island," recorded in said Registry in Plan Book 58, Page 46, and to which plans specific reference is made herein, and which property is also the subject of an Agreement dated November 16, 1976, between the Town of Yarmouth and Robert G. Blanchard and Chebeague Transportation Company, which reserves for residents of the Town of Yarmouth fifteen parking spaces in the commercial parking facility operated by Chebeague Transportation Company on said Blanchard property; and
WHEREAS, Chebeague Transportation Company, a Maine corporation, operates a passenger ferry between Chebeague Island and Cousins Island, using the Town docks on each island for passenger service, and operates a barge from an area of the Porgy Shore and a parking lot, both on the land leased from Winifred Blanchard on Cousins Island in close proximity to the Cousins Island Wharf; and
WHEREAS, the Town of Yarmouth amended its Traffic Ordinance May 24, 1988, to limit vehicular access to the dock end of Wharf Road (on a seasonal basis) to reduce traffic congestion and otherwise minimize the threat to vehicular and pedestrian safety in the area adjacent to the Cousins Island Wharf; and
WHEREAS, the Town Councils of the Towns of Cumberland and Yarmouth have participated in a series of meetings in recent years relative to problems associated with parking, barging and dock usage on Cousins Island by passengers of the Chebeague Transportation Company ferry, and those meetings have resulted in joint endeavors to alleviate or reduce the problems; and
WHEREAS, the Town Councils of the Towns of Cumberland and Yarmouth have continued to communicate in an effort to resolve differences that exist between residents of Cumberland, especially of Chebeague Island, and residents of Yarmouth, especially of Cousins Island over uses of the Cousins Island dock by the Chebeague Transportation Company and its passengers and other customers; and
WHEREAS, the Towns of Cumberland and Yarmouth recognize that the mutual problems arising out of the use of Yarmouth's dock by the Chebeague Transportation Company and the resulting traffic, congestion, noise and other burdens are susceptible to resolution by agreement between the Towns, and that such agreement to be effective may require the joint exercise of municipal power, as authorized by 30-A M.R.S.A. '2203 (Supp. Pamph. 1988); and
WHEREAS, the Towns of Yarmouth and Cumberland recognize the importance of the use of the Cousins Island dock by Cumberland residents living on Chebeague Island and by Yarmouth residents;
NOW, THEREFORE, be it mutually agreed between the Town of Cumberland and the Town of Yarmouth pursuant to 30-A M.R.S.A. '2203 (Supp. Pamph. 1988), as follows:
1. The Town Councils of the Towns of Yarmouth and Cumberland shall limit Chebeague Transportation Company's ferry landings, either by ordinance or by agreement with Chebeague Transportation Company, as follows:
a. Chebeague Transportation Company, its successors and assigns, may land and dock its passenger ferry at the Cousins Island dock in Yarmouth in accordance with the "published schedule" in effect for the day of the ferry landing. In addition to those landings designated in the "published schedule," unscheduled ferry landings of the Chebeague Transportation Company may occur at the Cousins Island dock in order to enable residents of Chebeague Island to attend meetings of the Yarmouth and Cumberland Town Councils and similar governmental proceedings, to enable residents of Chebeague Island to attend special school functions during the regular school year, to enable individuals to attend funerals on Chebeague Island and to enable residents of Chebeague Island to attend and participate in recreation programs sponsored by the Town of Cumberland; provided, however, that the combined total of said scheduled and unscheduled trips shall not exceed either 71 per week or 11 per day.
b. The term "published schedule" shall mean the schedule printed and distributed to the general public, as that schedule may be adjusted on a seasonal basis or for other reasons, provided the schedule shall change no more than four times in any calendar year. The Town of Yarmouth and the Town of Cumberland shall maintain copies of the published ferry schedule to monitor compliance with this Agreement, which copies shall be updated by Chebeague Transportation Company prior to the effective date of any change. On a monthly basis Chebeague Transportation Company shall submit a certified list of actual trips to the Yarmouth Town Manager.
c. Emergency landings of the Chebeague Transportation Company shall not be counted as scheduled or unscheduled ferry landings within the meaning of subparagraph (a) above.
d. Chebeague Transportation Company shall determine, in its sole discretion, the published ferry schedule subject to the limitations specified in this Agreement, provided that the first arrival of the ferry at Cousins Island shall occur no earlier than 6:30 a.m. and the last departure from Cousins Island shall be scheduled no later than 10:45 p.m. prevailing time, and the vessel will depart no later than 11:00 p.m.
e. In the event of the temporary loss of the use of the "Islander" to provide ferry transportation as permitted herein, the Chebeague Transportation Company may utilize a vessel of equivalent or smaller passenger-carrying capacity; provided however, that a vessel of smaller passenger-carrying capacity shall if necessary be permitted to make additional trips between Cousins and Chebeague Islands in order to transport those passengers present and waiting to board the ferry for a scheduled trip, who would otherwise have been transported by the "Islander" or a vessel of equivalent size. In the event that the Chebeague Transportation Company is unable to utilize a vessel of equivalent passenger-carrying capacity to temporarily replace the "Islander," and if it appears likely that more ferry trips than the 71 per week or 11 per day specified in subparagraph 1(a) of this Agreement may be necessary to transport those passengers present and waiting to board the ferry for scheduled trips, the joint standing committee as established in paragraph 7 of this Agreement shall meet at the earliest opportunity to review the matter and to make appropriate recommendations to the Town Councils of Cumberland and Yarmouth. The Town Councils of Cumberland and Yarmouth shall meet as soon thereafter as possible to consider the recommendations of the joint standing committee and to take such action as may be necessary to alleviate the temporary need.
f. In the event that Chebeague Transportation Company replaces "The Islander" with another vessel to be used as a passenger ferry between Cousins Island and Chebeague Island, said replacement vessel shall not exceed the 46 gross registered tonnage of "The Islander" nor shall such vessel exceed presently certified capacity of "The Islander", which is 119 passengers and 3 crew, as evidenced by a certificate of inspection by the United States Coast Guard, dated June, 1988, a copy of which is attached hereto as Exhibit A and made a part hereof.
g. The parties agree that passenger transportation services for using the Cousins Island dock facilities shall be limited to those specified in this Paragraph 1.
2. The Town of Yarmouth shall amend Article V of its Harbor, Boat
and Waterfront Ordinance, to allow commercial vehicles to make
deliveries to the Cousins Island dock between the hours of 7:00
a.m. and 12:00 noon, provided that only non-dual wheeled vehicles
shall make such deliveries. Non-dual wheeled vehicles shall not
be used for the purpose of transporting multiple loads or providing
for a scheduled delivery service for commercial entities. Deliveries
of prescriptions medication and deliveries of meals through the
Meals on Wheels program shall be exempt from this provision of
the Yarmouth Harbor, Boat and Water front Ordinance.
The Town of Yarmouth shall further amend Article III, Section
111 of its Traffic Ordinance to limit vehicular access to Wharf
Road beyond the intersection of Wharf Road with the right of way
to the previously described Blanchard parking lot only from Friday
at 3:00 p.m. to Monday at 6:00 a.m., each weekend during the period
beginning May 15 and ending September 30 of each year. When a
holiday during that period falls on a Monday, the period of restricted
access shall extend through Tuesday at 6:00 a.m.
3. The Town of Yarmouth shall create a reserve fund for the sole
purposes of providing for the maintenance and eventual replacement
of the Cousins Island dock.
a. The Town of Cumberland, on an annual basis on or before July
1 of each year, shall pay to the Town of Yarmouth an amount equal
to 75% of the sum of (1) the estimated annual operating and maintenance
costs for the Cousins Island dock and (2) 5% of the estimated
cost to replace the Cousins Island dock facility at the end of
its anticipated useful life (20 years), provided that the total
of such annual payment shall not exceed $5,000.00. The first such
payment from the Town of Cumberland to the Town of Yarmouth shall
be due on July 1, 1989, and payment shall be due annually thereafter
on the same date.
b. In the event that the need to repair or replace the Cousins
Island dock arises, Yarmouth shall repair or replace the dock
as may be necessary; provided, however, that Cumberland's obligation
to provide funding for a replacement dock shall not exceed an
amount equal to its proportionate share of a dock of the same
size and of the same design and materials as the present dock,
unless the parties specifically agree otherwise. In the event
that the funds available in the said reserve fund may be insufficient
to cover the costs of the repair or replacement, Cumberland shall
pay to Yarmouth an amount equal to 75% of the costs in excess
of the funds available in the reserve fund, prior to the commencement
of necessary repairs or replacement. The Town of Yarmouth will
provide an annual accounting of sums expended for maintenance
and/or replacement of the Cousins Island dock to the Town of Cumberland.
c. The payments made to the Town of Yarmouth by the Town of Cumberland
pursuant to the provisions of this paragraph shall be in lieu
of any schedule of docking fees, user fees, or similar fees, charges,
taxes, or other monetary assessments that the Town of Yarmouth
might otherwise be entitled to impose upon the Chebeague Transportation
Company or its passengers for the use of the Cousins Island dock.
The Town of Yarmouth shall be responsible for funding the remaining
normal and anticipated costs associated with the maintenance and
replacement of the Cousins Island dock and the Town or Yarmouth's
ramp and float to be installed on the Cousins Island dock.
d. The Town of Cumberland shall continue to maintain sole possession
of the ramp and float already installed on the Cousins Island
dock, and shall be solely responsible for all costs associated
with the maintenance and eventual repair of said ramp and float.
The Town of Cumberland agrees that any payment hereunder will
not create any ownership interest in the Cousins Island dock for
the Town of Cumberland.
4. On or before July 1, 1989, the Town of Cumberland will donate
to the Town of Yarmouth a ramp and float which the Town of Yarmouth
will install, own and maintain at the Cousins Island dock for
use by Yarmouth residents and others not associated with Chebeague
Transportation Company on such terms as Yarmouth in its sole discretion
determines to be appropriate. Yarmouth expressly reserves its
right to enact ordinances or regulations governing the use of
this float and ramp.
5. The Town of Yarmouth agrees that it will continue to allow
operation of the Chebeague Transportation Company ferry service
from the Cousins Island dock on a year-round basis subject to
the limitations and reciprocal obligations described in this Agreement.
6. Unless sooner terminated, this Agreement shall expire and be
of no further force and effect on January 1, 2000. Provided, however,
that if either Town should suffer or permit a material breach
of the terms hereof, the other party may cancel this agreement
on six month's prior written notice, after a majority vote of
its Town Council authorizing said notice; and provided further
that any such notice or cancellation shall set forth the grounds
of said breach and allow the other party 14 days to cure said
breach, in which event said notice of cancellation shall be deemed
withdrawn and of no effect. The parties recognize that in the
event that Chebeague Transportation Company fails to abide by
the terms and conditions of this Agreement, including but not
limited to paragraph 1 hereof, the Town of Yarmouth may treat
such failure as a material breach by the Town of Cumberland, and
may terminate the Agreement in accordance with this paragraph.
Notification of the occurrence of a material breach shall be given
in writing by the aggrieved party to the Town Manager of the opposite
party, and the 14 day period to cure the said breach shall begin
to run as of the date of delivery of the written notice to the
Town Manager of the opposite party. Any subsequent breach shall
require similar notice and opportunity to cure; provided, however,
that in the event of repeated or frequent instances of material
breach, including a failure by Chebeague Transportation Company
to abide by the terms and conditions hereof, the right to cure
shall be forfeited. A forfeiture of the right to cure shall be
determined by majority vote of the Town Council of either party,
and written notice of a determination of forfeiture shall be provided
to the Town Manager of the opposite party. A determination of
forfeiture shall serve as a notice of cancellation of this Agreement,
and said cancellation shall occur 6 months from the date of determination
of forfeiture.
7. A joint standing committee will be established by action of
the Cumberland and Yarmouth Town Councils, and shall consist of
2 members from the Cumberland Town Council, 2 members from the
Yarmouth Town Council to be appointed by each Council, to meet
in Early April and early November of each year and on such additional
occasions as the committee deems necessary for the purpose of
implementing and overseeing this agreement and/or making recommendations
to the Town Councils of Cumberland and Yarmouth relative to same.
Cumberland agrees that one of its two representatives shall be
the Chebeague Island District representative to the Cumberland
Town Council. The committee shall have advisory power only; the
Town Councils of Cumberland and Yarmouth shall be responsible
for complying with and enforcing the terms of this Agreement.
8. The parties acknowledge a memorandum or lease, executed between
Winifred Blanchard and Chebeague Transportation Company on October
11, 1984, for the previously described Blanchard parking lot,
was recorded in the Cumberland County Registry of Deeds on October
19, 1984 at Book 6596, Page 9.
9. This Agreement may be amended, modified, or extended at any
time provided that any amendment, modification, or extension shall
be in writing and shall have received the affirmative vote of
a majority of the members of both the Yarmouth Town Council and
the Cumberland Town Council.
Dated at Yarmouth, Maine, this 6th day of June, 1989.
TOWN OF CUMBERLAND
By: Its Town Manager, /s/ Robert B. Benson
Witness: /s/ Stephen W. Moriarty
TOWN OF YARMOUTH
By: Its Town Manager, /s/ Osmond C. Bonsey
Witness: /s/ Philip E. Harriman
For more information, call CTC at 207-846-3700 or send
e-mail to: ctc@nlis.net.
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