State Money Comes to Manchester, 5th District Election Forum Set, MHA Changes

Last week, Manchester got good news for state funding for the buildout of the dock systems off Morss Pier and Reed Park.  Also, the Manchester Housing Authority will soon have a new executive director after a drama-filled six months, and a candidate forum has been set for four candidates vying to fill Rep. Ann-Margaret Ferrante’s 5^th District seat following her death late last year.  Let’s get started …

At the time, then-Governor Charlie Baker had changed the program’s focus to support commercial fishing at smaller capacity harbors.  Pike reorganized the harbor, converting the flats off Masconomo Park for commercial-only moorings and assigned two precious dock spaces to commercial fishing boats that have the most seniority.

Pike then moved focus to Reed Park, which until then had been the “wild west” of docking.  A couple years later, again with grant support, a formal visitor dock system was built with nominal charges for tying up. 

The new docks bore financial fruit—$25,000 in the first year—and it’s been steadily growing.  Last year the seasonal docks brought in $40,000, returning about $20,000 to the town’s general fund after all operational costs were paid.  And that doesn’t count monies brought into downtown businesses by boat visitors shopping, eating, and enjoying the downtown.

“We’ve actually turned those grants into a revenue powerhouse for the town,” said Pike. 

Pike predicts the Fisherman’s Facility Floating Dock, once complete will mature to bring about $150,000 per year from commercial and recreational boats.  The immediate plan is to build out seven commercial fishing slips that will be rented by the town for $1,000/season/slip.  Not a huge money maker initially, acknowledges Pike, but that $6,000-$7,000 in revenue per season will pay for all maintenance for all facilities.  And it keeps fisherman in the harbor.

This week, Pike and others, including Town Engineer and Facilities Manager Nate Desrosiers, will determine how to handle this and two other permitted or very nearly permitted projects on the horizon.  Besides the Reed Park Pier Expansion and the construction and connection of the Fisherman’s Facility Floating Docks, there’s $2 million in harbor dredging, set to start in October, and the $3+ million Rotunda restoration project at Tuck’s Point. 

Pike says it makes a lot of sense to solicit bids for all projects together to get the best price. 

Residents have already approved $1.3 million toward the Rotunda restoration, and an economic development grant was expected to follow.  But the $1 million grant didn’t come through in this round, and with the new emphasis on coastal tourism, it looks like Manchester will have to change its ask for the Rotunda project, or local taxpayers will have to pick up the slack.

After all, the Seaport Economic Council grant program is explicitly designed to help coastal towns “bolster working waterfronts, enhance coastal tourism, and expand maritime economic activity.”

The Manchester Affordable Housing has stepped up in recent years, upgrading bathrooms or repairing infrastructure.  But maintaining affordable housing isn’t in the MAHT’s charter.  Expanding affordable housing is its mission, and that’s what the MAHT has been desperately trying to do in recent years.  It’s tried, unsuccessfully, to lure developers, enticing them with the idea of renovating all three properties while expanding desperately needed units in town—all in exchange for the prospect of building additional market-rate housing to cover costs.  Indeed, three RFPs have gone out to developers in the last five years.  But without the town putting aside land that’s approved for development, no developers have stepped up.

The good news is this week, the MHA board met with two finalists to replace Maguire.  Both candidates are seasoned housing authority professionals (one in Topsfield and Beverly, the other in Andover).  Either would be adding Manchester to their existing scope of work, since the job is for 24 hours per week. 

A decision is expected as soon as next week.

Erika Brown writes a regular column, Town Hall Notebook, on all things local government.  Email her at erika.brown@thecricket.com