Statement From Jamestown Newport Ferry

The Chief of Police and Interim Town Administrator's first act was to coordinate and pressure the Town Council into stripping Jamestown of its no-barrier, wheelchair accessible ferry and otherwise killing an important service and business that has been in operation on the Island for some 30 years. This act also affects the quality of life island residents enjoy. Please click this link for a downloadable pdf of the Jamestown Newport Ferry's timeline from 2015 to the present. At the end of the timeline is a call to action that includes the email addresses of all of the folks that you may reach out to, so we ask that you read to the end and take action.

In addition, we have a Microsoft Word document you may copy and paste into your email to send to your local officials located here. It is also available as a pdf located here.

If you would like to sign our petition to the Town Council and Interim Town Administrator, please visit this link. There is no charge for this, so please disregard and skip that option when it comes up, as it is a default on the platform.

UPDATE TO THE ABOVE: To view the latest document from our legal council, please visit this link. The team at KSP Law summarizes this document in this note:

March 11, 2023—
In an effort to continue to provide transparent information in a manner which is understandable, our team has been researching the relevant documentation surrounding this matter, specifically the federal grant documents and grant guidance documentation in conjunction with the Subrecipient Agreement.  

A review of these documents in conjunction with one another make it clear that in accepting the Subrecipient Agreement and the Federal funds that flow from the grant and agreement the Town has committed the use of the subject area to that of a Ferry Terminal Facility.  

The private monies expended by Conanicut Marine Services, Inc. (CMS) as acknowledged through the Subrecipient Agreement were spent in reliance on the fact that once completed the area would always be that of a Ferry Terminal Facility. In the event that the area changes into anything other than a FerryTerminal Facility (i.e. full time public touch and go) then the concrete float, paid for exclusively with private funds would no longer be part of the Ferry Terminal Facility and ownership would be that of the Private entity and all Federal Funds initially used to build the Ferry Terminal Facility would need to be returned. 

The grant and grant guidance documents do state that if the Concrete Float is part of the Ferry Terminal facility the Town would have ownership of the Concrete float. It is crystal clear within these documents that with the payment of monies in excess of the grant funds and the authority granted throughout those documents that CMS does have at a minimum an equitable interest in the Ferry Terminal Asset and Facility. Those documents go further in stating that CMS is the entity which “controls the terminal area” so there are no disturbances in the schedule as approved and regulated through the Rhode Island Public Utilities Commission. Furthermore, those documents make it clear that CMS is the only entity that can operate from the Ferry Terminal without multiple state and federal signoffs. 

At this time the potential state breach of contract and equitable claims in favor of CMS are only the tip of the iceberg and that with the new information there are clear Federal Claims and remedies available to CMS in order to resolve this matter. CMS remains confident that the Town Council will re-open negotiations and be able to come to an agreement with the Town in order to preserve Ferry service for the 2023 season and beyond.

Click to view Exhibit A and Exhibit B here.

Thank you!

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—HOP-ON HOP-OFF SERVICE—
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The Jamestown Newport Ferry operates from May through October and has five Hop-On Hop-Off stops that include Jamestown, Rose Island Lighthouse, Fort Adams, Ann Street Pier and Perrotti Park. Explore the shops, restaurants and attractions all day long. Options include round-trip or one-way tickets and a reduced-rate evening special, daily after 4 pm (special not available during festivals). Check out the five stops' locations listed below and at the bottom of all pages.
See the Routes and Schedules page for departure times.

—ADDITIONAL SERVICES—
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• Evening Special Round-Trip Tickets, after 4pm, $18. View specials
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• Express Service to best way to get to Newport's events. Take me to Express

• Private Charters. Plan an event ‍

—BE FEATURED—
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Be a part of Jamestown Newport Ferry's family of fans! Tag your photos with #JamestownNewportFerry and @ConanicutConnection or email your photos to info@cruiseri.com for a chance to be featured on the website or in Jamestown Newport Ferry's marketing.