[at-l] The Kennebec Ferry Contract

[Snodrog5 at aol.com (Snodrog5@xxxxxxx)]

In a post I titled 'Maine AT report' I told the list that Keith Shaw had 
three heart attacks in one day last winter.
I also typed: "The MATC gave the Kennebec ferry contract to the *highest* 
bidder. Locals had bid several thousand dollars less than NOC, but weren't 
awarded the contract. I guess it's better to pay a corporation $14,500 than to pay 
local hiker-friendly folks $8500."
I was on no-mail at the time, so if anyone responded about Keith's health I 
missed it. I did see several responses about the ferry contract, though.
It was the impression of the low bidder that the decision was made by the 
MATC, with the ATC needing to approve it.
The ATC and MATC should have acted last summer when Steve announced his 
retirement. This wasn't just an issue about a shelter with a leaky roof or some 
minor reroute that could be tabled until a convenient time -- it was about the 
most dangerous 80 yards of the entire Appalachian Trail. Yes, Bob. I'm 
criticizing the ATC and the MATC. Send your scolds off list please.
Jim typed:
"...the hope is that the local group will "improve their position" (i.e. - 
fix the problems with their proposal) and try again next year.  Yeah - the 
contract will be bid again next year.  So if anyone had contact with the 
local people, it was suggested that they be encouraged to try again."

Thanks for going to the source, Jim. That suggestion has been passed along.
TJ


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