In a quaint corner off Martha’s Vineyard, a small island is embroiled in a succession saga as the iconic figure, reminiscent of Santa Claus, prepares to retire. This figure, Peter Wells, has been the face of the Chappaquiddick Ferry, affectionately known as the Chappy Ferry, for nearly two decades.
The looming question is who will take the helm after Wells steps down. For the affluent residents of this picturesque town, this ferry is more than just a mode of transportation—it’s the lifeline to their island homes, sitting merely 527 feet from Martha’s Vineyard.
The decision about the ferry’s future must pass through a vote in Edgartown, the town with jurisdiction over the island. This requirement has sparked quite the stir among the locals, who are keen to have a say in who will navigate their essential link to the mainland.
Wells, now in his 70s, has suggested passing the baton to Brian Scall, a 50-year-old local captain with connections to investors from New York. However, this proposal hasn’t sailed smoothly, as it has stirred demands for transparency among the residents.
Islanders are pushing for more insight into the transition process. They are calling for specific conditions for the new ownership, including a more frequent ferry schedule, clear fare regulations, and access to the company’s financial records.
This has caused residents to call for more transparency. They also have demands for the new owners, including a more frequent ferry schedule, fare rules, and they want to see the company’s books.
Residents have long complained that the ferry’s prices have gone up. They also claim they have had their resident discounts revoked, new fees added randomly, and that there is not enough democratic oversight, according to The Boston Globe.
Bill Gazaille was told he had to pay a $6 freight charge to haul firewood over to the island that was in the back of his pickup truck.
Residents have been left with no alternatives to the ferry (pictured) after the land bridge that once existed collapsed
Chappaquiddick Island is 527 feet off the coast of Martha’s Vineyard (pictured) and the only way to access it is the Chappy Ferry
He refused, saying he helped Wells build one of his ferries.
‘If Peter’s got a problem, have him call me. He’s got my number,’ he recalled telling the captain.
‘That’s the stuff you deal with when you ride the Chappy Ferry!’ he told The Boston Globe.
Rich and Beth Biros had spent a winter in the Pacific Northwest to help their son with his newborn child. When they returned and handed the captain their discount ticket, they say they were told they had not been seen in a while.
They were told that if they spent more than 45 nights away from the island that they lost their resident discount. No matter their argument, they had to forfeit the discount and buy new passes at full price, they told The Globe.
Residents are left with no alternative options after the land bridge that once existed collapsed. They say Edgartown has no interest in running the ferry.
The town is allowed to hire a private company to run the ferry and has continuously opted to do so. That person has been Wells for 18 years.
A new bridge would cost $60million, which the island doesn’t have, The Globe reported.
The ferry is run by Peter Wells (pictured) but the affluent residents want more control
Residents have long complained that the ferry’s prices have gone up and say they have been treated unfairly
As for Scall, he wants nothing to do with the town politics and thought he was just buying a local business.
Scall has worked part-time for Wells for two years. This year, he and anonymous investors offered to buy Wells’ business for just under $3million.
Residents quickly zoned in on him and demanded answers, including sending him an ‘information request’ with 13 questions, The Globe reported.
He has refused to reveal the names of his investors and said he was under an NDA and could only tell the Edgartown Select Board who they were, the outlet said.
The select board will host a public hearing on Monday, then a vote will be held. If approved Scall will become the new owner of the ferry business.
‘I think Brian will do a wonderful job and [the] people on Chappaquiddick will be really happy with him,’ Sally Snipes, Wells’ ex-wife and co-owner of the ferry, told The Vineyard Gazette in March.
‘He knows more about the finances of the Chappy Ferry than I do,’ Wells said.
Wells bought the ferry company in 2008 after spending 30 years working as a captain, The Vineyard Gazette reported at the time.
Scall moved to Edgartown in 2020 with his wife Evan and their son.
