Beaufort Insider began to hear rumblings about six weeks ago that the City of Beaufort and Safe Harbor were in discussions about the downtown marina lease. The hope that the city was going to address some of the lease concerns with Safe Harbor was encouraging. As of the last couple weeks, the rumblings have become more solid. In fact, Beaufort Insider has been able to confirm that at all five city council members and the city manager have been in conversations with Safe Harbor over the last two months.
According to council members, specific terms of the lease and future plans have been discussed. In addition, it has been confirmed that the City Manager Scott Marshall participated in these discussions and has sought an attorney’s advice about the legality of the lease and the possibilities for renegotiation.
Here’s the thing: Scott Marshall told Beaufort Insider, in two on the record comments, that detailed discussions and negotiations are not happening.
In person discussion on August 12, 2024:
Beaufort Insider: “Are you speaking with Safe Harbor to renegotiate the contract with them?”
Scott Marshall: “We’re talking about the possibility of that. We have not undergone negotiations yet.”
Statements via email on August 15, 2024:
“Beaufort Insider:
Has Scott or any other city official engaged with Safe Harbor about renegotiating or amending the terms of their lease? In our discussion on Monday he said they were talking about it but that no negotiations have taken place. I just want to clarify if there have been any recent discussions with Safe Harbor – negotiations or otherwise.
Scott Marshall’s Answer:
We have asked Safe Harbor officials if they would be amenable to discuss terms of the current lease. They are open to have such a discussion. We have not begun these discussions yet and no negotiations have taken place.
Beaufort Insider: Does Scott think that the lease with Safe Harbor needs to be amended/renegotiated? Is Safe Harbor open to that possibility?
Scott Marshall’s Answer:
The lease does not “need” to be amended. It is a valid and binding agreement as is. There are areas to improve some of the lease language and other components of the agreement that may bear further scrutiny. To comment on specifics, prior to entering into negotiations, may be detrimental to the negotiation process when it occurs.
Beaufort Insider:
Does the city want to comment on the legality of the lease?
Scott Marshall’s Answer:
See response above.”
All five city councilmen have met with Safe Harbor in the last two months to discuss the possibility of amendments to the current lease. As stated above, it has also been confirmed that Scott Marshall has been in on these conversations. Two of the council members even referred Beaufort Insider to City Manager Marshall for details when asked what was discussed.
The City Manager and the City Council might want to get their stories straight. No matter what the full truth is, why are all of these conversations happening behind closed doors? Is the plan to renegotiate all the details and then present a new lease to the public after everything has been decided? The council and city officials have talked a lot about giving citizens a voice in big decisions. They need to make good on those promises.
Past articles have put a spotlight on concerns and controversy surrounding the city’s forty year downtown marina lease agreement with Safe Harbor (6/26/24; 6/27/24; 7/10/24; 7/12/24; 7/14/24). Those concerns include a lack of proper federal approval to enter into the lease, the terms of the lease and the level of liability agreed to by the city, and lack of transparency in the negotiation process.
UPDATE 8/22/24 11:20am:
At 9:56am today, the City of Beaufort sent this media release:
Downtown Marina Feedback Forum on Sept. 5
BEAUFORT, S.C. — Safe Harbor, which manages the Downtown Marina, and City of Beaufort are hosting a review and Q&A session for a revised layout of the Downtown Marina improvements. The revised layout addresses comments from City Council and the public during a City Council Work Session held on March 26.
When: Thursday, Sept. 5
Time: 5:30 to 6:30 p.m.
Location: Henry C. Chambers Park, Pavilion 950 Bay Street, Beaufort
If it is raining hard, the event will be moved to City Hall.
Beaufort Insider encourages all of our readers to attend the feedback forum and ask questions. The concern remains that the city and Safe Harbor will present an already agreed upon plan to the public. Hopefully that’s not the case and the public will have their opportunity to give input and opinions before any plans are finalized. Don’t miss this opportunity!
They’ve made a deal with the devil and without transparency.
Not sure when the lease will expire, but given that the park needs to be rebuilt, there surely needs to be some planning vis a vis the marina, and that might require lease revisions. But all that may be premature, until the city firms up plans for the park rebuild, right??
This is one of the best explanations I’ve come across. Thanks!