The Steamship Authority board of governors announced Tuesday afternoon they had agreed on a 10.6 per cent raise for general manager Robert Davis, which brings his annual salary to $239,480.
The Steamship Authority board of governors announced Tuesday afternoon they had agreed on a 10.6 per cent raise for general manager Robert Davis, which brings his annual salary to $239,480.
The board sought out the raise to match the cost of living increases that had previously been given to non-union employees in 2024 and 2025, according to the ferry line’s general counsel Terence Kenneally.
Mr. Davis, whose contract for the position is set to end in October, previously earned a $215,821 annual salary, communications director Sean Driscoll told the Gazette.
The $23,659 salary increase is retroactive to July 1, the date when raises for other non-union Steamship workers went into effect, Mr. Driscoll said.
Mr. Davis’s contract calls for him to remain general manager until Oct. 31, after which he will transition to a senior advisory position, Mr. Driscoll said.
The Steamship Authority is actively seeking a new general manager through a global search conducted by Faststream Recruitment.
Mr. Davis was first hired by the authority in August 1986 in the accounting department and rose through the years to become treasurer/comptroller before taking the top job in 2017 with the retirement of longtime general manager Wayne Lamson.
Though he has largely received good reviews from the board, his years at the helm have been troubled by a series of operational and public relations woes, ranging from ferry breakdowns to website crashes.
An ever-quickening drumbeat of criticism from both sides of Vineyard Sound led Mr. Davis to announce last September that he will step aside as general manager, effective the end of this October.
This week’s announcement of his salary increase followed a two-part series of executive sessions that began last month and continued in an off-cycle, online-only meeting Tuesday, after Mr. Davis and the board were unable to come to an agreement during a lengthy closed-door discussion in July.
The board’s vote Tuesday was unanimously in favor of granting Mr. Davis the raise.
Comments
SO--- Criticism last year led
Will Ryan New York CitySO--- Criticism last year led to his announcement of retirement a year in the future, he is getting a whopping 23% raise which is retroactive, will then take another position which has not been really decided nor the salary and a major part of his legacy will be the abomination being constructed RIGHT IN THE MIDDLE of the Woods Hole parking lot. It causes me to shake my head and wonder how these things can all be true! I will never understand how that horrible building was placed there despite the outcry against it.
So he gets a bigger pension
Robert Oak BluffsSo he gets a bigger pension based off the higher salary? When does this saga end? And why such a long consulting contract?
I just want to point out a
Dean Rosenthal EdgartownI just want to point out a key pull quote of this succinct, well-written article. It says it better than I could and more diplomatically, too.
“Though he has largely received good reviews from the board, his years at the helm have been troubled by a series of operational and public relations woes, ranging from ferry breakdowns to website crashes.”
Thank you, Vineyard Gazette.
I'll start the popcorn.4
Sara Piazza EdgartownI'll start the popcorn.4
I made ferry reservations on
Michael Reynolds Grand Blanc MichiganI made ferry reservations on 02/04/2025 for the period 07/20-08/03/2025. For the return trip, #208, on 08/03, we were to sail at 0950 from Vineyard Haven. When we arrived at check in, the attendant said the 0950 vessel leaves from O.B. instead of V.H. which is what my reservation paperwork stated. By the time we lined up in O.B. we had a minute or two to spare. I explained to the attendant what had occurred and he said we have been having that problem for months. I don’t understand why the SSA couldn’t reach out to me and others correcting the issue. It did, however, teach me a valuable lesson to always double check the published schedules regardless of what my paperwork said. Perhaps Mr. Davis, in his remaining time, can correct these types of things.
I too have fallen victim to
MWG ChilmarkI too have fallen victim to the "schedule a trip from vineyard have to woods hole only to be met with dismay" crowd. cheers to all of us who somehow manage to get where we are going.
I have had an account with
Mike Reynolds Grand BlancI have had an account with SSA for 40 years. I receive notices all day long re: trip delays and cancellations for whatever reasons. When we pulled into V.H. and I was notified to go to O.B., I can tell you I was somewhat anxious about missing the ferry. We have a 930 mile drive home and even though we take a couple days I don’t want to be pulling into the hotel at 2:00a.m. as a result of something which could have been corrected weeks ago.
A couple years ago we had a
RC DC/OBA couple years ago we had a reservation leaving OB. We got a notification that the trip was moved to VHH. On a bit of a hunch, I suggested we drive by OB to make sure. We got to the attendant who immediately said "go to VH". I then pointed behind the attendant and, sure enough, there was the Woods Hole arriving in OB. There were only 7 cars loaded in OB to go back to WH.
I should say: “You’ve got to
John VHI should say: “You’ve got to be kidding me!” but, instead, nothing surprises me any longer. We have flagrant incompetence at the helm of the SSA as measured by every unacceptable results across all key performance indicators. Yet, the Board of Governors somehow found its way to reward Mr. Davis with a 10.6% raise. It’s also time for the Board to step down.
This is well deserved. Mr.
Kate EdgartownThis is well deserved. Mr. Davis has done a fantastic job, has there been some highs and lows, of course.
Just look at Woods Hole and the new design and slips! It’s going to be enjoyable for years to come.
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