The Edgartown select board unanimously voted Monday to offer the harbor master position to Tisbury harbor master Gary Kovack.
The town will now enter negotiations with Mr. Kovack. Edgartown has been searching for a new harbor master since January, with current harbor master Charlie Blair set to retire on Thursday.
Mr. Kovack has been the harbor master in Tisbury for nine months. During his interview with the Edgartown select board on March 19, Mr. Kovack said he would need to discuss with Tisbury before committing to a start date.
Mr. Kovack has worked in Edgartown before. Originally from Detroit, Mich., he served as a police officer for Edgartown over seven years, the last of which he was a school resource officer.
“It will be nice to have him back in Edgartown,” said select board member Arthur Smadbeck.
Mr. Kovack has served in the U.S. Coast Guard for 16 years, 10 years active and six years in reserve duty. He is also the chief for the reserves station in Woods Hole.
Mr. Kovack beat out two other finalists, Michael Gately and Kurt Peterson, for the job.
“There really were some good applicants,” said Michael Donaroma, the Edgartown select board chair. “Many put a lot of work into their [applications]… we’re lucky.”
Mr. Gately is a master with Hoegh LNG – a global company that helps developers with marine infrastructure projects. He grew-up on the Island and worked under the direction of Mr. Blair for two summers.
Mr. Peterson is a licensed captain who has been operating Catboat Charters out of the Edgartown harbor for over a decade. He runs about 300 charters each year, and his boat’s star-spangled banner sail is a familiar sight to Vineyarders.
There was no deliberation Monday between select board members about the candidates. Select board member Margaret Serpa moved to offer the job to Mr. Kovack and had the backing of the rest of the board.
Mr. Kovack did not immediately return a request for comment Monday afternoon.
Town administrator James Hagerty said there were 18 initial applicants that were reviewed by an initial screening committee. Committee members included Mr. Blair, Oak Bluffs harbor master Emily deBettencourt, Steve Ewing, Chris Scott, Ed Handy and Mr. Hagerty.
