AVALON— In a unanimous decision reached this week, the Avalon City Council approved the transfer of the franchise agreement for Avalon Mooring and Diving Services Inc., according to a July 5 report in the Catalina Islander.
This move paves the way for Scott Gorelczenko to take over the reins of the company from current owner Mark Bray. The transfer, however, is contingent upon the successful completion of an agreement between the two parties to officially shift ownership of the business.
Avalon Mooring and Diving Services has held the contract to provide mooring maintenance services in Avalon Harbor since July 1, 1994. In June of this year, the city received notification of Gorelczenko’s intent to purchase the business, with the transaction hinging on City Council approval.
Section 12 of the existing franchise agreement specifies that any assignment or transfer of the agreement requires City Council approval. The report by City Manager David Maistros and Management Analyst Devin Hart highlights this section, emphasizing that the council’s “approval will not be unreasonably withheld.”
The council’s vote comes on the heels of a previous decision in July 2023, in which they approved a seven-year extension to the existing mooring maintenance agreement. This extension ensures the contract remains in effect until June 30, 2028. Additionally, the 2023 amendment allowed for annual adjustments to mooring service rates to keep pace with the Consumer Price Index (CPI).
With the transfer greenlit, the current owner can proceed with negotiations to finalize the sale of Avalon Mooring and Diving Services. As per the City Manager’s report, the tentative target date for the transfer of majority ownership is set for Nov. 1.
