NEWBURYPORT — Mayor John Moak won't ask the City Council to transfer money to hire a lobbyist for a beach replenishment program on Plum Island.

Moak's decision, announced in a statement yesterday, is an apparent setback to an effort by a group of island homeowners to secure the services of Marlowe & Company, a Washington, D.C., lobbying firm that specializes in persuading Congress to put up money for beach replenishment projects. The company's president, Howard Marlowe, has been called "Sand-a Claus" by the national newspaper USA Today for his ability to deliver beach funds for clients.

Plum Island's beach, especially from Plum Island Center northward, has sustained serious erosion in recent years — to the point that some structures around the center are in danger of losing decks.

In his statement, Moak said he had spoken to individual city councilors about putting up $18,000 as Newburyport's share of Marlowe & Company's $40,000 annual fee.

He said councilors recognized the urgency of the erosion problem, "but as a whole they are not in favor of using a consultant/lobbyist in this matter."

The homeowners group had raised $4,000 privately and had asked Newbury and Newburyport to appropriate $18,000 each.

Newbury's Board of Selectmen last month voted to ask the town's Finance Committee to commit $10,000 in the current fiscal year and said they would seek the remaining $8,000 at Town Meeting in May to be appropriated in the next fiscal year, which begins July 1.

Newbury selectmen Chairman Vincent Russo called Moak's decision "a little discouraging."

"I don't think the Newbury Finance Committee would go forward without Newburyport," he said.

He also said the money could be raised through a "public/private fundraising drive" led by the homeowners group.

One of the leaders of that group, Robert Connors of Annapolis Way, said he was "disappointed" but that the islanders would still seek to raise the money for Marlowe's fee.

"The effort has to go forward, because one thing that has not changed is the need," he said. "The urgency of the repairs, the dredging, the impact on the beach, hasn't changed."

The homeowners group has said a three-pronged initiative is needed to resolve the erosion situation: dredge the Merrimack River channel, deposit the dredged sand on the beach and repair the jetty at the northern tip of the island. They have estimated the cost at $3 million to $5 million.

Connors and his fellow homeowners have argued the case that the beach erosion is not exclusively a Plum Island problem. Houses on the island typically generate annual real estate taxes of $10,000 to $20,000 each, they have said. The loss of even one house would lead to an overall decline in property values on the island and a resulting decrease in tax revenue to the city and town, they have argued.

Connors yesterday suggested one source of funds for Marlowe's fee could be from Newburyport property owners.

"Newburyport's failure to participate to protect its own tax base could lead to an abatement process by Plum Island homeowners to reduce taxes," he said.

He said he was grateful to Moak for holding a public meeting Jan. 31 on the Plum Island situation and to the councilors who attended.

Moak said in his statement that he and the council "strongly support the efforts of our senatorial and congressional delegation and have confidence in our elected officials and their staff to procure the funding for a three-phase urgent plan to protect Plum Island beaches."