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Commission hears long report on state legislation, dredging prospects and harbor operations; harbormaster reports mooring renewals and boat maintenance
Summary
Consultant Jeff Stedman and Harbor Master Bruce Lovallo updated the commission on a pending state bill to restore local review authority, Corps of Engineers dredging prospects, and routine harbor operations including 89 mooring renewals, boat maintenance and new drone capability.
Consultant Jeff Stedman told the Norwalk City Harbor Management Commission that a bill to amend the Connecticut Harbor Management Act (referred to in the meeting as bill number 6914) is before the state environment committee and that recent DEP comments opposing the bill have complicated the effort.
Stedman said the bill’s goal is to clarify and restore local harbor management commissions’ authority to review state projects—authority he said was limited by a court decision. He and other stakeholders have been working with legislators and municipal leaders; Stedman testified at a public hearing and reported that the DEP Commissioner had submitted a letter of opposition that he and supporters believe mischaracterized the bill. He said municipal and regional harbor commissions are coordinating outreach; Stedman added that Norwalk’s delegation had not yet signaled support.
Stedman also updated the commission on potential federal dredging projects and coordination with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, and described Southport Harbor’s recent Corps work that used drone imagery and beneficial use of sand for oyster habitat enhancement.
Harbormaster Bruce Lovallo reported operational matters: he said 89 mooring renewals have come in and 31 renewals were still outstanding; harbor boat maintenance required pulling the vessel after water contaminated the fuel tank; mooring inspections were underway; and a new drone (ordered and scheduled for arrival Feb. 28) will expand monitoring capability. Deputy Harbormaster Mike Vincie and mariner Owen Lee were cited as conducting regular maintenance and drone flights.
Commissioners discussed next steps on the legislative effort and agreed to coordinate outreach with municipal officials and other harbor commissions. Stedman urged commissioners to press local legislators for support and to coordinate with the mayor’s office and other municipalities working on the bill.
