Harbormaster reports on mooring inspections, transient moorings and the East Basin dock grant; commission budget grant from city cut

Harbormaster Jeff (last name not specified) updated the New York Harbor Management Commission on April 23 about mooring inspections, transient mooring plans and a recent grant development.

Jeff reported the commission is obligated to inspect moorings every two years; Edwards Marine will begin inspections starting at the Sheffield Islands and then the inner harbor. He said 52 online moorings are approved and 49 are under review, and transient moorings remain a priority: the commission currently has two inner‑harbor transient moorings and may add one or two more depending on space.

Jeff also described cooperation with Recreation and Parks and a planned Eagle Scout project to clean and repair facilities on Shea Island, including brush clearing and repair of two outhouse structures; the harbor master and the marine unit may help ferry volunteers.

On finances, Finance Committee chair Chris McDonald said the commission’s grant request to the city was denied for the coming fiscal year, meaning the commission will receive no city grant this year. McDonald also reported that a months‑long reconciliation found roughly $8,000 in online mooring deposits that the city mistakenly did not post; the funds were restored to the commission account.

Jeff and other staff briefed the commission on the East Basin Docking Facility grant (congratulating colleagues for securing funding) and reminded members the harbor master appointment term comes up for renewal in June (the chair said office scheduling for that reappointment will be discussed in executive session at a later date if needed).

No formal actions were taken; reports were informational and commissioners thanked staff for the work.