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Selectmen sell two Pier buyer permits amid Harbor Committee objections
Summary
Stonington selectmen approved selling two buying permits for the town Pier despite Harbor Committee concerns about capacity, parking and public safety, sparking objections from committee members and commercial buyers who said the decision should go back to the committee.
Stonington — The Board of Selectmen voted this spring to issue two additional buying permits for the town Fish Pier, a decision that divided the board and drew sharp criticism from Harbor Committee members and local buyers.
The motion to sell the permits was advanced by Selectman John Robbins, seconded and carried in a 3–2 vote after an extended discussion on congestion, skiff and parking capacity and prior Harbor Committee recommendations. Opponents, including Selectman Evelyn Duncan and public commenters, said the Harbor Committee had recommended against adding permits because the Pier is congested and current skiff and parking allocations are at capacity.
Marsden Brewer, a Pier user, told the board that removing existing trailers and reorganizing berthing could create space for buyers, but others warned that daytime operations are already crowded. “Daytime is bad,” buyer Bill Damon said. “Think about my employees and the boats that sell to me — this affects livelihoods year-round.”
Dealer and long-time Pier user Dick Larrabee Jr. urged the board to respect the Harbor Committee’s process. “What is the point of having the Harbor Committee if you aren’t going to listen to them?” he asked. Audience members shouted that the decision should be returned to the committee for further study.
After the permit sale passed, a subsequent motion by John Steed to stay the decision for a month so the Harbor Committee could propose a way to accommodate two new buyers failed on a 2–3 vote. That motion’s failure left some residents and buyers dissatisfied and prompted requests that the board re-examine pier capacity and the Harbor Committee’s ordinance recommendations.
The board also approved specific pier maintenance and equipment funding requested by the Harbor Committee, including authority to sell excess hoists and to buy a safety cage and other gear the committee identified as priorities.
What happens next: Officials said they will continue Harbor Committee work on ordinance revisions and capacity rules and will revisit pier operations and signage; no formal change in the buyers’ permit policy was adopted beyond the permit sales.
Speakers quoted are drawn from Selectmen meeting minutes and public comments recorded at the meetings.
