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Selectmen approve Fish Pier hoist replacement, discuss parking costs and sea-level concerns
Summary
The Stonington Selectmen approved replacing an aging Fish Pier hoist and agreed a daily pier fee increase; they also discussed high estimates for a parking-wall project and flooding risk at low-lying Main Street, flagging sea-level rise as a factor in capital planning.
Stonington selectmen moved to replace an aging chain hoist at the Fish Pier after the Harbor Committee presented repair and replacement quotes. The committee reported recent chain-hoist failures and recommended a new system; the board approved funding from Pier reserves to replace the unit.
The Harbor Committee also requested a change to some Pier daily fees; the board approved a $200 daily fee increase for specified services. TM Billings said the Pier manager (Raelene) and committee were reviewing ordinance language and may propose more formal updates to Pier rules before the next town meeting.
Separately, selectmen discussed a vendor-provided $287,000 estimate just for a parking-area retaining wall and an additional ~$109,000 estimate for tank installation tied to SSD operations. Board members raised concerns about the wall site’s elevation on Main Street and potential flooding and sea-level impacts, noting that the town has ongoing resilience planning with consultants.
Why it matters: the Fish Pier is a central working waterfront asset. Replacing the hoist addresses immediate operational safety and continuity; parking and tank-installation costs are material capital items for harbor operations and may affect reserves or require warrant articles.
Vote and direction: the selectmen authorized use of Fish Pier reserve funds to replace the hoist and approved the fee change; TM Billings was directed to work with the Harbor Committee and the town attorney to draft any ordinance changes and to include sea-level resilience considerations in project planning.
Next steps: TM will return with final cost estimates for wall/tank work and draft ordinance language if the Harbor Committee recommends changes for a future public hearing.
