Harbor commission votes to include update of management plan in consultant contract

The Norwalk Harbor Management Commission on Sept. 17 authorized staff to include a formal task to update Chapter 3 of the Norwalk Harbor Management Plan in the commission's procurement for a harbor-management consultant.

Commissioners discussed procurement pathways and a point-person role after the legal department circulated procurement guidance. Laurie Jones (Plans & Recreation chair for the commission) and other commissioners emphasized that Chapter 3 contains the plan's substantive policies and that updates should reflect recent state and local changes in shoreline use, coastal resiliency and licensing practice.

Laurie Jones described the plan as "the meat of the plan" and said the current chapter 3 language is outdated; commissioners noted the last substantive amendments dated to 2009. Commissioners asked that the consultant's scope include stakeholder outreach to local marine businesses, boatyards and mooring holders to ensure the draft update responds to the practical needs of harbor users as well as statutory and regulatory changes.

The motion, framed as insertion of the Chapter 3 update into the anticipated consultant contract and scope-of-work (rather than naming a particular individual at the meeting), was debated and then approved. Commissioners said they prefer an approach that establishes clear deliverables, timelines and a not-to-exceed figure for the work. The commission agreed the consultant task should include: a review of existing plan language and prior commission letters, an outreach period to affected harbor users and marine businesses, and a draft revision for commission review prior to submission to DEEP or other agencies.

The commission instructed staff to schedule a follow-up meeting with the city procurement and legal staff to clarify single-source versus competitive procurement options and to set a timetable for the solicitation. The commission also asked staff to circulate a proposed scope and timeline to commissioners for review before the procurement is issued.

The motion to include the Chapter 3 update in the consultant solicitation passed by voice vote; commissioners recorded their support and asked that deliverables and a cost cap be specified in the solicitation package.