Stonington budgets legal costs as Fish Pier platform dispute prompts lawsuit

Town Manager Billings told the Selectmen the town has been served with a lawsuit from Sunshine Seafood challenging recent actions related to the Fish Pier platform and that the town should expect legal expenses to rise.

Selectman John Steed described legal questions raised by the filing and said the town needs to plan for costs; Billings said she had not yet received an estimate from the town attorney but was budgeting roughly $25,000. The Selectmen agreed to increase the legal line in the draft budget to reflect the potential cost of litigation.

The dispute stems from repeated public meetings in which commercial fishermen, dealers and other users argued over whether a platform and stored personal property at the pier block hoist access and create safety or capacity problems. At multiple meetings, participants including Jim Eaton and Hilton Turner presented conflicting accounts: some users said the platform is essential to loading and livelihoods; others and some board members said the platform and stored trailers impede safe access at the pier.

Town Manager Billings said officials have tried outreach but that Sunshine Seafood had not engaged constructively in talks to resolve the access and safety concerns. Selectmen discussed options mentioned in the meetings: returning the firm's $11,000 payment, requiring removal of personal property that is blocking operations, or defending the Selectmen’s authority to regulate pier use for public-safety reasons.

The board recorded no final policy change on the pier at the meetings represented in the minutes; actions recorded so far are limited to budget adjustments to account for anticipated legal costs and continued administrative follow-up. Further action is expected at future meetings or after legal counsel provides advice.