Fish Pier debate: selectmen approve two buyer permits and fund hoist repairs amid harbor committee objections

A months‑long debate over use and capacity of Stonington’s Fish Pier culminated in several contested board votes this year. Selectmen approved selling two buying permits for the Pier despite objections from the Harbor Committee and multiple fishermen who said the Pier is already congested; an attempt to postpone the decision to allow the Harbor Committee to propose alternatives failed.

Public commenters including Dick Larrabee Jr. and Marsden Brewer told the board the Pier is crowded and unsafe in places, citing blocked hoists and crowded skiff parking. Fishermen who opposed the permits said adding buyers would intensify congestion during daytime operations and inhibit safe hoist access. The board approved the permit sales by a 3‑2 vote on Nov. 9; later motions to stay the decision were defeated. Audience members and Harbor Committee members voiced frustration that their recommendations had not been followed.

Separately, the board approved specific maintenance and safety work on the Pier. On Oct. 19 the board voted to immediately raise fuel prices by 5 cents to shore up pier revenues and approved an additional $2,500 to retrofit hoist #6 with a reduction tank recommended by a contractor, a measure described by proponents as intended to slow the hoist’s speed and reduce jerking motions that threatened safety and hardware. The harbor committee provided estimates for float re‑decking and other repairs (engineer/contractor estimates were discussed and used to prioritize work).

The board also approved selling surplus hoists and equipment and discussed hauling and parking changes to relieve congestion; some fishermen urged returning the buying‑permit decision to the Harbor Committee to seek a broader consensus.

What happens next: The Harbor Committee’s ordinance revision effort and the Selectmen’s follow‑up on prioritized repairs remain active; the town will track the impact of the new buyer permits and report back if safety or capacity problems increase.