Stonington readies legal budget after Sunshine Seafood sues over Fish Pier platform
June 28, 2026 | Stonington, Hancock County, Maine
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Stonington's board of selectmen moved to increase legal contingency in its budget as the town responds to a lawsuit brought by Sunshine Seafood over a Fish Pier platform that town officials say has blocked harbor access.
Town Manager Billings told the board during budget work that "we just got served a lawsuit from Sunshine Seafood about the recent votes from the HC and the Selectboard on removing the platform" and said she had not yet received a firm estimate from the town's attorney. She said she had budgeted about "$25,000" as a working figure and one selectman referenced an estimate nearer $30,000.
The dispute has recurred across multiple meetings this winter and spring. Dealers and fishermen told the board the platform is critical for loading and daily operations; others, including some harbor users, said personal property stored on and beside the platform has blocked access and created safety and navigation concerns. At an earlier meeting, users said Sunshine Seafood and other dealers contribute substantial revenue for pier use; opponents said parking, hoist access and submerged hazards near proposed docks have magnified the problem.
Selectmen described a history of Harbor Committee votes and subsequent reversals on platform removal; the town manager said the town has tried outreach but that Sunshine Seafood had not engaged in remedy discussions. The board did not vote on removing the platform during the public comment period, but the litigation prompted the budgeting decision.
The selectmen's action was procedural: during budget deliberations they raised the legal line to absorb expected attorney fees tied to the litigation. TM Billings said the next steps are to await advice from the town's attorney and factor any additional costs or schedule implications into the town meeting warrant and capital plans.
The matter remains under discussion; the board recorded its regular quorum and procedural votes across several meetings while noting community division over pier access and the potential long-term implications for pier users and town finances.
Town Manager Billings told the board during budget work that "we just got served a lawsuit from Sunshine Seafood about the recent votes from the HC and the Selectboard on removing the platform" and said she had not yet received a firm estimate from the town's attorney. She said she had budgeted about "$25,000" as a working figure and one selectman referenced an estimate nearer $30,000.
The dispute has recurred across multiple meetings this winter and spring. Dealers and fishermen told the board the platform is critical for loading and daily operations; others, including some harbor users, said personal property stored on and beside the platform has blocked access and created safety and navigation concerns. At an earlier meeting, users said Sunshine Seafood and other dealers contribute substantial revenue for pier use; opponents said parking, hoist access and submerged hazards near proposed docks have magnified the problem.
Selectmen described a history of Harbor Committee votes and subsequent reversals on platform removal; the town manager said the town has tried outreach but that Sunshine Seafood had not engaged in remedy discussions. The board did not vote on removing the platform during the public comment period, but the litigation prompted the budgeting decision.
The selectmen's action was procedural: during budget deliberations they raised the legal line to absorb expected attorney fees tied to the litigation. TM Billings said the next steps are to await advice from the town's attorney and factor any additional costs or schedule implications into the town meeting warrant and capital plans.
The matter remains under discussion; the board recorded its regular quorum and procedural votes across several meetings while noting community division over pier access and the potential long-term implications for pier users and town finances.
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