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Town Wide Mooring Fees Established
At a Special Board of Selectman meeting Tuesday, March 3, 2009, in the Town Hall Meeting Room, the Town of Greenwich Board of Selectmen unanimously voted to accept the recommendation of the First Selectman's Coastal Resources Advisory Committee to implement a new fee structure for all boaters using moorings that are approved by the Town's new Harbor Master, effective with the 2009 boating season.
A $35 one time fee to establish a data base containing the anchor weight, chain length, year of inspection, name of approved inspector, vessel registration or documentation number and other key information was approved, with a waiver to clubs with over 100 moorings who file electronically. The seasonal fee for all boaters with moorings will be $100. The Town has approximately 650 moorings: 330 at Town marinas and 320 private yacht club and "lunch hook" moorings. The new fees will replace the annual Mooring Sticker fees previously charged to boaters with moorings at the Town Marinas.
The fees will be deposited in a Town of Greenwich dedicated account within the General Fund and used for coastal resource expenses unreimbursed by Federal, State or Town agencies including administration, operations, maintenance and installation of designated navigation aids, periodic pre-dredge surveys, removal of abandoned and illegal moorings and navigation hazards as well as the installation of No Discharge reminders.
The Town's new Harbor Master recently received delivery of a newly marked inspection boat contributed by the Shellfish Commission, to aid in the management of the Town's waterways which include 27 miles of coastline, seven harbors, 3 federal navigation channels, 30 islands and hundreds of moorings.
Key benefits of the new mooring fee revenue include:
*The ability to actively promote and enforce the state's No Discharge Policy for all boaters.
*A fine of up to $10,000 may be imposed for violations.
The elimination of previously unregulated and uninspected "lunch hook" moorings, including those below the water line, that represent significant risk to children as well as adult divers and swimmers.
First Selectman Peter Tesei thanked Chairman John Craine and his Committee for their work in developing and implementing this revenue source that will be used to support the maintenance, safety environmental improvement and enjoyment of our coastal waters and preserve and enhance the Town's quality of life.
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