OLD LYME, CT — The Old Lyme Harbor Management Commission approved higher mooring fees and voted 5-3 to raise the annual kayak rack fee to $100 for the upcoming year during its Sept. 8 meeting.
Commission members reviewed existing mooring and kayak rack fees along with proposed increases presented by Harbormaster Matthew Lynch. Richard Shriver moved to accept Lynch's proposed mooring fee changes, with Mike Barnes seconding. The motion passed.
Mayla Guidi then moved to increase the annual kayak rack fee to $100 for the upcoming year. Barnes seconded the motion, which passed 5-3 with no abstentions.
Lynch reported that 33 private moorings had been approved in District 1, with one renewal pending and four applicants on a waiting list. Districts 2 through 9 had 72 approved private moorings, six renewals pending and one new application pending.
For commercial moorings, Lynch reported 11 approvals, eight renewals pending and six new applications pending, along with 45 DiMillo's Yacht Sales moorings. Mooring fee deposits totaled $14,245 for the year to date.
The commission reviewed proposed parking concepts associated with the Ferry Road Town dock project. Seven members favored Concept 2, which calls for vehicles to pull straight into parking spaces. One member favored Concept 1, while none supported Concept 3.
A meeting concerning the Ferry Road Town dock design is scheduled for Sept. 21 at 2 p.m. through the state Department of Energy and Environmental Protection's Client Concierge Service.
There were no new developments reported on the Horseneck Creek dock design, which had previously been submitted to DEEP, or the Four Mile River dredging application sampling and analysis plan.
The commission tabled a DEEP application from Long River LLC for a pier and floating dock at 15-2 Tantummaheag Road. Chairman Michael Presti said he would contact Brady Flood of Race Engineering with questions about the dock design.
Commissioners also reviewed a DEEP pre-submission consultation form for the Oster Marsh Crossing Walkway and approved it as being in accordance with the town's Harbor Management Plan.
The commission discussed applying for additional Connecticut Port Authority funding through the Small Harbor Improvement Projects Program, or SHIPP, and the Community Grant program.
Members said additional funding could be used for public access improvements at Pilgrim Landing and Ferry Road. Barnes and Guidi agreed to work on the applications. The minutes list a Sept. 30 deadline for SHIPP applications and a Nov. 30 deadline for Community Grant applications.
The commission had received $10,606.50 in SHIPP grant reimbursement during August. Including $311 in online mooring fees and $41.14 in interest, the commission's account increased from $24,827.12 at the beginning of August to $35,785.76 at month's end.
Lynch also reported that Old Lyme rangers had been hired to provide advisory assistance at Pilgrim Landing during the 2026 swallow season. The rangers will advise visitors and contact police if necessary.
The commission approved its Aug. 11 meeting minutes and noted that it currently has two membership openings.
The meeting was held at Old Lyme Memorial Town Hall and adjourned at 8:30 p.m. The commission's next meeting is scheduled for Oct. 13 at 7 p.m.
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