Harbor Panel Revokes Nielsen's North Cove Mooring

Other Committee · Meeting of September 21, 2026

Old Saybrook's Harbor Management Commission revoked a North Cove boater's mooring for repeated rule violations. Commissioners unanimously stripped Leif Nielsen of his deep-water mooring privileges after finding his boat sat on the mooring only about 20 days this season, violating the commission's "Rule 11" usage requirement for the second straight year. The panel also reported the Harbor Management Fund held roughly $225,000 as of July 17, with dredging of North Cove now expected in 2028-29 rather than 2027 as previously projected.

Staff will send compliance letters to several other mooring holders, including names recorded as Jeffrey Plaza, William Mulligan and Susan Crudy, who similarly showed little mooring use. Commissioners also accepted an $8,000 proposal from South Side Construction for seasonal mooring and channel marker removal and voted "no comment" on two zoning referrals, including the Dock and Dine special exception application.

In the full story:

• Who Was There
• Organizations And Documents Referenced
• The complete report — 2,591 words

Source: the Other Committee meeting of September 21, 2026, reported from the official video recording and transcript.

Checked against the record: before publication this article was automatically compared with the meeting transcript. It was corrected where it differed.

The Full Article

Minutes and Finance Report

The commission opened with a quorum of all five commissioners plus the harbormaster/dockmaster present and no members of the public in attendance. Commissioners approved the July 20 minutes on a motion and second, with one member abstaining. Jennifer, who manages the commission's finances, billing and mooring waitlist correspondence, reported the Harbor Management Fund held about $225,000 as of July 17, 2026, a figure that excludes the town's portion of the Ferry Road dredging permit cost. Including that reserved portion, the account totals roughly $250,000. A commissioner observed that the year closed favorably: "Even though, you know, you fell a little short of the projected revenues, we came in under expenses and it all worked out fine." Jennifer also reported continuing to process sales tax payments, retroactive sewer-related charges, and mooring refunds.

Mooring Rack and Waitlist Management

Scott, the harbormaster and dockmaster, reported on the commission's boat rack, which holds boats for pickup and use but has run persistently half-empty relative to demand despite a long waitlist. "It really, I think, sticks in everybody's craw that most of the time is half empty," a commissioner said of residents who walk by and see open rack slots while being told there is no room for their own equipment. Commissioners discussed tightening the 50 percent usage rule governing the rack and agreed to revisit formal enforcement, including possibly warning rack holders in advance, at the next meeting rather than acting immediately.

Dredging Project Timeline

Scott reported renewed contact with the Connecticut Port Authority about a dredging grant for the Ferry Road and North Cove project. Previous correspondence had estimated a 2027 start; updated guidance now points to 2028-29, with a possible start as early as 2027-28. "We're still on the radar screens. We're still within two years," a commissioner said, characterizing the delay as manageable. Commissioners credited this year's mooring management, including repositioning at least four mooring holders' spots to create swing room, with reducing boat-to-boat contact compared to prior seasons. "I think we can get through another two seasons," one commissioner said, while acknowledging boats cannot all safely swing in their assigned spaces without careful shuffling by staff.

Mooring Sabbatical Policy

This was the first year the commission operated under a new "sabbatical" option allowing mooring holders to step away temporarily without losing their place. Commissioners said roughly eight or nine holders took sabbaticals this year, and the wording of the initial notice was "clearly" ambiguous, a point one commissioner took responsibility for. Going forward, the commission agreed that holders who sabbatical in one year must affirmatively respond each subsequent year to either extend the sabbatical or return to the cove, and that no sabbatical can extend beyond the point North Cove is actually dredged. Staff will draft new notice language for review before it is sent to mooring holders.

Season-End Removal Deadline

Commissioners discussed the annual deadline for removing boats from North Cove moorings ahead of winter. The commission has used November 1 in some years but extended it in others depending on when dredging-related contractors are scheduled to arrive. This year, with a contractor expected around mid-November, commissioners agreed to set the removal deadline at November 8, one week later than the typical date, and to communicate it along with the sabbatical renewal information in a single season-closing notice.

Rule 11 Enforcement: Nielsen Mooring Revocation

The meeting's most substantive enforcement action concerned Leif Nielsen, a deep-water mooring holder who had received a written warning the prior year after showing minimal use. Commissioners reviewed a timeline built from letters and emails: Nielsen had asked, in writing, whether a Rule 11 exception for "extended cruising" was acceptable; the harbormaster, according to his account to the commission, initially told Nielsen informally that it would be, then reversed himself after checking commission records showing Nielsen was already on a compliance warning. A follow-up letter dated August 3 informed Nielsen he needed to meet Rule 11 by what commissioners called "the magic date" of August 8. Commissioners said Nielsen's boat did not appear on the mooring until late July, left again within roughly two weeks, and returned only in the final weeks before the meeting, putting his total days on the mooring at an estimated 20, which one commissioner called "being very, very generous."

Commissioners noted Nielsen's cat boat draws only about two feet of water and that he reportedly uses North Cove as an occasional launching point from a base in Chester, where he keeps a painting studio, rather than as his primary mooring location. One commissioner drew a comparison to a prior case: "There was a guy in a 40-foot power boat that would show up a week and a half at the beginning of the season... and kept on saying, listen, I only use it, I only need it for two weeks. Now that was the wrong thing to say." Another commissioner framed the underlying policy rationale: the commission wants "as many people as possible" to have access to the water given 109 mooring holders competing for limited space.

A commissioner moved to revoke Nielsen's privileges: "I'm making a motion to revoke Mr. Nielsen's mooring privileges and deep water mooring privileges in North Cove." The motion was seconded and passed unanimously on a voice vote. Commissioners discussed allowing Nielsen to apply instead for a shallow-water or river mooring, and agreed to invite him to call the harbormaster to discuss those options rather than simply closing the door.

Rule 11 Enforcement: Other Violators

Commissioners separately reviewed a list, compiled from mooring checks across the season, of pole holders who appeared to have little or no boat on their moorings and had not filed Rule 11 exception paperwork. Names and pole numbers discussed included pole 2 (recorded variously as Jeffrey Plaza and, later in discussion, Jeff Belaza), pole 8 (William Mulligan, though commissioners noted some uncertainty about whether the pole 8 holder had changed and the list needed updating), poles 10, 11 and 30, and additional names recorded as McCain, Heisler, Guile, Percy and Chepo. Commissioners also discussed Susan Crudy, associated with pole 6, whose mooring appeared empty. Staff will send compliance letters to the holders who have not filed Rule 11 exceptions, with roughly five to seven letters going out; the commission and Jennifer will coordinate timing with the October renewal mailing.

Clothesline Invasive Species and Permitting

A commissioner reported that invasive plant growth, including knotweed, bindweed and phragmites, has roughly doubled along the clothesline access area in the past year, now blocking four mooring poles' worth of path where only two were affected last year. The town's public works contact, recorded in the meeting as Bill Caffey (also referenced once as Claffy), has offered crew time to clear the growth but cautioned his crew's approach amounts to "total destruction" rather than selective removal, which could also clear beneficial plants that stabilize the shoreline. Because the affected area lies below the coastal jurisdiction line, a permit is required; a town contact identified as Lynette provided the application, described as a simple two-page form costing $200 per site. Commissioners agreed to seek one combined permit covering the clothesline, a nearby area called Sheffield, and the launch ramp, and a separate permit for Ferry Road only if water-adjacent invasives are found there, since roadside growth is already handled by public works. A town official referenced as Carl would need to authorize any additional funding beyond the existing budget line. The commission authorized a member to pursue the permit and get a cost estimate before committing further funds.

North Cove Transient Mooring Improvements

Staff reported several North Cove maintenance items: some night lighting needs new LED bulbs, which the harbormaster will source; a 500-pound transient mooring needs its line untangled, a task deferred until a personal boat could be moved out of the way; and the commission discussed adding one additional guest mooring on the river, where only two currently exist and are lightly used. Commissioners favored the addition given this year's shoaling issues have caused some boats to strike bottom near existing spots, and agreed informally that guest moorings should be marked with orange paint or tape to make them easy for transient boaters to identify by phone.

Regional Derelict and Abandoned Boat Task Force

A commissioner reported attending a roughly 25-to-30-person meeting convened by a Connecticut Port Authority contact, recorded in the meeting alternately as Melissa Root and Melissa Clark, bringing together the Coast Guard, state environmental officials, emergency responders from New Haven, and other coastal towns to discuss derelict and abandoned vessels. The group raised the civil fine for abandoned boats from $500 to $1,000. Commissioners said enforcement remains the unresolved piece: "I think the answer is going to be the same... other than that, it didn't seem like anything changed," one commissioner said, noting a proposal to fund removal at the state level was rejected over concerns it would encourage owners to simply abandon boats rather than pay for proper disposal. A local fire official reportedly argued municipal fire departments should enforce harbor rules directly because violations could then move quickly into the court system if fines go unpaid. Commissioners said current practice allows the commission to relocate a derelict boat blocking another mooring holder's access to a town-owned river mooring, but there remains no dedicated, cost-free disposal site. Another task force session is expected around the end of the month.

Storm and Emergency Preparedness

A commissioner reported joining a separate town task force on storm and emergency preparedness procedures and acknowledged the commission currently lacks a formal severe-weather communication protocol for mooring holders. Commissioners discussed instituting a standard advisory email to all mooring holders ahead of forecast wind and rain events reminding them to check bilge pumps and mooring lines, something staff said has been done informally in the past.

Ferry Road Infrastructure

Commissioners discussed persistent low water pressure at the Ferry Road dock, which a contact identified as Lou attributed to the facility's backflow preventer after a site visit; staff planned to call a plumbing contractor, identified as Applebee Plumbing, to check for a needed adjustment. Separately, commissioners discussed visible shoaling at Ferry Road, noting docked boats sit roughly two feet further back than in past years to maintain clearance. A commissioner who consulted with a contact at Coastline Consulting, identified as Caldarella, said the contractor's working theory is that boats pushing barges at slow speed near the dock are not likely contributing meaningfully to sediment buildup, though the commission agreed more historical survey data is needed before drawing conclusions; a commissioner will research what historical data exists and raise it again next meeting. The commission also noted it had resubmitted a completion package for the Ferry Road dock expansion project, closing that item out, and confirmed that the related seawall reconstruction, funded through a 50-50 grant with the Connecticut Port Authority at a cost near $800,000, is structurally complete even though it is not visually apparent from the water side; the work consisted of a concrete infill behind the existing granite wall and additional riprap on the seaward side.

Mooring Waiting List: Wilson Reinstatement

Jennifer raised the case of a waitlisted applicant, recorded as Wilson, who missed the commission's June 1 waitlist renewal deadline and did not respond to reminder emails until August 11, more than two months late. Under standard rules, missing the deadline would drop Wilson from waitlist position 46 to the bottom of the list, around position 103 or 104. Commissioners weighed the long tenure Wilson has had on the list against the length of the delay and ultimately raised no objection to reinstating her to her original position, effectively granting a one-time exception. No formal roll-call vote was recorded; the decision proceeded by consensus after no commissioner objected.

Zoning Referrals

The commission reviewed two zoning referrals forwarded for comment. The first concerned a special exception and commercial site plan review for the Dock and Dine redevelopment; commissioners said the current phase did not appear to involve any water-related work, with any dock construction described as a later "phase three" not yet before the commission. The second was a petition to amend the town's subdivision regulations concerning open space, described in the meeting by a docket label including "2026." On both, a commissioner moved that the commission's formal response be "no comment," finding neither item within the commission's purview; both motions passed unanimously.

Other Updates

Commissioners briefly noted construction progress on the Amtrak railroad bridge, observing pier work now rises above the water line, and discussed outreach on the town's long-stalled Harbor Management Plan: a commissioner described briefing the governor and his aide, identified as Adam, at a political event, with the governor directing follow-up to Adam's office. No timeline was given for completing the plan. On the launch ramp guide pile project, a commissioner said Coastline Consulting is still waiting on an Army Corps of Engineers permit, which the Corps' staff described as significantly backlogged.

Payment of Bills and South Side Construction Contract

The commission approved payment of a bill package including $1,620 to a landscaping contractor for July and part of August work, $84 and $28 in separate charges to Online Moorings, and seven separate $100 invoices from United Rentals for portable toilet rental across several months, plus a fee for use of the dockmaster's personal boat in performing town duties, totaling roughly $2,400 to $3,000. Separately, commissioners reviewed and accepted, without recorded objection, an $8,000 proposal from South Side Construction to remove moorings, detach a gangway, and remove five channel markers at the harbor entrance as part of seasonal closeout. The meeting adjourned at 8:25 p.m. on a motion, second and unanimous vote.

WHO WAS THERE

Five commissioners present, forming a quorum; individual commissioners are referenced in the transcript primarily by first name (David, Scott in his staff capacity, and others whose remarks were not individually attributable with certainty). Harbormaster/dockmaster, referenced as Scott, present per the opening roll call. Jennifer, staff handling finance, billing and waitlist administration, present and presenting the budget report. Rob, presenting the dredging project update involving Coastline Consulting and the Army Corps of Engineers sampling plan. No members of the public attended.

ORGANIZATIONS AND DOCUMENTS REFERENCED

Connecticut Port Authority — source of updated dredging-timeline correspondence and convener of the regional derelict and abandoned boat task force discussed in the meeting. Coastline Consulting — engineering consultant handling the dredging sampling analysis plan and Ferry Road siltation review; contact identified as Caldarella. U.S. Army Corps of Engineers — permitting authority for the dredging sampling plan and the launch ramp guide pile project, both described as pending and backlogged. Old Saybrook Public Works (contact Bill Caffey/Claffy) — offered crew assistance for invasive species removal along the clothesline area and performs roadside cutting at Ferry Road. South Side Construction — contractor accepted for an $8,000 end-of-season mooring, gangway and channel marker removal project. United Rentals — vendor billed for portable toilet rental, approved in the bills-payment motion. Applebee Plumbing — plumbing contractor to be contacted regarding Ferry Road water pressure and backflow preventer issues. Rule 11 — the commission's mooring usage requirement cited throughout as the basis for the Nielsen revocation and other compliance letters. July 20 meeting minutes — approved with one abstention at the start of the meeting. Dock and Dine special exception and commercial site plan application — zoning referral on which the commission voted "no comment." Subdivision regulations open space petition (2026) — second zoning referral on which the commission voted "no comment."