Mooring fee increases approved by council
By Dotti Farrington

Town Councilors Monday approved revised fees for marine activity overseen by the Harbor Management Commission. The new fees, up 20 percent across the board, were seen as more equitable than those commissioners previously proposed.

Exceptions to the 20 percent increase include club moorings, a relatively new class of service for out of town yacht clubs, with the $500 fee doubled to $1,000. Commissioners noted the fee at Block Island is more than $1,600, and that services the town provides are "heavily used, with multiple boats rafted up" plus accommodation of "rather large boats."

Another exception is the rate for dockage at East Ferry, raised eight percent for commercial fishing boats.

The commission reported this fee is not direct revenue for the town marine operation, but is paid to Conanicut Marine Services that leases space from the town with lease payments benefiting the town.

The fees approved were: resident moorings raised from $2.50 to $3.35 per foot; commercial and non-resident moorings from $5.60 to $6.70; West Ferry and Fort Getty out-hauls from $350-$400 to $420 for those with a fishing license and $480 for those without a license; and beach permits from $50 to $60, for boats with beams up to 11 feet and from $20 to $24 per foot for boats with beams over 11 feet.