The Board of Finance along with First Selectman Dan Steward believe that either neighboring towns or the Coast Guard should reimburse Waterford for any future use of town equipment during the cruise ship arrivals in New London.
Spurred on by Democratic Board of Finance member George Peteros, town leaders hope to clarify the difference between an emergency call and other types of assistance, such as escorting the massive cruise ships that visit New London Harbor in the warm weather months.
“The law we have was developed 15 years ago,” Steward said. “We need to find out the reimbursement for non-emergency situations.”
Peteros noted that Goshen Fire Company’s patrol boat was assisting the Coast Guard as it monitored the 1,020-foot-long Explorer of the Seas’ navigation of the mouth of the Thames River.
In order to dock at the Admiral Harold M. Shear State Pier, the ship must turn around just north of Ledge Light, near Fort Trumbull State Park, and navigate the remainder of its journey in reverse.
The Coast Guard asks neighboring towns’ vessels for assistance in patrolling the river to ensure the cruise ship makes the turn safely.
“It’s a big turn,” said Neil Wiseman, chief of the Goshen Fire Company. “It takes up almost the entire river.”
Wiseman said the Coast Guard asks if the Waterford boats can lend a hand only with the Explorer of the Seas; Waterford does not provide assistance for visits by the smaller cruise ships.
“Once the ship makes its turn, then we go back to Waterford,” he said.
Wiseman said the fire company patrols the river in a spirit of “interagency cooperation.”
“Plus, I’m able to use the cruise ship visits as an opportunity to train firefighters and work with the boat,” he said. “We don’t use it for fishing or waterskiing.”
Wiseman added the fire company has never asked the Coast Guard for payment. Peteros criticized the use of the Goshen patrol boat during the visits saying that Waterford is “always on the giving end” with regard to mutual aid.
Wiseman accused Peteros of
attempting to “handcuff” the fire company.
“The Waterford Police Department is [on the Thames] when the ship arrives,” he said, “and with them you are paying for fuel and the officers; we are volunteers.”
Peteros said the first selectman should have the discretionary authority to determine the difference between a non-emergency and emergency call.
Steward said the town is still bound by statewide mutual aid agreements enacted in the shadow of the 2001 terrorist attacks. He also said mutual aid among local fire companies and departments has worked well.
“If we call, New London and East Lyme are coming,” he said. “If they call, we are coming.”
Steward praised the work of the New London Fire Department in assisting Waterford’s firefighters in the recent blaze at the former Seaside property.
“We’re not always on the giving end,” he said.
In other news, the town announced that the Representative Town Meeting will deliberate the town’s $70.5 million budget May 5 to 7, at town hall at 7 p.m.