Greenwich Boat Mooring Seizure Leads to Police Review

The seizure of a boat mooring buoy by Greenwich's harbormaster has prompted a Greenwich Police review of the incident.

The June 1 incident involves the seizure of a boat mooring buoy by Greenwich Harbormaster Ian MacMillan that was placed in navigable waters off Greenwich's coastline. The buoy is reportedly owned by retired Greenwich Police Officer Peter Silbereisen, who worked in the department's marine division before he retired in 2012.

First Selectman Peter Tesei, who also is the town's police commissioner, told Greenwich Patch, that the incident involved the placement of a buoy that was placed in waters off Windrose Way, in Indian Harbor. A private association of Windrose Way residents with boat moorings in the harbor hired a private marine contractor to dredge the area for navigability and found the boat mooring buoy impeded access, Tesei said.

"There was some contention from some residents there," Tesei said. "It’s defining where the public waters run up against the private owners' water access." Tesei said that seizing the mooring buoy also involved the apparent nonpayment of mooring fees to the town. He confirmed the mooring was owned by Silbereisen, who could not be contacted for comment, and was seized by MacMillan.

Tesei said MacMillan "assumed it was correct (to seize the buoy) ... that it should be kept until he paid the dues (fees)." Apparently, Silbereisen reported the mooring as stolen on June 1 and the review followed. 

In an e-mail Monday evening, MacMillan said, "I have been instructed by the police that this is an internal police matter and that if contacted by your paper I was to offer no comment." He sent a copy of his reply to Lt. John Brown, commander of the department's marine division, who could not be reached for comment. Marine Division Sgt. David Nemecek referred questions to Police Chief Jame Heavey who did not return a message seeking comment Monday afternoon.

Tesei said that MacMillan may be partially at fault in the dispute. "He knows  what his duties are. We have a process ... the long and short of this whole thing, there will be a formalized process in terms of notification, removal and return to appropriate owner (of mooring buoys) and that will be clearly stipulated."

Tesei also said that the issue continues to highlight the need for the town to establish a harbor management commission—which would bring management of the town's harbors under town jurisdiction with a harbormaster who reports to the town. Under the current arrangement, Greenwich's harbormaster is appointed by the governor and reports to the state. currently, the town is exploring how to establish a harbor management commission to oversee the management of local waters instead of having a state-appointed harbormaster.

Tesei added, "Right now, to my knowledge, the mooring issue is being resolved. It (the  mooring buoy) was returned…I’m doing other things. No other chief elected official in the state is dealing with this. These issues are like moderating a school-yard spat."