On The Waterfront: Greenwich Moves a Step Closer To Having A Harbor Commission

The Town of Greenwich has moved a step closer to establishing a Harbor Commission which will be charged with developing a management plan for Greenwich's much-valued waterfront.

At a special meeting Thursday afternoon, the Board of Selectmen approved appointments to the seven-member commission as well as two alternates — who must now pass muster with the Representative Town Meeting who are expected to vote on the nominations at its Jan. 21 meeting. 

The nominees — chosen after the selectmen interviewed 19 candidates — all have interests and experience in boating, environmental issues or maritime law. 

All but two members are Republicans.

Selectman Dave Theis said the nominees will bring a fresh, more civil approach to dealing with issues regarding the Greenwich waterfront — a move from the fractured and strained relationships that were apparent among the members of the Harbor Management Advisory Commission which developed the blueprint for the Harbor Commission that was adopted by the RTM on Sept. 16.
  

Nominated for four-year terms that will expire March 31, 2018, were:

• Stephen Kinner, a United States Coast Guard veteran who retired after 20 years of active duty, who teaches technology at Eastern Middle School. (Unaffiliated)
• Frank Mazza, a former Selectman and member of the Board of Estimate and Taxation, who has been boating for more than 70 years. (Democrat)
• Michael van Oss, owner of PJR Mechanical Services in New Rochelle, NY, who has been boating since childhood and docks his boat at the town-owned Grass Island Marina. (Republican)

Nominated for three-year terms, expiring March 31, 2017:

• Bruce Angiolillo, an attorney who is a frequent visitor to Greenwich Point Park and lives on the Old Greenwich waterfront and is a member of the Rocky Point Club. (Republican)
• Peter Quigley, an outgoing RTM member from District 7, who has been outspoken on land use and development and a proponent for improving the town's storm water runoff infrastructure. (Republican)

Nominated for two-year terms expiring March 31, 2016:

• James Bonney, a Greenwich Police Department lieutenant, who has a master captain's boat license to pilot 100-ton vessels and until earlier this year was the supervising officer of the Greenwich Marine Police division. He too is an outgoing RTM member from District 4. (Republican)
• Lile Gibbons, former six-term state representative whose district covered the Greenwich shoreline. (Republican)

Nominated to two-year terms as alternate members were:

• Bernard Armstrong, a retired IBM executive, who is a member of the Riverside Yacht Club and has been a Greenwich shellfish warden for five years.
• Gary Silberberg, who was chairman of the Harbor Management Commission and is a member of the Greenwich Conservation Commission.