DOT to Hold Hearings on Connecticut Ferries

The Department of Transportation will hold two public hearings later this month to gather comment from Connecticut residents on the Rocky Hill-Glastonbury and Chester-Hadlyme ferries.

The DOT hearings will be at the Rocky Hill Town Hall, at 761 Old Main St., on Aug. 22 and at the Chester Meeting House, at 4 Liberty St., on Aug. 25.  Both meetings are from 6-8 p.m.

There will be a brief ­­­presentation followed by public comment. The public will be allowed to “make brief statements, which may include ideas and thoughts that may assist the department regarding strategies for ferry service and operation," according to DOT release. 

On July 15, Gov. Dannel P. Malloy submitted a plan to close the $1.6 billion gap in his two-year budget if an agreement couldn’t be reached with the unions. Part of that plan included eliminating the ferry services and laying off all eight ferry employees. Union negations are still ongoing.

In a close vote Monday, the Rocky Hill Town Council approved a motion, which stated, “If the ferry service is discontinued, the town attorney is authorized to take any necessary legal action to prevent the discontinuation of the ferry.”

Last week, the Rocky Hill Town Council voted to intervene in the lawsuit by the Town of Lyme and First Selectman Ralph Eno against the DOT and the state comptroller to stop the closure of the Hadlyme-Chester Ferry.  However, the town of Rocky Hill was never allowed to intervene and Judge Henry Cohn dismissed the lawsuit.