By: Sylene Argent, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter, Essex Free Press

An upgraded electrical user fee of $700 will be added to the 2027 Fees and Charges By-Law, Council for the Town of Essex decided during the July 20 meeting.

This will cover the cost to have a certified electrician add the upgrade for boaters who require more electricity than the Town offers as its level of service.

Staff recommended the user fee as part of the Fees and Charges By-Law for upgraded electrical use. Each dock, when they were reconstructed, was provided with 30amp service on the actual docks. Newer boats have upgraded electrical, some using two 30amp plugs, while others have 50amp circuits. That way, if boaters require more than the level of service the Town provides, that can be provided for with a fee.

The Town will also negotiate the next lease with the DFO for the harbour next year, and will try to reduce the portion of revenue forwarded to the federal government as part of the agreement.

This decision was presented in a report the Community Services Department has been working on for the past few months. Earlier this spring, an informal open house was hosted in part to speak with residents and harbour users about concerns down at the Colchester Harbour. Then, Town Council directed administration to investigate the list of concerns.

The Colchester Harbour opens on an annual basis on May 1st and closes on Thanksgiving Monday each year. 89 transient, monthly, and seasonal slips are available for watercrafts up to 45ft long. The Town of Essex does not own the harbour, but operates it as part of a lease agreement with the Federal Department of Fisheries and Oceans (DFO).

Jake Morassut, Director of Community Services/Deputy CAO, highlighted some of the key components included in the 22-page report he prepared on the matter.

As part of its lease, the Town pays 20% of all revenue to the federal government. For instance, that was nearly $28,000 in 2024. The Town has received recent federal funding to support harbour operations, such as dredging. In 2025, that was just over $35,000, however, in 2024 no funds were received.

On an annual basis, the harbour operates at a loss, Morassut explained. For instance, in 2025 the harbour’s operating loss was $247,470.36. That was a result of revenues being just over $237,000, while expenses were just above $484,000.

In addition, the Town of Essex pours funding into the Colchester Harbour for capital projects. Since 2015, that included funding projects from dock, roof, and stair replacements, to adding an accessible ramp and upgrading the washrooms, totalling over $1.5m.

After this, Council approved the motion to review the harbour service levels earlier this spring, and administration met with boaters to discuss concerns. Many of those concerns were addressed, and a formal reporting process for issues was implemented. Communication also took place with staff on expectations, Morassut said.

One of the biggest things discovered was that it seemed there was miscommunication on what the expectations were. It was also discovered that the reporting structure, when there was a complaint or concern brought forward, wasn’t always making it to the management staff. As a result, they are really pushing for the Report a Problem portal to be used to forward concerns for the area. Signage has been placed at the harbour to reinforce that communication tool.

Other actions administration has taken in response to harbour concerns include reiterating emergency response procedures with log books in place to track incidents that occur, additional dock checks added to daily schedules, staff monitoring docks for slippery areas – with processes in place to either re-tape the area or scrub as necessary, adding signage to show designated fishing areas, and staff now carrying nets to gather garbage in the harbour water.

In terms of addressing the concern brought forward about lighting and finding a way to mitigate fishflies, administration met with a lighting architect and received recommendations to ensure that the harbour is safe with anticipated reduction in fish fry activity. That will be considered in future budgets.

This would add lights all the way around the perimeter of the pier, and change the lights coming down from the ramp. The recommended action would be over $300,000.

Administration has not been shutting down the lighting at the pier for safety reasons. Changing the actual colour of the lighting was not recommended by the lighting architect, Morassut noted.

In addressing some of the other concerns brought forward, administration received quotes on phragmites removal at $20,000. Replacing the pump-out station would cost somewhere between $20,000 and $30,000.

He also explained that some of the boaters wondered why the Town has to name them as an additional insured party. The primary reason is to ensure the Town is named in the event there is a situation. The Town is also made aware if they cancel their insurance through a 30-day notice.

Many concerns also surrounded parking. As a result, administration will park at the upper-level lots, and they will add painted markings in the no-parking area. Administration has also monitored the parking lot at the nearby Colchester Schoolhouse. It has not been full even on the Derby weekend. A shuttle service could be something considered in the future, with some more parameters from Council.

One of the suggestions heard from boaters was opening the harbour earlier in the season to capture ramp fees from those using the facilities before the official opening. Morassut estimated that could cost approximately $3,900 per week.

The option administration would recommend is having a lockbox where ramp users could place the ramp fee. A security camera monitors the area. That was recommended over investing what could cost $40,000 to implement gate access, which would act like a tollgate.

Councillor Jason Matyi, who originally made the motion to have staff look into these concerns, would like to see the pump-out station put into the 2027 Budget for consideration, and agreed with the added user fee for the electrical upgrades. He said that is a great model for all recreational services.

Deputy Mayor Rob Shepley believes the lockbox is a good idea moving forward to capture ramp fees before the official start of the season. He also believed the waste pump-out station should go to budget for discussion. He did raise the question about guaranteeing that the boater who pays that upgraded electrical fee can remain in that slip the next year. Morassut noted they would want to ensure consistency for that boater. If they needed to be relocated at the Town’s direction, the Town would work with that individual to ensure the plugs are relocated.

In answering Shepley’s question about how the Colchester Harbour compares in terms of fees to comparators, Morassut noted it is competitive. It is not sold out. He warned raising fees too aggressively may lead to boaters not coming back. The fees have been raised the past few years slightly, due to the minimum wage raising and the need for security.

Councillor Kim Verbeek also liked the lockbox option and the fee for upgraded electrical.

Councillor Katie McGuire-Blais asked if the fee for the hydro upgrade was a one-time cost; Morassut said it would be. She also asked what happens if a boater pays for the upgrade, then decides in the future to no longer use the Colchester Harbour. What is the fee to the next person in that slip that now has access to the upgraded electrical? Morassut noted because the infrastructure was there, the Town would not look to increase the fee, as overhead cost would be paid for.

She asked if that slip would be looked at as more lucrative, as it would now have the electrical upgrade? She wondered if the Town would charge additional for it.

Councillor Joe Garon recommended charging more for the electrical upgrade. Morassut noted the Town does charge an additional fee already for air conditioners.

Mayor Sherry Bondy recommended writing the DFO, asking that the Town be able to keep its revenue for the Harbour. Morassut noted that could be done. The lease is up in 2027, and would need to be renewed. Reducing the revenue the Town provides could be used to negotiate.

She also hopes the deck boxes will come out in the fall.

This report was good, Bondy noted. She would like to see more details shared during budget time.