Apparently, the lift was damaged in Irene. According to the PYC liason to the neighborhood the PYC sustained over 1.3 million dollars in damage during Irene. They are working to repair their docks and the lift. I suspect that the lift will not be operational in time for the start of their boating season. Also, the PYC neglected to tell the neighborhhod about all their "guests" that come down to spend the weekend baoting with their PYC friends. The guests do not have a boat slip and have to pay a fee in order to use the lift. So, it is my suspicion that someone advised the PYC that the boat ramp was public use and their guests could just put their boats in there versus paying the fee.

I remain about this situation as well. PYC can be challenging to deal with. There seem to be many people who speak on PYC's behalf, and we often hear many different stories regarding the same issue. It would be very useful to find out who exactly is authorized to speak for PYC, and what their enforcement and communication policies are regarding interactions with the community and use of neighboring facilities.

I think it's PYC's responsibility to fix their own equipment in a timely fashion so as to not put a burden on the neighborhood, the Sound School, and others. The Sound School boat ramp is not a public ramp, the PYC guests and others can use the public ramp in West Haven, etc.

The Sound School boat ramp was designed and maintained for the use of the school's programs. As a courtesy to our neighbors we have allowed access to those in the immediate City Point neighborhood to access the water. This has been seldom used by our neighbors and usually entails a kayak or two and is preceded by a request. We have not negotiated any particular agreement with PYC for the use of the ramp. We are open to a discussion between The Sound School, the members of the neighborhood and PYC regarding the use of the ramp when not in use by the school. It is our intent to once again install a chain on the ramp until such time as all parties come to an agreement.

Steven Pynn, Principal

The Sound School boat ramp was designed and maintained for the use of the school's programs. As a courtesy to our neighbors we have allowed access to those in the immediate City Point neighborhood to access the water. This has been seldom used by our neighbors and usually entails a kayak or two and is preceded by a request. We have not negotiated any particular agreement with PYC for the use of the ramp. We are open to a discussion between The Sound School, the members of the neighborhood and PYC regarding the use of the ramp when not in use by the school. It is our intent to once again install a chain on the ramp until such time as all parties come to an agreement.

Steven Pynn, Principal

Mr. Pynn's comment is very helpful. I was at a meeting late in the Fall with PYC reps and was told quite directly that PYC had indeed negotiated an agreement with Sound School. This raises the concern about PYC reliability and accountability. If the neighbourhood liaison is mis-informed imagine what club members (and their guests!) must believe. Thank you Mr. Pynn for the chain. For what it's worth, as a resident I personally am not opposed to PYC using the ramp, perhaps with the condition that only with a designated PYC member to monitor the launchings and boats coming out?

If you lived on South Water Street and were exposed to the inappropriate sophmoric drunken behavior that the residents of this part of the neighborhood had to endure last summer compliments of the PYC and their guests using the ramp... I do not think you would be agreeable to the PYC using the ramp. One resident had their car hit and essentially totaled by a PYC guest trying to take their large boat out of the water; when trying to navigate the narrow road and parked cars they failed to avoid the front end of the car tearing its front bumper completely off. Not to mention the number of times they blocked the road completely for 10-30 minutes because their boat/trailer and truck could barely navigate the narrow ramp; then they used the PRIVATE driveways of people living directly across the ramp to assist them with navigating the boat/trailer up & down the ramp. These residents did not appreciate it much! When they confronted the people doing this...they were sworn at and treated to hostility no one should have to tolerate - espcially when the people doing the cussing were clearly in the wrong.

The Sound School pays for the up keep of that ramp (mine and your tax dollars). I do not think it appropriate that I indiretcly pay for repairs to this ramp due to the abuse/damage from the PYC. The residents of South Water Street that live in close proximity to the ramp do not want to have to pay for the PYC abuse again with loss of the peace and serenity that attracted most of us to this neighborhood. Frankly, the PYC has the money and equipment to put their large water crafts in elsewhere. Bottomline, when the PYC originally wanted to move into the area they came in with an obnoxious plan that had no regard for the history or architectural integrity of the neighborhood. When they found out that we would oppose them they changed their plan and "promised" to become good neighbors. I have yet to see the PYC make good on that promise.

Also, I was at that meeting late in the fall and I do not recall that we were not told that they had negotiated an agreement directly. When asked for details of who made the agreement the rep from PYC could not provide names, dates, or details. I have this in the minutes I took at that meeting. Rather, I recall it was ambiguous and we were told that the PYC assumed a right to access the ramp because of the "shared utilities and parking lot" with the sound school & their profession it was a public ramp. The profession of an agreement emerged after the DEEP confirmed it was not a public boat ramp.

As Mr Pynn clealry states, the boat ramp use is for the neighbors (meaning residents of City Point) as a courtesy and by request. It is not meant to be used by a commercial/club entity on a regular basis (such as the PYC). These people are not residents of City Point. They have shown a blatent disregard for the neighborhood with their abuse/manipulation of various ordinances (especially noise and what could be construed as lude behavior - exposing one's self to urinate on a tree in clear view of people directly across from the ramp).

Last summer South Water Street residents were regularly woken up late night by drunken boaters cussing at each other as they try to pull their boat out of the water and up the ramp in the dark. Since this is not a public ramp the New Haven Police indicated that there was little they could do about this...because when they arrived the PYC would tell the police they had an agreement to use it. The police indicated it would be up to the Sound School to file a complaint. Interesting several times when the officers arrived they seemd to "know" the people and instead of giving them a filed sobriety test they told them to keep it down and get on their way!

The Chain is up - Thank Principal Pynn.

However, I watched this past weekend as one person unscrewed the bolt holding the chain to one of the posts....in went the 25 foot plus boat. The person then put the screw back in to make it look like the chain was in place. Later, when it was time to take the boat out the person did the exact same thing. I watched to see where the person placed their trailer...and guess what? They parked it in the PYC fenced in lot. Now is this the behavior of a person that is going to be respectful and honest in their interactions with the residents of the neighborhood? Doubtful. A chain clearly indicated the ramp was not to be used....but apparently that did not seem to apply to this PYC boater and his crew.

This issue needs to be resolved. A meeting is in the planning process to bring the various parties to the table. The issue of the PYC and the boat ramp will be addressed once and for all.

Hi all,

I am the New Haven reporter at the New Haven Register. I would be happy to look into this and write a story about it. Perhaps something would come as a result of that. To write a story I would like to talk to some of you who have concerns about this. If you would like to voice your opinion about this, please contact me at asanders@nhregister.com and/ or call me at 203-789-5714.

You can also find me on Facebook: Alexandra Sanders (New Haven Register) and Twitter: @asanders88

Thank you and best of luck with this issue.

Best,
Alexandra

FYI --There will be a meeting this Monday, June 11th at 5:30 at the Sound School Library (2nd floor of the newer building located at the end of Sea St). City Point residents will meet with Principal Pynn to address the boat ramp problems.

Sound School has put chain with lock on the ramp.

Karen thank you for posting about the chain. I did not think to post it on here. After several meetings with sound School and Schooner staff the chain went up. the chain was always suppose to be in place. However, over the years (before the PYC moved in) there was no need to be so villigant with keeping the chain up. Due to the neighborhood concern and the impact that the overuse was having on the ramp the chain went back up at the end of June. Since the chain was in place all summer we very few problems at the boat ramp. There were only 3 occassions where there were issues. Unofrtunately, this was when staff forgot to put the chain back in place after the summer day campers had left for the day. As soon as people or guests from PYC saw the chain down...they tried to put their ski doos and other smaller water craft in via the ramp. This was quickly corrected with a phonecall to Adminstration for Schooner and/or the Sound School. Hopefully, the chain will continue to be the remedy to this issue.