Gov. Lamont has proposed legislation to abolish the independent Connecticut Port Authority and to replace it with a non-independent Connecticut Maritime Authority enfolded into the Connecticut Airport Authority. This seems misguided to me.

Connecticut is a maritime state and as such, it seems self-evident that the state should have an independent maritime authority dedicated to the stewardship and enhancement of this heritage. To date, CPA has accomplished much to include: new management; successful construction and enhancement of the State Pier in New London, the only such facility in the nation; encouragement of the state’s three deep water ports to further evolve as general cargo ports and to improve rail access to them; successful Small Harbor Improvement Project Program (SHIPP) which to date has distributed some $5.5 million, with more in the pipeline; the CPA also supports the economically significant recreational boating community, as well as the viability of the state’s commercial fishing industry; and the continuation of education outreach programs throughout the community.

It seems to me that the question becomes, had the CPA in its present form not existed, would any of these accomplishments been achieved? Would they have been accomplished as a division of an airport authority with a board of directors as attentive to maritime issues as the CPA’s board of directors is? As the old saying goes, “If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it.”

Gaffney Feskoe

Woodbury

Editor’s note: The writer is a member of the Connecticut Port Authority board of directors.