Boating Season is Coming: What to Know about the ADA Project at Byram Marina  

With Greenwich’s boating season less than a month away a question arose at the March 12 Board of Selectmen meeting about the ADA project at Byram Marina.

Selectwoman Rachel Khanna reported having attended the recent Hot Chocolate in the Park event hosted by the Friends of Byram Park where marina work has taken place over the winter.

The Marina has approximately 170 slips, the largest of which can accommodate vessels with a length overall of up to 26’ and beams up to 8.5’. There is a landing dock with fresh water and electricity, and time limits are posted and enforced.

Khanna said Parks & Recreation Asst Director Dan Carlsen had explained the work was underway to make the dock ADA compliant and was anticipated to completed prior to the start of boating season, which begins on April 15.

Khanna asked the Board of Selectmen to confirm whether the work would indeed be completed in time for boating season.

First Selectman Camillo said, “I will get a definite date on when they’re scheduled to be done with that.”

“That was a complaint that was filed that pre-dated us – that it was out of compliance,” Camillo explained. “Everybody has to do that. That’s one of the things we try to drive home to people when we’re doing projects. They have to be ADA complaint. We try to also be inclusive with it. That is very important.”

The marina ADA project went through the town’s capital improvements process and Request For Bid #7891 was issued in early January 2025 with a response deadline of February 13, 2025. Addendum 2  of the RFB clarified questions about liquidated damages related to project’s substantial completion dates in March 2026.

The vendor is Blakeslee Arpaia Chapman Inc.

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Back on Nov 13, 2018 a complaint (case 1920213) to the Connecticut Commission on Human Rights and Opportunities (CHRO) southwest region alleged illegal discriminatory practice by the Town of Greenwich.

The complaint was from Greenwich resident Paul Cappiali Senior who wrote in his complaint he had a disability permit from the state and sought an ADA compliant boat slip for his 26 foot boat and was told by the Boating and Marinas office that there were no accommodations available.

In the complaint, he writes, “I purchased a boat from my son, Paul Cappiali Jr. on or about July 2018.”

He said in the complaint that he asked for an ADA compliant boat slip for his 26 ft boat and was told by the town Marina Division there were none and that his disability permit was for a car. Cappiali Senior described being handed a form for the Byram Marina to be filled out, but the form had no place to indicate a disability.

The complaint requested the CHRO conduct an investigation.

Mr. Cappiali Senior also wrote to then commissioner of Human Services Alan Barry summarizing his interactions with the staff in the Boating and Marinas office and noted, “I have designated my son, Paul A. Cappiali Jr. as my ‘designee’ for this inquiry/complaint.”

Cappiali Senior said in the complaint and letter to then commissioner of human services/ADA coordinator, Mr. Barry that he recently purchased the 26 foot boat from his son and described his interaction with staff at the boating and marinas office, saying staff didn’t know about accommodations for disabled citizens.

Mr. Barry replied on Aug 6, 2018 that as a new boat owner, when his name reached the top of the wait list, his disability would be accommodated. “You have my assurance,” Mr. Barry wrote.

After their investigation, on April 27, 2020 the CHRO issued a conclusion of “no reasonable cause for believing that a discriminatory practice has been or is being committed as alleged in the complaint.”

Today Paul Cappiali Junior is Greenwich’s harbor master. He did not respond to a request for comment.

In January 2023, the US Dept of Justice District of Connecticut announced that the Town of Greenwich had agreed to increase accessibility at the Byram Marina to comply with the Americans with Disabilities Act.   

Without naming the complainant, then Dept of Justice U.S. Attorney Vanessa for Connecticut Avery said in a release, “Among the most important protections provided by the Americans with Disabilities Act are those ensuring individuals with disabilities have access to public services, including recreational activities such as boating.”

“Our Office is committed to enforcing the ADA, which requires public entities, including municipalities, to provide access to individuals with disabilities. We greatly appreciate the willingness of the Town of Greenwich and its leaders to work with our office collaboratively to increase the accessibility and usability of Greenwich’s facilities.”