By MARK TODD - Staff Writer - mtodd@starbeacon.com
CONNEAUT — Conneaut Port Authority members will try to placate dock-holders angry that their clubhouse soon will become home to a new restaurant, said Denver Spieldenner, Port Authority chairman.
“We’ll deal with it,” Spieldenner said recently.
Last week, City Council members heard from two dock-holders who protested the authority’s plan to lease the building to Albert Mucci and Mike Pignotti, two local restaurant owners. The pair plans to open a new eatery in the spot next month.
The boaters said they felt their lease for dock space entitles them to a clubhouse, and threatened to boycott the new business.
Spieldenner said he was surprised by comments made at the council meeting.
“We had sat down with them before,” he said. “I thought we had a gentlemen’s agreement with them. I thought we had the issue ironed out with them. We’ll sit down again and work it out. They are our customers.”
Spieldenner was unsure if meeting space is guaranteed in the boaters’ leases.
“We’ve got to dig into that,” he said. “We’ll do what’s right.”
If dock-holders insist on a clubhouse, one option may be the picnic pavilion a few steps from the building. A few weeks ago, the Port Authority discussed transforming the open-air pavilion into an enclosed building but delayed a vote pending more study.
“We’ll look at developing another space for them,” Spieldenner said.
The port panel believes the restaurant will bring visitors to the lakefront. Residents have called in support of the plan, and so have boaters who rent berths, Spieldenner said.
“We honestly feel the restaurant will be helpful in drawing tourists (to Conneaut),” he said.
