For complete repairs to take place at the pier at Fisherman’s Beach, additional funding is needed.

While none of the repairs are “real critical,” according to Select Board Member Danielle Leonard, upgrading the pier is considered a key step in ensuring the historic Swampscott Fish House can continue to operate at its current location. The new pier project aims to replace existing structures to make the pier more resilient to rising sea levels.

Plans to build a new pier, which was previously estimated at upward of $10 million, were discussed in 2024, but many local fishermen and residents voiced concerns that such a large-scale project was not a top priority.

“A lot of it is stuff that we have a little bit of time…It’s not going to collapse,” Leonard said. “So much time went into this new pier idea that we sort of forgot about the regular maintenance that needed to be done. This $150,000 or $140,000 is really things the past couple of years that were needed and have been on the backburner.”

The current repair work includes decking and fuel line fixes as well as bracing for berths.

Last year, Town Meeting allocated $150,000 for pier improvements, according to Marzie Galazka, the community and economic development director. Galazka, who also staffs the Harbor and Waterfront Advisory Committee, presented updates on the repairs to the Select Board on Wednesday.

Smith Marine conducted a condition analysis of the pier last year, Galazka said. The Harbor and Waterfront Advisory Committee worked with Galazka and Department of Public Works Director Gino Cresta on the project’s bid process.

“Unfortunately, the original estimate was $150,000 and we had to use $10,000 to make improvements to the camera repairs, and that was done by facilities, so we had $140,000 remaining,” Galazka said.

C. White Marine was the only bidder, and the Danvers-based construction company submitted a proposal of $195,750.

“We had a shortage of approximately $60,000,” Galazka said, adding that Cresta has been in contact with C. White Marine to see if the scope of work can be narrowed to address the most pressing repairs during the winter months off-season.

The discussion is ongoing, and Galazka said the town hopes to hear from C. White Marine by the end of the week about whether an agreement can be reached.

Town Administrator Nick Connors noted that reducing the project’s scope does not mean the other repairs will be abandoned. Cresta is already considering them for future fiscal year’s capital plans.

The Fish House celebrated its 40th anniversary of being listed on the National Register of Historic Places in May. It remains the oldest active fish house in the country, but climate change poses an increasing threat to both the building and the pier.

“The Fish House itself is often overlooked with what that place needs,” Leonard said. “That whole area, from a resiliency perspective, really needs to be considered.”

Select Board Chair Katie Phelan noted that several town groups have said the pier could be underwater “in the not distant future.”

“It will face potential storm surges in the next ten years that could potentially demolish it or put it in such disrepair that we’re looking toward a new pier anyways,” Phelan said. “We need a more realistic, a phased approach or even multiple options related to the pier…I think a more collaborative conversation is in process.”

Select Board Vice Chair Doug Thompson said that Kleinfelder is currently conducting a survey of the entire shoreline and related resilience efforts.

“In my mind, the new pier had to be paused because we need to understand the entire solution for the Fish House, for the pier, for the entire coast there, and the pier needs to fit into that,” Thompson said. 

Galazka added that more discussions can take place between the Harbor and Waterfront Advisory Committee along with the Climate Action and Resilience Committee. 

“The Fisherman’s Alliance was really not supportive of the new pier project but at the same time ‘let’s figure out how do we address the rising sea levels and also the needs of the fishing community as well as the recreational fishermen who use the pier right now,’” Galazka said.