Select Board November 6 Meeting Recap: Board Votes to Honor Lifetime Senior Shellfish Permits

Planning Grant Award. Peter Lombardi, Town Manager, explained that the Town was recently awarded $65,000 in state grant funding through the state’s One Stop program. This funding will be used to analyze the Town’s existing zoning bylaws and prepare a report that identifies impediments to, and opportunities for, multi-unit and mixed-use residential housing. “The Town will ask for resident input as we work through this initiative,” said Mr. Lombardi. The report is expected to include recommendations for making changes to the Town’s zoning bylaws. “Potential changes to land use policies could have a positive impact on the housing crisis”, Mr. Lombardi explained.

Senior Shellfish Licenses. The Select Board then reviewed its existing policy on lifetime senior shellfish license fees. Mr. Lombardi explained that the Natural Resources Department has a very robust stocking program, which includes littlenecks at Ellis Landing, quahogs at Saints Landing, and oysters at Mants Landing. Approximately 17 years ago, the Town instituted a one-time $5 fee for residents over the age of 70 to purchase a lifetime senior shellfish permit. Last winter, the Board voted to charge $15/year for senior shellfish permits going forward, while allowing those who had already purchased a senior shellfish permit to continue for one more year at no cost. This approach helped the Town to collect data about the number of residents who currently hold these lifetime permits. 

Mr. Lombardi explained that last year’s recommended fee changes were based on the increased cost of materials and popularity of these programs over the past several years, with an overall goal of ensuring that the revenues from fees associated with these programs covered the expenses of delivering them. With 250+ lifetime permits issued to seniors this year, Mr. Lombardi added that if the Select Board decided to exempt lifetime senior shellfish permit holders who purchased their permits before January 2023 from the annual $15 fee going forward, the Town would collect approximately $4,000 less a year in shellfish permit revenues to help offset the costs of the program.  The Town expects to collect approximately $30,000 a year in shellfish fees.

The Board heard public comment from several residents who expressed their view that senior shellfish permits purchased before the new fee schedule was adopted last winter should maintain their “lifetime” status. The Select Board unanimously voted to honor senior shellfish licenses purchased before January 2023, permanently exempting these residents from annual permit fees.

Public Safety. Finally, the Select Board heard presentations from the Public Safety Leadership Team, which is comprised of Department Heads from Fire, Police, Public Works, Water, and Maintenance. This was the first of a quarterly series of staff presentations aimed at informing the Select Board and residents about key updates from all Town departments.