The Scituate Select Board meeting on Tuesday, January 6, was dominated by conversations about the future of its working harbor, as the board heard a passionate, lengthy debate over the definition of a commercial fisherman and later implemented a multi-year plan to increase harbor fees.

A citizen petition brought by resident Patrick Heanue sought to amend the town bylaw to include for-hire charter boat operators in the definition of "commercial fisherman," which would grant them access to the town's commercial moorings. Heanue, who also serves as a state legislator, argued the change was necessary to protect local businesses from being priced out by private equity-owned marinas. "This article isn't about me today. It's about protecting opportunities for the next generation to engage in commercial fishing and the maritime economy in this harbor," Heanue stated. The proposal was met with respectful but firm opposition from the town's traditional fishing fleet. "I think anybody in here is going to basically walk down there with paperwork... when we blow a motor, we fix it because this is how we work," said fisherman Dave Haley, emphasizing the full-time commitment required. Jared, another fisherman, expressed concern that the change would create a loophole for boaters to bypass the long recreational mooring waitlist, stating, "He'll never get a list... because he's going to be behind, you know, Joe Schmo who just did all this stuff and now he's got some half-ass fishing boat." Board member Susan Harrison acknowledged the complexity of the issue, noting, "I feel like we're not doing enough for businesses in Scituate... I don't want to get to a place where someone asks you who do I call for a charter and you're like no one's here."

Later in the meeting, the board addressed harbor finances directly by instituting a five-year plan for raising waterway fees. The plan includes phased-in increases for moorings, slips, and the waterway user maintenance fee, along with a new "premium slip" charge for the most desirable locations. The changes are the first in years and are intended to bring Scituate's rates in line with neighboring towns and fund upcoming capital projects. Board member Karen Canfield presented the detailed plan, which followed extensive research. Another board member praised the staff's preparation, "I think the report is extremely diligent, very detailed, makes it real easy." The motion passed unanimously. A motion was made by Ms. Harrison to implement the following mooring, slip, waterways user maintenance fee, and transient fees for the next five years: [For moorings] increase fees for FY26 by $1 per foot to $9 per foot, for FY28 by $1 a foot to $10 per foot, and for FY30 by $1 per foot to $11 per foot. [For slips] increase slip fees for FY27 for Scituate residents by approximately 8% to $131 per foot and for non-residents by approximately 10% to $187 per foot; for FY29 for residents by approximately 8% to $141 and non-residents by approximately 10% to $206 per foot; and for FY31 for residents by 8% to $152 per foot and non-residents by approximately 10% to $227 per foot. [For premium slips] for FY26 increase slips fees by $10 per foot... and for FY27, increase those slip fees by $10 per foot for premium slips. [For waterway user maintenance fee] increased by $25 per vessel to $150 for all vessels in FY26, increased by $25 per vessel to $175 in FY28, and increase by $25 per vessel to $200 in FY30. For commercial transient vessels, increase the fee from $50 per night to $100 per night effective FY26. And for transients, to increase the rate at all town marinas from $3 per foot per night to $4 per foot per night effective FY26. Motion Passed 5-0.

The board also discussed plans for a comprehensive traffic study of the Five Corners area near the old Gates school, with Chair Andrew G. Whittaker emphasizing that this was just the beginning of the process. "This is literally the beginning stages. There's no decisions being made. This is us just talking about engaging with with an engineer," he said. The meeting also included the approval of new town license fee schedules, which had not been updated since 2016. A motion was made to move to approve the following increases for license fees: On-premise section 12 restaurant all-alcohol license increase to $2,000 renewal and $2,200 new; on-premise section 12 restaurant wine and malt license increase to $1,200 renewal, $1,400 new; on-premise 12 club all-alcohol license increase to $1,200; on-premise section 12 club VFW all-alcohol license increase to $600; off-premises section 15 retail package goods all-alcohol license increase to $2,000; on-premises section 15 retail package goods wine and malt license increase to $1,200; Farmer-brewery farmer-series pouring malt license to $1,000; Seasonal on-premise section 12 all-alcohol license to $1,500 renewal and $1,700 new; Seasonal on-premise section 12 wine and malt license $1,000 renewal and $1,200 new; First change in liquor license in calendar year increase to $100; Second change in liquor license in calendar year increase to $200; Third change in liquor license in calendar year increase to $300; Common victualer license increase to $60; Innholder lodging house bed and breakfast license increase to $300; Movie theater license $100; Bowling license $75; Class one, two, and three license increase to $125; Annual entertainment license increase to $100; Hawker peddler license increase to $150; Limousine taxi license increase to $25 per car. And to move to remove the cordial and liquors fee associated with wine and malt licenses. Motion Passed 5-0. The board also greenlit sewer connection agreements for two homes on Egypt Avenue and Seaside Road. A motion was made to move to approve the license agreements for 70 Egypt Avenue and 77 Seaside Road connection to town sewer line. Motion Passed 5-0.