Select Board directs Marine Advisory Committee to craft marina commercial-use policy and fee schedule

The Wellfleet Select Board on July 21 moved to direct the Marine Advisory Committee, the harbor master and town administration to develop and recommend a policy and fee schedule for commercial use of town property at the marina, inclusive of preexisting structures, new structures and commercial signage, and to return by Oct. 31 with a recommendation for the Select Board’s consideration.

The motion grew out of a long discussion about fairness, procurement and parking impacts. Board members said they want a consistent process for commercial activity on marina property that preserves access, captures appropriate revenue for public assets and addresses concerns about long-term leases versus short-term licenses. One member said preexisting uses should be permitted to continue but that the town should set a fee schedule and consider competitive processes for new or expanded uses.

The board asked administration and the harbor master to provide options showing how a license, revocable license or lease would operate, to identify legal constraints and town-meeting approval thresholds, and to propose a timeline and draft fee schedule for the committee to review. The board set Oct. 31 as the date for the Marine Advisory Committee recommendation to return to the Select Board.