Wolfeboro Select Board debates limiting commercial activity, schedules and fees at town docks

At a May 8 work session, the Wolfeboro Board of Selectmen discussed proposed changes to the town docks ordinance, including restricting commercial use on Docks A through G, requiring commercial vessels to provide fixed schedules, reserving an ADA pickup/drop-off slip and increasing dock fees.

The discussion drew from long-running tensions between residents, local businesses and commercial vessel operators over how the town's docks are used and how revenue is collected. Select Board members and residents debated whether to limit commercial operations to long-standing vessels such as the Mount Washington and the Millie B, require schedules from charter operators, or remove commercial permits entirely.

Board members described recurring conflicts in which charter and rental operators use recreational slips, creating a “scrum” for short-term passenger pickup and drop-off. One selectman proposed designating Docks A–G for noncommercial use (a proposal described in the meeting as taking effect “01/01/1926”…