Wolfeboro selectmen remove flagman rule, limit Mass Landing commercial activity and set temporary dock permits

The Wolfeboro Board of Selectmen on May 8 voted to remove a flagman requirement from the town’s docks and wharves ordinance and adopted a set of temporary restrictions and permits intended to reduce congestion at the town docks while staff prepares a cost-and-permit plan.

The board approved a motion to recommend eliminating section 36-5, paragraph O, item 5 of the town docks and wharves ordinance — a sentence that the motion quoted as requiring “a flagman wearing a fluorescent vest shall be in attendance to direct traffic.” Selectmen said the change will go to a public hearing with the rest of the revised ordinance language.

The action came as the board debated multiple related proposals: whether to increase the barge landing fee (currently $3,000), whether to reserve some docks for municipal use and handicapped access, where to allow commercial loading at Mass Landing, and how to control the number of commercial landing permits at the commercial dock.

Why it matters: The decisions affect who can load and unload at public landings, how the town recovers costs to maintain docks and ramps, and how downtown congestion and safety at narrow dock walkways will be managed. Several longtime operators and town residents urged the board to preserve legacy operations — particularly the mail-boat service — while others pushed for tighter limits or a capped permit system for charter and commercial boats.

Most important actions and debate

Elimination of flagman requirement: Selectmen voted to remove the line in the ordinance that said a flagman in a fluorescent vest must be present to direct traffic at Libby Dock. The motion was presented as a narrow change to paragraph O, item 5 of ordinance 36-5; the board moved the revised wording to a public hearing.

Mass Landing commercial activity limited to parking lot use: The board adopted a recommendation to treat commercial activity at Mass Landing as limited to loading and staging that uses the parking lot (for example dumpsters and material staging) rather than unrestricted use of the dock itself. The draft language discussed by the board limits allowed dates for such activity to the period from ice-out until the third Friday in May and from the third Monday in October until Dec. 1; it would require advance notice and photos of any dumpster placement.

Temporary allocation of pickup/drop-off permits at the commercial dock: To address congestion at the town’s commercial pickup/drop-off location, the board approved a temporary arrangement for the 2026 season that allows a limited set of existing commercial operators to continue using the commercial pickup/drop-off area. The selectmen identified a small set of incumbents (discussed in the meeting as Winnie Adventures, Wake Winnie, a new charter operator labeled CW Boat Charters, and the town mail boat) and authorized staff to formalize short-term permits for the coming season while the board develops a permanent permit system.

Legacy vessels and exemptions: The board separately voted to preserve landing privileges for two long-established operations: the Mount Washington and the Millie B. Selectmen discussed the town’s 2022 warrant article (Article 33) that had authorized bond funding to reconstruct and upgrade the commercial docks; one member cited that vote — which passed with more than 70% support at the time — as context for keeping some commercial capacity at the commercial dock.

Permit limits, hawkers-and-peddlers model and enforcement: Several selectmen proposed a hawkers-and-peddlers–style permit system that would limit the number of commercial permits issued and tie permits to specific vessels (one permit per boat) and renewal deadlines. The board directed staff to return with a fee and permit structure and a cost-recovery analysis; selectmen said the first step is to gather comparables (market rates at other marinas and ports) and a lifecycle-cost model for the Libby dock.

Safety, ADA access and dock layout: Board members and dockhands told the board that some dock walkways are narrow (a board member observed a 22-inch-wide gangway on one section) and that how the town assigns drop-off and handicapped-access spaces affects both safety and dock operations. The board asked staff to evaluate where to locate a reserved passenger drop-off/ADA space and to resolve a conflict created by multiple votes on dock assignments during the meeting.

Public comment and operators’ statements

Operators, business owners and residents addressed the board in several public comments. Isaac Mackenzie, who described himself as a third-generation mail-boat operator, asked the board to protect the mail-boat landing and described personal investments he made to build and operate his boat: “I cashed out my 4 0 1 k, quit my job, gave up health insurance so I could spend more time in Wolfboro and watch my daughter grow up.” He and other commenters stressed the mail boat’s long history and the role that the service plays for island residents and town tourism.

Devin Kurtz, executive director of the New Hampshire Boat Museum, told the board “it is great to be here tonight, and thank you for our home for Millie B,” stressing the museum’s local role. Kathy Fairman, owner of the Wolfeboro Trolley Company, reminded the board that the Millie B’s original dock and permitting work were privately funded when the boat first came to town and said these operations contribute to the town’s tourist economy.

Next steps and outstanding issues

The board instructed town staff to: - Prepare cost-recovery and capital contribution options for Libby Dock and other town-owned docks (a model selectmen asked for during debate). - Produce comparative market data (comps) for Back Bay dock leases so the board can consider raising commercial lease rates to nearer market value. - Draft a hawkers-and-peddlers–style commercial landing permit that caps permits, ties permits to specific vessels, sets renewal deadlines and includes a lottery/priority rule for new openings.

The board left in place several unresolved items for future meetings: a final fee schedule for commercial landings (including discussion of the existing $3,000 barge fee and a suggested $5,000 alternative), exact placement of the ADA/drop-off space on the docks, and the specific number of long-term commercial landing permits to be issued after the transition year. The board said several of those items will go to public hearing before final adoption.

Ending

Selectmen said they want a pragmatic, stepwise approach: stabilize operations for the coming season by preserving established legacy landings, limit new commercial use while staff refines permit and pricing proposals, and return to the board with data-driven options (cost-recovery models and market comparables) before making lasting policy changes.