The Natural Resources Preservation Advisory Board confirmed a tentative date of Feb. 17 for a library wine‑tasting event aimed at educating residents about dune restoration and recruiting volunteers. Karen Jones, the event lead, told the board the vendor had offered a reduced price if at least 30 people attend.

The board’s town planner, Ingrid Allen, said the town manager prefers to collect payment in person: “The town manager would like the payment … in the form of cash or check,” and staff flagged that the finance office cannot currently host an online payment link. Jones said the vendor can process credit‑card payments at the event and that the vendor’s minimum of 30 people would reduce the price to about $1,500.

Why it matters: the event is intended to attract residents to hands‑on dune‑restoration activity and to provide actionable guidance (planting, invasive removal). Board members emphasized the need to avoid exposing the town to vendor shortfalls if attendance is low.

Key details: the board debated per‑person pricing at $30–$50 and converged on a planning target of $35 per person if the town provides a modest subsidy. Board members repeatedly said prepayment or a firm RSVP cutoff is necessary to protect the town budget; one participant summarized the approach as planning on a minimum headcount and canceling if advance payments do not meet the vendor’s minimum. Ingrid Allen said staff would confirm whether the town will contribute an amount the board has previously discussed (noted in prior exchanges as between roughly $600 and $800) and would clarify contractual terms and any vendor deadlines.

Logistics to confirm before invitations are sent include whether the vendor requires refrigeration or hookups, whether the vendor will bring glassware and serviceware, the final RSVP cutoff date (the board discussed Feb. 3 and Feb. 10 as candidate cutoffs), and whether residents may bring guests if the town contribution is applied only to residents. Jones was asked to email the vendor’s written terms and to circulate a revised invitation for board comment; staff will forward the materials to the town manager for final approval.

The board paused the item while Jones joined a vendor call and agreed to resume the discussion when vendor and town‑manager details were confirmed.