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Residents and shellfish officials press Wellfleet Select Board over long-delayed ice machine as town finalizes funding and operations
Summary
Residents and shellfish officials urged the Select Board to resolve a protracted ice-machine project, calling delays an 'embarrassment.' Board staff said the unit is ready pending funding, and the board accepted a $7,842 community grant while asking staff to return June 16 with operating procedures.
Several residents and shellfish officials used public comment at the Wellfleet Select Board meeting on June 2 to criticize years of delays on a municipal ice-machine project and press the board for a clear plan to fund and run the unit.
Kevin Coakley, a member of the town’s Marine Advisory Committee speaking as a private citizen, said the project’s handling was “an embarrassment” and questioned why the roughly $132,000 cost was not reflected in marina or town budgets. Alfred Picard and another commenter urged the board to make sure the machine would have a clear operator once installed, saying volunteers and businesses may not step forward without firm town direction.
Shellfish constable Nancy Chivetta, who has led much of the project work, told the board she had worked diligently to advance the machine and invited anyone with questions to contact her. “If you have any questions whatsoever about the ice machine, I would invite you to give me a call, and I’m happy to go over everything and anything with you,” she said.
Assistant Town Administrator John Bugbee updated the board on operations planning, saying the equipment is “ready to go” and that the remaining hurdle is funding. Bugbee said the town has worked with a vendor experienced on Cape Cod and that the project team has specified separate electric and water metering to track operating costs so fees can be adjusted to cover expenses.
To help move the project forward, the board accepted a community grant from the Wellfleet Oyster Alliance for $7,842 to cover concrete work for the machine’s pad near the Harbor Master’s office. Nancy Chivetta said the Oyster Alliance provided an estimate for the pad and that the town will continue refining operation and staffing plans before returning to the Select Board. The board recorded the grant acceptance by roll call vote.
The Select Board and staff told the public they expect to return at the next meeting, currently scheduled for June 16, with detailed operating procedures, a staffing plan from the Harbor Master and clearer accounting of costs and revenues. Chivetta and staff said they will continue to coordinate with the Harbor Master and the Oyster Alliance to ensure the machine’s operation is financially self-sustaining.
What’s next: The board asked staff to provide clear written operating procedures and a staffing/operations plan at the June 16 meeting and to supply any missing invoice or ledger items requested during public comment. If funding gaps remain, the board will consider options at that meeting.
