Select Board defends shellfish lottery procedure, votes to add marine patrol officer to federal depredation permit

The Select Board heard a report on the town's annual shellfish lottery and approved adding a named marine patrol officer to the town's federal goose depredation permit.

The clerk said the lottery drew a record number of applicants for two commercial licenses. The lottery took place at 3 p.m.; the clerk reported one winner paid at the clerk's office by 4 p.m. that day and the second winner paid the following Monday at about 11 a.m. A member of the public complained that the town's lottery guidance, which states payment is due "immediately after the lottery," had not been followed.

The clerk and the shellfish committee defended the handling, saying the committee treats its lottery plan as a procedural guide and that the intent was to contact winners immediately and have them come in promptly. "The wording will be updated," the clerk said, adding the committee backed the clerk's action and recommended clarifying language — for example, a payment deadline of close of business on the following day.

Separately, the board considered adding Keegan Dunigan to the town's federal goose depredation permit after the shellfish committee requested it. A board member moved to add Keegan Dunigan to the depredation permit, a second was recorded and the motion carried on a voice vote with no opposition announced.

The board directed that the shellfish lottery procedure wording be revised for clarity next season and noted the committee routinely reviews the plan each December prior to its January implementation.