Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Dock Fees topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Select board sets one-year jet‑ski license at $1,250 for Back Bay
Summary
After public comment and a staff legal review, the Wolfeboro Select Board set the 2026 Back Bay jet‑ski license fee at $1,250 and approved a one‑year term, with the town reserving termination rights and leaving open negotiated multi‑year maintenance proposals.
The Wolfeboro Board of Selectmen voted March 18 to set the 2026 license fee for the Back Bay jet‑ski slip at $1,250 and approved a one‑year term for the agreement. The motion was carried after members reviewed legal counsel’s note that the draft license included an automatic renewal clause but that the town retains the right to terminate the license at any time.
The decision followed public comment from residents and the operator. A representative of the jet‑ski business, who described a long‑running presence at the dock, said the company had paid $1,000 in recent seasons and called a previously offered $4,000 figure “way overpriced.” The operator said his business invests heavily in equipment and operation and asked for continuity to protect that investment.
Board members said they reviewed comparable slip fees for the area and discussed three common pricing approaches: setting a comparable market rate, recovering town replacement/maintenance costs, or choosing an ad‑hoc figure. “Comparables made sense to me,” a board member said as the motion was put forward. The fee motion passed; one member abstained on the price vote, and the board later voted 4–1 to limit the license to a one‑year term.
Town counsel had flagged language in the draft granting automatic renewal; counsel also noted the town’s authority to terminate. The board instructed staff to accept written counter‑offers that included concrete maintenance or replacement commitments for the docks and indicated it would consider multi‑year arrangements in writing.
The town finance officer said revenue from the license will be deposited into the general fund unless the board elects to pursue a dedicated revolving fund and places that change before voters. The board also discussed the condition of the town docks and noted future capital needs could prompt a separate funding proposal to voters.
The board’s action applies to the 2026 season only; the selectmen invited the operator to submit a written proposal if he wished to propose a multi‑year, dock‑maintenance arrangement for later consideration.
