Article 37 proposes to let the harbormaster’s office adopt state law giving designated personnel the power to write tickets and fine violators of beach rules and regulations as opposed to issuing a criminal complaint and taking them to court.  The fines range from $25 for a first offense to $200 for a fourth and subsequent offenses.

A couple members of the committee voiced concerns over which staff members of the harbormaster’s office could issue tickets, stressing that only academy-trained personnel should be given these duties.

Member Ken Fortini called the move a "thinly veiled attempt at revenue producing for the town" and would lead to selective ticketing among those issuing the fines.

Michael Rouleau said he felt the move was a much-needed deterrent and that if someone saw or heard of another person getting a fine, it will affect their behavior.

Member Pat Dowd said she disagreed with the article, concurring with Fortini that ticketing would be selective.

The article failed to get the finance committee’s support by a 3-4 vote.

The committee was also divided on Article 15, which seeks to create a nine-member Economic Advisory Committee that, along with the proposed Local Housing Partnership in Article 30, will pick up where the Community Development Committee will soon leave off.

The committee’s goal, said Rouleau, was to look at strategies to broaden the tax base and improve commerce in the town.

Several members of the committee voiced their disapproval of solving unresolved issues by the creation of a new committee.

While the article suggests some members of this committee will come from the Board of Selectmen, Planning Board and Zoning Board of Appeals.  Dowd felt that members of these boards are already busy with their duties and may not be able to dedicate another night to another commitment.

Fortini said that perhaps an informal board of volunteers could instead take up these issues.

Article 15 failed to gain support by a vote of two yeas, four nays and one abstention from business owner J.R. Kent.