Meetings are held remotely. From wellfleet-ma.gov, hover over a date on the calendar on the right of the screen and click on the meeting you’re interested in to open its agenda and find out how to view and take part remotely.
Thursday, June 24
- Housing Authority, 3:30 p.m.
- Zoning Board of Appeals, 7 p.m.
- Finance Committee, 7 p.m.
Friday, June 25
- Clean Water Advisory Board, 5 p.m.
Saturday, June 26
- Annual Town Meeting, Elementary School Field, 10 a.m.
Wednesday, June 30
- Town Election, Council on Aging, 12 noon to 7 p.m.
Conversation Starters
Domicile Exception Approved
“Oh, this is going to be fun,” said vice chair Janet Reinhart wryly at Tuesday night’s select board meeting when, after over an hour of arguing about a single aquaculture grant extension that had already gone through the shellfish advisory board and harbormaster, the group finally got around to discussing the proposed domicile exception to the town’s shellfishing regulations.
After months of back-and-forth negotiations with the shellfish advisory board, the select board finally approved the domicile exception at Tuesday’s meeting, amending the town’s long-held rule that only “domiciled” residents (meaning they have lived in Wellfleet for at least a year) are eligible for commercial shellfishing permits and licenses.
The newly approved exception states that “those who have previously held a commercial permit for at least two years, and who have temporarily lost housing in Wellfleet for reasons clearly beyond their control (such as a fire or a lease not being renewed) as verified by the shellfish constable” can still hold onto their permits.
The exception also states, however, that permit holders who have lost their housing must provide “sufficient evidence of effort to secure housing in Wellfleet” nine months after having lost their domicile status. Furthermore, if the permit holder is not able to find housing within 18 months, the permit will be revoked.
“There is a strong feeling in the community that the domicile exception is necessary right now,” said Shellfish Constable Nancy Civetta, referring to how much Covid-19 has exacerbated Wellfleet’s housing crisis over the past year. —Paul Sullivan