Scituate Waterways Commission advances harbor bylaw definitions in split 4-3 vote

SCITUATE -- February 11, 2026, Scituate Waterways Commission votes 4-3 to advance harbor bylaw definitions, including a contested for-hire captain category. The commission, chaired by Dave Dineen, approved definitions in Section 30910, including standards for commercial fishermen requiring a federal or state groundfish, lobster, and/or scallop license and derivation of 51 percent or greater of gross income from harvesting and sale, over objections from members Brian Kelly and Dave Sikorsky, who had sought to separate the for-hire captain vote from the commercial-fisherman vote. Kelly warned that commercial fishermen would have no vote on the rules and regulations that ultimately flow from the definitions, saying those stakeholders "can certainly voice at a public meeting, but they cannot actually vote yay and nay." The commission then unanimously approved a broader set of cleanup amendments across 12 additional bylaw sections, replacing "own" with "hold" in mooring-permit language and updating public-notice requirements to 10 days posted on the town website. A public hearing is scheduled for February 23.