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.