Scituate Debates Raising Fees for Accessory Dwelling Units

Town Officials Weigh Sewer Capacity Concerns Against Housing Needs

SCITUATE, MA - November 19 - Scituate officials are considering a significant increase in fees for Accessory Dwelling Units (ADUs), potentially raising them to 100% of the regular sewer connection fee. The proposal, discussed at a recent Select Board meeting, aims to address concerns about sewer capacity and potential misuse of ADUs for short-term rentals.

The town currently charges half of the standard $16,000 connection fee for ADUs. The proposed change would double this to $16,000, matching the fee for a full-sized home.

Select Board member Jim Gilmore expressed reservations about the increase. "You are going to penalize those people that still might want to do something for grandma and grandpa," she said. "Think about the other side of the coin."

Other officials argued the fee hike is necessary given the State’s emphasis on housing units. "If they're going to treat everyone, every unit as essentially a separate unit, then we have to," Chair Andrew Goodrich stated.

The debate comes as Massachusetts prepares to implement new regulations allowing ADUs by right, potentially increasing their prevalence in communities like Scituate.

Maryanne Lewis, a resident, cautioned against rushing to implement the fee increase. "I would encourage the board, if you're inclined to take any action at all tonight, I would encourage it to be a delayed implementation," she said.

The board did not make a final decision on the fee increase at the meeting. Officials plan to gather more information and continue discussions before taking action.

In other business, the Scituate Public Library reported significant increases in usage since moving to its new building in 2017, but faces staffing challenges in meeting the growing demand.

Library Director Jessi Finnie told the board that borrowed items have increased by 30% since 2017, with over 315,000 items checked out last fiscal year. The library also saw a 25% increase in visits, totaling 124,000.

Despite the growth, the library operates with limited staff compared to similar-sized communities. "Hingham is open 52 hours with 25 staff members. We're open 64 with 14," Finnie explained.

To address the staffing shortage, the library is considering reducing evening hours. Finnie proposed closing at 8 p.m. instead of 9 p.m. Monday through Thursday, which would free up 16 staff hours per week for behind-the-scenes work.

"When you're at the register, you're at the register. You're not stocking the shelves. You're not creating your displays," Finnie said, explaining the need for more off-desk time.

The library board has already voted to support a potential reduction in hours. Finnie noted that on average, only five people use the library between 8 p.m. and 9 p.m.

Select Board members expressed concern about reducing public access but acknowledged the staffing challenges. They requested more information before making a decision on the proposed hour changes.

The library also reported successful fundraising efforts, with the Library Foundation donating over $44,000 for various improvements and the Friends of the Library contributing more than $37,000 last year.