Tisbury selectmen considered use of town docks by commercial mariners at their regular meeting Tuesday evening, weighing whether the docks should be more regulated and whether business owners should have to pay to use them. The town is responsible for maintenance of the docks at Lake street landing in Tashmoo and at the Owen Park pier, and charter boats frequently pick up clients from those docks.

We invest a lot of money in that as a public facility,” board chairman Tristan Israel said. “Should we have some regulations?”

Selectman Melinda Loberg said regulations for commercial use of town docks were put in place several years ago, but were never enforced. The regulations required business owners to purchase a $25 annual permit to use the docks.

“I was surprised that we’ve had these on the books for quite some time and we haven’t really acknowledged them or implemented the process,” she said.

Harbor management committee vice chair Matt Hobart said he didn’t see a need for more enforcement as charter boats are already regulated by the Coast Guard and there is a 15-minute limit at Owen Park pier that keeps boats moving. “I don’t particularly see it as a big issue,” he said.

Charter boat business owner Jeffrey Canha said unless he owned his own dock, there is no other way to do business.

“There’s no physical means or possible way to allow visitors to enjoy a day sailing or a day fishing or a day doing anything on a boat for hire without your citizens using your land-based docks,” he said.

Selectmen took no formal action, but asked the harbor management committee to review the regulations.

“We’re spending a fortune, meaning the town of Tisbury, on maintaining that dock,” Mr. Israel said.

Commercial fisherman Glenn Pachico suggested to selectmen that the town’s new facility at the Lake street landing, which was completed a year ago, could have been built with more room for commercial fishermen, reducing crowding on the town dock. Mr. Israel agreed it was a missed opportunity and said he would support construction of a dock for fishermen only, near the Steamship Authority port.

“If we could do it we’d be supportive of it,” he said. “I think in all seriousness that’s an idea we should continue to look at.”

In other business, selectmen signed an affordable housing restriction for an Island Housing Trust project at the Greenwood property across the street from Camp Jabberwocky. The project will include six townhouses and is set to break ground on March 28.