At the May 14 meeting, commissioners reported a unanimous committee recommendation to add two alternates to the Shellfish Commission and said the proposal will be advanced to the full Representative Town Meeting (RTM) for final approval.

A commissioner described the presentation to the initial committee and said the committee voted unanimously to permit two alternate members. Alternates would be encouraged to attend regular meetings (without vote) and would step in as full commissioners if a vacancy or quorum issue required it. Commissioners said alternates create a "farm system" of trained volunteers who can fill full commissioner seats and reduce gaps when regular members are absent.

The commission identified the RTM as the next approver and said that, if approved, alternates would expand the pool of volunteers available for restoration, clinic staffing, and other operational tasks.

No statutory or ordinance language was cited verbatim during the discussion; the commission characterized the change as an administrative amendment that must go through RTM approval processes.