WOOLWICH

The chairman of the town’s Shellfish Conservation Committee said he’s hoping for a sense of order when the committee meets Tuesday.

Dan Harrington said he expects all five Selectboard members to be present for the 6 p.m. meeting at the town office.

“I’m really, really hoping for this not to be a three-ring circus,” Harrington said. “We’re trying to avoid that.”

Strife among Shellfish Conservation Committee members came to a head during a Selectboard meeting Jan. 23.

Committee member Andy Cromwell asserts the committee has failed in its oversight duties, which he blames for a lack of harvestable shellfish in town. Harrington and fellow member Tim Larochelle objected that Cromwell approached the Selectboard for money to help fund the committee but has not purchased a license, which helps fund regulatory activities.

“Tim and I have purchased licenses for ourselves, and our wives,” Harrington said. “I don’t know how much more we can do to lead by example.

“That’s the biggest issue — that we had a vote to go to the Selectboard and ask for money,” he said.

The license fee, meanwhile, has gone from $250 to $400.

Cromwell claims that undermanagement, overfishing and a lack of adequate conservation work have contributed to a decline in clam populations along the Woolwich coast. He rejects the notion that he is seeking to have Harrington replaced as committee chairman.

The three committee members swapped accusations during the Jan. 23 Selectboard meeting.

Also on Tuesday night’s agenda, the committee will consider two applications for membership. The Selectboard has final say on committee membership.

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