Four vendors secured summer business locations Friday during a public auction at City Hall, marking a significant step in the borough’s plan to organize seasonal commerce on the waterfront.

The auction came after a unanimous resolution passed by the assembly on Feb. 10, designating six leased spaces and directing the auction to determine who wins the temporary business sites.

These lots are in the cul de sac in front of City Dock, across from the Samson Tug and Barge freight yard. The area will transition into a hub for seasonal business activity starting May 1 and closing on Sept. 30.

The borough set minimum starting bids at the auction at the rate of $1.50 per square foot.

While the two largest spaces, measuring 600 square feet each, failed to attract bidders at their $900 opening price, four smaller 150-square-foot spaces were won by residents.

Jonas Crabtree won one of the lots at the minimum asking price of $225 per month, while Luba Lofftus took a lot with a bid of $235 per month. The other two lots went at the minimum $225 to Spencer Stavee and Bonnie Ritchie.

Borough officials reserved a seventh lot specifically for youth under the age of 16 who want to sell garnets during the summer months.

Crabtree plans to market walking tours from his stand; Ritchie will sell her original jewelry; Stavee plans to rent e-bikes; and Lofftus will sell T-shirts and other items with her original designs.

Borough Manager Mason Villarma noted that the unsold larger lots might be put up for bid again or potentially subdivided into smaller spaces. He did not provide a timeline for that decision.

Rather than committing to long-term leases, the borough opted for one-summer leases to remain flexible in how the space is used in future years. Harbormaster Steve Miller, who will be responsible for enforcing the operating rules, said this strategy ensures that officials retain control of the waterfront while remaining adaptable to future public needs.

The vendors will have access to electricity at their sites.

“Each vendor will be given the option of either getting a meter put in their name, or they can opt to pay the daily rate for usage,” he said. “They will also have to carry liability insurance.”

Miller said the summer vendors must operate like any other business in the borough, which includes the collection and payment of borough sales tax. Furthermore, business owners are required to maintain clean sites and follow all instructions from the harbormaster.

Regulations strictly prohibit using the spaces for housing or overnight stays, and all temporary structures must be completely removed once the season concludes in September.