MARION — After almost five years of meticulous planning and construction, the Marion Harbormaster Department showcased its new facility at an open house on Saturday, Feb. 22.

A crowd of Marion residents and harbormaster employees gathered at the new facility, conversing and exploring the grounds with complimentary doughnuts and coffee in hand.

The previous department building was not suitable for the needs of the harbormaster staff, according to Harbormaster Adam Murphy.

“There were no public restrooms for us. There was nowhere to eat lunch. We were basically working in a shed,” said Murphy.

The work of the harbormaster department has increased in efficiency and volume with the new facility now operational, according to Murphy.

“With the building being here and people using it, the operation has grown. The expectations of the public have grown. The demand on the building — we’re seeing it everyday,” said Murphy. “We have a hundred people a day coming in for stickers.”

The full-time administrative staff is now able to issue permits for mooring, dock spaces and outhauls as well as handling administrative work for shellfishing and the health of the harbor all within one convenient location. Previously, the work was split between the former harbormaster building and town hall.

“We are the go to place now for all your beach stickers, your transfer stickers and shellfish pins,” said Murphy.

The construction and development of the facility was funded by over $2 million in grant funding and additional support from the Marion boating community.

“The project was put together to not bear any weight on the backs of taxpayers and the town of Marion. We did it all through harbor permits and grant funding,” said Murphy. “So thank you to all the boating community and the Seaport Economic Council.”