HomeMy WebLinkAbout2006-06-29
Beach Management Advisory Committee
29 June 2006
Land Bank Conference Room
4:00 pm
Members Present: Maureen Beck, Chair, Torn Dickson, Edie Ray, Colin Leddy
Beach Manager Jeff Carlson, Guest John Johnson
The meeting was convened at 4:05 pm. The minutes of June 22 were approved, Mr.
Dickson moving and Mr. Leddy seconding the motion.
The Beach Manager's Report:
There are now trashcans at the Smith's Point Gatehouse, a big help.
Complaints have been lodged about trash and fires on the beach at the Land
Bank's Washing Pond site. He will talk to Bruce Perry.
Some discussion ensued re: the public being refused access to the Wachovia
fireworks at Jetties Beach. Off-duty police will be informed clearly by their supervisors,
not the private party, in the future.
Plover nests and chicks are safe at Jetties.
Lifeguards begin their duties July 1.
He hears favorable remarks about ATV patrols. They are driving slowly and
keeping each other in sight as they patrol separately, mixing north and south beach
routes.
Mr. Johnson asked about when patrols would be phased out. Mr. Dickson replied
not yet, maybe in later years when violations dwindled; beachgoers still need to be
educated about responsible beach use. Mrs. Beck hoped that such a possibility would not
be circulated about at this point.
Mr. Leddy wondered if the patrols' only function was to check stickers. Ifso, he
approved an eventual phasing out. Mrs. Beck and Mr. Dickson addressed the number of
useful functions the patrols performed and the improvement in beach safety and security,
especially on the South Shore, since they began. Mr. Carlson thought they would be
evaluated year by year. Mrs. Beck reminded the Committee that since Nantucket was the
only Massachusetts location, which permitted beach driving and other beach freedoms,
like dogs, there was a need for some management of usage.
Observations were made about some homeowners yelling at beach drivers and
some seemingly entitled drivers ignoring the regulations.
Mr. Carlson noted that the rough spots in Fisherman's Beach parking lot would be
repaired in July.
Commercial Use of Ponds
Mr. Johnson cited the Surfing Concession ar Cisco, not a Town property. Is that a
precedent? Not a pond, replied Mrs. Beck.
What is our purview? asked Mr. Dickson.
Mr. Leddy complained of Jet skis coming into beach waters offNobadeer.
Mrs. Ray observed that historically if a venture does not work out, it is
discontinued.
Mrs. Beck questioned BMAC's right to review ponds as well as coastal
waters. She reminded the members offishing licenses, which are issued from New
York's old rights to the ponds. She asked members to consider the appropriateness of the
Committee's jurisdiction on this issue.
The Annual Report
The meeting concluded with further discussion of the text and tone of the report.
Mrs. Beck will mail a draft of text before the next meeting.
The next meeting will be 6 July. Mr. Dickson will ask Mr. Savetsky ofthe Land Bank to
corne.
Respectfully submitted, with notes from Edie Ray,
~~?( &--ell-
Maureen Beck, Chair