HomeMy WebLinkAbout2007-05-03
Beach Management Advisory Committee
Land Bank Conference Room
3 May 2007
4:00 pm
Members Present: Maureen Beck, Chair, Tom Dickson, Edie Ray, Colin Leddy; Beach
Manager Jeff Carlson
Mrs. Beck convened the meeting at 4:05 pm. The Minutes of26 April were approved
unanimously.
Announcements from the Beach Manager: The opening at Smith's Point is deepening.
Both the cuts at Sesachacha and Hummock Ponds a week ago are closed. ~
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The members raised a discussion of attendance of the Committee memb.iS. Mrs. Back
also reminded them that decisions regarding the Chair and terms were in ftne for ~
discussion as the fiscal year ended. " 00
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The Beach Manager's Report: An update on 'Sconset: The Bluff Project Report fr~ the
independent counsel hired by the Town is now on the Town's Website, forty some pages
and pictures. As a landowner, the Town can stop the project any time along the way of
its advancement.
Arrangements are in place for the collapsed house at Sheep's Pond to be moved.
The planking and coir bags floating around the island are being picked up along the
shores. We must be patient and mindful ofthe sand covering some of the items as the
project staff continues the pick-up.
There are already some people driving on the beach and a few without permits.
The Beach Manager and Environmental Officer Belanger report some drivers are in the
plovers' area at Quidnet where there is also some fishing for schoolies. Officer Belanger
is also looking out for ATV's, his pet peeve.
Jetties Beach was closed because of ruts created by Toscana's trucks doing repair
work there. It was re-opened after the contractor filled them in; fortunately, the piping
plovers have not nested yet. The new concessionaire at Jetties is most cooperative about
these closures.
At the latest BOS meeting the Board voted to keep dogs off the lifeguarded
beaches. Mrs. Beck observed that the reason Parks & Recreation asked for this
regulation is that so many people requested it after many complaints about dogs and
feces. Mrs. Beck volunteered to check dog enforcement rules for beaches on the Cape.
She reminded the members that this prohibition could prevent the trouble caused on July
and August weekends when there were 6000 people sometimes on the South Shore
beaches accompanied by their animals. Some members responded that an occasional
high usage does not mean that we should use this data for other times but rather study
how often and how many cause distress during ordinary and off-season times.
Mrs. Beck announced that Mr. Manchester's proposed flag advisory plan for the beaches
would not be in place this year because oflack of funds. Mr. Carlson offered funds, but
Mr. Manchester did not respond. Mr. Leddy observed that he was lukewarm about the
flag system anyway.
The draft letter for Libby: The members reiterated the importance of seeing and
understanding the budget. They also recommended re-writing the section re: the
shrinking number of lifeguards and the importance of ATV's so as to omit mention of the
police. The members also wished to take note of the fact that only since the Parks &
Recreation had taken charge of the lifeguards had the number of applications for the
position dwindled.
Mrs. Beck will rewrite the draft incorporating the suggestions offered at this meeting and
then return it to the Committee will for dispatch at the next meeting, May 10.
The next meeting will be 10 May at the Land Bank at 4 pm.
The meeting was adjourned at 5:15 pm.
Respectfully submitted, with notes from Edie Ray,
Maureen Beck, Chair