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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2007-07-19 Beach Management Advisory Committee BOS Conference Room, Town Building 19 July 2007 4:00 pm Members Present: Maureen Beck, Chair, Tom Dickson, Edie Ray, Colin Leddy, John Johnson The members approved the Minutes of the 12 July 2007 meeting with corrections regarding remarks about the clean up of the demolished house at Sheep's Pond. Mrs. Beck announced that the Assistant Town Manager will handle the advertisements for the public meeting regarding dog issues on 9 August and will pay for the ads. She reported also that Fisherman's Beach steps have finally been repaired by the DPW with apologies from the Director. Mr. Leddy noted that the Land Bank steps at the end of Nonantum Avenue have also been fixed. There is still some question there as to the ownership of that property, but both Tom Quigley and Eric Savetsky are searching their files for a letter confirming ownership. Mr. Johnson reported that when he inquired of the Assistant Town Manager if there were complaints regarding dog issues, she produced a thick file. He also wants to know how many dog licenses have been issued on island. Mrs. Beck hopes he will pursue that file further and note the number of complaints, when lodged, and what sorts of complaints or issues are recorded in it. She will ask the Dog Officer to come to the August 9 meeting. Mrs. Ray will ask the Health Officer how many dog bites, mandatory for report if treated medically, have been reported. Members expressed curiosity as to the nature of the accident that caused a car to drive off the end of Hummock Pond Road. Earlier this year BMAC requested repairs be done there to prevent the Town from being liable for such an accident. Mrs. Beck announced that she had sent Officer Carnevale the members' questions for him to consider before the 26 July meeting. Mr. Leddy noticed some cement blocks installed as steps at the bluff of a beach propelly near Nobadeer. :-~ G") ::':::J Mr. Johnson mentioned the stunning private fireworks permitted in the harbor off -...I Washing Pond Beach. He wondered who had permitted them. -.:::::> ....:) Mr. Dickson spoke about the increasingly crowded conditions for moorings and bo~ in Polpis Harbor. Mrs. Ray requested BMAC ask the Chair ofthe Rights of Way Lv Committee to come to a meeting and discuss the current state of recognizing and opening these ways. The meeting was adjourned at 4:55 pm. The next meeting will be at the Land Bank on 26 July with Officer Carnevale. Respectfully submitted, with notes from John Johnson Maureen Beck, Chair Beach Management Advisory Committee Land Bank: Conference Room 12 July 2007 4:00 pm Members Present: Maureen Beck, Chair, Tom Dickson, Edie Ray, Colin Leddy, John Johnson Mrs. Beck convened the meeting at 4:00 pm. The Minutes of 5 July 2007 were approved after a discussion of private firework issues mentioned as visible along the beachfront houses visible from Coatue. While members acknowledged that there were other private displays on island, Mrs. Beck felt that there was no need to expand the remarks beyond the statement made Mrs. Beck announced that Officer Carnevale would come to the 26 July meeting for a discussion of the TV beach patrols so far this summer. He has requested some advance notice of what the Committee would like him to report on. The members would like to know how many warnings and citations have been issued so far, what the most frequent violation is, whether the beach driving brochure is in the vehicle being stopped, how much patrolling is done on the paved roads rather than the beaches and does it overlap regular police work, how well is the overlap working during the transfer of patrol shifts, whether stickers are posted on the vehicle rather than inside it, whether an A TV patrol should be permanently stationed at the busiest beaches Mr. Johnson reported no traffic driving on Miacoment Beach to date. . There is evidence of A TV tire tracks. People need more knowledge of the official beach access locations. The TV patrols seem more professional this year. They are cautious about avoiding beach grass and dunes, but there are some complaints about the loudness of the vehicles during the nighttime patrols. Mrs. Beck announced that the Assistant Town Manager will be glad to advertise BMAC's August 9 meeting as open to any and all public comment on dog issues on the beaches, such as leash law violations, clean up of dog waste, end enforcement of violations. It will be treated as an information gathering session. Mrs. Beck will put calendar notices in the two newspapers. Should we invite any officials? Selectman Chadwick should be asked. Discussion of the July 4th fireworks incidents on private property was re-opened. Mrs. Ray is particularly concerned that even though the State of Massachusetts forbids any transport or use of fireworks on private property, violations are not enforced and that the Chief of Police and/or the BOS should be reminded of this disregard. The BOS is allowing a proposed private fireworks at Washing Pond for a wedding because the barge will be well off shore. A review of the draft for the Annual Report was approved by the members, who suggested BMAC wait a week before approving its final Submission. A discussion ensued about the New York Times articles on the Sconset beach Project and the upcoming resumption of the public hearing at the Conservation Commission on 18 July. Only now do the residents ofSconset begin to understand the limitations of the Project and the stress of traffic and other elents of it on the village. Mrs. Beck reported a resident of Hummock Pond area concerned about nightly fishing at the head of the pond that looks like a commercial venture, which may over fish the pond. He has found traps laid for eels and disturbance of pond turtles there. BMAC would need more evidence of commercial activity. It may be that the fishermen are simply feeding their families. Mrs. Ray asked that the Health officer be contacted if further evidence is discovered. Mrs. Beck urged members to check the situation out and try to take vehicle license numbers. Mr. Johnson reported that those who removed the house that collapsed at Sheep's Pond did a very good job of cleaning up the trash from the breakdown. Another house in jeopardy nearby will be removed soon. The meeting adjourned at 5 :00 pm. The next meeting will be 19 July at the same time and place. Respectfully submitted, with notes from John Johnson, Maureen Beck, Chair