HomeMy WebLinkAbout2007-10-25
Beach Management Advisory Committee
Small Conference Room, Town Building
25 October 2007
4 :00 pm
Members Present: Maureen Beck, Chair, Edie Ray, Colin Leddy
d
.;;;;,J ;0
Mrs. Beck convened the meeting at 4: 10 pm. The Minutes of 18 October~7 were
. I d 0 ~'''l Z
unammous y approve . :IF. ;,." 2
:;:1":" _
Mrs. Beck had hoped that Officer Carnevale would attend today's meeting.' ,:She witr'
contact him again for a future date. Selectman Reinhard will attend the 15:Novembel'
,.'." N
meeting. Following the Town Manager's request at last week's meeting, the memb~
made a list of guests involved in aspects of beach operations to attend future meetin~.
One suggestion, Mr. Matt Liddle, is teaching his class at the Nantucket New School the
behavior of the ocean currents around the island. The members decided that the Beach
Manager should approach him to help with the poster contest in the schools rather than
have him visit BMAC. Mr. Leddy suggested that Tim Psaradelis and Mr. Liddle come to
BMAC together to discuss student awareness of beach management. The members
agreed to invite both teachers.
Mrs. Ray urged the members to invite Kate Hamilton Pardee right away and ask her
about Frank Powers's mowing schedules and other Visitors' Services beach tasks.
For Harbormaster Fronzuto, Mrs. Beck suggested she ask the Beach Manager to compile
a list of questions/issues BMAC would like to discuss with him. The Beach Manager had
noted at an earlier meeting that the Harbormaster preferred to have such a list given to
him before a meeting.
Mrs. Ray suggested that Bruce Perry from the Land Bank come on the same day as Mr.
Reinhard since both were associated with that agency. Mrs. Beck will invite him.
The members further requested Mrs. Beck to press for an accounting of beach-related
expenses from the Town Manager in language BMAC can understand. Mrs. Ray also
requested that since Airport/Town relations were presently cool, we not invite an airport
official to discuss Nobadeer Beach as suggested earlier.
Mrs. Beck noted that beginning in November BMAC will only meet the first and third
Thursdays of each winter month. Therefore, BMAC should plan to review the Beach
Driving brochure for any changes by early in December so that it can be sent to the Town
Manager for approval and then to the printer.
The members then looked at the map on the brochure for any changes. Beach Access
# 15 should be eliminated now that Miacomet is a lifeguarded beach. The green area to
the west of Surfside Beach near Point of Breakers should be cut in half on the western
edge since the McMaster/Cullum property and the Farrell and Apthorpe Land Bank
acquisitions now do not allow vehicles. Mr. Leddy will check out this location for
verification. The signs on the beach at that location should be moved appropriately. Mrs.
Beck asked that members ponder any other changes in the map and the text of the
brochure for next week's meeting on November 1.
Mrs. Ray proposed that we make a list of questions to be included in these Minutes for
the Beach Manager to discuss next week.
Can the numbers of parking places at each of the beaches be estimated or
counted?
Can we look at the map to find where other parking places at each beach could be
sited?
Can the numbers of parked cars be limited?
Are cars still not allowed to use the Audubon access to the beach at Quidnet?
Some sightings of vehicles there have been noted.
Who owns Low Beach at present?
Is a record or file kept of permits for events or licenses kept by the Beach
Manager after he signs them?
Should porta-potties be allowed?
How does he plan to approach the schools for the poster contests? Mrs. Beck will
give him a copy of the Footprints Only poster. Mrs. Ray cautioned that while the
approach should be "nice," there are regulations now that must be observed.
Mrs. Beck recently noticed that Deputy Chief of Police Gibson is an ex officio member
ofBMAC. She also saw that BMAC forgot to ask the Town Manager during her visit
about the catering going on at Nobadeer in the summer. Is it permitted with a special
form? Are the hours specified? Is it an airport issue? She will mention to the Town
Manager that we overlooked this question on the agenda.
A discussion followed regarding the organization of our mandate from the Town
Manager to study the overlapping of beach management functions. Mrs. Ray suggested
developing a flow chart. Mr. Leddy insisted that we know the costs involved. Mrs. Beck
would like to add the Beach Manager's input. Mr. Leddy suggested the Beach Manager
make a list of which agencies he believes are involved in beach tasks. He foresees that
the taxpayers inevitably will be involved since the clean up cannot be successful with
only random volunteer efforts. A Surfside neighbor of Mrs. Beck believes that property
owners should acknowledge their responsibility to clean up their frontage. Mrs. Ray
requested that the DPW present its trash pick-up policies and schedule for the beaches,
and especially on weekends, added Mr. Leddy.
A brief discussion of the collapsed house at the end of Massachusetts Avenue and the one
adjacent to it followed.
The meeting was adjourned at 4:50 pm.
Respectfully submitted with notes from Edie Ray,
Maureen V. Beck, Chair