HomeMy WebLinkAbout2008-03-27
Beach Management Advisory Committee
Land Bank Conference Room
27 March2008
4:00 pm
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Members present: Maureen Beck, Chair, Tom Dickson, Colin Leddy; Beach Managet Jeff Carl~n;
Special Guests: Officer Chris Carnevale, Nantucket Police, Massachusetts Envi{c:)hmental ~icer
Dean Belanger, Selectman Allen Reinhard 1'''
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Mrs. Beck convened the meeting at 4:05 pm and announced that she would delay any agenda items
until after the discussion with the officers about beach operations.
Mrs. Beck asked the officers if they often cooperated in their investigations and enforcement. Officer
Belanger replied that he, being the lone environmental agent on island, was totally dependent on
assistance from the Nantucket Police for information and manpower. The island is much different from
his former posting around Gloucester where he had different issues, like state parks and fishing
violations, to handle.
Selectman Reinhard stated that Officer Belanger was very helpful to him as the Middle Moors Ranger in
discouraging personal ATV and dirt bike activity along the roads and in the moors of the Conservation
Foundation Properties.
Mrs. Beck asked if these vehicles needed more vigilant attention. Both the officers and Mr. Reinhard
felt that their present use of the old shooting range area seemed to curtail much violation elsewhere. If
drivers use these vehicles elsewhere on private roads, it is difficult to issue a violation without a
complaint from that area. Officer Belanger observed that with its stringent regulations of recreational
vehicle driving, the state does not provide many permitted areas for the sport and, therefore, drivers
are tempted to risk violations. Officer Carnevale agreed.
Mr. Leddy inquired about problems with jet skis off beaches. Both officers agreed that local drivers
were aware of the regulations. Summer visitors were the ones who pleaded innocent to violating the
procedures for launching and avoiding bathers and boats. Officer Carnevale mentioned that three or
four times each summer he has to read the riot act to jet skiers. If they use the harbor, Officer Belanger
added, they must follow boating rules.
Mr. Leddy asked Officer Belanger if he was involved with the issue of illegal dumping. Yes, was the
reply, under Chapter 90 of the By-Laws.
Selectman Reinhard reported how supportive Officer Belanger was in tracking illegal parties every
weekend in the moors and along the beaches where considerable trash and fires cause debris. Both
agreed that it is hard to anticipate the constantly changing hot spots where the gatherings take place;
therefore, the clean-up afterward ranges widely as the debris scatters. Furthermore, both officers
added, there are only so many officers on each shift; every evening the police on duty are busy with
problems that need more attention than a party, which often requires use of different equipment to
pursue.
Both officers did state that the Department is making a special effort to curb the disturbances of house
parties, an ongoing problem in the core district.
Mrs. Beck asked if the summer training of ATV police and lifeguards will be combined in some aspects
this year. Both Mr. Carlson and Officer Carnevale will see that the two groups understand their mutual
goals and operations. The ATV patrols will be expanded and begin around June 15.
Mrs. Beck asked if the officers had any suggestions for BMAC to pursue. Officer Carnevale raised the
point that with the housing cap restricting the number of summer police being hired, he wondered if
third party details could be used to cover more patrols. The term "third party" refers to committing
officers to taking on extra shifts of duty when they are off-duty, just as some officers do now when
volunteering for duty at private events. The money for this extra duty would come from the Beach
Management account.
Mrs. Beck thanked the officers for the good coverage of their concerns and promised that BMAC would
include their suggestion in the report to the Town Manager.
Briefly, the members discussed dates for April meetings. Because of Town Meeting the Committee will
not meet on April 10; otherwise, they will meet on every Thursday to catch up on approval of Minutes
and to draft a summaryreport on its interviews to the Town Manager.
The next meeting will be April 3 at 4:00 pm.
Respectfully submitted, with notes from Tom Dickson,
Maureen Beck, Chair