HomeMy WebLinkAbout2008-09-11
Beach Management Advisory Committee
land Bank Conference Room
11 September 2008
4:00 pm
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Because Selectman Reinhard dropped by to chat with the members, Mrs. Beck did not convene the
meeting until after his departure at 4:20 PM. When she asked for approval of the Minutes oe~
September 2008, Mr. Quigley offered are-phrasing ofthe second sentence of paragraph 2 reUlrding the
Minutes of the meeting of August 7as follows: "Mr. Quigley proposed a motion to certify thaHhose
members present at the August 7meeting approve those Minutes as written." The motion was
seconded by Mr. Dickson and carried unanimously.
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Members Present: Maureen Beck, Chair, Tom Dickson, Tom Quigley, Kathleen Vail Lieu
Mrs. Beck presented a letter from the Town Manager requesting a meeting on September 29 of the
various Town departments involved in beach operations. She asked the members what concerns she
should bring from BMAC to that meeting. Mr. Dickson spoke about Chief Pittman's commitment to
increase AN patrols for July 4 next year. Mr. Quigley added that there should be more careful checking
of beach driving stickers and trash disposal and pickup. The Beach Manager and Mr. Powers should be
brought more into the coverage of the crowds and the clean-up afterward.
Mr. Dickson expressed concern about more frequent monitoring of beach driving and partying during
the shoulder seasons and hoped that contact with the high school students about these issues and
responsible behavior on the beaches would be carried out.
Mr. Quigley reported that he and Mrs. Beck had discussed with Selectman Reinhard the possibilities of
developing a webcasting operation for conferences with committee members and other authorities
when off-island. He will continue to pursue this idea.
Mrs. Beck invited comments from the members regarding a plan for restoring the grass plantings and
fallen posts at the top of Nobadeer Beach. Mrs. Van Lieu reported that she had talked with Emily
Molden of the land Council, who had originally installed some plantings in the Nobadeer Valley to
prevent flooding and was familiar with an earlier installation of grasses at the bluff by high school
science students. Her recommendations based on that conversation were that plantations of dune grass
closer to existing vegetation rather than in the middle of the bluff would ensure better growth. Also,
she suggested that the high school students might not have planted the dune grass deep enough to stay
put and flourish.
The members discussed the possibility of asking Mr. Collier and Mr. Liddle, a science teacher at the New
School, to come to the next BMAC meeting on September 18. Mrs. Beck will ask them. Mrs. Van lieu
wondered if the surfers would be interested in helping with this project.
The members decided that the next meeting should take place on September 18th instead of September
25 because of some conflicts for Mr. Dickson and Mr. Quigley. The October 2 meeting will stay in place.
The meeting was adjourned at 5:25 pm.
Respectfully submitted, with notes from Tom Quigley,
Maureen Beck, Chair
Beach Management Advisory Committee
land Bank Conference Room
4 September 2008
4:00 pm
Members Present: Maureen Beck, Chair, Tom Dickson, Tom Quigley, Kathleen Van Lieu;
Beach Manager Jeff Carlson; Guest: John Johnson
Mrs. Beck convened the meeting at 4:04 pm. She welcomed new members Quigley and Van lieu,
reviewed some practices regarding the meetings and the Minutes, and then asked the Beach Manager
what materials they should have in hand pertaining to BMAC policies. Mr. Carlson stated that he would
supply them with Beach Management Plans and Beach Driving brochures. Mrs. Beck will provide copies
of the Annual Reports of last year and this year and the BMAC Mission Statement.
Mrs. Beck then stated that she assumed the Minutes of the last meeting on August 7 were approved
since she had heard no corrections from the members. Mr. Quigley proposed a motion to certify that
those members present at the August 7 meeting approve those Minutes as written.
The Beach Manager gave a brief report on the summer activities and issues on the beaches and
commented that the operations went well; the lifeguards performed very well and organized their own
schedules and strategies during working hours. There were no deaths and few major accidents, which
were handled well, thanks to lifeguard triage and quick ER attention. There seemed to be less driving on
the beaches, less litter to be taken away, and generally good behavior on the part of beachgoers.
Ms. Van Lieu asked for an explanation of the situation at the beach access at Steps Beach. Mr. Carlson
explained that the Town had officially taken that path known as an extension of Indiana Avenue and
landscaped it but that one abutter still fretted over its becoming a public way.
Mrs. Beck commented on several incidents during the summer.
Jeff Allen, a firefighter, wrote a letter demanding removal from the Minutes of the July 10
meeting some of his remarks as misquoted. The Town Personnel Officer, Pat Perris, advised BMAC to
stand by the Minutes as submitted and not reply to Mr. Allen until Town Counsel gave an opinion.
She also mentioned that an application for permitting kite boarding instruction on Third Point,
Coatue, was withdrawn because of opposition from abutters.
A further project begun by Only Footprints for cleaning Surfside beaches did not succeed when
the young people recruited decided not to participate.
She attended a summer Coastal Management meeting, which announced on-going studies by
the Harbormaster and the Beach Manager and Town Biologist among others and future public hearings
to keep islanders abreast of their work.
Mr. Quigley noted that Nobadeer Beach and surroundings looked very clean over labor Day weekend.
Mr. Carlson agreed, commenting that only one beach patrol was in operation at that time.
As to pending issues to be addressed, Mr. Carlson stated that the situation for parking and beach access
at Madaket is always changing and that he hesitates to put in firm adjustments there until the beach is
stabilized. He was reluctant to restore the posts to upright position at Nobadeer until Mr. Quigley
pressed for that repair. Mr. Carlson will consult with a DPW colleague for assistance.
Mr. Quigley also regretted the loss of the grasses planted two years ago at the top of the Nobadeer
dune by the posts. Mrs. Beck suggested the members discuss this at a future meeting, and Mr. Carlson
suggested that a different pattern of planting grass at that site would take hold more firmly. Mr.
Dickson suggested that Mrs. Van Lieu talk to Cormac Collier of the land Council for his opinion.
Mrs. Beck asked for a schedule of upcoming meetings at which issues regarding the web site, the
possibility of webcasting certain meetings with members not on island, school visits and poster contests,
and a plan for rebuilding the dune at Nobadeer might be discussed. Another concern, the
determination of beach tasks for the Beach Manager and Parks & Recreation, Mr. Carlson quickly
defined: any physical infrastructure at beaches which are supervised by the Parks & Recreation
Department is maintained by that office; any natural maintenance and oversight are the tasks of the
Beach Manager. Mr. Carlson did point out that the beach raking contract Visitors' Services has with Mr.
Powers does not give careful attention to the protection of endangered species at Jetties Beach. Mrs.
Beck will talk to Ms. Hamilton about the issue.
The members decided to meet on the following dates at 4:00 pm: September 11, September 25, and
October 2. Mrs. Beck has confirmed these dates with the land Bank and the Town Clerk.
The meeting was adjourned at 5:12 pm.
Respectfully submitted, with notes by Tom Quigley,
Maureen Beck, Chair.