HomeMy WebLinkAbout2009-07-23
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Beach Management Advisory Committee
Land Bank Conference Room
23 July 2009
4:00 pm
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Members Present: Maureen Beck, Chair, Tom Dickson, Tom Quigley, Kathleen Van lieu, Chris Magee
Mrs. Beck convened the meeting at 4:05 pm. When she called for approval of the Minutes for 9 July
2009, Mrs. Van lieu offered a correction. She stated that she had asked about having road blocks at the
ferries on July 4, not that she had recommended them. With this change made and with a motion by
Mrs. Van lieu, seconded by Mr. Magee, and with Mr. Dickson abstaining, the members approved the
Minutes.
A discussion followed regarding further improvements of the Nobadeer policy for future July 4 holidays,
among them early encouragement of bike, bus, and foot traffic instead of cars to reach the beach. Mrs.
Beck reported that some comments she received were critical ofthe youthfulness of the ATV patrol
officers, who could not handle older, obnoxious beachgoers. She also asked if the Clerk of the Court
should be invited to a BMAC meeting again to discuss the importance of respecting the tickets the
patrols give out. Mr. Dickson will invite her.
August meetings were established for the 6th and 20st of the month.
Mr. Quigley spoke about a Surfside neighbor who had been arrested as he drove east from Point of
Breakers via the beach, an area now marked Red on the Beach Driving Map. The members agreed that
changes in each year's map should be plainly posted on the map for the attention of drivers. Mr.
Dickson suggested a separate drop-out sheet added to the brochure listing changes more noticeably.
They also agreed it was time for new photographs and, perhaps, new colors on the map to highlight the
changes. Mrs. Beck will call the offended neighbor to explain further the reason for the new closure to
vehicles to the west of the Public Beach.
Mrs. Beck reported that last year's TV ads were still being run occasionally by Plum. Mr. Dickson will
contact Janelle to see about an interview with the Beach Manager and other possibilities for public
viewing.
Mrs. Beck announced that two ponds, Miacomet and in Madaket, have been closed to swimming
because of bacterial content.
The members discussed items to be addressed in the Annual Report to the Town Manager due on
August 14. Mrs. Beck will provide a copy of last year's Annual Report at the next meeting on August 7.
She will also e-mail a draft of the 2009 Report for the members to examine before that date. As usual,
the Committee will include its function as a public forum for beach issues and recognize the semi-annual
reviews of beach operations established by the Town on BMAC's recommendation last year. BMAC also
recommended a rise in the fee for beach vehicle permits during the summer months, reviewed a draft of
the Coastal Management Plan with the Beach Manager, and participated in developing an event-
category plan for July 4th management of Nobadeer Beach. BMAC has also been developing area clean-
up teams as a spin-off of the Clean Team's endeavors.
Mrs. Van lieu reported on her conversations with the Chamber of Commerce Director about
cooperating with the Town agencies on July 4th events. The Director reported that she had talked with
Glenn Stewart of Only Footprints, who proposed an educational series of programs to educate the
public about respectful behavior on the beaches. Mr. Magee recommended that Mr. Stewart be invited
for a meeting to discuss his ideas and perhaps to undertake one project useful for our mutual aims in
public education.
Mr. Dickson asked Mr. Quigley for a report on any beach issues about Nobadeer and the South Shore
raised at the recent Surfside Association meeting.
The next meeting will be on August 6th at the usual time and place.
The meeting was adjourned at 5:07 pm.
Respectfully submitted, with notes from Tom Quigley,
Maureen Beck, Chair