HomeMy WebLinkAbout2009-08-06
Beach Management Advisory Committee
6 August 2009
Members Present: Maureen Beck, Chair, Tom Quigley, Kathleen Van lieu, Chris Magee;
Beach Manager Jeff Carlson ' .
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Guest: Glenn Stewart of Only Footprints
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Mrs. Beck convened the meeting at 4:10 PM and welcomed Mr. Stewart, who reviewed the hist~.iX of
Only Footprints and its goal, mainly to educate the public to appreciate and respect the island b~hes.
Only Footprints' programs have nothing to do with beach operations but rather with assisting
conservation and tourist agencies on island in their campaigns to keep the beaches clean and orderly.
Mr. Stewart has recently met with the Chamber of Commerce to outline his plans for posters, trash bags
with the Only Footprints label, packets for realtors and innkeepers to give to lodgers, and perhaps TV
exposure. Mr. Stewart agreed with BMAC that only a small number of beachgoers behave carelessly,
but he hopes that his campaign will reduce even that number and create a general mindset of careful
use of the beaches.
Mr. Magee asked if Mr. Stewart had any suggestions for the problems at Nobadeer. The latter replied
that more frequent collections of trash would be useful. Unfortunately, Mrs. Beck stated, staffing is
limited for the DPW. Mr. Stewart replied that if his efforts succeed, the Clean Team will not have to
service every beach on the island, that individuals and teams in each beach neighborhood will
participate in picking up litter.
Mr. Magee suggested that color-coded bags marked for glass, cans, and trash be handed out at an
access point on Nobadeer to beachgoers to increase awareness. Mr. Carlson directed Mr. Stewart to
DPW Foreman John Braginton Smith, who handles trash pickup, including litter collected by the Clean
Team. Mr. Smith knows the schedule for pick-up and what containers suit the DPW operation. Mr.
Stewart asked Mrs. Beck to e-mail him a list of people he could contact about his project.
Mrs. Beck and the Committee thanked Mr. Stewart for his presentation and wished him success with his
plan. The Committee then approved the Minutes of 23 July 2009 unanimously.
Mrs. Beck announced a change of venue for the next BMAC meeting on August 20 to the Town
Building's Conference Room. Mr. Carlson expressed a desire to hold some meetings on island beaches
so that the members could see their different sites and arrangements. Mrs. Beck and the members liked
the idea and decided to change the August 20 meeting to Jetties Beach at 4 PM. In case of rain, the
members will meet at the Town Building.
Mr. Quigley asked to make some remarks. He reported that when the police reported to BMAC that the
beach patrols had exhausted their entire summer supply of trash bags on July 4, as President of the
Surfside Association, he went to Marine lumber to replenish that supply as a donation from the
Association to the patrols. The general manager instead wished to make the bags the store's donation
to the patrols.
Mr. Quigley next asked if the Western Avenue beach driving closures would result in further attempts by
beach front property owners around the island to follow suit. Mr. Carlson did not think so. He did
reassure Mr. Quigley that he had replaced missing signs at Nobadeer, that there was less use of the
dunes for toilets now that the porta-potties were located at Nobadeer, and that no drivers were
approaching Nobadeer from Madequecham. Unfortunately, the shortage of DPW staff limits the
number of trash barrels there.
Mr. Quigley noted further that four lifeguards were stationed at Madaket Beach for only six beachgoers.
Mr. Carlson stated that there is always a set number of lifeguards for each beach depending on the
expected popularity of the beach, three usually at Madaket, four at Surfside and Cisco. Mrs. Van lieu
asked if Madaket would eventually be closed because of the debris buried in the sand. Mr. Carlson
thought not because it is serviced by a bus route and, if there were any accidents, emergency staff
would need to be on hand anyway.
Mr. Carlson added that he would probably close Miacomet Beach first because very few people, mostly
parents with little children, go there and usually swim in the pond. He added further comments: that
on Wednesday mornings the lifeguards do not arrive at their stations until 10 AM because they practice
rescue training from 9 to 10 AM; that this year there are fewer seals in evidence as well as a smaller
population of birds; that his office is now in the Harbormaster's building at the Town Pier, where he can
be reached at 228-7261 or 325-5348 as soon as the telephone installations are complete.
Mrs. Beck asked for comments on her draft for the 2009 Annual BMAC Report. She suggested that she
add a sentence describing the staggering of members' terms instituted this year. The members agreed
to this addition as well as to the rest of the draft. She will submit the Report to the Town Manager by
August 14 as requested.
For the next meeting Mrs. Beck will provide a list of all the beaches, and Mr. Carlson will bring his list of
amenities available for each beach. Mr. Carlson also suggested that the members discuss their goals for
this next year at the August 20 meeting.
Mr. Magee motioned to adjourn, with Mrs. Van lieu seconding, at 5:25 PM.
Respectfully submitted, with notes from Tom Quigley,
Maureen Beck, Chair