Commission names new chair, ponders priorities
At their first meeting since the resignation of veteran member John Lee, the Parks and Recreation Commission chose Pat Nelson as chairwoman. Treasurer Joe Schmidt made the nomination, secretary Anne McWaters agreed, and Nelson accepted (see her Letter to the Editor on page 2). Member BJ Pessia was absent.
The next task of the commission is to appoint a member to fill Lee’s position—an appointment that will be made jointly with the Board of Selectmen—until town elections are held next spring.
The three committee members briefly discussed priorities and capital requests for the coming year. Schmidt asked beach director Alexandra Luck, who was present, to provide a full financial report of the just-ending season, with recommendations for the coming year. Nelson would like to see ideas for how to make the beach more “entertaining” for residents. Responding to a proposal for handicapped access to the beach, she said she preferred to wait for a study by engineering firm GPR before considering “new projects.” “We’re all just reeling from a really difficult beach situation,” she said. “Everybody’s upset with us.” Regarding projects for the coming year, Nelson said the whole process for issuing permits for moorings, slips, and canoe and kayak racks, as well as finding space for trailers, needed attention. “We have to get our act together and do a better job next year,” she said.
Beach to close Labor Day weekend
Beach director Alexandra Luck reminded the Parks and Recreation commissioners that the town beach will close Labor Day weekend and its equipment stowed away for the winter. At the request of the commission, beach staff will leave two white drums in the water to mark the “no wake” zone for boats launching from the beach during the fall.
