At its Aug. 29 meeting, the Parks and Recreation Commission discussed the successes and challenges of this season’s beach program.
Beach director Alexandra Luck reported that “overall, it was a really good summer.” A town survey showed that 82 percent of respondents were satisfied or very satisfied. Lifeguards successfully handled three emergencies, including a back and neck injury; Luck said observers were impressed with the way staff dealt with the situations. The director’s budget is on target, and the staffing budget is well under what it was in previous years. Luck used Nextdoor Harvard and the Parks and Rec website for better communication with parents.
But Luck also described a number of problems that occurred over the season. As the summer went on, there was a staffing shortage, largely because of sickness and disciplinary actions. While beginner swimming classes retained the target ratio of three kids to an instructor, the middle-level classes, while still at a safe ratio, were too large for kids to learn effectively. Some lifeguards were not diligent about watching the water and were inconsistent about rules for the raft. And drivers continue to go too fast into the parking lot, ignoring the staff member or volunteer checking stickers. Luck also acknowledged there are unresolved concerns about the follow-up with staff in an overturned motorboat incident.
Luck proposed a number of actions to address these issues in her written summary, including hiring more staff, doing lifeguard training herself in early June, and holding the staff more accountable. Chairwoman Wyona Lynch-McWhite asked Parks and Rec members to thoroughly read Luck’s report in preparation for further discussion of changes for next year at their Sept. 19 meeting. She also wants to talk more about the handling of the boating emergency when Harbormaster Bob O’Shea is in attendance.
Lynch-McWhite read from O’Shea’s report that 15 unstickered boats remain impounded. Owners need to contact Parks and Rec to identify the boat and pay the fine. O’Shea will then release the boat.
Lynch-McWhite called attention to the fact that, through the end of October, residents need a beach sticker to park.
