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APPROVED
Chilmark Planning Board Subcommittee at Beach Committee Meeting
Chilmark Town Hall, Conference Room #1
December 6, 2016
Planning Board Members Present: Joan Malkin, Peter Cook
Beach Committee: Margaret Maida, Clarissa Allen, Wayne Iacono, Martina Mastramonaco
Staff: Jennifer Christy, Admin. Asst.
Meeting called to order at 4:04PM
- Menemsha Master Plan Discussion:
- Ms. Malkin opened the meeting and gave a brief summary of the purpose of meeting with the Beach Committee: to gather input on Menemsha.
- What works in Menemsha and does not work
- What should change in Menemsha and what should remain
- Ms. Mastramonaco mentioned her preference for the walking boardwalk from the beach to the comfort station area and felt it worked well and provided a safe walking area, especially for children.
- Ms. Allen suggested that a concerted effort should be made to advertise and encourage the off-site parking availability and she supported the efforts to make the off-site parking off Tabor House Road well-used and welcoming. Ms. Allen further suggested that employees in Menemsha should always park at the off-site location and Ms. Mastramonaco stated her agreement with this suggestion and noted that Mr. Larsen at the Menemsha Fish Market encourages off-site parking.
- Ms. Allen noted that the Beach Committee staffs the Menemsha Beach, but the beach itself provides no revenue to the Town, as Lucy Vincent and Squibnocket Beaches do. She suggested that an increase in revenue from Menemsha be researched with the object of eliminating this shortfall in the Beach Committee’s budget, due to the expenditure at Menemsha Beach.
- Ms. Mastramonaco mentioned the cost to staff Menemsha Beach was $20,000 +/- in FY17.
- Ms. Allen stated the Beach Committee has no plan currently to increase the beach sticker prices and feels that the current price is appropriate.
- Ms. Mastramonaco mentioned that the walking boardwalk must be maintained and noted that there should be funds and staff designated for the repair, upkeep and installation of the boardwalk.
- Ms. Mastramonaco also mentioned that trash from local food establishments is problematic for the Beach staff. She mentioned a fee for the food establishments to put towards the cost of trash removal and more signage. She further noted that beach employees are required to clean the beach twice a day.
- There was brief discussion regarding the ban on dogs on Menemsha beach at all times. It was noted that signage about the ban is not adequate.
- Ms. Mastramonaco also noted there used to be a signed at the beginning of the jetty that runs parallel to the yacht dock warning people of danger and risk.
- Mr. Cook noted there could be more online notification to visitors about the rules and regulations of Menemsha Beach. Ms. Mastramonaco also noted the Beach Sticker sales could be accompanied by a description of the rules and regulations.
- Mr. Iacono stated his support for a walking path/sidewalk along the DiMaura’s property on the curve past The Bite into Menemsha.
- Mr. Iacono also noted that the issues that face Menemsha are only apparent for a short time each year and he is not in favor of expenditures when the likelihood of change is not great.
Meeting adjourned at 4:45 PM. Minutes respectfully submitted by Jennifer L. Christy
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