CRITICAL PLANNING COMMITTEE
BAY/POND BEACHES
Tuesday, June 3, 2008
Eastham Town Hall
Present: Loretta Neilsen, Ed Sedloch, Bob Smith, Fred Rollinson, Beverly Fallstrom, Joan Sullivan
The minutes of the February 5 meeting were approved.
It was noted that Russ French, committee member, has resigned from the Critical Planning Committee because of personal reasons.
Ed Sedloch raised the issue of the Thumpertown beach stairs. He says the stairs currently are unsafe and present a liability to the town. New stairs were to have been constructed before the summer season. The Committee voted to report this dangerous condition to the Town Administrator immediately after the meeting.
The Committee noted that some of our recommendations made to the Selectmen in December had been accepted. Sand quality has improved at Sunken Meadow and Campground beaches. The new docks are ready to be installed at Wiley Park. Fences have been put up to contain poison ivy at Wiley and sand has been added to the beach area. Purchase of a raking machine has been put on the town’s capital plan. Ed Sedloch noted that the bike rake at Thumpertown had been dug out.
The Committee noted that the Selectman had not acted on our recommendation to engage Coastal Engineering of Florida to conduct a public information presentation on coastal erosion and remedies. This company has already done aerial studies of our entire coast line and is prepared to do an analysis of our beach situation at no cost to the town. The Committee voted to write a letter to the Selectmen urging that contact be made and a presentation organized as soon as possible.
Loretta Neilsen noted that Peter Markunas of the Woods Hole Group is planning a seminar on coastal erosion in September. This will be sponsored by the Eastham Forum and will include Wellfleet representatives. A panel of experts will discuss coastal erosion and possible remedial actions.
Bob Smith suggested that Nauset Light Beach and Coast Guard be included in our monitoring of beaches as the town has designated spots at these beaches for Eastham taxpayers. The Committee agreed.
Bob also noted that there is no mention of Nauset Light or Coast Guard parking on the information sheets distributed at the Natural Resource Office with the purchase of beach stickers. The Committee will look into the situation for our next meeting. Bob will also look into the banning of smoking at Eastham beaches. Some areas of the country are establishing no smoking programs at beaches.
The Committee voted to have two beach monitoring expeditions., one before the beaches open and one after. The first will be Tuesday, July lst and the second Thursday, July 17th. We will meet at 9 am at the town hall to car pool.
The next meeting of the Committee will be Thursday, June 26 at 10 am at the town hall.
Respect submitted,
Joan Sullivan
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