The following is the full article quoted from The Falmouth Enterprise published on 9/11/26 pages 1 & 12, entitled, “Beach Superintendent Resignation Prompts Discussion About Departmental Merger”.
A proposed merger of Falmouth’s beach and recreation departments is gaining “cautious support” from members of the Recreation Committee after the resignation of Beach Superintendent Maggie Clayton and as town management prepares to bring the proposal to the Select Board.
Clayton submitted her resignation last week, with her departure effective in mid-October. Her resignation prompted town management to revisit how the Beach Department is staffed and managed, Town Manager Michael Renshaw said during the Recreation Committee meeting on Wednesday, September 9.
Renshaw told the committee that he has been evaluating the structure of the department for several years and believes the current model, centered on a seasonal, part-time superintendent, has left important work unfinished during the offseason.
“In my opinion, it wasn’t working as efficiently or effectively in terms of delivering services,” Renshaw said.
He pointed particularly to the months between December and April when, he said, the town should be working on recruitment, planning, budgeting and other preparations for the coming beach season.
Because Clayton’s position was seasonal, she returned to her job as a teacher in Brookline after the summer season; however, much of that offseason work was left without staff to carry it forward as efficiently as management had hoped, Renshaw said.
Under the proposal, the Beach and Recreation departments would be brought together, with a new year-round assistant recreation director position overseeing beach operations. Recreation Director Julie Williams-Tinkham would remain the department head.
Town management emphasized that the proposal is not intended as a cost-saving measure.
“We are not looking to reduce staff,” Assistant Town Manager Peter K. Johnson-Staub said. “This proposed merger is not being proposed as a way to save money. In fact, it’s going to increase the budget.”
The town estimates the change would add approximately $50,000 to $60,000 to the annual budget beginning in Fiscal Year 2028, including wages and benefits. For FY27, however, Johnson-Staub said there is money available from unspent beach superintendent wages and an existing beach coordinator position that was never filled.
The assistant town manager presented several alternatives to the committee, including maintaining the current structure, adding part-time year-round administrative support, merging the departments or eventually creating a permanent full-time beach superintendent position.
The latter option could be a longer-term solution, he said, but would require Town Meeting approval to add a new year-round position with benefits to the town’s classification plan. That makes it impractical for the immediate 2027 beach season, he said.
The merger, town management said, would allow the town to place a full-time employee in an existing position more quickly. Renshaw also stressed that the merger could initially be treated as a “trial” rather than a permanent restructuring.
Johnson-Staub said the town could evaluate the arrangement in September 2027 after the first beach season, although he acknowledged that a full assessment could require more time.
“Ideally, you want to give like a year and a half,” he said, noting that someone hired in January would need time to learn the beach operation before the town could assess the new structure fairly.
If the merger does not work, the town could seek Town Meeting approval to create a separate full-time beach position and split the divisions back apart.
Most Recreation Committee members raised questions about the proposed merger rather than taking a formal position.
“I think my only issue with making a decision is the devil’s in the details,” David Watson said. “So if the Beach Committee was able to kind of explain to us, this is a positive because of these logistics, or negative, because of these logistics, that would benefit my decision.”
Committee chairman Thomas A. Zine added, “We’re not opposed, but we just want to hear a little bit more.”
Vice chairwoman Sandy Cunny said the timing of Clayton’s resignation had helped her make a decision.
“For our beaches, it’s too late,” she said of waiting until April Town Meeting to establish a full-time superintendent position instead of the merger. She said the “beaches are in trouble,” emphasizing the need to prevent gaps in leadership as the town begins preparing for the next season.
She also suggested the town concurrently prepare an article for April Town Meeting that would establish a permanent position as a backup should the merger fail, arguing that a full-time position with benefits could attract a stronger pool of applicants.
Williams-Tinkham said she was nervous about taking on additional responsibilities but believed the proposal was the best option available.
“I think that this is the best choice, given the options that we have,” Williams-Tinkham said. “Am I nervous? Yeah.”
The Beach Committee has not yet held its monthly meeting to discuss the proposal and determine where the full committee stands. Its next meeting is scheduled for Tuesday, September 22.
The Select Board is scheduled to discuss and consider the proposed restructuring at its meeting on Monday, September 14.
The proposed merger also would require changes to office space at the Recreation Department. On Monday, the Select Board will consider moving forward with a $38,000 late capital request to construct a wall and rearrange office space in the Gus Canty Community Center to accommodate any future office needs resulting from the merger.