On Monday, 5/21/18, the Selectmen announced that the Open Hearing regarding Town beach regulations is scheduled for Monday, June 4, 2018. Time: TBD. The general meeting starts at 7:00 PM.
Also, the Beach Committee Chairman and Beach Department Superintendent, who had submitted their recommendations, made a 10 minute general presentation without detailing specifics, which will be done at the Open Hearing.
See the “Draft 2” list of recommendations below. Bolded, italicized lettering notes changes from “Draft 1” which FHMNA reported on 4/13.
Please attend the Open Hearing, and/or email your comments directly to the Selectmen at selectmen@falmouthmass.us.
If you have already sent comments to the Beach Committee, please send them again to the Selectmen. The Beach Committee received over 50 letters, a summary of which they submitted to the Selectmen.
The Open Hearing can be watched on YouTube,
Also see FHMNA earlier articles posted on 4/23/18 and 4/13/18.
Beach Committee: Beach Regulations for the Town of Falmouth Beaches Draft 2
Town officials, lifeguards and beach parking attendant’s directives must be followed for the benefit and safety of all
Beach hours are defined as 9:00 am to 5:00 pm when beaches are supervised
Lifeguards are on duty from 9:00 AM until 5:00 PM beginning in late June until Labor Day at most beaches
Bathhouses are open from 9:00 AM until 4:45 PM daily beginning in late June until Labor Day
Parking lot gates open at 9:00 AM and are locked at 10:00 PM during the summer season
Animals and pets on the beach, beach parking lots or parked vehicles is “not permitted” May 1 to October 1, certified service dogs are permitted
Alcoholic beverages, fires and grills are “not permitted” in the beach parking lots or on the beaches
Smoking and vaping of anything on any public beach “is not permitted”
++Umbrellas and tents must be firmly secured and must not obstruct the lifeguard’s view or path to the water
+++Littering “is not permitted” on the public beaches or in beach parking lots
Water craft, fishing and scuba diving are “not permitted” in the swim area during beach hours (the definition of water craft is found in Ch. 231 of the Town Code)
Swim area is defined as the beach frontage and surrounding waters monitored by lifeguards
Ball playing, kite flying, and beach games are permitted with the lifeguard’s discretion and when space allows. Beach staff may terminate these same activities when it is deemed unsafe to the public.
No household trash or garbage shall be discarded at any beach or beach parking lots.
To promote clean healthy beaches, please do not feed the wildlife.
++ At the Beach Committee meeting on 5/16, the Chair said a 10’x10’ limitation to the size of tents would be added to the list.
+++ “solicitation is not permitted” was deleted from this line item