Resident James Spiggle tells Select Board sand from beach has buried his yard, says complaint went unanswered

James Spiggle, a resident of 14 Clearwater Drive in Onset, told the Wareham Select Board on June 2 that roughly four feet of sand has accumulated on the public beach in front of his property and migrated over his wall into his yard.

"The town recently is labeling this as a coastal dune and they state it can never be touched," Spiggle said. "The answer is the town approved additional sand to be deposited there." He told the board he has pressed the town for help for four and a half years and that a formal complaint filed Feb. 12, 2026 naming two town employees has not been investigated.

Spiggle said multiple maintenance and construction permits since 1992 for Point Independence Yacht Club have, in his view, allowed movement and dumping of sand onto the town beach and that those actions contributed to the current condition. "Many of the approved permits allowed them to move and dump unwanted sand from elsewhere to this town beach," he said.

He asked the Select Board to explain where the sand originated and to provide a meaningful complaint process. "I am disappointed in the lack of professionalism and leadership at all levels of the town government," Spiggle said. He added he was refused direct communication with the town administrator when he sought help and that he was advised to file the formal complaint.

No board member offered a response during public comment that resolved Spiggle's assertions. The board did not record a staff report or a formal direction on the complaint during the June 2 meeting.

The meeting record shows Spiggle's concerns were aired during the public comment period; the transcript does not include any immediate investigation results or a staff timeline for follow-up.