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Residents press board to reopen town beach as select board seeks insurance and legal clarification
Summary
Multiple residents urged the select board to reopen Nottingham’s town beach; the board outlined insurance and access complications—PrimeX municipal coverage limits, deeded‑access questions and staffing needs—and said it will continue to seek legal and insurance guidance before deciding.
Public comment at the July 6 meeting focused heavily on the town beach, where residents urged the board to reopen access this summer and pressed staff for alternatives to address the town’s legal and insurance constraints.
Multiple residents and speakers recounted long family histories at the beach and urged the board to find workable insurance or staffing solutions. One commenter asked whether the town had explored alternative insurance carriers or excess coverage; another suggested hold‑harmless agreements or fee‑based staffing to underwrite gate attendants.
Select board members and staff explained constraints: the town’s municipal insurance pool (PrimeX) has a standard nominal policy limit discussed in the meeting as $1,000,000 in general liability; staff said PrimeX representatives had indicated limits on stacking additional coverage. The board noted legal limits on expending public funds for private property insurance and said deed records show the town does not hold deeded access to the beach parcel, creating additional legal complexity.
Board members said they are continuing to request clarifications from insurance administrators and legal counsel; staff reported that answers may take time because PrimeX serves many municipalities and responses come at the insurer’s operating pace. The board discussed alternatives including charging fees and hiring staff or a security contractor, but members cautioned such steps would have budgetary and staffing implications.
The board thanked residents for persistent engagement and said it will continue pursuing insurance and legal guidance and report back; meanwhile, staff will not reopen the beach until required coverage, easement/access and staffing questions are resolved.
