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Camden authorizes overnight closure of public-landing bathrooms amid vandalism, directs parks staff to set hours
Summary
After repeated vandalism and overnight damage at the public-landing restrooms, Parks & Recreation Director Jeff Nathan urged closing the facilities overnight; the select board authorized parks staff to determine closure hours and asked staff to explore a porta-potty for closed hours.
The Camden select board voted to give Parks & Recreation staff authority to close the public-landing restrooms overnight, after the department described repeated vandalism and staffing limits that made 24-hour public access unsustainable.
Parks & Recreation Director Jeff Nathan told the board that over recent months staff repeatedly found vandalism and damage in the restrooms during morning cleanups, including broken faucets, torn dispensers and human waste. Nathan said the town recently spent about $1,100 in plumbing repairs in one month and that similar municipalities close restrooms when they are not staffed.
Nathan proposed closing the restrooms overnight as the least-expensive immediate option, suggesting 10 p.m. to 7 a.m. as a starting point. He also recommended considering hiring overnight staff or a security/janitorial position as a longer-term response. "I don't think the bathrooms, anyone who is using the bathrooms at night, is going to find a clean public toilet for them to use," Nathan said, arguing the town should shift access while reducing vandalism and repair costs.
Public reaction and alternatives: Several residents opposed closing the restrooms fully overnight and urged later closing times (midnight rather than 10 p.m.), better signage and cameras. Allison McKellar, who previously served on the select board, said closing restrooms in summer would harm families and visitors and urged investment in cameras and more frequent police checks. Others suggested placing a contracted porta-potty for overnight hours and signage directing users.
Board action: The board amended the staff recommendation to give Parks & Recreation the discretion to set appropriate overnight closure times and asked staff to explore placing a maintained porta-potty on the public landing to serve users when the restrooms are closed. The motion to allow overnight closure under parks-staff authority and to explore a porta-potty passed unanimously (5-0).
