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Board debates using reserve funds to repaint Sandy Beach lot after near‑blocked emergency access; vote deferred
Summary
After an interim manager and the police chief described safety risks at Sandy Beach caused by faded lines and disorderly parking, the Select Board and Advisory Committee debated whether to tap emergency reserves (~$7,500 estimate) or use DPW/operational funds; members deferred a vote and asked for updated quotes and mitigation plans.
The Select Board and Advisory Committee on July 14 debated whether to use reserve funds to repaint lines and address safety problems at the town‑owned Sandy Beach parking lot after a busy weekend left the lot effectively unstriped and nearly blocked emergency access.
Interim town management and the police chief said faded striping and parking‑lot deterioration have created disorder, and that during a recent busy period the town nearly had to close the lot and struggled to ensure ambulance or fire‑engine access. The chief said a contractor quote obtained earlier was about $7,500 to line the lot.
"The lines are so bad that ... you definitely can't get the ambulance out in a hurry," the interim manager said, describing a recent incident in which the Sandy Beach Association asked the town to close the lot.
Advisory members pushed back on using the reserve fund for what they called an operational need. Several advisory members said the reserve fund is intended for unforeseen, extraordinary emergencies (litigation, severe one‑off events) and warned of setting a precedent. Others suggested DPW or the recently created roads & sidewalks fund could cover an $8,000 expense and urged the town to seek updated quotes before spending.
Board members explored short‑term mitigations, including using cones to preserve a turnaround for apparatuses, making the gate at the north end available to public‑safety responders, and directing DPW to implement an immediate safety buffer while staff obtains current estimates and a full plan. The chief cautioned that cones are limited as drivers often move them and that towing had nearly been required.
Given those questions, the board agreed not to vote on the emergency reserve request that night. The item will return once DPW and the town manager present updated cost estimates and a proposed implementation plan for short‑ and long‑term repairs and striping.
