Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Public Art topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Select Board OKs one-year temporary placement of 'Atlantis' mermaid at Reid Park, no lighting
Summary
The Select Board approved a temporary, up-to-one-year display of a mermaid sculpture at Reid Park, subject to DPW and tree-warden approval, no nighttime lighting, and the right to revoke permission; residents asked for safety and tree-root protections and clarity on the permanent-harbor permitting process.
The Select Board granted temporary approval for the "Atlantis" tide-keeper mermaid sculpture to be placed at Reid Park for up to one year, subject to DPW and tree-warden review and without lighting.
The proponent described the installation logistics and fundraising needs, noting the bronze cast alone costs about $30,000. Board members asked about site placement, the base size (the granite base was described as roughly 4ft by 3ft and about 6,000lbs) and whether the location would interfere with future DPW work or tree roots. "Only the bronze cast is 30,000, which I was able to... raise so far," the proponent said, describing the temporary placement as part of a larger fundraising plan for a permanent harbor installation.
Residents who spoke during public comment supported temporary displays for local artists but urged caution about a slippery slope toward permanent installations and asked that the town notify the public when the Chapter 91 application (permitting for a harbor site) is filed so residents can comment at the appropriate time. Resident Rick Rogers said he supported local artists but warned that "considering a permanent installation is a little bit of a slippery slope." The board's motion included explicit conditions that the installation not be lighted, that the tree warden and DPW approve the exact placement, and that the board reserve the right to revoke permission during the year. The motion passed on a board vote.
