Selectmen Approve Falmouth Beach Regulations

“It’s not a super inclusive list, but we didn’t choose to do that,” Acting Beach Superintendent Bruce G. Mogardo said. “Some towns have 25, 35 things they want you to do, and most of that begins with no. We honestly felt we could try to strike a balance between people’s rights, people’s safety and the privilege of having fun at Falmouth beaches besides just getting a suntan and getting wet.”

Selectman Douglas H. Jones said these rules should serve as a reminder to those using the beach.

“Anything you do should be respectful of other people in the area,” Mr. Jones said. “That should be the one rule: be aware that you are surrounded by other people, and what you’re doing can diminish their fun.”

The board of selectmen made one change to the draft regulation. Selectman Douglas C. Brown suggested the rules note they are in effect at all times, not just during the defined beach hours of 9 AM to 5 PM when beaches are supervised.

Mr. Mogardo said he supported this change, though he questioned who would enforce the rules after hours.

“A lot of places make a 180-degree turn after 5 o’clock, and they become a problem,” he said, noting he receives far more complaints about alcohol and dogs at the beach after 5 PM than before.

Speaking for himself and not as a member of the beach committee, Daniel H. Shearer said he disagreed with allowing 10-by-10-foot tents.

“I’m all for tents—I think they’re great—but a 10-by-10 can hold four chairs and a queen-size bed,” Mr. Shearer said. “We don’t need it.”

Mr. Mogardo said most communities that allow tents at the beach do not regulate tent size. The committee thought there should be a limit and settled on 10 feet by 10 feet.

Selectmen agreed.

“Some people use tents because they prefer the shade, others use it because they need it,” Selectman Megan E. English Braga said. “Everyone is different when it comes to the beach, with different levels of need and ability.”

She said the town needs to be accommodating of those needs, so she did not have a problem with tent sizes.

Falmouth Heights-Maravista Neighborhood Association vice president Paula L. Lichter listed five concerns the neighborhood association had with the proposed regulations. Their first was leaving certain activities up to the lifeguard’s discretion.

“Ball playing with hard balls and kite flying can be dangerous,” Ms. Lichter said, asking those activities be prohibited outright.

Mr. Mogardo said he was comfortable leaving those at the discretion of lifeguards.

“If it puts people in danger or jeopardizes their safety, we’re definitely going to stop it,” he said.

Using kites as an example, he said lifeguards would not allow kite flying on a beach full of people. However, a lifeguard may allow kite flying on a quieter day in May or September.

Ms. Lichter also requested tents be limited to the rear of the beach; that the leash law be enforced when people bring their dogs to the beach; and that the regulations ban playing music that can be heard more than 15 feet from its source.

“Everybody has access to earbuds, and the beach really does not need to be a venue for sound systems nor for music which often has lyrics disrespectful toward women and police officers, which has become more common on our beaches,” Ms. Lichter said.

She also requested a monitoring system to track those who failed to follow the rules. She cited Mr. Mogardo’s comments at the prior board of selectmen’s meeting, where he said there were 40 occasions where Falmouth Heights Beach lifeguards asked people to stop playing ball on the beach last year.

“Only 40 during a 10-week season can’t be all there was,” Ms. Licther said.

She also commented on the need for signage outlining these rules at the beaches. Selectmen took no action regarding signs, as the public hearing specifically related adopting beach rules and regulations.

Mr. Mogardo added that while he considered signage, he did not want to purchase any signs before getting approval of the regulations from the board of selectmen, should they make any changes to the beach committee’s draft regulations.