Dennis Beach Committee Hears Concerns Following Summer Incident

DENNIS – The Town of Dennis’s Beach Safety and Monitoring Committee hosted a public forum Monday night regarding the current state of the town’s 19 beaches and solicited recommendations for improvement.

Beach Committee Chairman Connie Mooers informed the two dozen or so in attendance at the Dennis Police Department meeting room that the group is open to input on a wide range of issues.

Issues the committee have agreed to consider include congestion, drop-off areas, dogs on the beach, access to public landings and ways-to-water, littering, signage, staffing, fees, restrooms, and hours of operation.

Surprisingly absent from what was an otherwise active discussion was much mention of the highly publicized sex on the beach incident that occurred at Mayflower Beach this past 4th of July weekend.

Four visiting college students were arrested in an incident that brought increased scrutiny to the issue of alcohol and rowdiness on town beaches.

Residents at this meeting, however, were much more concerned with parking and crowds.

Dennis resident Michael Skoal said, “I can tell you from personal observation this summer that Mayflower Beach is more crowded on the weekends than Coney Island. I think that we should have less people bused, Ubered, or helicoptered into our beaches.”

A single tense moment at the meeting occurred between resident Jim Hamlon and Mooers regarding problems at Mayflower in particular.

Hanlon began, “Anything goes at Mayflower Beach, that’s what happens in Dennis for the last 30 years, and this is where we’re at now. You know, we have trash problems, we have…”

“Okay, okay,” Mooers interrupted, “We’ve heard all of the problems. I hate to cut you off, but…”

“I know you have, I know you have,” Hanlon responded.

Mooers continued, “If you have a new problem, or a…”

“But you’ve been hearing about them for years, for years.” said Hanlon

Mooers concluded the back and forth with, “And that is why the selectmen set up this committee”

The meeting was a listening session and no decisions were made last night. The committee will continue to meet regularly and present their recommendations to selectmen at a later date.

By DAVID BEATTY, CapeCod.com NewsCenter

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