Next summer, out-of-towners could have to pay a fee to use the Jaffrey town beaches, if a new proposed ordinance is adopted by the Select Board.
The board has scheduled a public hearing on Aug. 24 to discuss creating a paid parking sticker for non-residents who want to visit either the Contoocook Beach or the Shattuck Park beach, both of which are owned by the town.
The proposal was put forth by Jaffrey Recreation Director Renee Sangermano.
“Each summer, the recreation department receives complaints about non-resident parking at the beaches. This summer of 2020 has seen a significant increase in public commentary and outcry over non-resident parking at the public beaches,” Sangermano wrote in a letter to the Select Board.
Sangermano proposed the parking at both beaches be monitored by allowing residents of Jaffrey, identified by the transfer station sticker on their car, to use the parking lots for free, and to sell a beach sticker to non-residents at a cost of $150 for the season. The ordinance would be enforced from May 15 through Sept. 15, in Sangermano’s proposal, which would allow non-residents who access the frozen lake for snowmobiling, ice fishing and ice racing to park at the town beach in the off season without purchasing a parking pass.
The cost of the parking passes would offset additional staff whose main purpose would be to monitor the parking. Shattuck Park is currently unstaffed, and because of its isolated location, Sangermano proposed hiring two attendants, at an annual cost of about $9,300. Contoocook Beach is typically staffed by lifeguards and concession stand attendants. Sangermano’s proposal would add an additional concession employees to monitor the parking lot, for an additional cost of $9,300.
Selling 125 non-residential beach parking permits at $150 each would offset the cost of the additional staff. Comparatively, the Peterborough Recreation Department sells non-residential passes to Cunningham Pond for $130.
Jaffrey Recreation Department staff would monitor the parking, and report violations with the date, time, vehicle make, model and license plate number to the Jaffrey Police Department for enforcement.
Selectman Jack Belletete clarified that summer residents would still be able to access the beach as residents, as would anyone who owns property in Jaffrey, as that is the requirement for acquiring a transfer station sticker.
A public hearing on the issue has been scheduled to be held at the next Jaffrey Select Board meeting on Aug. 24. Meetings are held in-person at the Jaffrey town offices, but can also be accessed via livestream on the town’s website.
Ashley Saari can be reached at 924-7172 ext. 244 or asaari@ledgertranscript.com. She’s on Twitter @AshleySaariMLT.