The parking lot at Philbin Beach will be restricted to Aquinnah homeowners this summer, selectmen decided at a meeting Monday.
The parking lot at Philbin Beach will be restricted to Aquinnah homeowners this summer, selectmen decided at a meeting Monday.
People renting homes in town will be issued walk-on passes to the town beach, and can park free of charge at the town lot at the head of Moshup Trail.
“We want to manage the physical distancing between people on the beach and this will help do that. Also, we want to avoid really crowding cars into that parking lot,” Aquinnah town administrator Jeffrey Madison said.
Last month, selectmen decided to cap the number of cars in the town lot at 40. On Monday, the selectmen decided not to put a number on capacity in the Philbin lot, but to leave it to the discretion of the parking attendant.
“The attendant will make sure that it’s not overly crowded,” Mr. Madison said.
In other business, selectmen reviewed the warrant for the annual town meeting, which will be held June 23 at 1 p.m. outside the firehouse by the town hall.
Selectmen also voted unanimously to extend the contract of fire chief Simon Bollin for one year. Chief Bollin is paid $40,000 annually; his contract will expire on June 30, 2021. The fire chief said he will enter into negotiations with the town for a new three-year contract prior to the end of his contract’s extension.
— Aaron Wilson
Comments
Maybe Oak Bluffs should do
Anonymous Oak BluffsMaybe Oak Bluffs should do this.
This is absurd,
Scott BostonThis is absurd, discriminatory, and in violation of Mr. Philbin‘s deed. It also accomplishes nothing, as the same total number of people, whether they are owners or renters, will be wanting to use the beach. Even at the peak of the summer, Philbin beach is never crowded. The typical scene is one of families and very small groups sitting amongst themselves far apart from others. If the selectmen are worried about physical distancing of cars in the lot, then simply have the attendant space them out as they are doing in Chilmark. What difference does it make if the cars and their occupants are being driven by someone who owns a home or rents a home?
Interesting that this was
Haywood Cape CodInteresting that this was done without a vote by the selectmen. What about the tenants and landlords who entered into legally binding contracts and advertised properties with Philbin Beach access? Folks paying several thousand dollars a week for a rental and now can't get a beach sticker will not be happy and may take legal action.
As a 30 year renter in Martha
MadameB BostonAs a 30 year renter in Martha’s Vineyard, I feel betrayed. Approximately two weeks ago when I read Juli Vanderhoop suggesting the parking lot in Aquinnah/ Philbin allow only homeowners to park in town lot I was blown away. I thought that Mr. Philbin said when he donated the beach that it was for owners and renters and those are the conditions of his will. We come to the island for many months in the summer, support the local community and the stores. We tried to support Orange peel bakery...We used to go to orange peel bakery until we kept getting items that were moldy, and the last straw was a cat running through the flour. None of us are perfect, we’re all trying to get through this crazy world were in right now. I feel violated as a renter and discriminated against. I was really sad when I read the article about Philbin, the beach that we adore. Who are you kidding, it’s not a short walk from the town lot. mornings, walking within the beauty and picking up discarded trash that has washed up on the beach. While we may not own a home, we have the upmost respect for the town and feel extremely let down.
Please rethink this, it’s terribly Please rethink this, it’s terribly discriminatory and ignorant.
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