Beach Management Committee Minutes October 21, 2021
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Beach Management Committee
Beach Management Committee
Minutes
October 21, 2021
The meeting of the Hull Beach Management Committee was called to order at 6:00 p.m. on
Thursday evening, October 21, 2021, at Town Hall.
Present: Rhoda Kanet, Chair; Susan Mann, Vice Chair; Peter Larsen, Member; Susan Short
Green, Member; Kevin Beck, Member; Dave MacDougall, Member.
Absent: Rob Gilman, Member; Chris Krahforst, Conservation Administrator, John Reilly, Select
Board.
Also attending: Gina Purtell, Program Manager, Community Science and Coastal Resilience,
Mass Audubon South East; Liz Varga, Plover Ambassador; Tom Varga, Plover Ambassador.
A. Minutes. The Committee voted to approve minutes of September 9, 2021, as follows:
Motion Green Motion to approve the minutes of September 9, 2021, as
amended.
Second Beck
Vote Unanimous
B. Guest—Gina Purtell, Mass Audubon. The following is a summary of information discussed by
BMC members, G. Purtell, and Plover Ambassadors:
(1) G. Purtell attended the BMC Meeting tonight to discuss the 2021 Piping Plover nesting
season, Hull’s Plover Ambassador Program, and to begin planning for the 2022 nesting season.
G. Purtell is the Mass Audubon Program Manager point of contact for contract support to the
Town’s efforts to protect Plovers on Nantasket Beach. Mass Audubon advises the Town on the
well-being of its nesting and brooding Piping Plovers by providing Coastal Waterbird Field
Monitors to (1) assess Plover progress and survivability threats, (2) establish and maintain
symbolic fencing to protect nesting and brooding areas and (3) advise Town Leaders and Plover
Ambassadors on the status of all individual Plover families on North Nantasket Beach, Plover
natural history and behaviors, and threats/challenges to Plovers on North Nantasket Beach.
(2) For the eighth year in a row, Piping Plovers (Charadius melodus) were observed nesting and
brooding on Nantasket Beach. Piping Plovers are protected under State and Federal
Endangered Species Act laws. These laws designate Piping Plovers as a ‘threatened species,’
which means that the population would continue to decline if not protected. Plover chicks are
particularly vulnerable because they cannot fly in their first 30 days.
(3) Mass Audubon shared the following information: During the 2021 nesting season, 12 Piping
Plover pairs (plus 2 non-nested pairs) made 17 nesting attempts on Nantasket
Beach. Approximately 60 eggs were laid, 31 chicks hatched, and 9 chicks fledged. The 2021
productivity ratio was 0.75 (9 chicks fledged divided by 12 nesting pairs).
[Editor’s note 1: During the period 2014 – 2020: Nantasket Beach productivity ratio was
1.85, and the productivity ratio for all Massachusetts nesting Piping Plovers was 1.30.
pg. 1
Beach Management Committee
Editor’s note 2: A productivity ration of 1.2 or greater is required to maintain a stable
population (Melvin & Gibbs 1996).]
Mass Audubon attributed the following factors to causing Nantasket Beach low productivity
ratio in 2021 (uncertainty intervals are due to unconfirmed hatchings):
(a) 4-5 nests and 4-5 broods disappeared due to the elements, e.g., ocean overwash, storms,
intense heat.
(b) 3-4 nests were lost to predators.
(c) 8-10 nests hatched chicks.
(d) Fourth of July observations:
(i) 3 broods were negatively impacted by human disturbance (crowds and fireworks). Mass
Audubon included an Incident Report about this human disturbance as part of its end of season
Piping Plover report submitted to Mass Natural Heritage and Endangered Species Program.
(ii) Incubating Plovers/nests did not seem to be disturbed by 4th of July crowds and fireworks.
(iii) Symbolic fencing was knocked over by people.
(iv) People entered the beach and plover nesting areas by walking over dunes from Beach
Avenue.
(4) The 2021 Plover Ambassador program:
(a) Eight citizens volunteered as Plover Ambassadors in 2021: 4 Hull year-round residents, 3 Hull
summer residents, 1 Hingham resident.
(b) The Plover Ambassador Program goal is for every interaction between Ambassadors and
beachgoers to be enjoyable, positive, and educational for everyone. Plover Ambassadors are
enthusiastic advocates for Plovers.
(c) Plover Ambassadors communicated with each other via email, text messages and telephone
calls. These methods did not keep all stakeholders “in the loop.” A better method to share
information is required.
(d) Plover articles in the “The Hull Times” did a good job informing the public about the Plover
Ambassador Program.
(e) The Mass Audubon Coastal Waterbird Field Monitors, Hannah, Derek, and intern Emma
were very helpful, informative, and even helped recruit Plover Ambassadors.
(5) Discussions of potential actions and planning topics for the 2022 Plover nesting and
brooding season included:
(a) Beach Management Committee.
(i) Communicate with the Conservation Department, Town Manager, Selectboard and other
Town Leaders in January 2022 to discuss Lessons Learned in 2021 and make recommendations
for 2022.
(ii) Reaffirm Police and Animal Control enforcement on the beach.
(iii) Draft a letter, with Mass Audubon input, from the Town to inform Beach Avenue property
owners about the Town’s responsibilities and activities for protecting Plovers and to solicit their
support. Mass Audubon’s content will explain Plover natural history, behaviors, coastal
waterbird monitor actions necessary to protect Plovers.
(iv) Fourth of July holiday:
- Protection for vulnerable nests and broods with emphasis on impact during evening darkness.
pg. 2
Beach Management Committee - Extend symbolic fence close to the waterline to deter fireworks downslope of nests. - Improve visibility of the symbolic fence, especially after dark, using reflective material. (v) Improve signage marking symbolic fence boundaries so they can be easily read from a distance. (vi) Add “special notice” signage during Fourth of July holiday. (vii) Expand Plover Ambassador recruiting pool. (viii) Clearly communicate that Plover Ambassadors’ enjoy a very positive experience educating beachgoers about Nantasket Beach Plovers. Town of Hull Volunteer Policies specifically prohibit volunteers, including Plover Ambassadors, from engaging in law enforcement and security activities. (ix) Identify a better method to share information among Plover Ambassadors, Mass Audubon, Conservation Department and Town leaders. The current methods are email, texts, phone calls. (x) Consider distinctive hats, shirts, etc., to clearly identify Plover Ambassadors on the beach. (xi) Consider reaching out to Hull schools to suggest adding Mass Audubon Coastal Waterbird Program educational information and materials at any level/degree the schools believe would advance student knowledge about coastal waterbirds and their environment. (xii) Propose the Town designate the month of April as Plover Awareness month which will include: - Weekly articles in the local paper. - Photo exhibit on the Town Hall gallery wall. - Invitations to join the Plover Ambassador Program. - QR code displayed in various media so community members can learn more. (b) Mass Audubon: (i) Provide a link to the Atlantic Flyway Shorebird Initiative to illustrate signage ideas for the Town to consider adopting. (ii) Learn how Hull on-boards and trains new Ambassadors to fulfill their role, including clear “Do’s and Don’ts” to better describe and replicate at other locations. Of note, the Plover Ambassador program is structured under the umbrella of the Town’s Conservation Department with assistance from the Beach Management Committee, with strong support from the Select Board, Town Manager, and other Town leaders. (iii) Inquire if any research shows an impact of installing 5G network antennas in close proximity to nesting birds. (iv) Inquire if intermittent snow-fencing along Beach Avenue would be allowed to keep people from walking over dunes from Beach Avenue, especially for 4th of July when paths are ignored. A fence would also deter cats and dogs. (v) Participate in Planning meetings for the 2022 Piping Plover nesting and brooding season. (vi) Draft content in early February for the BMC to include in a draft letter from the Town to inform Beach Avenue about the Town’s responsibilities and activities for protecting Plovers and to solicit their support. Mass Audubon’s content will explain Plover natural history, behaviors, coastal waterbird monitor actions necessary to protect Plovers. (vii) If requested, provide Mass Audubon education opportunities, e.g., programs, materials, tools/resources for teachers. C. Conservation Commission Report. Nothing to report. pg. 3
Beach Management Committee
D. Select Board (SB) Report. SB Members expressed a goal of improving communication with
Town Committees at their Annual Goal Setting Meeting on September 18. To achieve this goal,
the SB discussed reestablishing a requirement for Committees to submit Quarterly Reports to
the SB. Chair R. Kanet will contact SB Member John Reilly to obtain details on submitting
Quarterly Reports and any other actions the BMC could undertake to improve communication
with the SB.
E. Old Business.
(1) Update on communication with Hull residents. Vice Chair S. Mann provided the following
update:
(a) Charlie Shaffer. S. Mann is leading the process of researching and drafting a written
response to C. Shaffer. Note: The BMC written response follows an in-person discussion
between S. Mann and C. Shaffer. (See BMC Minutes dated September 9 for background.)
(b) Kia Khaleghpour. S. Mann presented a draft email response to BMC Members for approval.
(See BMC Minutes dated September 9 for background.) Note. BMC approved email response is
attached at the end of these Minutes.
Motion MacDougall Motion to approve the draft BMC email response, as amended,
and to authorize S. Mann to forward the amended email
response to Kia Khaleghpour this week.
Second Larsen
Vote Unanimous
(c) Request for minutes. Mr. Normal Blumenthal requested a copy of BMC Minutes dated
September 9, 2021 in mid-October. In response, Vice Chair S. Mann forwarded a draft copy of
the Sep 9 BMC Minutes to Mr. Blumenthal on October 18 and followed-up by forwarding the
BMC-approved Minutes for Sep 9 to Mr. Blumenthal on October 22.
(d) Beach trash/debris clean-up. Members agreed to continue discussions about improving
beach clean-up.
(2) Plover awareness. See paragraph B, above.
(3) Signage Subcommittee update. S. Green reported the following: At the Select Board
Meeting on September 18, the Town Manager endorsed, and the SB approved, the BMC’s
North Nantasket Beach Signage Project Pre-application to the Community Preservation
Committee (CPC). The Town Manager prepared and signed a Letter of Support from the Select
Board to forward the completed BMC Pre-Application Project Eligibility form to the Community
Preservation Committee. The Town Manager’s letter was forwarded to the CPC September 30,
2021. The CPC accepted the BMC Pre-application and assigned CPC Member Jim Richman to
assist S. Green with responding to CPC information requirements. Once the Pre-Application is
approved by the CPC, the Final Application is due October 28, 2021. (See BMC Minutes dated
September 9 for background.)
(4) Mobi Mat update. S. Mann reported the following: Both SB Member J. Reilly and Town
Manager P. Lemnious tentatively supported the concept of requesting calendar year 2022 CPC
funding for Mobi-mats. As a preliminary step to final support, the Town Manager requested a
due diligence assessment from DPW. DPW reported there were significant issues associated
pg. 4Beach Management Committee
with installing Mobi-mats this year because Mobi-mats must be installed in a strait path, and
none of the Town’s permitted beach paths are currently straight or wide enough to accept
Mobi-mat installation. The work required to prepare the permitted paths for the Mobi-mats is
significant and time-consuming. Given the due diligence report, the BMC agreed to delay its
next request for CPC funding for Mobi-mats to the calendar year 2023 funding cycle. (See BMC
Minutes dated September 9 for background.)
(5) “Black Rock Seawall. Nothing to report. (See BMC Minutes dated Sep 9, 2021 for
background.)
(6) The first group of six BMC Meeting minutes, May – August 2021, was forwarded to the Town
Clerk on Sep 22, 2021 for uploading to the BMC Webpage on the Town Website. There is a total
of 43 approved “word document” BMC Minutes to be uploaded. Going forward, BMC Minutes
will be forwarded to Town Hall for uploading within one week of approval. (See BMC Minutes
dated Sep 9, 2021 for background.)
F. New Business.
(1) S. Mann will invite the Town’s recently hired Conservation Clerk, Renee Kiley, to attend a
BMC Meeting at her convenience to meet BMC Members and discuss issues of mutual interest.
(2) D. MacDougall presented the Fall 2021 Permitted Path and Dune System Inspection
Process/Timeline and Inspection Sheets for BMC approval.
Motion Beck Motion to approve the FALL BMC Inspection of Permitted
Paths and Dune System schedule, inspection assignments of
Members, and to appoint S. Mann and D. MacDougall to a
subcommittee to tabulate, analyze and present inspection
data results, recommendations, and draft an Inspection
Results letter for BMC Members approval and forwarding to
the Town Manager.
Second Green
Vote Unanimous
G. Meeting Adjourned at 8:35 p.m. BMC is scheduled to meet next at 6:00 p.m., Tuesday,
November 23, 2021, at Town Hall.
Motion Beck Motion to adjourn.
Second Larsen
Vote Unanimous
Documents: The following documents were included in the BMC packets or were presented
during the meeting and are available on the Town’s Website, Beach Management Committee
Page, attached at the end of these Minutes.
• BMC Agenda for October 21, 2021
• BMC Meeting Minutes dated September 9, 2021
• Email response to Kia Khaleghpour, no address given, Re: Concern about dune system
damage, dated July 31.
• BMC Permitted Path and Dune System Process and Timeline, Fall 2021
• BMC Permitted Path and Dune System Inspection Sheet, Fall 2021
pg. 5Beach Management Committee
Dear Kia,
Thank you for reaching out to us with your concerns. We value communication
with citizens and hope that you will continue sharing your observations and
concerns with us. We will address each of your four concerns.
1. Inadequate signage along Beach Ave. This past summer the Beach
Management Committee formed a signage working group to address this
issue. We have designed a new sign that clearly states no walking on the
pg. 6Beach Management Committee
dunes and have applied for funding from the CPC. If the CPC approves our
request, and it is voted positively during Town Meeting in May we will have
new signs.
2. Poor drainage along Beach Ave. that is causing erosion to the Dune. We
urge you to go to the Town website and read the Hull Hazzard Mitigation
Plan. The Town is actively addressing many drainage issues along the beach
and the work is ongoing.
3. The parking of ice cream trucks along the dune and causing damage to
the Dune when people stand on the Dune to purchase their ice cream.
This is clearly a violation of the Wetlands Protection Act. The Board of
Health issues licenses to the ice cream truck vendors and may even tell them
not to park near the Dunes. We have talked about this issue in the past and
will reach out to the Board of Health to discuss this issue.
4. Beach Grass. Currently the Conservation Dept. Purchases beach grass in
February for planting in March. We believe they purchase the beach grass
that is available and planted by most Towns along the East Coast. If you feel
there is a better option, we urge you to contact the Conservation Dept and
speak with them.
pg. 7Beach Management Committee pg. 8
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