HARPSWELL

The town of Harpswell is seeking to pay additional personnel to monitor Cedar Beach on Bailey Island this summer.

The town recently reached an agreement with Gables Real Estate LLC to ensure access to the beach over privately owned Cedar Beach Road for residents and nonresident taxpayers, as well as their guests or renters.

But a stipulation of the agreement requires the town to monitor the beach twice a day between Memorial Day and Labor Day. The town had previously monitored the beach once a day from June 15 to Aug.15, on a volunteer basis.

“We have to pay someone to do this twice daily,” said Harpswell Town Administrator Kristi Eiane. “That cannot be strictly volunteer work. I think if you pay someone they may have more incentive to report back to the town.”

Eiane said that monitors walking Cedar Beach and Cedar Beach Road would be on the lookout for unqualified individuals using the beach, as well as other prohibited behavior, such as large gatherings, rowdiness, loud music, fires and fireworks. A sign on the beach said that monitors can ask for identification at any time.

Dogs and other pets are also prohibited on the beach, and parking is prohibited on Cedar Beach Road. Folks may park on adjacent Robinhood Road where signs allow.

“Before the agreement it was a concern of the private owner that maybe the monitoring we had wasn’t quite enough,” said Eiane. “We are coordinating a list of folks who might be able to help.”

Eiane said that monitors are on an on-call basis until Memorial Day.

“This time of year you don’t have as many folks visiting, but people do walk down there,” said Eiane.

Eiane said that the town has also ordered additional signage for Cedar Beach and are focused on “getting organized and prepared for the summer.”