Storm erupts over Swampscott DPW’s relocation of beach sand

SWAMPSCOTT – The town is facing possible fines and sanctions from the Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) and the whistle blower is a candidate for selectmen.Susan Raiche, 59 Puritan Road, moved to town less than a year ago and has a home on Blaney Beach. Raiche said she called the DEP when she saw Department of Public Works (DPW) crews moving sand from one end of the beach to another, which she believed was a violation of DEP regulations.She said she called because she was concerned and said rumors it had anything to do with a dispute with the DPW were untrue.Town Administrator Andrew Maylor said the sand at the beach has been moved every spring by the Department of Public Works at the request of residents and it is part of the routine beach maintenance.Maylor said the town had a permit from the DEP, which it assumed incorrectly allowed the town to do the work on an annual basis.Maylor said sand migrates from Blaney Beach to Fisherman’s Beach where it piles up until the beach is at the same level as the parking lot.”When the sand migrates from Blaney it leaves the outfall (pipe) uncovered,” he said. “Residents ask us to replenish the sand so every spring we move the sand that has built up along the parking lot at Fisherman’s Beach back to Blaney.”Maylor said the town is working with the DEP and it may be necessary to develop a formal beach maintenance plan. He added there is a possibility the town would be fined by the DEP.Raiche, who decided to run for selectman shortly after she made a complaint with the DEP, said her issues with the town started not long after she moved to town. She said the purchase agreement on her home was that she would be allowed to have a curb cut, but the DPW would not install one for her.Department of Public Works Director Gino Cresta said the town issues permits for curb cuts but it does not do the work for private property owners.”The practice of not doing the work for private homeowners started before my time,” Cresta said. “We gave the contractor permission for a curb cut but instead the contractor placed hot top over the curb. When the road was repaved we had to remove the hot top that was placed over the curb.”