Swampscott to impose fines on beach trash violators

SWAMPSCOTT – The town is cracking down on area residents who leave household trash in municipal barrels at local beaches.Selectman Matthew Strauss said he has noticed bags of what appears to be household trash at Phillips Beach recently.”It is irritating,” he said. “We should post some sort of fine. It should be at least $250 and I wouldn’t be opposed to $500 if the (town) bylaws allow it.”Strauss said the town has been working hard to spruce up the beaches and should do whatever it can to discourage dumping.”The entrance (to Phillips Beach) looks great,” he said. “There are benches and we’re trying to enhance the beach area. We don’t need household trash finding its way to the beach.”Selectman Jill Sullivan said she’s mystified as to why a resident would take their trash to the beach when the town does not charge for trash pickup.There was a consensus among the selectmen that the problem should be nipped in the bud.At the selectmen meeting Tuesday, Town Administrator Andrew Maylor said he would check the town bylaws and state statute to see what fine the town would be allowed to impose for infractions. Selectmen voted unanimously to impose the maximum fine allowed by state statute and local bylaws for violations.A possible implementation date was not discussed at the meeting. Calls to Maylor regarding the fine were not returned on Wednesday.