Swampscott board talks treats for beachgoers

SWAMPSCOTT – They’ve got sun, sand and surf, but one thing Phillips Beachgoers said they lack is a source for snacks.”You can’t walk anywhere from here – the closest is maybe 7/11 or Cindy’s?” suggested Matt Kimball, as he tanned with friends on Thursday afternoon. “And I’d definitely drive.”Kimball would also definitely lose his parking spot if he left the beach on a sunny, hot day.So beachgoers on Thursday afternoon were glad to hear that selectmen recently discussed allowing someone to operate a concession stand at the beach.”There certainly has been interest to have some sort of facility,” Town Administrator Andrew Maylor told the selectmen at their meeting Tuesday evening.Those on the sand agreed.”I’m all for it,” said high school junior Trey Sverker. “We have friends that will order us stuff at the Beach Club, but if they had one here ? some ice cream, concessions, that would be great.”The Beach Club is located next door, but it’s a private club.Selectman Barry Greenfield originally suggested a concessions area at the beach that could provide revenue for the town as well as upgraded restroom facilities from the Porta-Potties that the town annually places at the beach.But Maylor said that such a facility would be too big for the site.He explained that the town owns a very narrow strip of land.So Maylor and selectmen seem to favor a mobile facility, such as a food truck that could be driven away at night.That was okay with beachgoers.”I think anyone with kids would love it,” said Karen Lemmond, who chatted on her way home to get some cold water. “It’s too far to go and get them somewhere else. Look at all the people that go running to the ice cream truck.”Kimball, who also works at the beach as a lifeguard, said he didn’t think that people would mind sacrificing a little bit of beach atmosphere for food.”They’ll live with it,” he said. “As long as they put trash cans (near the beach). And even lifeguards could take care of that.”His boss, Recreation Director Danielle Strauss, said that a concessions stand would be a positive addition to the beach.She noted that it’s the only beach in town where there is still sand at high tide. She also admitted that she has, in the past, had to deliver water and supplies to lifeguards on duty.Heather Cerar acknowledged that some people might think twice about having to bring money to the beach.She also said she would prefer a bathroom. But her kids nodded when she asked them if they would like to be able to get snacks and sit on the sand.But Selectman David Van Dam said Tuesday night that neighbors should offer opinions before the board discusses the issue again at their next meeting.And Omaloley Barton, a worker at the Beach Club, said she didn’t think a concession stand would impact their snack bar.”I don’t think that it would affect the members,” she said. “I don’t see them leaving and going around to the beach.”And could a concessions stand provide rental or other revenue for the town?”They’d make bank,” college student Andrew Cardenas said.