Swampscott board OKs trial period for Phillips Beach vendor despite residents’ objections

SWAMPSCOTT – Selectmen unanimously approved a two-weekend trial for a hot dog vendor at Phillips Beach after neighbors raised objections to a concession stand in a residential neighborhood because it might increase littering.”Regardless of what we do here, we need to do something with the trash (issue),” said Selectman Jill Sullivan. “On the other hand, everything in this small town is a neighborhood. I’d like to see a short-term trial.”Selectman Barry Greenfield originally introduced the idea of a concessions stand and restrooms at the beach during the board’s June 7 meeting. But after Town Administrator Andrew Maylor said that a permanent structure or even a trailer would be inappropriately large, discussion settled on the possibility of a mobile cart. Paul Foglia, the proprietor of Rory’s Corp., expressed interest at the board’s June 21 meeting and prepared the necessary permits Tuesday night.But five neighbors attended the meeting to object to the plan, citing the neighborhood environment, noise, smells, parking and public safety. But the majority of discussion focused on trash.”My dog has internal bleeding from something he ate that was dumped over our fence,” said Shepard Avenue resident Sheryl Levenson said. “I don’t think there is any neighbor here that doesn’t get trash” from beachgoers.But selectmen and Town Administrator Andrew Maylor said they were not convinced that trash concerns would necessarily worsen due to the cart.Ultimately, selectmen outlined a trial period for the cart – which Sullivan noted looks like a hot dog cart in New York City. Foglia will operate over the next two weekends between the hours of 9 a.m. and 4 p.m. The cart will be placed on the private way to the beach against the Beach Club fence. The cart will sell hot dogs, sausages and wraps in a piece of tin foil and offer paper napkins and soda or water in cans or plastic bottles. In place of a fee, Foglia will remove all trash from the municipal bins when leaving the beach. The next selectmen meeting will discuss the trial.Longley Avenue resident Scott Burke said after the meeting that he was unhappy with the decision, but that he was willing to see if it worked out.Foglia assured neighbors during the meeting that he would work with them to make the trial successful.”I want to be a good neighbor,” he said. “I’m not going to be successful by upsetting people.”