Belmont Town Beach open, without regular bath house access

BELMONT — Continued vandalism at the Town Beach bath house and portable toilet led to a decision by the selectboard not to open the brick structure, except when a Parks & Rec staffer is onsite, or a lifeguard is on duty.

Beach hours are 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily, and there is no gatekeeper this year. However, the accessible, portable toilet, which has been in place since Memorial Day, will remain available for guests at all times, 24/7, until Labor Day.

The decision came after much discussion at the June 17 meeting of the selectboard, following a formal request from a resident, by email, to Town Administrator Alicia Jipson, to open the bathrooms up more frequently for taxpayers. The request also included opening bathrooms at Sargent Park.

Jipson read a portion of the letter aloud: “With many days above 70 degrees and families using the park and beach, the lack of restrooms has been inconvenient and disappointing. Could you please look at opening the facilities as soon as possible?”

However, following last season’s plumbing damage and removal of diapers from the toilet, graffiti dotting the structure and portable toilet, and a broken water fountain at Sargent Park, the request was denied.

Selectboard member Sharon Ciampi made the motion not to open the bathrooms, which was seconded by Travis O’Hara. Ultimately, the board vote was 5-0 not to open the facilities.

“I would love to open it, but if we have one bit of damage, we can’t afford it,” O’Hara said. “We made our budget so tight just to pass it.”

Ciampi cited the public’s lack of understanding about the mess.

“If they saw the vandalism, and the things that happened there, [there’d be] outrage; they’d understand where we’re coming from,” she said.

Trash cans are placed all around Leslie E. Roberts Beach & Rec Area, including next to the bath house. Selectboard member Jon Pike relayed his experience trying to keep the beach clean with former board member Claude “Sonny” Patten.

“You can’t imagine the mess of what they do,” Pike said. “It’s unbelievable.” He later quipped not even $5,000 could convince him to volunteer for that chore again.

The topic of surveillance was brought up by a member of the audience, but the equipment is costly.

“Right now, camera equipment would be expensive for us, but I don’t think a camera would capture enough that we could even prosecute with,” O’Hara said.

Police Chief Stephen Akerstrom was in the audience at the meeting, and said beach surveillance was on the department’s “radar.”

At Sargent Park, the board voted to open bathrooms based on staffing levels, with more discussion to follow.

The Town of Belmont is currently seeking lifeguards for the 2026 summer season. To apply, contact Danielle St. Onge, recreation director, at 603-267-1865. For more information, visit belmontnh.gov.

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Katlyn Proctor can be reached at katlyn@laconiadailysun.com or by calling 603-524-0150.