These are the issues around town that distress me the most — that neighbors can’t talk to each other.”

Council President Keith Hamilton

Vandals target beach signs

Someone just doesn’t like those new signs at McCorrie Point Beach.

Portsmouth Police investigated three separate reports within one week that signs at the entrance to the beach were either stolen or vandalized.

On Sunday, June 4, police responded at 11:40 p.m. to the beach for a report that two parties who were fishing but being loud and possibly causing a disturbance at the town-owned beach.

When an officer arrived, he found that two new town ordinance signs at the entrance to the beach had been vandalized. An obscene phrase and a picture of a penis had been spray-painted on each sign, police said. The Department of Public Works was notified.

At noontime on Thursday, June 9, police investigated a report that a sign prohibiting smoking on the beach had been removed. When police arrived they found that signs prohibiting alcohol and campfires on the beach were also missing.

During a check of the beach shortly before 8 a.m. on Saturday, June 11, police observed black spray paint on two signs, with a large “X” painted over the alcohol-prohibited sign and all of the lettering for the sign prohibiting burns or campfires completely covered.

PORTSMOUTH — It’s commonplace for citizens to ask their cities or towns to establish or lower speed limits on certain roads in their neighborhoods.

But Monday night may have been the first time someone asked the Town Council to set a speed limit for a beach.

Nicholas F. Dealy, whose home at 23 William St. overlooks McCorrie Point Beach, asked for the speed limit over the objections of neighbors.

“It’s an open area where there’s no order and I get concerned,” said Mr. Dealy, adding that cars drive past sunbathers, playing children and swimmers. “I know nothing about running a beach and I speak absolutely for myself, and I just want help.”

McCorrie Point Beach, located at the bottom of McCorrie Lane, is owned by the town. However, unlike the other town-owned beach further south at Sandy Point, it has no restrooms, lifeguards or parking facilities, and motor vehicles are allowed to roam directly on the sand.

Council President Keith Hamilton asked Mr. Dealy to clarify his request for a speed limit. 

“Do you mean specially on the beach itself, or the access road going into the beach?” he asked.

“I mean on the beach,” Mr. Dealy replied.

At that, most of the 30 or so neighbors in attendance howled in laughter. (They also laughed when Mr. Dealy said, “Even discussing McCorrie Beach in this public forum, I am in fear of my own safety.”)

Police Chief Thomas Lee said he doesn’t recommend any speed limit for a beach, which was met with applause by many in the audience. 

Police already have a mechanism in place to deal with people who drive dangerously there — “reckless operation,” he said. A beach speed limit wouldn’t make sense for another reason, according to the chief.

“If we did, it would be a continuation of the speed limit on McCorrie Lane, which is 25 — much too fast for on the beach,” he said.

Despite the high turnout of neighbors opposing Mr. Dealy’s request, only one came to the podium to speak: Ed Ferreira, of 72 Kerr Road, who said he’s noticed a much bigger police presence around the beach lately. He said he’s been going to the beach for 70 years and there’s never been a problem.

“I’d like to know how this all started,” Mr. Ferreira said.

Mr. Hamilton said every citizen has a right to bring concerns to the town “if they feel something is not being done properly.”

The council took no action on Mr. Dealy’s request.

Neighbors to meet

The council president acknowledged there were other issues going on between Mr. Dealy and his neighbors, but that only the items placed on Monday’s agenda could be discussed under the state open meetings law. (Mr. Dealy had also asked that McCorrie Beach be listed on the town’s website, but it already is.)

In hopes of helping residents reach consensus on issues affecting their neighborhood, Chief Lee agreed to lead a roundtable discussion for interested parties. That meeting has been scheduled for 7 p.m. on Thursday, June 23, at Town Hall.

“I would hope that neighbors could get together and discuss this themselves,” said Mr. Hamilton. “These are the issues around town that distress me the most — that neighbors can’t talk to each other.”