The town of Westmore has reopened North Beach for swimming after a roughly week-long closure due to elevated E. coli levels. Town Clerk Elaine Cashin reported that testing conducted on June 24 confirmed bacteria counts are now well below safety thresholds, according to the Barton Chronicle.
The beach closure had been prompted by routine water quality monitoring. The reopening comes as the select board convened Monday evening, directly after the opening day of the Westmore Farmers' Market.
During the meeting, with select board member Bill Perkins acting as chair in the absence of David Stevens, board members discussed several items including concerns over dirt bikes and ATVs, plans to bring power to North Beach, and updates on contracts with the Orleans County Sheriff’s Department and Westmore Fire and Rescue.
Select board member Miriam Simonds also presented a cost analysis for installing composting toilets at North Beach, estimating each unit would cost the town $67,000.
No further details on the E. coli source or future testing schedules were provided.
Originally reported by Barton Chronicle.
Photo: Alannah Cavanaugh via Pexels. Photo is illustrative and not from the scene.
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