Lamont backs restrictions on access to town beaches

As some have raised concerns about Connecticut communities closing their beaches on weekends to nonresidents, Gov. Ned Lamont said Tuesday the coronavirus pandemic “requires extraordinary measures.”

The ACLU Connecticut has questioned the legality of bans enacted in Fairfield, Norwalk, East Haven and other shoreline communities in light of the 2001 state Supreme Court ruling that prevents municipalities from keeping out nonresidents except under emergency circumstances.

“Obviously, we’ve limited the number of people who can come to our public beaches. They’re getting loved to death,” Lamont said while attending an event Tuesday in Windsor. “We’ve had to close them up sometimes by 10 or 11 o’clock in the morning, just because there are so many people out there.”

But Lamont referred questions about the legality of the bans to Lt. Gov. Susan Bysiewicz, who he pointed out is an attorney.

“We’re relying right now on our mayors and first selectmen who are our eyes and ears on the ground, to take a look at the beaches and see if people are social distancing, if they’re too crowded,” she said. “We rely on them to help us do what they think is best. So it’s extraordinary and I hope we’ll be on the other side of this and everyone from everywhere can go back to enjoying our beaches. We also have state parks with swimming, so I recommend that to folks.”

Fairfield First Selectwoman Brenda Kupchick said the limited capacity at the state’s parks due to the COVID-19 restrictions have contributed to her town’s beaches being overcrowded.

“That’s what pushed a lot of people toward the towns because they couldn’t get into any of the state beaches,” she said.

Kupchick and Norwalk Mayor Harry Rilling said they have the authority to implement bans under emergency orders they signed in March. Both leaders said they also consulted their legal counsel before signing the orders. They also said Tuesday they have not yet received any complaints.

“We’ve had the conversation,” Rilling said. “These are different times and I’ve declared a civil preparedness emergency, which gives the authority to do what I need to do to protect our citizens.”

Norwalk also offers a discounted beach pass to residents in the landlocked towns of Weston, Wilton, Ridgefield, Redding and New Canaan. Residents in these towns are now also banned from Norwalk’s beaches on the weekend through Oct. 15.

“I understand what led to Mayor Rilling's decision,” Wilton First Selectwoman Lynne Vanderslice said. “Wilton has restricted Merwin Meadows to Wilton residents. I also understand there are legal questions around restricting beach access. These are difficult decisions. As municipal leaders, we all have to consider the advice of health professionals and the behavior within our communities and make decisions, which we think are best for our residents and those of surrounding communities.”

Kupchick said the situation in Fairfield had been “out of control” with streets near the town’s beaches “littered” with cars with New York and New Jersey license plates.

“It was out of control,” she said. “It wasn’t just the parking. It was like a sardine can on the beach. It was way too crowded and way too unsafe.”