manchester-by-the-sea

New Dexter Pond Pedestrian Bridge in Manchester-by-the-Sea Completed

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Manchester-by-the-Sea
Gregory T. Federspiel, Town Administrator
10 Central Street
Manchester by the Sea, MA 01944

For Immediate Release

Wednesday, Jan. 30, 2019

Contact: John Guilfoil
Phone: 617-993-0003
Email: [email protected]

New Dexter Pond Pedestrian Bridge in Manchester-by-the-Sea Completed

MANCHESTER-BY-THE-SEA — Residents and visitors now have a new way to access the Dexter Pond Nature Sanctuary — through a recently completed rebuild of a pedestrian bridge.

Over the fall, the town’s Open Space and Recreation Committee (OSRC) took on the task of redoing the aging and unsafe bridge and completed its work in October.

“Providing safe and environmentally-friendly access to our town’s natural resources is an important goal for us,” said OSRC Chair Mike Chapman. “Thank you to all the volunteers who contributed to this enhancement project so that the public can enjoy this beautiful environment.”

The previous bridge was unstable and in a state of disrepair, posing safety risks due to the deterioration of its wooden planks. The newly completed structure now allows for safe passage to hiking trails that lead to the area’s natural resources and wildlife habitat.

Ken King, Manchester resident and a volunteer working with the Open Space and Recreation Committee, built and led the installation of the new bridge. He and his team made environmentally appropriate choices to ensure the bridge’s durability and fit for the landscape. This can be seen in the group’s choice of materials, where they opted for Black Locust timber — a sustainably grown North American hardwood that is highly rot resistant — over pressure-treated lumber.

In 1973,  I.W. and Frances Colburn gifted the Dexter Pond Nature Sanctuary to Manchester-by-the-Sea. Today the 23-acre scenic and biodiverse conservation land is enjoyed by residents and visitors year-round for recreational use and wildlife viewing from woodland trails.

Families birdwatch during spring and fall migrations, ice skate on the frozen pond in the winter, picnic and hike in the summer and walk the trail that circles the pond for stunning views of wetland vegetation year round.

The property is open to the public with access off Colburn Road where there is a parking area that accommodates up to six cars.

Funding for the project was made possible through the Community Preservation Act. All work was completed by volunteers under guidance of the Open Space and Recreation Committee.

 

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Manchester-by-the-Sea Fire Department Responds to 4-Alarm House Fire

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Manchester-by-the-Sea Fire Department
Interim Fire Chief Al Beardsley
12 School Street
Manchester by the Sea, MA 01944

For Immediate Release

Sunday, Jan. 20, 2019

Contact: John Guilfoil
Phone: 617-993-0003
Email: [email protected]

Manchester-by-the-Sea Fire Department Responds to 4-Alarm House Fire

MANCHESTER BY-THE-SEA — Fire Chief Al Beardsley reports that the Manchester-by-the-Sea Fire Department responded to a house fire Sunday afternoon.

At approximately 12:30 p.m., the fire department received a call from a homeowner at 30 University Drive who reported that his garage was on fire. The garage was attached to the home.

The first responding fire companies reported extreme difficulty getting to the house because of the road conditions caused by the severe snow and ice storm occurring in New England Sunday. The house is also located near the top of a steep hill

Multiple alarms were quickly struck to bring additional manpower and apparatus to the scene to assist Manchester-by-the-Sea in the sub-freezing conditions.

A ladder truck was able to take an alternate route on Overledge Road near the home and ran a hose through residents’ backyards in order to reach the house and begin knocking down the fire.

More personnel arrived on scene and firefighters were able to extinguish the flames.

The fire had spread to the home and the house was a total loss. Chief Beardsley estimates the damage to be at least $400,000.

The homeowner was able to safely get himself and his dog out of the house and was uninjured. He and his family will be displaced due to the blaze.

Members of the Essex, Gloucester and Hamilton fire departments responded to the scene and the Beverly and Wenham fire departments provided station coverage. No firefighters were injured in the response.

The fire is believed to have started in the garage and the cause of the fire remains under investigation.

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Manchester-by-the-Sea Police Officer Resigns after Internal Investigation

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Manchester-by-the-Sea Police Department
Edward G. Conley, Chief of Police
10 Central Street
Manchester by the Sea, MA 01944

For Immediate Release

Friday, Jan. 11, 2019

Contact: John Guilfoil
Phone: 617-993-0003
Email: [email protected]

Manchester-by-the-Sea Police Officer Resigns after Internal Investigation into Sale of Private Firearm

MANCHESTER BY-THE-SEA —  Chief Edward Conley reports that a Manchester Police Officer has resigned after the conclusion of an internal affairs investigation into the sale of a private firearm that was taken from the police department’s storage.

Howard Lewis was appointed a reserve officer in 2008 and a full-time officer in June 2010. He had been assigned to the 12-8 a.m. shift and served as the department’s primary firearms instructor when he was placed on Administrative leave on Dec. 15.

On Nov. 19, 2018, a Manchester-by-the Sea resident came to the police station to retrieve a firearm, a vintage German Luger, that had belonged to his father, which had been take for safekeeping by the police department at the request of the owner’s wife in 2014. However, no such firearm could be located at the police station.

A department-wide email was sent inquiring about the missing Luger, and an internal investigation was launched.

The investigation determined that Lewis sold the firearm through a licensed firearms dealer in Gloucester and received a check for $650. Faced with the evidence of the investigation, Lewis resigned from the department.

The Manchester-by-the-Sea Police Department has reimbursed the family for the loss of their firearm and formally apologized to them.

“In this instance, an officer circumvented the department’s evidence system by failing to report that he was in possession of private property and then selling that property for his own gain,” Chief Conley said. “This action violated the public trust and violated the very mission of the Manchester Police Department, and I am satisfied with the outcome. I again extend my sincere apology to the family who was affected by these actions.”

The Essex District Attorney’s Office was consulted on this investigation.

Chief Conley, who was appointed in October 2016, also reports that there are no indications that any other firearms, evidence or other property is missing from the department.

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Construction to Begin on Morss Pier in Manchester-by-the-Sea

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Manchester-by-the-Sea
Gregory T. Federspiel, Town Administrator
10 Central StreetManchester by the Sea, MA 01944

For Immediate Release

Friday, Jan. 11, 2019

Contact: John Guilfoil
Phone: 617-993-0003
Email: [email protected]

Construction to Begin on Morss Pier in Manchester-by-the-Sea

MANCHESTER-BY-THE-SEA — Department of Public Works Director Charles Dam and Harbormaster Bion Pike would like to notify the community that construction on the Morss Pier improvement project is scheduled to begin next week.

The Town is working with T Ford Company Inc., of Georgetown, which will begin mobilizing equipment and materials to the site starting Monday, Jan. 14.

Work will include pier restoration and structural improvements as well as stabilization improvements to the granite block seawall adjacent to the pier.

During construction, the parking area adjacent to and beyond the pier will be closed. Masconomo Park will remain open, however residents will need to access the area through Beach Street.

Work will proceed as weather allows, with the pier and access to the parking area reopening in the spring. Crews will be on site from 7 a.m. to 4 p.m Monday through Friday for the duration of the project.

In the case of a snow emergency, the Town and the contractor will work to make off-street parking available. Residents should refer to the construction signage, the Town website, or contact the DPW at 978-526-1242 or the Harbormaster at 978-526-7832 with any questions.

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