Edgartown byways wardens named

Posted March 15, 2007

Members of a new group of wardens who will monitor Edgartown's unpaved pedestrian paths reported to the selectmen Monday their plans for cleaning up and monitoring paths throughout Edgartown and Chappaquiddick.

Committee member Robert Green presented a list of about 30 wardens who have agreed to monitor the paths for dumping, which has become a problem. He showed the selectmen photographs of excessive debris, including an abandoned car and building materials.

The wardens have elected officers and will have monthly meetings, Mr. Green said. William "Boo" Bassett has been named chief warden, and Mr. Green, assistant chief.

The wardens are organizing their first group cleanup of Ben Tom's Road on March 31 at 8 am. The town will provide a truck to collect the refuse collected that day, highway superintendent Stuart Fuller said. Mr. Fuller also offered his department's help with putting boulders across paths to keep cars out.

Michael Jackson, captain of the wardens, said the wardens will document all their walks along the paths and bush cut to keep them open.

"We're not in there to argue with people," he said. "We just want to keep the paths open and clean so people can enjoy them."

Mr. Green said the wardens will talk to all the path abutters before starting to cut away brush. "We don't want anybody to be surprised," he said.

The wardens will not have enforcement authority, but will report their findings to the byways committee, who will in turn, report to the police if action is necessary. The police have a list of all the wardens.