East Lyme selectmen OK 3 ATVs, 1 jet ski for new beach

East Lyme — The Board of Selectmen on Wednesday approved the purchase of three ATVs and one jet ski and attached trailer with $29,000 in grant funds for security patrol on the new beach at Cini Park, expected to open in May.

The purchases will require Board of Finance and town meeting approval.

Police would use two ATVs and the jet ski, while other departments, such as Parks and Recreation, would use the additional ATV.

The equipment would enable police to easily access the beach and boardwalk, as well as shallow water by the beach, said Resident State Trooper Sgt. Wilfred Blanchette at Wednesday’s board meeting. The water by the beach, about 3 to 5 feet deep, is not suitable for regular patrol boats, he said.

Blanchette said town police respond to incidents, such as overturned vessels and swimmers in distress, at Rocky Neck State Park, which experiences high traffic in the summer. He said the security initiatives were needed because the new beach could potentially bring similar traffic patterns.

The funds for the initiative would come from a grant from the Nuclear Safety Emergency Program, which the town receives since it is near to the Millstone Nuclear Power Plant.