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Health & Fitness

Do we really need lifeguards at Sandy Point Beach?

One resident says the town could save money by eliminating life guards at the town beach.

Among the budget items discussed at the Town Council meeting on Tuesday was the $58,000 per year that the town pays for lifeguards at Sandy Point beach.

The issue under discussion related to whether or not Portsmouth kids were given any kind of preference for these jobs (they aren't), but it made me wonder if we really need lifeguards at all. The town administrator didn't remember any recent swimmer rescues made at this beach and the two other beaches in town, Teddy's Beach and Island Park beach, have no lifeguards.

Why couldn't we simply put signs up saying "No Lifeguards. Swim at your own risk" and save $58,000? Other activities at town beaches, such as sailing classes, should provide their own safety monitors. Parents should monitor their own children.

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These are desperate times for town budgets and it is always hard to cut services that people are used to, but if we are cutting out our puny $2,000 grant for the Portsmouth Arts and Culture Committee, then we should also consider cutting Sandy Point lifeguards from the budget and saving $58,000.

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