The Board of Selectmen (BOS) held a preliminary discussion on what the summer 2021 beach season will look like, with First Selectman Peggy Lyons promising a review of long-standing issues including crowding at Hammonasset and non-resident passes.

Lyons started by saying there would be no changes to the resident beach pass system this year after two consecutive years of trying to transition between different formats or modes. She also said the plan was to leave fees alone as well.

“I think everybody felt it was kind of traumatic last year and let’s try to just have a normal summer and not impose any kind of fee increases in a time that we’re all feeling a lot of economic strain,” she said.

But she added the Beach & Recreation Commission was “committed” to a “thorough review” of fees and the beach program following this season.

The Board of Finance recently expressed support for full-time seven day per week staffing of town beaches, which happened last season only after the pandemic, with initial 2020 plans for five days of lifeguards and gate guards.

The other big issue is Hammonasset Beach, which is overseen by the state. Residents have complained for years about parking and crowds, and town resources including emergency responders and police often are strained during busy weekends.

Lyons said she has had “several meetings” with the Department of Energy & Environmental Protection (DEEP), including one recently that included discussions about those specific issues and whether the town might be compensated for its services.

All the discussions have been preliminary, with Lyons saying it is still unknown whether Hammonasset will have capacity restrictions to start the summer, or how ongoing COVID testing will fit into the summer.

“We have learned a lot from last year’s beach season, and we’re trying to do a lot to be proactively planning ahead,” Lyons said.

More details will likely be forthcoming in April, she said.