Sunday may have been the last beautiful beach day of the year.
But there were clouds for dozens of renters of Compo lockers, who were stunned to find that — contrary to an email sent 5 days earlier — their locks had been cut.
And every chair, umbrella, wagon, toy and boogie board was dumped on the ground, ready to be hauled away.
Locker contents, after removal. (Photo/Jason Stiber)
The message from the Parks & Recreation Department had said (including bold letters):
Our policy states that all bathhouse assignees are to clean out their lockers no later than September 30th.
You may use Sunday, October 1st to make sure that your bathhouse has been cleaned out and your lock has been removed. Any locks remaining as of Monday, October 2nd, will be cut off and the contents will be removed and discarded.
Thanking you in advance for your attention in this matter. Have a great day!
Locker renters howled, on social media and “06880.”
Yesterday, Parks & Rec issued this mea culpa:
To All Bathhouse Locker Assignees:
We sincerely apologize for the cutting of the locks and removal of belongings from the Compo Beach bathhouse lockers that occurred over the weekend.
Unfortunately, Guest Services staff were not aware of the email communication which allowed for an extra day to clean out lockers beyond the September 30th policy date and began the task of removal as of October 1.
Any items that were removed and have not yet been retrieved have been placed in a locked storage area at Compo Beach. If you have not retrieved your items, staff will be available to assist you in claiming your belongings from the secured location during the following dates/times:
- Tuesday, October 3, 9am – 7pm
- Wednesday, October 4, 9am – 7pm
- Thursday, October 5, 9am – 7pm
- Friday, October 6, 9am – 7pm
- Saturday, October 7, 9am – 5pm
If none of the dates/times listed above are convenient for you, please email Carmen Roda, Operations Manager at croda@westportct.gov so he can arrange access for you.
Again, we sincerely apologize for any inconvenience this has caused.
In a phone interview, Parks & Rec director Jennifer Fava attributed the mix-up to overzealous employees trying to do the right thing.
Meanwhile, about those lanternflies …
Compo Beach lockers (Photo copyright Larry Untermeyer)
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Now Jen Fava blames over zealous employees! How about you as Director take responsibility for not properly communicating this to them. Maybe you need to be there to return residents items and deal with them losing their property. That way these over zealous employees don’t have to take the blame again.
people learn from our political leaders to Duck responsibility
What kind of leader throws her staff in front of the bus? That speaks volumes about the director’s lack of qualifications for this job – which continues to manifest itself again and again with departmental mistakes and lies. The P&R commission also needs to be overhauled. Worst run department at town hall. The only surprise here is the (blame someone else) apology letter – normally the director just ignores what residents say.
Our tax dollars at work. Those who worked on Sunday to clean out the lockers and those who will work for five days to return the items will have to be paid. Nice job Parks and Rec.
I think we may be a little bit over critical. I am sure P&R will learn from this and give people multiple days warning.. However.. I would think that anyone renting a locker knows upfront that their stuff has to be removed by Sept 30th.. So shame on those who did not. The use of the limited number of below market lockers comes with that responsibility.
Alan, did you not read the email that explicitly said otherwise? Right there, in Dan’s post:
“You may use Sunday, October 1st to make sure that your bathhouse has been cleaned out and your lock has been removed.”
So, no – we should not put shame on the people who didn’t remove their stuff on Sep 30, when the town told them they could remove it on Oct 1.
“The purpose of bureaucracy is to compensate for incompetence and lack of discipline–a problem that largely goes away if you have the right people in the first place.” – Jim Collins
No responsibility, no accountability just blame shifting and finger pointing. Whose job was it to communicate the change in date to the (rolls eyes) “overzealous” staff? These should be elected, not appointed, positions of responsibility.
The pickleball court fiasco, the lack of transparency around the usage of the Long Lots Ball Field in the process of trying to save the Westport Community Gardens – I could go on and on.
Under its present leadership, everything the PRC in Westport touches dies.
As a client of mine on Wall Street used to say – “Do it right or don’t bother.”
Westport deserves better.
James, sorry I missed a reply “somewhere else” as they cut off comments due to “hot kitchen” that didn’t gibe with the vibe.
Mommy and Daddy have been fighting a lot!! As you so eloquently pointed out! …The lack of the civility and personal attacks by some peeps…shows again, that “hate no home here” as long as you agree with ME and my beliefs…uncool stuff
“I’d like the see the world for once
all standing hand to hand
and here echo through the hills
Ah peace throughout the land.”
Peace be with you James Mather …here’s to mommy and daddy trying to get along for the greater good of the kids
Why, in the name of logic, does Fava still have her job? Has she ever received a compliment…all I’ve read are comments regarding her failure to perform.