Bill Marshall urges town review after Royal Anchor ropes off beach

Bill Marshall told the Old Orchard Beach Town Council on Sept. 1 that residents believe the town owns the beach and that a private business has recently roped off a section. "The Royal Anchor has roped it off and claimed that as their property," Marshall said, urging the council to review the town's 1935 acquisition documents he distributed to members.

Marshall asked the council to set aside time for a study of the records and to look for other vulnerabilities that could lead to private encroachment on the beach, which he described as "our most valuable asset" and central to the town's economy. He also recommended planting dune grass in the affected section, saying the town previously ran a dune grass program that reached Ocean Park and the Scarborough line but had not taken in that one spot.