Town Meeting narrowly voted against establishing a committee to research potential uses and long-term leasing of the 5.35-acre Swifts Beach property which was taken by the town by eminent domain in 2003, rejecting the measure by a vote of 72-69.

According to the Order of Taking, the land, located at Swifts Beach Road and Wankinco Avenue, was taken for "general municipal purposes." The Board of Selectmen at the time cited the desire to expand access to the public beach that is adjacent to the land.

The town offered $450,000 to the owner of the property, Barbara Deighton Haupt, which she accepted whilst reserving her right to challenge the offer. Deighton Haupt subsequently sued, alleging that she was inadequately compensated for the land, and was awarded $1.1 million.

Proponents of the committee expressed frustration that the town has not made improvements to the beach since acquiring the land as well as with the existence of a locked gate on the property.

"I really, truly believe in my heart that there's more we can do with this property than we're currently doing right now," said Swifts Beach resident Joe Chiaraluce, who presented the article, which was added to the Town Meeting's agenda by a petition of citizens. "For 2 million dollars, we should get more than a gate with a lock on it."

Beachgoers can walk around the gate to access the beach, which Board of Selectmen member Brenda Eckstrom said is in place keep four-wheel-drive vehicles off the beach.

Other residents were unsure about whether the committee should be formed but did not see the harm in allowing it to happen.

"Obviously there is a concern there about the well-being of this land," said resident Cliff Sylvia. "I don't know if it's the right thing or the wrong thing to study it, but any knowledge that we get is useful knowledge."

Finance Committee member Marilyn Donahue said a committee could help answer residents' questions and concerns about the property. "I think a lot of our citizens don't feel that we actually own it, that we can use it, that we know what's going on with it," she said.

But opponents of the article argued that the town voted that the land be conserved when it approved the taking at Town Meeting in 2003, and therefore there was no need for a committee to assess its use.

"This land is supposed to be preserved. It's supposed to be protected," said Swifts Beach resident Mary LaFlamme. "For anybody to use it for anything else is a big mistake."

Community Preservation Committee Chair Nancy Miller said that a conservation restriction on the land is pending approval by the state.