Guard Up Faces Deadline on Insurance Compliance at East Boston Camps

The Guard Up Summer Day Camp has 30 days as of Wednesday to come into compliance for this year and last year on insurance agreements specified on its lease for the Day Camp at the East Boston Camps.

That was the message sent by the Conservation Commission following a discussion at their last meeting in late July over concerns that the Burlington-based company was not meeting requirements under its lease with the Conservation Commission over insurance.

Members of the board in attendance were unanimous in their concern over the issue, with a 4-1 majority believing that giving Guard Up the deadline was a necessary step to protect the town from possible liability.

Only Robert Boonstra dissented, citing fears that a showdown could potentially disrupt the revenue obtained from the company’s presence at the Camps.

“We’re certainly within our rights to do this. Shame on them and shame on the town for not catching it, but this is not wise,” said Boonstra. “We want to do everything to make the lease a success; this is not a ‘gotcha’ situation.”

However, others on the board believed that unless the potential issue can be resolved, Guard Up’s continued tenancy would not be beneficial.

Members of the audience spoke in agreement with the board’s decision during public comment, noting the insurance issue as well as concerns of if the lease would become revenue neutral and the loss of access to portions of the camp by local residents while Guard Up’s camps are in session.

Westford resident June McMorrow told the board she does not feel safe on the East Boston Camp’s North Road while Guard Up is in session and feared that local residents were being treated as second class to Guard Up thanks to the lease.

Under the lease itself, Guard Up is mandated to provide a five to six figure minimum insurance coverage figure on policies relating to general liability, abuse and molestation liability, property damage, automobile liability, workers’ compensation, and umbrella and excess liability.

A woman coming before the board earlier in the evening requesting to serve alcohol during a wedding reception at the East Boston Camps in September told the board that it cost approximately $320 to obtain a comparable amount of coverage required in the Guard Up lease.