Town Administrator Michael Boynton told selectmen Tuesday night, Sept. 11, that a group of young people have been causing problems outside Blackburn Hall. When the group, mostly 13- to 16-year-olds but with some in their 20s, has been asked to move on, the youths head for Morgan Field, the pool and elsewhere nearby. Police move them on, but they're back in 20 minutes, he said.

The youths are using profanity, smoking and acting inappropriately, at times in front of children taking part in recreation activities in Blackburn. The behavior, which includes urinating on the hall's outside walls, has been going on days and nights for about two months, he said. Efforts to reach out to the parents haven't worked so far, he said.

Assistant Town Administrator Jim Johnson said custodians are out two or three times a day cleaning up after the youths. He's been sworn at by group members, Johsnon said, and so, he added, have recreation director Josh Cole and Boynton.

Boynton said he hoped that the reopening of school might end the problem. Otherwise, at some point, parents are going to be invited to pick up their youngsters at the police station, he said, and raised the possibility of citing youths for disturbing the peace.