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Tempers Flare Over Beach Ordinance

July 25, 2011 - Hartford — Selectmen listened as six upset residents vented their frustration Monday over having their grandchildren run off the town beach.

Peter McCluskey told the board that Chuck Merritt, the town constable, told them to move their boat and get off the beach recently. The ordinance states that motorized watercraft are not allowed to be launched or landed at the beach nor navigated within 100 feet of the beach.

McCluskey, a full-time resident, said there were no signs or buoys marking the beach area.

Selectman Chairman Lee Holman, who several times had to caution people to speak one at a time, said the object of the ordinance was to try to cut down on vandalism and not have out-of-town cars taking up parking spaces at the beach parking area. She said no harm was intended when Merritt issued the order for the McCluskeys to leave the beach.

“The ordinance was to give Merritt some leverage when people were there who were not residents,” Holman said.

Daryl Boness, chairman of the Ordinance Committee, said they took the recommendation of the Recreation and Beach committees when they wrote the ordinance and set the 100 foot regulation for boats.

“The state law limits power and air boats because the damage to swimmers is greater with motor boats. Also, the hearings for ordinances are incredibly important," Boness said.

Boness also said the beach had to be defined before any thing could be done. This ordinance was passed at the annual town meeting in June. “Once it is passed,” Boness said, “the officers of the town must carry it out or be fined.”

McCluskey wanted to know what he could do so their weekend visitors could use the beach.

Several ideas were tossed around until it was finally voted to issue guest passes that can be put on the boats. The motors must be lifted 100 feet from the beach and the boats paddled in.

Holman said this is not a solution, but "we are trying to work out something to resolve this situation."

Residents who need guest passes may call one of the selectmen if the office is closed on the weekend.

Town Clerk Lianne Bedard confirmed that the buoys had not been put in the water for swimming areas for several years but she thought they were in the town hall basement.

Selectman Zoe Cowett left the meeting and went to find them along with several of the concerned residents who volunteered to put them out to mark the beach Friday evening.

Selectman Jack Plumley said he would be there to help along with Cowett.

Mary Standard, Sun Journal, July 2011


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Regions: Sebago


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