DAVID A. RICARDI, Southwick police chief
Volunteers and officials from the Town of Southwick use a GPS receiver device and camera to document docks and floating platforms around the Congamond Lakes. (File photo by Frederick Gore)
SOUTHWICK – A change to a regulation regarding permanent docks in town has one resident, who is also a member of the lake management committee, hoping to prevent the change.
Michael DeBay told the board of selectmen this week that an expansion of regulations would now mean that permanent dock owners would pay a fee for their docks if they were not brought in for the winter.
Currently the regulation calls for a fee for temporary dock owners who do not bring in their docks for the winter. DeBay said his biggest problem with the change is that it only affects half of lake residents.
“This is being addressed on the Southwick side not in Suffield,” he said. “It should be across the lake since it is considered a Massachusetts pond and is covered by Massachusetts law, not Connecticut.”
RUSSELL FOX
DeBay said he would like the town to work with Suffield selectman to make a change for all residents of the lake.
“People who live by the rail trail or the park don’t have to pay a fee just because they live there,” he added.
The town harbormaster, Police Chief David Ricardi, said he spent time with members of the conservation commission last week on the lake. Ricardi said he learned a lot about life on the lake and the lack of bylaws about the lakes. He also said there is no teeth to enforce collection of the fees.
“To the best of my knowledge we don’t have anything to require that a fee must be collected,” he said, “so that is probably why you see people not paying it is my guess.”
Ricardi said he could not find any language in the regulations regarding fee enforcement.
Selectmen Chairman Russell Fox suggested the board initiate a work session with the lake management committee, conservation committee, Ricardi, and someone from the commonwealth of Massachusetts who could speak to the regulation.
