SOUTHWICK – At last Monday’s Select Board meeting, Chairman Doug Moglin proposed that the Select Board form a town bylaw and policy for personal watercraft on the North Pond section of Congamond Lake. Moglin then suggested that they reach out to the Lake Management Committee as well as the public to get input.
The board believes that by taking this particular route it is the best choice for the residents, since creating a town bylaw will avoid bringing this issue to a court of law.
“It’ll be much quicker, easier and it’ll save the taxpayers at lot of money,” said Select Board Clerk Russ Fox.
According to Fox, once the bylaw is formed and brought forth to town counsel, either a special town meeting or annual town meeting would take place so the residents can take a vote on the bylaw.
The Select Board is planning on proposing a town bylaw for the personal watercraft policy on North Pond. (WNG File Photo)
Moglin said that the hope is that the town bylaw would present an opportunity to have an official ruling on the matter.
“No one has the authority right now,” said Moglin.
This entire situation stems back to when Harbormaster David Ricardi posted on the Southwick Police Department’s Facebook Page on May 18 that there had been a change made in the enforcement policy for personal watercraft use on North Pond.
Since then, there have been a number of meetings held by the Lake Management Committee, residents voicing their opinions during the public comment section of Select Board meetings, and as well as a petition that was formed by a resident to make an attempt to keep personal watercraft from being used on North Pond.
