Congamond Lakes management committee backs proposed usage fees for law enforcement

By David Vallette

September 26, 2009, 5:00AM

SOUTHWICK - The Lake Management Committee for Congamond Lake is backing proposed lake usage fees to pay for law enforcement, but must wait for action by the state Department of Environmental Protection.

“It is state water ... the town doesn’t want to get into a legal battle over water it doesn’t own,” said Richard T. Grannells, chairman of the committee.

Enforcement has become a key issue for the committee, with complaints about disruptive, dangerous and often illegal activities.

Members cite a recent boating accident in which a boat without lights, operating at night, struck an anchored boat, leading to injuries to several people, including Selectman Nicholas Boldyga, owner of the boat that was struck.

It is up to the town, however, to enforce boating laws. The harbor master is Police Chief Mark J. Krynicki, who has requested the Board of Selectmen to institute fees to pay for operations of the police boat. The lake board backs the request, and selectmen are awaiting state approval.

An original fee plan was endorsed by the state, but not by Suffield, Conn., on the lake’s eastern shore.

Rather than enact the system and have it be challenged by Suffield, Selectmen Chairman Arthur G. Pinell said the new plan makes participation optional for Suffield.

Grannells said Suffield will therefore have a choice of either paying the fees for docks and boats, and contribute to lake enforcement, or pay fees to the state.

The fee system would charge $10 per year for boats belonging to Southwick or Suffield residents; and $40 for non-residents.

Dock fees would be $40 for an initial permit, and $20 for renewal.

Among the complaints coming in are those involving activities in the North Pond of the lake, about tube towing and water skiing. Complaints are also being filed about boats that travel through swimming areas near shore.

The committee is also expressing an interest in a bid by the owners of Louie B’s, a bar on the lake, to open a restaurant, Nora’s, across the street from the bar.

Committee members said Thursday that there is already not enough parking at Louie B’s, where there are 36 spaces, and Nora’s has only nine spaces.

The result is that patrons will be making more use of the adjacent boat ramp lot, and they have been leaving a mess there, particularly with broken bottles.