Winnipesaukee Forum - View Single Post

Cow Island Kid · 08-09-2009, 07:29 PM

I curious if anyone has read the Grantie State News article from August 6th. Here is the link if you are interested.

http://www.granitestatenews.com/Arti...ntroversy.html

A selectman in Tuftonboro gave verbal permission to a Tuftonboro resident to allow them to camp on town property on Cow Island. The property is a small beach on the north west side just east of the Hole in the Wall. The resident did apply for and was granted a fire permit. The town ordinances state that there is no overnight camping including fires on town property without written consent. The resident considered the fire permit his written consent. There is also a town ordinance that prohibits drinking of alcoholic beverages and smoking on town property. Both drinking and smoking were witnessed on this public property.

When these campers arrived, we, knowing the ordinances, called the dispatcher to find out the legality of camping and fire building on town property. We were told that it was not legal and that they would be out to ask the campers to remove themselves. The Tuftonboro PD arrived, checked out their permit and left them to themselves. The officer then stopped by our camp to tell us that they had selectmans approval and a valid permit. Two of my family members did go down to the property and talk to the campers. One was meet with some hostility, and the other seemed to have some success in making our case that we did not 'call the cops' on them, but were merely finding out the legality of camping.

We attended the Selectmans meeting the following Tuesday. The issue was brought up by the Police Chief. He stated that the ordinance can be interpreted as not allowing or allowing camping and building fires. The Selectman encouraged people to go out and use the town property on the islands.

This could open up a huge can of worms. We hope that the Selectman write a specific policy that will control camping on town property. Otherwise, as the Police Chief joked 'We don't want Spring Flings out there'.

We have contacted the Tuftonboro Island Association in hopes that they will contact the Selectman and help to create policies and procedures to control the use of the Tuftonboro island property owned by the town. We know that the land is public and hope that people are able to use it in a responsible and ecologically sound manner, especially with no waste facilities available.

The action on this issue could set a precedent for the remainder of island properties owned by all the towns of Winnipesaukee.

I would love to hear some feedback and ideas about this.

Yours,
Cow Island Kid

08-09-2009, 07:29 PM	#1
Cow Island Kid Junior Member Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: 249 Cow Island Posts: 3 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Camping on Cow Island I curious if anyone has read the Grantie State News article from August 6th. Here is the link if you are interested. http://www.granitestatenews.com/Arti...ntroversy.html A selectman in Tuftonboro gave verbal permission to a Tuftonboro resident to allow them to camp on town property on Cow Island. The property is a small beach on the north west side just east of the Hole in the Wall. The resident did apply for and was granted a fire permit. The town ordinances state that there is no overnight camping including fires on town property without written consent. The resident considered the fire permit his written consent. There is also a town ordinance that prohibits drinking of alcoholic beverages and smoking on town property. Both drinking and smoking were witnessed on this public property. When these campers arrived, we, knowing the ordinances, called the dispatcher to find out the legality of camping and fire building on town property. We were told that it was not legal and that they would be out to ask the campers to remove themselves. The Tuftonboro PD arrived, checked out their permit and left them to themselves. The officer then stopped by our camp to tell us that they had selectmans approval and a valid permit. Two of my family members did go down to the property and talk to the campers. One was meet with some hostility, and the other seemed to have some success in making our case that we did not 'call the cops' on them, but were merely finding out the legality of camping. We attended the Selectmans meeting the following Tuesday. The issue was brought up by the Police Chief. He stated that the ordinance can be interpreted as not allowing or allowing camping and building fires. The Selectman encouraged people to go out and use the town property on the islands. This could open up a huge can of worms. We hope that the Selectman write a specific policy that will control camping on town property. Otherwise, as the Police Chief joked 'We don't want Spring Flings out there'. We have contacted the Tuftonboro Island Association in hopes that they will contact the Selectman and help to create policies and procedures to control the use of the Tuftonboro island property owned by the town. We know that the land is public and hope that people are able to use it in a responsible and ecologically sound manner, especially with no waste facilities available. The action on this issue could set a precedent for the remainder of island properties owned by all the towns of Winnipesaukee. I would love to hear some feedback and ideas about this. Yours, Cow Island Kid