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Council adopts package of conservation and parks code updates, adds camping pilot language and expands Rorak Point acreage
Summary
The City Council unanimously approved amendments to multiple city code sections covering penalties, boats, firearms, ice access, and parks; the council also amended a parks ordinance to increase acreage recorded for Rorak Point and added rules enabling a future, council-approved camping pilot at a single site under Recreation oversight.
The Haverhill City Council voted to adopt a set of ordinance amendments covering conservation enforcement penalties, boating rules, firearms discharge areas, ice-access rules, and park/conservation area regulations.
The package: Mayor Melinda E. Barrett and city staff presented ordinances to update penalty provisions, allow kayaks and certain lightweight fishing windbreaks on Crystal Lake, clarify permitted hunting/discharge areas (including recognized use near Brandybrow Road), and consolidate multiple park and conservation-area rules into a single, uniform chapter. The council approved the ordinances by roll call; votes on the individual items were recorded as unanimous (10 yeas, 0 nays, 1 absent) for each ordinance presented that evening.
Camping and recreation pilot: Councilors and staff discussed camping language at length. The adopted code now allows the recreation director to develop rules for a controlled camping pilot (the staff discussed Plug Pond as the likely pilot site) but also includes a general statement that “unless otherwise provided for herein, camping shall be prohibited on any other city-owned property.” The recreation director must present any rules and regulations for council approval before implementation.
Rorak Point acreage update: Staff reported the city recently acquired additional land adjacent to Rorak Point (the former stone-crusher property). The council amended the ordinance language on the floor to change the recorded acreage for Rorak Point from 10 acres to 26.6 acres and approved the ordinance as amended.
Fishing and ice access clarifications: The boating/ice-access revision allows kayaking/canoeing legally on Crystal Lake and permits lightweight, portable windbreaks used while ice fishing, provided they are removed from the ice immediately after use. The changes were described as updating long-standing local practice and codifying steps to allow safer, regulated use of city water bodies.
Next steps and oversight: The recreation director will propose the camping pilot rules to the council before any camping is permitted. The city solicitor and staff will continue to refine cross-references as necessary.
