Selectboard approves $3,000 for Swansea Lake item, debates vehicle access and weekend camping at boat launch

The Board of Selectmen approved $3,000 for a Swansea Lake-related payment and discussed ongoing problems at the town boat launch, including vehicles driving onto town property and weekend “truck camping.”

Board members voted to approve a $3,000 expenditure related to Swansea Lake after a short motion and voice vote. “All in favor? Aye,” a selectman said before the chair closed the vote.

Residents and board members described repeated incidents last summer and fall when people drove down the access path to the water, camped in campers or trucks on weekends, and left garbage and ice heaves in the winter. One resident suggested installing three or four short pipes or bollards so people could still walk to the water but could not drive their vehicles down the access. Another raised concerns that the access path narrows at the origin — approximately 50 feet at the road, narrowing to about 6 feet after Warder’s Edge — and that adjacent private property (identified in the discussion as owned by “Cindy” and near Mrs. Snow’s house) creates the narrower approach.

The board heard that enforcement has been difficult. A resident said police did not act in one past incident because the area was not posted. Board members noted a claim that the path may be a state right-of-way, which would limit the town’s ability to physically block vehicle access. “We were told that it was a state bolt on. So we couldn’t block that,” a speaker said, and the board asked staff to check maps and lot numbers to confirm ownership and jurisdiction.

Truck camping at the launch was raised as a recurrent weekend problem; one speaker described campers staying overnight in 20- to 24-foot units. Town staff indicated they would follow up with the person identified as Joe Gee, who the board expects to attend the next meeting to discuss enforcement and signage. A selectman said the launch is an official state boat launch and that, as part of that arrangement, rules limit activities near the launch such as swimming or fishing within 250 feet (the speaker prefaced the distance with “I believe”).

Board members asked staff to find the map and lot numbers for the access areas and to report back. They also agreed to provide Joe Gee the materials before his attendance next week so the discussion could move from anecdote to specific options, including signage (for example, “no camping”), possible bollards if legally allowable, and enforcement approaches.

The board also deferred action on an unrelated updated agreement with Bill O’Connor until town counsel (Cordell) has reviewed the document. The selectmen said they would not vote on the agreement until Cordell’s review was complete.

The selectmen closed the item after assigning follow-up tasks and confirmed there were no appointments on the night’s agenda.

Ending: The board’s next steps are to confirm property and jurisdiction lines for the launch access, to meet with Joe Gee at the next meeting to discuss enforcement and signage, and to return with a staff recommendation on whether physical barriers are legally allowed and feasible.