Rangeley Park Commission approves High Peaks Paddle permit pending state sign-offs, OKs Strawberry Festival

Rangeley — The Rangeley Park Commission on April 17 approved minutes from its March 20 meeting and cleared two park use permits, including a conditional approval for the High Peaks Paddle event and an outright permit for the Strawberry Festival set for July 10 in Quassex.

The approvals were made by voice vote with motions moved by Sam and seconded by Jim. The commission’s approval of the High Peaks Paddle permit is explicitly conditional on completing state requirements and several event stipulations the commission listed at the meeting.

The commission said the High Peaks Paddle organizer must obtain a state watercraft event permit and provide a list showing boats and the people registered to each boat. The organizers also must submit a written safety and accountability plan, documented training sign-offs, and a written designation granting incident command the authority to call a go/no-go decision. The commission’s motion described those items as a precondition to final permit authorization.

Commissioners approved the Strawberry Festival permit without stipulations. Meeting remarks identified the festival date as July 10 and its location as Quassex; commissioners said the applicant had provided the required materials.

The group approved minutes from the March 20 meeting earlier in the agenda. All three approvals were moved by Sam and seconded by Jim; the chair called each vote and said "all in favor," indicating passage by voice vote.

No formal roll-call tallies were recorded in the transcript. The commission adjourned after completing the agenda. The next regular meeting was announced for May 15.