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Inspectors find sailboat use not explicitly banned; commissioners take Loon Pond rules under advisement
Summary
After a report about a sailboat on Loon Pond, staff inspected the vessel and found the town ordinance prohibits certain water-contact activities and some craft but does not expressly forbid sailboats; the commission noted wording contradictions in Chapter 160 and took the issue under advisement.
The commission discussed a recent report claiming a sailboat was being used on Loon Pond and reviewed the town ordinance. Staff members Cody Boisvert and Alex Mellen inspected the vessel and reviewed Chapter 160 of the Code of the Town of Hillsborough. The ordinance language lists prohibited craft—"A person shall not use a sailboard, wet-sailor-type boat, jet ski or inflatable craft"—but also permits sunfish, sailfish, rowboats and the like. Staff concluded the vessel inspected is a sailboat and that nothing in the ordinance expressly prohibits its use.
Commissioners observed that some wording in Chapter 160 appears contradictory in places but said the original ordinance's intent appears to be to prohibit water contact (for example, "No person shall bathe, wade, swim or perform any similar water contact activities in Loon Pond..."). The commission decided to take the matter under advisement rather than issue an immediate enforcement action.
Why it matters: interpretation of the ordinance determines what craft and activities are allowed on Loon Pond and may affect enforcement and resident behavior.
What happens next: The commission will consider whether clarifying amendments or rules are necessary before taking enforcement steps.
