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Select Board debates signs, treatment and redesign after complaints about kids in common fountain
Summary
Residents and board members debated whether the town common fountain should be treated as a splash pad, turned off, or marked with signage after social‑media complaints; the board agreed to post a notice clarifying the fountain is not meant for swimming and to continue exploring low‑cost steps and possible redesign or fundraising.
Residents and Select Board members debated safety, liability and community messaging after online comments raised concerns about children playing in the town common fountain.
Dan Doherty (speaker label S3) brought the issue to the board and said he had seen discussion on Facebook and recommended the board consider whether the fountain needs rules or clearer signage. "If there's any restrictions, if there's any concerns ... I've done some research," Doherty said, and asked whether the Select Board had guidance.
Board members described a range of usage: some residents have watched toddlers wet their feet and sit on the fountain edge; others warned the fountain can get slimy and slippery and observed it was not built as a swimming or bathing feature. One participant told the board the fountain’s water “comes from the water plant, and so it's been chlorinated.” Another board member disputed full chlorination, and participants noted the fountain’s circulation is limited.
Several members said that if the town treats the structure as a splash pad it would trigger legal and maintenance obligations. As one board member summarized, that status could require treating water to pool standards and providing restrooms. The board discussed lower‑cost interim steps including temporary or discreet signage and posting a clarifying message on the town’s Channel 7 or Front Porch Forum before committing to capital work.
Some callers urged caution about messaging. Caroline (speaker label S9) said the town is growing and cautioned that heavy‑handed signage could send a message of exclusion to families with young children. "Anything we do or you do sends a message," she said, and urged that the board weigh aesthetics and welcome when choosing language and design.
The board agreed to post a notice clarifying that the fountain is not intended for swimming, to consider temporary signs at the fountain base, and to continue exploring options — including a possible community fundraiser or a redesign that raises the fountain or changes surfacing to reduce slip risk. No formal policy or enforcement measure was adopted; members said the conversation will continue at a future meeting.
The transcript records both an assertion that the fountain’s water is chlorinated and contrary comments about treatment and plumbing; the Select Board did not make a final finding on the fountain’s water‑treatment status tonight and directed staff to follow up on treatment, signage and outreach.
