Freedom’s select board is trying to crack down on rowdy behavior at a placid pond.
At a meeting on Monday night, the Select Board discussed how to address problems at the boat launch and swimming spot on Freedom Pond, also known as Sandy Pond, where residents have complained about partying, drug use, nudity, fighting and people having sex in cars.
Earlier this month, the board announced it would restrict access to the pond to Freedom residents and property owners. But the move caused an uproar on social media, with many people from surrounding towns lamenting that they would no longer be able to swim at the pond, and others asking whether town officials could legally restrict access since the boat launch was funded by the state.
It turns out they cannot, but voters might be able to.
Last week, the Select Board announced that it was reversing course and looking into other potential solutions.
After consulting with the town lawyer, Select Board member Laura Greeley said the board could vote to restrict the hours that the launch and swimming spot are open, and set a maximum number of users.
The board could also adopt a policy eliminating some parking or allowing for temporary closures for cleaning or maintenance.
The board cannot institute one set of rules for Freedom residents and another for everyone else, she said. But the town could vote to do so at a town meeting.
Putting rules into place is one thing, said Select Board member Lissa Widoff, but making sure they are followed is another.
“We have zero, zero, zero capacity to enforce,” she said.
Creating a neighborhood watch may be one way to have eyes on the spot at night, Widoff said.
“I’ve spoken to several residents who would be interested in helping us do some kind of evening check-in,” she said.
The board did not vote on any option but agreed to do more research and share it at the next Select Board meeting.
On Monday afternoon, the pond was peaceful and pristine, with the only noise coming from a raft of young ducks and the occasional jumping fish. After a paddle, Montville residents Sandy and John Spinney, of Montville said they were relieved that the town reversed its decision to limit access to Freedom residents.
“We were very concerned,” Sandy Spinney said. “I’ve been coming here since 1972.”
John Spinney said he thought the town was taking a good approach by considering its options.
He wrote a letter to the Select Board suggesting that the town restrict the horsepower of boats allowed on the pond. He also thinks the town should consider hiring someone to enforce the rules.
“They’ve tried to have the sheriff and state police come. But they’re always too busy for stuff like this,” he said “This is really a warden’s domain.”