Following complaints, Orange Selectboard to craft rules for Lake Mattawa visitors

By DOMENIC POLI

Staff Writer

Published: 06-03-2021 8:48 PM

ORANGE — The Selectboard plans to work with the town administrator and police chief to draft clear signs and enforceable rules for Lake Mattawa in response to a thread of social media comments complaining of public drinking, drug use and other issues there.

Following a lengthy discussion at Wednesday’s meeting, Selectboard Chair Jane Peirce said she was confident she understood the spirit of members’ input and will work with Gabriele Voelker and Police Chief James Sullivan to figure out the mechanics of remedying this situation.

A woman took to the Orange MA Town Talk Facebook page on May 23 to ask if anyone knew of a lake or beach, other than Lake Mattawa, for Orange residents only. She wrote that she had gone to Lake Mattawa that day and was overwhelmed by tents, dogs, grills and people smoking, drinking and doing drugs, as well as loud music from people on either side of the beach.

Phoning in to Wednesday’s meeting, Sullivan said there have been no calls to his department this year regarding Lake Mattawa. He said he asked his officers to patrol the area on Memorial Day weekend and there were no issues. Sullivan acknowledged, however, this was likely because it was a cold, rainy weekend. He expects the lake to be busier this coming weekend. He said officers can enforce alcohol laws, but tobacco smoking falls under the purview of the Orange Board of Health.

“There’s not much we can do about it unless it’s marijuana,” Sullivan said, going on to encourage people to call the police if there is an issue.

Voelker said little can be done if no one reports a problem as it happens.

“It’s very hard for us on Monday morning when we read things on Facebook to be able to handle it,” she said. “So it’s really important that if you are at the beach and you’re uncomfortable or something’s going on that you call the Police Department, and they are able to come over. I think that’s vitally important. Don’t be afraid to do that.

“The other thing we’re going to do is we’re going to put a new, clearer sign up on the beach, highlighting the things you can and can’t do on the beach,” Voelker continued. “People should not be grilling on the beach, they shouldn’t be having their dogs on the beach, no fires. You know, I know there are some people who have burned in the sand there. So, we’re trying to have it be a pleasant place for everyone to use, especially in the hot weather.”

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The town administrator also mentioned out-of-town spots like Lake Wyola in Shutesbury and Laurel Lake in Erving have lifeguards to enforce rules. She recommended a sign stating there is no lifeguard on duty and banning grills, fires, dogs, cooking, alcohol, smoking and pop-up tents larger than 8 feet by 8 feet. Selectboard members discussed wanting to prohibit large canopies without restricting or banning the use of umbrellas or small tents.

Sullivan said the town adopting a bylaw would enable officers to issue citations like they do for unregistered dogs and unshoveled sidewalks. He also said there is a misconception that the Police Department simply can’t be bothered with these types of complaints.

“That can’t be ... further from the truth,” he said.

Reach Domenic Poli at: dpoli@recorder.com or 413-772-0261, ext. 262.

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