Amherst Bulletin – A safe place to play?: After boat collisions, Shutesbury reviews Lake Wyola regulations

SHUTESBURY – A serious accident involving two boats that injured one person on Lake Wyola in June is prompting town officials to form a committee to review revising an ordinance that governs use of the 51-acre site.

But as the Select Board proposes creating a seven-member Lake Wyola Boating and Safety Review Commission to examine possible changes to the Watercraft and Persons Using Lake Wyola ordinance and possibly also address general management of the property, some people who live on the lake both year-round and seasonally are concerned about whether they will be given enough say.

At a Select Board meeting late last month, the boardroom at City Hall was packed with residents and other attendees who joined via livestream to hear the rationale for considering the ordinance, which was last updated a decade ago.

“Overall, we have a very safe body of water compared to other bodies of water,” said George Abdow, a North Laurel Drive resident and chairman of the Lake Wyola Association.

Abdow said one goal is to have a better lake and it would be good to review and revise the ordinance every five to 10 years. However, he said the association already monitors the ordinance itself and is in regular contact with neighbors.

However, the city’s emergency response team, which includes Police Chief Kristin Burgess, is concerned after the June 15 incident. Environmental police said one person was injured in the boating accident at around 7:38 p.m. and one of the boaters was summoned to Eastern Hampshire District Court in Belchertown on unspecified charges.

The goal of the proposed committee is to “identify concrete actions that can be taken by the Town of Shutesbury, the Lake Wyola Association, private citizens, and the Massachusetts Department of Conservation and Recreation to address safety issues at Lake Wyola.”

An accompanying summary states: “Lake Wyola has seen increased use by boaters and swimmers over the last 20 years. The lake has become a destination for people from out of town and has also become much busier since the state park beach opened. The public boat ramp on Randall Road is available to the general public. Recreational use of the lake has increased with many more swimmers, speedboats, paddleboarders, kayaks and canoes.”

Burgess told those present that after the incident on June 15, it would be irresponsible not to review the statutes in their entirety and look for ways to improve them during a “significant event.”

“Whenever a significant event occurs, and this was the case, it is irresponsible not to look at the overall situation to see if there is room for improvement,” Burgess said.

Select committee member Eric Stocker said the lake is a resource for people in town and out of town. “It’s in the town’s best interest to protect that resource,” Stocker said, adding that he generally feels it’s a place people love and want to be a part of.

He added that citizens are encouraged to look at the ordinance more closely and that it is not a ban on motorboats. Personal watercraft such as jet skis were already banned in 1996.

“It’s obvious to me, to the police and to the people that we have a problem,” said Stocker. “Something happened where someone was very seriously injured and could have been killed.”

The goal is to improve safety for everyone, Stocker said. “We all have to learn how to play in the sandbox so that no one gets hurt,” Stocker said.

In an interview on Aug. 6, Burgess said she would meet with the Lake Wyola Association to explain the reasons for reviewing the bylaws and consider differing opinions on how best to ensure safety.

“People who come to the lake need to understand the regulations and expectations,” Burgess said. “It’s about creating a place that’s safe for everyone and looking at everything.”

Burgess said she was interested in getting a police boat operational again to conduct regular patrols.

The Select Board also has an interest in making the lake a safe place. Rita Farrell, the board’s co-chair, said a number of people have contacted her and City Hall but did not feel comfortable voicing their concerns, even though the city’s emergency management team has identified problems.

Abdow said the association was concerned about the role it would play in the planned review. It had proposed a pool of 26 people who would be interested in participating, but was then informed that the committee would not be formed until August.

“It’s a little strange,” Abdow said last week. “This committee will make rules for the people who live on the lake and make the lake what it is.”

The Lake Wyola Advisory Committee has asked one of its members, Dave Green, to join the task force.

However, all proposed changes to the ordinance, which include a 30-mile-per-hour speed limit, a requirement for motorboats to travel counterclockwise, a restriction of water skiing to daylight hours and a requirement for swimmers to be accompanied by a boat when 150 feet or more from shore, must be approved by the town meeting.

“There is no predetermined outcome – our goal is to give stakeholders a voice,” Farrell said.

Charlene Galenski, of Wyola Drive, told the Select Board that the Lake Wyola Association could provide better safety on its own. Galenski said she recently saw a woman swimming too far out alone, without a buoy or escort boat.

“Part of the problem is that some of the people who may be coming from elsewhere don’t read the rules or don’t stop to read them. They need to be better informed,” Galenski said.

According to a draft work plan, the committee would have four tasks: Among other things, it would review the current statute and make proposals for amendments, review the enforcement of the current statute and make proposals for amendments, identify ways to educate the public about the statute and make final recommendations.

The seven members would include people from community organizations and Shutesbury residents “who enjoy the lake but don’t necessarily live on the lake,” as well as one representative from the fire department and one from the police department as ad hoc members. The state Department of Conservation and Recreation will also be contacted to find an individual who can serve as a resource to this committee.

Scott Merzbach can be reached at [email protected].