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MAXUM · 05-12-2005, 08:07 AM

Calmer environment

Rusty McLear, president and CEO of Hampshire Hospitality Holdings, said business leaders, property owners, legislators and organizations interested in the lake have been invited to discuss the proposed legislation and learn more about the issues at a May 22 event at Church Landing at Mill Falls in Meredith.
McLear and Alex Ray, owner of the Common Man Family of Restaurants, are hosting the event, which is geared toward those seeking a "calmer lake environment in general," Ray said.
Teutsch said 45/25 mph speed limits have been imposed and are routinely enforced in Massachusetts statewide and on inlets and harbors in Rhode Island as well as on New York's Lake George.
Waterways in Washington state, Oregon and Minnesota, as well as the Thousand Islands in New York and Canada, are listed as having speed limits.

Residents' concerns

A new organization of lakefront property owners called WinnFABS has organized in support of speed limits on Winnipesaukee.
Chris Devine, executive director of the Squam Lakes Association, said there is a radar gun in use by Marine Patrol on the lake, and the reports he has received show that it works well and is used at locations and times when congestion and speed are factors.
But Barrett said there is difficulty using radar on boats. He said stationary radar guns on docks and land would work only part of the time. Giving chase to speeding boaters would also be difficult, he noted.
"It's not like a highway, you know," he said.

Problem is limited

Barrett said the problem of big speed boats is not on Ossipee or Newfound, but on the much larger Winnipesaukee.
"The bottom line is we will try and deal with it as best we can if this passes, but it is not going to garner the sorts of results that they might want to see," he said.
Teutsch acknowledged that Marine Patrol is not going to catch every speeding boat, but just having speed limits and an occasional speed trap would go a long way toward making the lakes safer, he said.
He said he has met with organizations for the six major lakes this week and they are generally supportive of speed limits.
Walter Goddard, president of the Lake Sunapee Protective Association, said the issue of whether to support a speed limit for Lake Sunapee will be on his agenda for the monthly board meeting on Saturday.
Several organizations representing bass fishermen, marine tradesmen and owners of large speed boats have signed on in opposition to the bill and have hired lobbyists, according to Teutsch.
Jim Bianco, representing the New Hampshire Recreational Boaters Association, could not be reached for comment. That newly formed organization of boaters is opposing the legislation.
One of the backers of the bill is Merrill Fay, owner of Fay's Boatyard in Gilford, which deals primarily with sailing vessels. Last fall, Fay asked state Rep. Dr. James Pilliod, R-Belmont, to address the speed limit issue by sponsoring House Bill 162.
No hearing dates for the bill have been set.

05-12-2005, 08:07 AM	#97
MAXUM Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Kuna ID Posts: 2,755 Thanks: 246 Thanked 1,942 Times in 802 Posts	Second half of the article.... Calmer environment Rusty McLear, president and CEO of Hampshire Hospitality Holdings, said business leaders, property owners, legislators and organizations interested in the lake have been invited to discuss the proposed legislation and learn more about the issues at a May 22 event at Church Landing at Mill Falls in Meredith. McLear and Alex Ray, owner of the Common Man Family of Restaurants, are hosting the event, which is geared toward those seeking a "calmer lake environment in general," Ray said. Teutsch said 45/25 mph speed limits have been imposed and are routinely enforced in Massachusetts statewide and on inlets and harbors in Rhode Island as well as on New York's Lake George. Waterways in Washington state, Oregon and Minnesota, as well as the Thousand Islands in New York and Canada, are listed as having speed limits. Residents' concerns A new organization of lakefront property owners called WinnFABS has organized in support of speed limits on Winnipesaukee. Chris Devine, executive director of the Squam Lakes Association, said there is a radar gun in use by Marine Patrol on the lake, and the reports he has received show that it works well and is used at locations and times when congestion and speed are factors. But Barrett said there is difficulty using radar on boats. He said stationary radar guns on docks and land would work only part of the time. Giving chase to speeding boaters would also be difficult, he noted. "It's not like a highway, you know," he said. Problem is limited Barrett said the problem of big speed boats is not on Ossipee or Newfound, but on the much larger Winnipesaukee. "The bottom line is we will try and deal with it as best we can if this passes, but it is not going to garner the sorts of results that they might want to see," he said. Teutsch acknowledged that Marine Patrol is not going to catch every speeding boat, but just having speed limits and an occasional speed trap would go a long way toward making the lakes safer, he said. He said he has met with organizations for the six major lakes this week and they are generally supportive of speed limits. Walter Goddard, president of the Lake Sunapee Protective Association, said the issue of whether to support a speed limit for Lake Sunapee will be on his agenda for the monthly board meeting on Saturday. Several organizations representing bass fishermen, marine tradesmen and owners of large speed boats have signed on in opposition to the bill and have hired lobbyists, according to Teutsch. Jim Bianco, representing the New Hampshire Recreational Boaters Association, could not be reached for comment. That newly formed organization of boaters is opposing the legislation. One of the backers of the bill is Merrill Fay, owner of Fay's Boatyard in Gilford, which deals primarily with sailing vessels. Last fall, Fay asked state Rep. Dr. James Pilliod, R-Belmont, to address the speed limit issue by sponsoring House Bill 162. No hearing dates for the bill have been set.