Town of Turner, Maine

Town Beach Ordinance

 

 

I           STATEMENT OF PURPOSE

           

            The purpose of this ordinance is to provide for the safety, enjoyment, health, and welfare           of all persons using the town beach and parking facilities at Bear Pond, to further                             provide a means of maintenance, operation and protection of the town beach and    parking area, and to provide a family oriented atmosphere at an environmentally             friendly and enjoyable town beach for residents and land owners of Turner and their      accompanied guests. This ordinance is adopted pursuant to municipal home rule    ordinance authority and Title 30-A, MRSA s 3001.

 

II         ADMINISTRATION, AUTHORITY, APPLICABILITY, and EFFECTIVE DATE

           

A.  Administration of the town beach will be by a Committee consisting of Volunteers overseen by the Town Manager. The Committee is responsible for maintenance, operation, and general stewardship of the Turner town beach and parking area. 

B.  Authority to act:  The Committee shall oversee all parking and beach areas and shall adopt, establish, and as necessary, revise, with the consent of the Board of Selectmen, any additional rules and regulations that they may deem necessary to maintain safety. These          safety rules and regulations, not inconsistent with this ordinance, shall be posted in a conspicuous place at the facility and shall have the full force and effect of law.

            C.  Applicability:  This ordinance shall apply to Town owned property at Bear Pond      which   includes a beach and parking area.

            D.  Effective Date:  This ordinance shall take effect upon adoption by the Town of         Turner.

 

III        DEFINITIONS

           

            A.  "Town" is the Town of Turner, Maine.

            B.  "Municipal Officers" means the Board of Selectmen.

            C.  "Beach" is the property owned by the Town of Turner adjacent to Bear Pond, Beach           Street, and Bear Pond Road.

 

 

IV        GENERAL RULES

           

            A.  Conduct and Use

                        1.  Regular opening and closing dates for swimming shall be established by the                           Town Manager and approved by the Municipal Officers.

                        2.  Hours:  The beach area shall be open during the designated hours established                                    by the Town Manager and approved by the Municipal Officers.

                        3.  Picnicking:  Picnicking is allowed.

4.  Fires:  Fires shall be confined to appropriate receptacles.  The Town Manager             may prohibit fires in times of high fire danger.

                        5.  Offensive Behavior:  No person shall engage in any indecent language or loud                                   noise which would be offensive to any reasonable person or engage in any                                disorderly conduct or behavior tending to breach the town peace.

                        6.  Children under 12 years of age must be accompanied by someone 16 years of                                  age or older.

                        7.  Seasonal activities and use other than swimming shall be as permitted by the                          Town Manager with the approval of the Municipal Officers.

                                               

            B.  Sanitation

                        1.  No bottles, cans or other trash shall be left.  Users shall carry out what they                          carried in.

                        2.  No pets allowed.  This is not to be construed as limiting the use of Seeing Eye                                   or disability assistance animals.

                        3.  No trash what so ever will be put in the portable toilets.

4.  Children shall not be allowed to swim in disposable diapers except for those exclusively made for swimming.  All children who require diapers and do not have the proper disposable diapers are required to wear rubber pants that will contain all human waste.

            C.  Safety

                        1.  No motorized watercraft shall be moored, launched or beached.

                        2.  There shall be no water skiing permitted from the beach.

                        3.  All motor vehicles shall be parked in the designated areas for parking except                                     for emergency and maintenance vehicles.

                        4.  All bicycles shall be parked in the designated areas.

           

            D.  Prohibited Activities are

                        1.  The use of soap, shampoo or other cleaning agents.

                        2.  The use of glass containers.

                        3.  Activities which endanger persons or willful damage to any town property at                                     the facility, including and without limiting to, changing rooms, bathrooms, fire                                    receptacles, fencing, trees, brush or other vegetation.

                        4.  The use of tents or overnight camping.

                        5.  Possession or consumption of alcoholic beverages and illegal drugs.

                        6.  Soliciting.

                        7.  Smoking is prohibited thereby declaring the beach area a Tobacco Free Zone.

 

            E.  Authorized Use

Residents are required to obtain a beach pass annually. The fee shall be established by the Municipal Officers.

 

V         VIOLATION and PENALTY

           

            First time and minor violations of this ordinance not involving any property damage,        injury, or cost to the Town will be enforced by means of a warning issued by an      enforcement officer as described under section VI.  Subsequent violations, or violations that result in any property damage, injury to others, or any costs to the Town may result             in more formal enforcement proceedings, whereby, a complaint will be filed on behalf of    the Town before a court of competent jurisdiction.  Any person found in violation of this      ordinance by a court of competent jurisdiction shall be subject to a fine payable to the Town of Turner of not more than $100 or the cost of damages to town property.

 

VI        ENFORCEMENT

           

            This ordinance may be enforced by any duly authorized law enforcement officer, as well             as other individuals designated by the Municipal Officers or Directors.

 

VII      SERVERABILITY

           

            Should any section or portion of this ordinance be declared invalid by a court, the          remaining sections or portions of this ordinance shall remain in force.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Town of Turner Maine

Town Beach Ordinance

 

Adopted April 18, 1998

Amended March 1999

Amended April 4, 2009

Amended April 2, 2011