Newspaper apologizes, saying it erred in publishing a statement that members of Broad-Leavitt Bay Association's Executive Committee had questioned the authority of its chairman to publicly support the Ossipee beach purchase. The complaints were from members of the Association, not the Executive Committee. The committee was unanimous in its support.
A majority of Ossipee voters favored the town's plan to purchase Camp Sokokis for recreation. But the vote failed to muster the required two-thirds majority.
Proponents and opponents square off in the final week. In public letters, Select Board members call opponents "cowardly" and "arrogant," and signal that non-resident taxpayers won't be permitted to speak at the town meeting. Members of Broad-Leavitt Bay Association question its chairman's endorsement of the purchase.
Almost a decade after it was created, the management plan for Ossipee Lake Natural Area is paying off, with damaged plant communities on the rebound, and boaters largely staying away from posted areas. New maps at the reconstructed Route 25 public boat ramp are in the works for 2018.
In a public letter, the Executive Committee of Broad-Leavitt Bay Association, one of the lake's largest such organizations, calls Ossipee's proposed purchase of Camp Sokokis "an excellent asset acquisition" and a "once in a lifetime opportunity" for a town beach. Ossipee Lake Alliance came out in favor of the plan on November 7. Voters will have the final say on Tuesday, November 28.
It's up to Ossipee voters to determine whether buying Camp Sokokis is the right financial decision. But from an environmental perspective, we like the plan and support it.
The recent storm that brought high winds and heavy rain to the area quickly took the lake from its planned autumn drawdown level to flood stage. It's a reminder that flooding is a fact of life on Ossipee Lake that needs to be considered in approving development on the floodplain.
First Selectman Rick Morgan lead a presentation Monday night on the town's plans for Camp Sokokis if voters approve purchasing the property at a special town meeting on November 28.
A 6 p.m. public information meeting at Ossipee Town Hall is scheduled as town taxpayers appear to be divided over the wisdom of buying an Ossipee Lake campground, and confused about the tax impact and how the property will be operated.
In a surprise announcement, Board Chair Rick Morgan said the town plans to close the campground, not just reduce the number of campsites, creating a potential conflict with a provision of the purchase and sales agreement. Responding to opponents of the purchase, board member Sandra Martin called the people behind the "Do the Math" road signs cowardly and un-American because they have chosen to be anonymous. An information session about the selectmen's plans will be held on Monday, October 30, at 6 p.m. at Ossipee Town Hall. Voters will have the final say at a special town meeting on Tuesday, November 28.
State officials brief Berry Bay Lake Association members about plans for a new dam on the north side of the Ossipee River complex. Construction should start early next summer.
Select Board Chairman Richard Morgan is urging town residents to get educated about buying Camp Sokokis for $1.2 million before the issue comes to a vote at a special town meeting. But the town has offered no meaningful information about the plan since it was announced in August, leading people to express their frustrations online and in the local newspaper.
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