Commercial boat operators want to dock at the Weirs without risking a fine

LACONIA — Several business owners who operate tourist ventures on Lake Winnipesaukee asked city councilors to reconsider an ordinance restricting the commercial use of the public docks at Weirs Beach during their meeting last week.

“Delivering customers straight to the front door of local businesses," Chad Puzzo, co-owner of the Mini Winni Party Bus and Boat, said during the Aug. 11 meeting.

According to City Code Chapter 299 pertaining to wharves, commercial use of the city docks is restricted, except for in two discrete circumstances. 

The United States Mail Boat can be moored on the southerly side of the docks or at Weirs Beach pursuant to permission from the city council. No other boats can be moored at the southerly side of the public docks, specifically dock No. 6, during the hours when the U.S. Mail Boat is docked. The mail boat is responsible for any damage to the docks as a result of its mooring.

The city council could, however, lease public dock space to one or more commercial enterprises on the terms and conditions they deem appropriate. Prior to entering into such an agreement, councilors would have to hold at least one public hearing on the matter. 

But operators of commercial tourism businesses like charters and water taxis told councilors they’ve been picking up and dropping customers off from the docks for years, and it’s never been an issue, despite their defiance or ignorance of the existing city code.

It wasn’t until the project reconstructing the public docks was complete and signs posted warning commercial use could earn a $100 fine that these particular commercial operators were aware of the rule, they said.

Ward 1 Councilor Bruce Cheney told the boat operators and his fellow councilors he pushed for the installation of the signs at the end of the reconfigured public docks. Several of his constituents had approached him, asking why the city wasn’t enforcing the relevant ordinance and said commercial operators park at the docks for lengthy periods, taking away its use from the public.

“You should be aware that there are folks up there who are not happy with boats coming into the docks,” Cheney said. “The impression I got was they thought you spent too much time there. That may not be true, and maybe that’s an argument that we can have in front of the committee, but I think that was one of the concerns that was expressed to me.”

Cheney has filed to run for mayor in the upcoming municipal election.

According to a city staff report, councilors and City Manager Kirk Beattie received several requests from operators of commercial enterprises to consider amending that section of the city code to allow short-term docking of their vessels to transport passengers in and out of the Weirs. 

Puzzo told councilors he’d like to see the ordinance change. 

“This rule will hurt my business and it will hurt the Weirs itself,” Puzzo said. “Charging a fine for people in the business of paying customers would make absolutely no sense. It’s the exact opposite of what we’re trying to do here at the Weirs, to grow and thrive.”

Puzzo said all of his trips are booked in advance, they don’t do business at the docks, they don’t loiter or solicit customers, and they don’t have staff at the docks or sell merchandise.

“We dock only long enough to pick people up and drop people off respectfully, quickly and safely,” Puzzo said. “Weirs is one of the stops that we like to recommend to our customers — we tell them to visit the arcades, the bars, a restaurant, because we want them spending time and their money right here at the Weirs.” 

Councilors referred the matter to their subcommittee on operations and ordinances. Any proposed change would come before the council.

Jeff Hagopian, owner of Lake Winnipesaukee Pontoon Boat Charters and Tours, told councilors he provides private tours of the lake, and wants to see the ordinance change because, for him, it’s a safety issue.

“It can be a very treacherous area around the Weirs, particularly on a weekend. Lots of boat traffic, lots of wave action from a lot of different boats going a lot of different directions,” he said. “Many of the people, if not most of the people, that I have taken out this year have never been to Lake Winnipesaukee before — they want to get out on the lake, but they want to do it safely.”