No skating permitted on town fire pond

Hopes by some residents that the town fire pond might be made available for ice skating this year were dashed last night when selectmen voted to post signs notifying residents that skating was not permitted.

That decision, however, seems certain to be revisited before next winter, with selectman Andrew Livernois acknowledging that he believes people should be permitted to skate. "I'd love to see us in a position where people can skate on the pond," he said.

But he agreed that the potential liability for the town made the feasibility of permitting skating this year unlikely.

Though selectmen discussed delaying any decision until next year, Fire Chief Jerry Busby advised them that since the matter had been brought to the attention of town officials they could not ignore it. Julie Lonergan, town recreation coordinator agreed, telling selectmen that in her discussions with the city's insurer she was told the town would have to post signs and erect a fence around the pond.

Accordingly, signs will be erected announcing the prohibition. Selectmen indicated, however, that they'll be looking at a better solution, including perhaps the creation of a town rink, by next year.