03-25-1991 Council Minutes - Laserfiche WebLink

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REGULAR CITY COUNCIL MEETING HELD MARCH 25, 1991 ( #6)SANDY BEACH CONTINUED He said, "Fundamentally, I would be opposed to further limitations on access to the lake. It seems to me that there should be a middle ground for addressing this problem. Perhaps a confrontation with the parents of the problem children would accomplish something. If you restrict the children from this location, they will go elsewhere and cause the same problems." Mrs. Feldman stated that the teenage children's parent are not home when the problems occur. Woodbeck stated that he would like to see the dock installed this year, but would be agreeable to the proposed 8:30 p.m. closing of the beach. He suggested installing the dock in such a way that there would be water between it and the shore. Gerhardson stated that people wishing to use the dock for recreational purposes may not wish to walk in water to access it. Jabbour suggested placing the dock parallel to the shore, rather than extending it out. Beth Nelson, 3908 Cherry Avenue, stated that she has been the subject of sexual harassment. She said, "When my husband is home, the children make no comments to me. However, when I am home sitting on my deck, I hear language, directed to me, that I would not even quote to anyone. That is when I am wearing a sweat suit, I would not dare to wear a swimsuit. The boys use my lilac bushes for a toilet. I have tried to be reasonable and talk with them and it has gotten me nowhere. Granted, the problem does not happen 24 hours a day, but when it happens, it is rude. I do not want my daughter exposed to that when she is playing in her own yard. I want everyone to have access to the beach, but we have a public facility that has no public control. I cannot call the police 13 times in one day because these boys will not listen or behave. The boys are between the ages of 11 and 14. It may be a coincidence, but a few times that we have been gone, our property has suffered some vandalism. I cannot prove who did it, but it seems odd that these occurrences seem to happen on the same day that I have called the police." Goetten stated that the behavior should be reported and something done about it from a policing standpoint, rather than removing the dock. She said, "No one should be-subjected to such behavior, and it should not be tolerated. I am concerned about limiting public access to the parks and beaches. If there are rules posted on the beach, the children should know that they must comply with those rules or they will be reported." Maureen Bellows stated that she does not live near Sandy Beach, but is an Orono resident with young children. She said, - 12 -