For almost two years the same small group of people have made accusations, stacked town meetings with spouses and family members, and worked to pressure the town of Winthrop to repeal the mooring ordinance. A few even ran for town council. This small troupe are doing this to protect what they perceive as their “grandfathered” right to moor at the end of Maranacook Lake by Summer Street.

I don’t have a boat, or any watercraft. I have no skin in this game. My concern has always been for the safety, preservation, and equal access for all people to our waterways. I realized that we needed to apply rules to all bodies of water in Winthrop. I ran for council to make a difference, not for my own or any family member’s personal gain.

A boat is moored Tuesday in Maranacook Lake near the state boat launch on Route 41 in Readfield. Joe Phelan/Kennebec Journal

The hullabaloo began in 2015, when I noticed at least one private mooring at the aforementioned area. I have published video on Facebook where you can see the lack of buoys, other than state markers for shallow water. By 2016, the number tripled. From that point it grew exponentially until now where there are at least 12-14 visible buoys in that location. Moored boaters are blocking access to cast a fishing line from shore and the ability of canoes or kayaks to meander in a quiet area without constant navigation around watercraft. I inquired to then-town manager Peter Nielsen, who said there were no rules in town regarding the protection of this sensitive aquatic area. I researched state laws. Councilor Andy Wess later began the laborious chore of researching the legal need for a mooring ordinance as a result of repeated inquiries by myself and others. This research took him over a year, in addition to the public hearings and workshops held since.

Maine statute reveals why this vociferous group may also be against a harbor master, or mooring officer. They claim it has to do with the costs, which are minimal. More likely it has to do with having to move or remove their moorings, as they were notified to do by July 7, 2022. As anyone who drives by will note, many of those buoys are sticking out of the ice right now. If partially covered in snow they become unseen hazards waiting to damage snowmobiles. Those who claim to be good stewards of the area did not remove their buoys.

Keep in mind, the entire area was supposed to have had the buoys and the moorings removed by now. There were plenty of visible signs posted to this effect.

The real crux for the Maranacook group is the authority that the position holds under the law, which was also described by Phil Saucier, the town attorney in the suggested edits to the ordinance. A harbor master could tell them where they are allowed to place moorings and could force them to be removed.

What it all comes down to is a small group of people have ascertained they have the right to commandeer one end of the lake to the exclusion of others, without regard to aquatic life or preservation. Even though this ordinance applies to all bodies of water in Winthrop and all moorings, they are taking it personally. The proposed edits address concerns of equal access for right of ways, non-residents, and shorefront. This is not enough for them. They don’t want to move their moorings, period. They keep referring to it as a “mooring field” when the town doesn’t recognize one.

A letter of support was signed by 22 members of East Winthrop. They were able to negotiate a safer swimming area with area boaters because they had the ordinance to back them up. Not all have been privy to the letters and texts given to town councilors in support of the ordinance. Many people have stated privately or in letters or in person they don’t feel comfortable speaking out in public because of the aggressive nature and language used by the ordinance opposition at town meetings, and the constant over-talking of others.

Over-talking is bullying. Some people ascribe to the tactic of repeating the same accusations without merit, because perhaps others will believe it. That is the nature of misinformation. The ordinance is not targeting any specific group; those opposed are making it about themselves.

While some, like Sandy Steele at the meeting Feb. 6 via Zoom, can continue to make claims that the town council created this ordinance for their own “personal needs,” it’s pretty clear that statement is projection. Councilor James Steele may claim to be “thinking about giving up my own boat, but (I) would still continue to support these people,” but ownership can easily be transferred to a family member, unlike moorings under state law.

Perhaps this is why he has twice now made a motion, and twice failed, to repeal the mooring ordinance.

Elizabeth Peters lives in Winthrop, where she serves as a town councilor.