A ‘New Phase’ For Lake Patrols

To the Editor:

On May 3, 2005 Lake Zoar Authority (LZA) Chair H. Saad indicated that the LZA “will go into a new phase” with regards to the enforcement of boating laws on Lake Zoar this boating season. The LZA supporting member town police forces may provide the armed officers to patrol the lake after receiving appropriate training and or “marinization.” It was unclear whether the patrol dispatch will be from space formerly rented by the LZA from the VFW in Lakeside, Southbury or from rotating local police headquarters.

On May 3, 2005, it wasn’t clear what the LZA Marine Safety Patrol (LZAMSP) hours of patrol would be or if they would be ready for the upcoming Memorial Day weekend, which has been the beginning of lake patrols in the past. Saad said that the boats are still in drydocking; and, that the worlds “Police” have not yet been removed from the LZA patrol boats. Saad stated that “we won’t scrape the words Police off of the boats until we [LZA] know what we are going to do.”

John Milo, an insurance agent, from the company that underwrites the LZA for General and Professional (Safety Patrol) Liability informed the LZA that a settlement was reached involving a October 24, 1998 Lake Zoar boating accident near Jackson Cove that resulted in a fatality. Northeast Generating Services and the LZA equally funded this settlement. Milo also said that the LZA insurance policy is up for renewal at the end of May 2005. Mr Milo asked, “Who will supervise the [new] armed patrol officers?” Mr Milo asserted that his question needs to be appropriately answered to the satisfaction of the insurance company or the LZA policy could be cancelled or not renewed.

The LZA tried unsuccessfully to have a meeting on Tuesday, May 10, possibly to try to clarify issues that were not resolved on May 3. Apparently there are “requirements” that need to be met before an official LZA meeting can be convened. In the waning days before the start of the Lake Zoar boating season, the LZA is encouraged to inform the public as to the exact nature of their “new phase” of LZAMSP 2005 operation after they learn exactly what they are going to do.

Anthony M. D’Angelo

18 Cedarhurst Trail, Sandy Hook                                  May 15, 2005