There is hereby created the Branford Park and Open Space Authority.
[Amended 10-16-1990]
Said Authority shall consist of seven members who shall be residents
and electors of the Town of Branford.
Membership on said Authority should be broadly representative of the
Town's population, and appointments thereto should be consistent with the
furtherance of the spirit and intent of this article. Failure to attend three
consecutive meetings of the Authority, whether regular or special, shall be
considered a resignation, and the resigned member's place shall be filled
by the appointment of another resident elector of the Town, not himself. Members
of the Authority shall not serve in any other local, state or federal office,
paid or unpaid, elected or appointed, excepting that members of the Authority
may serve on subcommittees of the Authority itself.
[Amended 12-13-1972; 9-14-1977; 10-10-1984]
Said Authority shall have the power to regulate, manage, control and
maintain such areas as are designated open space and park areas by the Board
of Selectmen.
A. The following rules shall govern the use of such areas
designated as open space and park areas by the Board of Selectmen:
(1) Horseback riding will be permitted on major trails designated
by the Authority.
(2) Boats without motor or sail are allowed in the East Pond
of the Supply Pond area only. Boats or canoes must contain one or Coast-Guard-approved
life preserver per person. Boat launching is restricted to the Stonegate area
of the Supply Pond area to protect the pond banks. Overnight boat storage
on land or water is prohibited.
(3) Boats are permitted in the West Pond of the Supply Pond
area only for educational purposes and only with the permission of the Authority.
(4) Fishing is permitted in accordance with state statutes
from pond banks and/or boats. Fishing from boats is allowed only in the East
Pond of the Supply Pond area. Ice fishing is permitted only in those areas
designated by the Authority.
(5) Supervised educational study is permitted in conjunction
with the Education Subcommittee of the Authority and the Branford School system.
(7) Parking is permitted according to local traffic regulations.
(8) Motorized vehicles, including but not limited to minibikes,
snowmobiles and motorcycles, and unauthorized motor vehicles are prohibited.
(9) Camping is prohibited, except in those areas designated
by the Authority.
(10) Picnicking and ground fires are prohibited, except in
those areas designated by the Authority. Picnic tables may not be moved from
their established place.
(11) Hunting and trapping are prohibited. No person shall
carry or have in his possession firearms or weapons of any type, and no firecrackers
or fireworks shall be discharged in said area.
(12) The sale, offering, solicitation or advertising of any
goods or services is prohibited without the permission of the Authority.
(13) No person shall deface, remove, destroy or otherwise
injure in any manner any structure, building, tree, flower, shrub, fern or
moss, nor shall any bird or bird's nest be molested or disturbed at any time
without the permission of the Authority.
(15) Disorderly conduct, intoxication and obscene or indecent
conduct is prohibited; and all forms of activity creating hazards to human
safety are prohibited.
(16) Said areas shall be closed to the public from 10:00 p.m.
to 5:00 a.m., except for campers with permits issued by the designated authority.
(17) No unauthorized person shall erect or post any notice
or sign.
B. Any person who shall violate any of the provisions of
the foregoing rules, or who shall aid or abet in the violation of any of said
rules, shall be fined not more than $100 for each offense.
The Authority may appoint subcommittees as necessary for the administration
of its responsibilities.
The Authority shall present a budget and file an annual report for all
its subcommittees and be responsible to the Board of Selectmen for the performance
of its duties.
Said Authority shall not exercise jurisdiction or control over Parker
Memorial Park or Young's Park, as both of said parks are administered by commissions
appointed for that purpose.