Oak Swamp vandalism raises safety concerns

VANDALIZED ACCESS POINT: DPW Director Arnold Vecchione and Mayor Joseph Polisena inspect the swing arm gate at the Oak Swamp right of way located on Shore Drive, which was recently vandalized.

SECOND ACCESS POINT: The Anson Brown Road access point is considered more difficult for rescue crews to enter as boats would need to be brought down an embankment.

GUARDED: Mayor Joseph Polisena surveys a recently installed jersey barrier at the town’s right of way on Oak Swamp.

RESIDENTS WELCOME: According to Mayor Joseph Polisena, residents are welcome to use town right of ways for swimming and recreation, but non-lakefront residents may not launch power boats into Oak Swamp.

Johnston Sun Rise · Thursday, August 24, 2017 3:52 pm

By Tim Forsberg

It may be the dog days of summer, but even the waters of Oak Swamp may not be enough to cool tempers after vandals recently damaged town property on the lake.

“I really believe in my heart that the perpetrator who did that, the evil person who did that, is mad because they can no longer have unfettered access to put either their fishing boat in or their jet ski in the lake,” said Mayor Joseph Polisena.

The vandalism occurred at the town access way located on Shore Drive alongside Oak Swamp. Last year, the town installed fencing and a swing arm gate at the right of way, which was at the center of attention when it came to lake access. At contentious Town Council meetings last year, non-lakefront town residents pressed town officials to have the ability to use the lake for recreation and boat use, while lakefront residents said the area has become a dangerous and dirty hangout for out-of-town residents.

The swing arm gate is locked; however access by lakefront residents may be obtained by calling the Department of Public Works should they wish to use the right of way to launch boats. The mayor said the town gets about one or two calls a year to open the gate to allow boats to be launched as many residents use their own property or that of a neighbor to place a boat in the lake.

Recently, however, the town was unable to gain access after vandalism was discovered.

“One morning, a gentleman called me that lives on the lake and wanted to get his boat in there. When I went up there, we couldn’t get the key in the lock. This was a brand new lock, and we noticed it was filled with Super Glue,” said DPW Director Arnold Vecchione. “We had a difficult time cutting the lock off because it’s a special lock with hardened steel, so I brought a crew up there with a torch and they couldn’t even cut it with the torch.”

The access way is one of several located on the lake, including one at the end of Anson Brown Road and another located at the dam on Reservoir Avenue. These access points would be used by rescue personnel in the event of an emergency. No parking signs have also been placed nearby to the right of ways to prevent cars blocking the area.

“We can’t have people blocking the emergency entrance, and that’s what was happening. At one point, someone left a boat trailer in the area for 10 days, and then the key was when the fire department couldn’t get in there because it was blocked. It took them 15 minutes to access the lake,” said Polisena.

Stating that during water rescues “minutes mean lives,” the mayor said that town rescue vehicles would have to use a lakefront resident’s property to get a boat in the water should the right of ways be blocked.

According to the mayor, only lakefront residents may put a powerboat in Oak Swamp. A recent title search by the town found that properties located away from the lake did not have deeded access to the body of water. However, residents may still access the lake at the right of ways located on Shore Drive and Anson Brown Road.

“People still have access, they just don’t have unfettered access where they can go in with powerboats,” said Polisena, who added that residents are welcome to bring chairs and swim at these areas if they wish. They may also place kayaks and canoes into the lake as well. “Whoever wants to come here from town, they can come here. It’s a lot safer this way and less intrusive to the neighbors.”

Residents who live nearby to the access way on Shore Drive, who wished to remain unnamed, were thankful for the changes yet disappointed to hear about the vandalism.

“It’s been 100 percent better. The quality of life that my wife and I have now, it’s amazing. What went on here was just insane,” said a Shore Drive resident. “From the pollution in the lake to the traffic, it was unbelievable. It would start at 5 a.m. and continue at all hours of the day, with yelling, screaming, boats, cars and trailers. It was very bad.”

Following the vandalism, the town installed 24-hour video monitoring of the right of way.

“It’s a criminal matter. We really have to protect the assets of the town, and it’s difficult and sometimes makes people upset,” said Polisena. “If I did nothing and someone drowned, it’s probably a $10 million lawsuit and an increase of $200 per year for taxpayers.”