This is important to all citizens of Middletown who enjoy the use of the many public lands and spaces the city owns, and public lands and trails you visit across the state. While I'm not aware (can anyone else comment on this please) of Middletown limiting recreational activities on municipal lands, it is only a matter of time before Middletown follows the lead of other localities if this bill does not pass. Please see the CT Forest and Parks Position Paper for more information.
Or visit the CT Forest and Parks web link.
Reprinted from the CT Forest and Parks:
Recreational Liability Public Hearing is Monday
Late Wednesday the Environment Committee set a Public Hearing for Monday, January 31st, Room 1E of the Legislative Office Building in Hartford.
Working with many supporting organizations, towns, and businesses, we were able to get an active crowd to the MDC Public Hearing last July. Together we developed a position paper and other materials on Recreational Liability. Restore Liability Protection for Municipalities Position Paper
The Bill that will be heard by the Environment Committee on Monday is S.B. 831. S.B. 831 would restore the liability protection to Municipalities that is currently afforded to state, private, utility, and corporate landowners who make their land open for the free use and enjoyment of the public. This liability protection was available to municipalities for 25 years before it was removed in a controversial court case in 1996, Conway v. Wilton.
** If you wish to testify, sign-up for the hearing will begin at 11:00 A.M. on January 31st in Room 1E of the LOB. You need to submit 40 copies of written testimony to Committee staff one hour prior to the start of the hearing in Room 1E of the LOB. The first hour of the hearing is reserved for public officials. Speakers will be limited to three minutes of testimony.
Please help spread the word ... this is very short notice ... and we need you!
All the best,
Eric Hammerling
CFPA Executive Director
p.s. To assist anyone interested in providing testimony (but who may not have the ability to make 40 copies of it and bring it to the LOB), we are glad to make copies for you at CFPA IF you get your testimony to me via ehammerling@ctwoodlands.org by 9:00 a.m. this Sunday 1/30.
Municipal liability has been an issue for Middletown -- for example, with respect to public access to the North End Peninsula (landfill site. It pertains to the kayak launch too, but land must have a certain designation for this protection to apply. The City is understandably more willing to allow certain forms of recreation is they have protection from being sued by the public for accidents that might happen as a result of any recreational activity.
ReplyDelete