SOUTHWICK — At the town’s Lake Management Committee meeting Thursday, Michelle Pratt, the president of the Citizens Restoring Congamond advocacy group, said there are “preliminary” talks about building a boathouse for the Police Department patrol boat.
“We’re starting out in the process, so I’m pretty excited about that for this year coming up,” Pratt said during the meeting.
She said the group was happy to have some “movement forward on preliminary talks with the CRC working for the town to possibly get a volunteer build and dedicate some funds for the boathouse.”
She said the CRC board has already approved pursuing the project, but they weren’t sure exactly what was required to get started.
Some planning for the project has been done over the last few years, including schematic drawings to get an idea of what it might look like, she said.
She has also spoken to Chief Administrative Officer Nicole Parker about the project.
As for funding, Pratt said the CRC “definitely” has some funds for materials and supplies, but they need volunteers to help build it.
“I am going to be approaching local tradesmen and craftsmen in the area to see if we can get a crew together to have people maybe donate some time,” she said.
The LMC members were enthusiastic about the announcement, with members saying “that’s awesome” and “wow.”
LMC chair Richard Grannells said the boathouse would need a concrete foundation to support the structure on the bottom and that he already has access to three pieces that could work.
He added that it may speed up the permitting process.
Pratt said that would be “fabulous.”
“We definitely would be looking to you all for help with coordinating on what we need from the state in terms of permits and permissions,” Pratt said.
She added that it would be easier for the CRC to “pull it together.”
“Gifting it to the town really seems like what makes the most sense,” she said.
Being in the preliminary phase, she said, there are ongoing talks about the cost or redesign if needed.
“So there’s a lot to do, but we’re in the initial phases, and that’s pretty exciting,” Pratt said.
The town purchased a new Boston Whaler for the Police Department two years ago at a cost of over $100,000. It is in an enclosure at the town’s Public Safety Complex on Depot Street.
The reason the department needed a new boat was because of the dramatic increase in the amount of boat traffic on Congamond Lake.
“We have about 1,500 boats moored across Congamond, and an estimated 6,000 visitors transitioning through the boat ramps,” said former Police Chief Robert Landis.
