TOPSHAM

Selectmen debated the merits of posting “drug free zone” signs near the Swinging Bridge but delayed a decision Thursday until they have more information.

Jeff Deletetsky, a Topsham Heights resident, asked selectmen about posting a sign and has requested more police activity in the Swinging Bridge area because of what he says is public drug and alcohol use. Deletetsky was not present at the meeting Thursday.

Topsham Police Chief Christopher Lewis said the state in 2005 passed a law allowing municipalities to designate recreational facilities frequented by children as “drug free safe zones,” with anyone caught selling drugs within 1,000 feet of posted property eligible for enhanced penalties.

The beach on the Topsham side of the Androscoggin River near the bridge is not owned by the town, Selectman James Trusiani said. Although the town put a walkway through the property, it had to get an easement from the owner, Central Maine Power.

Trusiani questioned whether the town could enforce the signage.

Pam LeDuc, the town’s parks and recreation director, said the town has a license for recreation trail use with CMP.

The utility also sent the town a letter in 2009 giving it permission to put signs up to eliminate drug and alcoholrelated behavior, but LeDuc said the town would have to try to add the drug free safe zone to its license with CMP.

Lewis said he thinks the town can post a sign on public property as long as agreements with the property owner are spelled out in writing.

Selectman Dave Douglass questioned why the town is worried whether it owns the beach area or has a right of way on someone else’s property: “We’re designating this drug free zone, we have the ability for harsher penalties and frankly why we’re not discussing this on every one of our pieces of property if we haven’t done that yet for our (recreation) fields.”

Since 2005, police responses to the Swinging Bridge area include 10 arrests or summonses for drugs, five alcohol offenses not including warnings, 75 complaints of disorderly conduct, 102 complaints of suspicious activity, 30 offenses of vandalism or criminal mischief, four littering offenses and one illegal campfire.

Lewis said there has been a problem in the Swinging Bridge area, but also that it’s improved since a neighborhood group and the Swinging Bridge organization put in a trail, cleaned up the area and made fewer places for people to hide.

Nancy Randolph, a member of the Save Our Swinging Bridge Board of Directors, said she doesn’t think the police need the designation.

“I think we’re getting it better and better and better,” and as more and more people are using the trail and park area, the less people who don’t want to misbehave want to be there.”

dmoore@timesrecord.com