Madawaska residents rap RV park

MADAWASKA — After selectmen listened to residents’ complaints about a recreational vehicle park on Long Lake Wednesday night, they advised that there was nothing they could do.

Chairman Claude Cyr said zoning questions were the jurisdiction of the Madawaska Board of Appeals. The selectmen urged residents to seek answers from that board.

Twenty-two Madawaska residents who are camp and homeowners at Birch Point were seeking the closure of the camping area operated by Richard Cayer. According to documents circulated at the meeting, the campsite is licensed for six recreational vehicles.

However, the citizens, led by Robert Deschenes and Roger Collins, claimed that the site lost its designation as a campsite in 1987-88 because it was not operated for a full year.

Collins said by not operating for a year, the site lost the so-called “grandfather” protection under the zoning code. He said the campsite owner should go through the licensing procedure for that of a new facility.

Cyr said the problem between the camp owners and the owner of the recreational vehicle site began more than 30 years ago when Arthy Pelletier

owned the facility. At that time, it was licensed for 15 vehicles and measured about 125,000 square feet.

Cayer bought the facility in 1987 and has since been licensed to park six vehicles. The size of the facility has been decreased to 56,000 square feet.

Town Manager Arthur Faucher said the six sites were licensed by the Department of Human Services.

Collins said Cayer is operating the site without a license and wants the town to take action to shut the operation down.

After nearly 90 minutes of debate, it was agreed that the questions raised by citizens should be answered within 30 days by the Madawaska Board of Appeals.

The complainants then raised a question about property lines at the recreational vehicle site. They claimed that Cayer had erected signs stating that no trespassing was allowed on land that should be designated as a right of way. They said that emergency vehicles and fuel-delivery vehicles would not cross the lines.

Cayer said the signs he erected were on his land and not on a designated right of way.

The selectmen told the complainants that posting of property was not a municipal problem. They were told it was a civil question and one for the courts to answer.

In other business, selectmen agreed to transfer a parcel of land along Fourteenth Avenue to John and Anne Ezzy. The transfer will allow for the straightening of the street.

Selectmen approved a letter of commendation to employees of the Public Works Department for work done quickly and efficiently on 3.7 miles of Gagnon Road.

They approved a road-striping program for Gagnon, Lavertu and Golf Course roads by Jordan’s Striping Service of Mars Hill, the low bidder. They also approved for sidewalk repairs, the purchase of a flatbed trailer for the recreation department and attendance at three conferences.