Pittsfield man upset over snowmobilers’ conduct

PITTSFIELD – An upset citizen brought his concerns regarding misbehavior by snowmobile operators to the Town Council on Tuesday night.

Steven Kaelin said he was one “of a growing number of people tired of snowmobiles in the town of Pittsfield. A lot of people feel the way I do. I’m the only one who has the guts to come here and say it.”

Kaelin, who lives on Lincoln Street, said he has observed snowmobiles on the sidewalks and in the roadways, sometimes at midnight or 1 a.m., in residential areas. He was particularly distressed that snowmobilers were using a nonsanctioned trail along the railroad tracks that pass through the center of downtown Pittsfield. That trail is accessed in Pittsfield and passes through Detroit and Palmyra on its way to Newport.

But what brought Kaelin before the council was his misperception that councilors had passed a law allowing use of the trail and permitting snowmobilers to travel freely through downtown.

Referring to the railroad trail, Kaelin said he had checked with Guilford railroad and no one has been given permission to use that property. “That is an illegal trail,” Kaelin said. He said he expected the council to rescind its laws and close the trail.

“If you don’t want to help me change this,” he said, “we’ll go to court. Enough is enough.”

Kaelin was told that the Pittsfield council has not passed any laws related to trails or snowmobiles.

Councilors repeatedly tried to explain to Kaelin that if snowmobilers are violating traffic laws, such as riding in the roadway or on sidewalks, Pittsfield police have the authority to stop them. But on private property, such as the railroad border, the property owner has to be the complainant.

“The railroad police were recently in town looking at this. In fact, they were here last Saturday. They are very aware of the issue,” said Town Manager Kathryn Ruth. “Our police have been coordinating enforcement efforts with the railroad police.”

Councilor Michael Gray suggested to Kaelin that his concerns might better be addressed by presenting them to the Inland Fisheries and Wildlife Department. Game wardens are responsible for enforcing snowmobile laws.

“The council is not in the position to administer snowmobile laws in Maine, and neither are the police,” said Gray. He suggested the council could request that Pittsfield police “heighten their alert” to offending snowmobilers.

Chris Kerr of Lancey Street told the council that he recently was forced to call the local police after snowmobilers came through his yard twice. “The police came out and dealt with it,” he said. “It appeared [the snowmobilers] were trying to get to the trail.”

But as responsive as the police were, said Kerr, snowmobiles are often spotted racing on Lancey Street, a residential area that includes an elementary school. “They blast through the stop sign without slowing down,” said Kerr.

Councilor Peter “Andi” Vigue said that by and large most snowmobilers stay on marked trails but acknowledged “there is a group of people of all ages that disregard the rules. A few rotten apples can spoil the whole barrel.”