During the year 2002, our state Legislature passed a law authorizing local communities to enforce several navigational laws on bodies of water within its jurisdiction. For the last several years, lakeside residents had become increasingly infuriated by the lack of safety concerns by the boating public. As the personal water craft (PWC) grew in popularity, it equally irritated lakeside residents, who began to demand a greater level of law enforcement. Add to this the noise of high-powered boats, going too fast and coming too close to shore while pulling one or more water skiers. The members of the boating public have the whole middle of the lake to enjoy their style of recreational activity. However, a large number of them must feel that they get more enjoyment out of demonstrating their skill, and lack of common sense, while performing for those on shore. This disregard for New York state navigation rules and regulations, including safety around swimming areas, and noise pollution has forced lakeside residents to seek local enforcement of existing laws.

As town supervisor, I listened to the concerns of residents and pondered over how we might be able to respond to this perplexing situation. We are a town without a marine patrol, located on a state owned body of water, which is located within the boundaries of five towns and one village in three counties. Who is in the best position to patrol? One day I received a phone call from Ed Heinrich, regional director for the New York State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation, suggesting that he might be able to help. I will be forever grateful to Heinrich because this was the beginning of a great cooperative effort between his office, the Onondaga County Sheriff's Office, our town constable, the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation, the Skaneateles Country Club, the fundraising efforts of residents under the leadership of Tim Green, and our town board.

At an organizational meeting at Town Hall, it was agreed that the Onondaga County Sheriff's Department was in the best position to handle the major responsibility for patrolling the lake. This patrol would be supplemented on occasion with assistance from the park police and the conservation officers on a schedule supervised by the sheriff's department. It was agreed that if we had a designated boat, which would remain on the lake, the law enforcement officers would have more hours to spend on patrol. It was determined that a boat to fill the necessary requirements for this job would cost in the neighborhood of $35,000.

Tim Green volunteered to raise these funds through donations from local residents. Green was successful in his effort, and the boat was ordered for the Town of Skaneateles. Upon delivery, the boat was immediately turned over to the sheriff's department and designated for use on Skaneateles Lake. During the first year of operation, the boat suffered minor storm damage due to poor mooring facilities, however it has been moored at the Skaneateles Country Club since then. Many thanks to the members.

Onondaga County Executive Nick Pirro along with Ed Heinrich of the park police strongly advocated that this operation was not to be designed to see how many citations could be issued. Instead it should be designed as a training and educational project. Along those lines, Major Richard Smith of the park police developed a mission objective, which reads as follows: “To decrease violations of the N.Y.S. Navigation and Vehicle and Traffic Laws by vessels operated on Skaneateles Lake through a combination of enforcement and public education designed to secure voluntary compliance. To prevent boating accidents, property damage, and personal injury. To build the public trust.”

Many people venture out onto the lake as an operator of a boat or a watercraft of some sort without any training in the rules of operation or what safety devices should be on board. A free booklet is available at the Skaneateles Town Hall, which fully explains the NYS Navigation Law.

Town Constable Bruce Silvers has instructed several safe boating classes, and this year, the classes will be held at Skaneateles High School. Afternoon and evening classes are available and an applicant must complete all four sessions during the period in which assigned for a total of eight hours.

There is no charge for these classes and you may enroll after June 1.

All parties involved recently held a breakfast meeting and agreed that the summer boating seasons of 2004 and 2005 were safe and successful, and we would follow the same procedure during this season.

Several of the lakes in New York state are situated in more than one municipal jurisdiction. Other communities have studied this operation to see if it will work for them.

Bill Pavlus is former town supervisor for Skaneateles