Debbie Cross of InterTown News Service reports on a New London Board of Selectmen meeting regarding the repair of fencing surrounding Bucklin Beach which was damaged during last winter's snow removal on Route 114, the road next to Bucklin Beach, by New Hampshire state plows.

NEW LONDON –  New London Recreation Director Chad Denning met with the New London selectmen on May 27, 2008, to discuss repairs to the fencing around Bucklin Beach.

“I wish I could say it was just a visual issue, but this crosses the line into a safety issue,” Denning said.  Denning said that the exit for the New Hampshire Department of Transportation plows is right across the street, and there are high winds blowing off the lake making for large snow drifts right next to the playground area of the beach.

The plows push the snow back off Route 114 and hit the fence, he said.  “There is a big hole in the fence right next to the playground equipment:  You can walk onto 114,” he said.  “This is unforeseen, and it’s not in the budget.”

Denning added that he had received a couple of proposals for fixing the fence and one estimate for a long-term fix to replace the whole fence.

The first estimate, which would include taking down just the damaged top rail along the 500 foot fence and installing seven-gauge, black-coated tension wire would cost $3,400, Denning said.  The second estimate, to take down the damaged top rail and replace it with a new top rail, would cost $4,800.  Both estimates would reuse the existing wire fencing.

The third most costly estimate to furnish and install a new fence would cost $18,500; or less if some existing materials could be salvaged.

“Richard [Lee, road  agent] looked at it with me and he came up with the idea of using removable sections we could take down off the posts in the fall,” Denning said. 

Town Administrator Jessie Levine said she had talked to New Hampshire's Department of Transportation about helping with repair costs, but they said no.

“They would like to put in a snow fence in future years to keep the snow from drifting onto Route 114,” she said.  “They told me they had asked the town for a snow fence in previous years and been denied.  I don’t remember any talk about it in the eight years I’ve been here.”

Levine added that the town has spent money twice on the fence since she has worked for New London.

“They are going to have to put in something pretty substantial for a snow barrier there,” Selectman Larry Ballin said.

“They would use one like they use out west, a wooden barrier,” Denning said.  “If the fence came down, what would happen to the snow?  Would it pile up on the road?” Selectman Mark Kaplan asked.

“That’s not our problem,” Ballin said.

Denning said that without a fence, the snow would probably drift across the road into the wetland area.

"That would be better,” he said.

Levine said she had spoken to town counsel about whether they could use any money from the septic account for the fence, but they said it didn’t pass the ‘sniff test.’

“You have $10,000 in the Selectmen’s Discretionary Account and no plans to use it,” Levine said. 

“We usually use it for staff holiday bonuses or retirement parties.  “I’d like to go take a look at it and talk next week,” Ballin said. 

“We may end up getting just one section.”   “I’m definitely okay with a bandaid fix,” Denning said.

"My suggestion is a single section of a dogpen-type fence to fill the hole,” Ballin said.

“There is no meeting scheduled for next week.  We can add one if you need to appropriate any money,” Levine said.