By Dawn De Busk

Staff Writer

NAPLES — Some might have guessed that the Town of Naples Sign Ordinance would garner a lot of responses. Yet, residents had no comments before approving the new ordinance at Naples Town Meeting on Tuesday.

It was the milfoil ordinance that created some waves.

The Sign Ordinance, which appeared as Warrant Article 44, was approved at town meeting. 

First off, in the past few months, there have been numerous meetings and several public hearings about the Sign Ordinance. The Naples Ordinance Review Committee (ORC) held two meetings with local business owners to get their feedback. The ORC changed the ordinance draft to grandfather all existing signs unless a business changes hands or uses. During the first public hearing, language to describe digital signs was changed. Also, digital signs in the commercial district were permitted to stay on past 10 p.m.; while digital signs on the Causeway must be shut off after 10 p.m.

So, everybody was set and in-the-know by the time the Sign Ordinance appeared at town meeting.

Instead, it was the Invasive Aquatic Plant Survey Ordinance that drew some comment and requests for clarification from people who own water-based businesses like the campgrounds and the marinas.

One such business owner stepped to the microphone, saying, “As a campground owner, we are now going to have to inspect the all boats going in. Is this a person hired from LEA or do we get our own certification? This is going to be a huge expense.”

He expressed his concern about having to close the boat ramps when there is not a certified inspector available.

“None of us want to see milfoil on the lake,” he said.

It was later mentioned that Lakes Environmental Association (LEA) will be offering certification courses for free.

“We don’t charge for the classes. You can have your own employees check the boats,” said LEA’s Executive Director Colin Holme.

Another resident had asked what the next step is if someone refuses to remove milfoil from their boat.

“What do you do if you find a plant and someone refuses to remove it? Courtesy inspectors — they don’t have authority.

I think most all the people are going to remove the plant. If they say no, call the warden and write down the boat number,” Holme said.

“That did happen in Naples a few years ago. The warden came out. They were fined a pretty minimal fine,” Holme said.

Jimmy Allen, the owner of Naples Marina, shared his thoughts.

“Our problem is about that piece of this ordinance. I have 1,200 feet of shorefront and have not seen one milfoil plant,” Allen said.

“Sixteen or 18-year-old kids aren’t going to be able to enforce this,” he said.

“I am not saying to defeat this, but part of it needs to be fixed,” Allen said.

A campground owner, Mike Mason, spoke.

“I have a launch, but I don’t use it because of sediment buildup. We have one launch on Trickey Pond. Is the town going to fund it? Right now, it is all by donations,” Mason said.

“Same thing with the town boat launch, you have people going there early in the morning to go fishing,” Mason said, asking how the town planned to inspect every single boat.

The Naples Community Activities Director Peter Ceprano said, “The milfoil program is a courtesy program. It is not enforced. We have operating hours. People come outside of those hours. I cannot staff people 24/7.”

One person pointed out that it was unfair to ask business owners to shut down boat launches when the town could not control its public launch all hours of the day.

Chairman Jim Grattelo weighed in on the issue.

“We were surprised to hear that several businesses or campgrounds weren’t inspecting the boats. With the scare we had with milfoil on Long Lake, we have to err on the side of caution,” Grattelo said.

He said there was room for improvement on the ordinance but it was better than doing nothing to protect the town’s water bodies from milfoil.

Holme spoke again.

“The marinas and campgrounds are a big part of the economy,” Holme said, adding when problems arise, “It is easy to demonize a certain group.”

“They

[marinas and campgrounds]

are a big, important part of the economy and the social life around the lakes. That said, across the state, where the invasive plants are found is at the marinas and the campgrounds. It is across the state, across new England,” he said.

“This ordinance is not perfect. You guys have the most to lose. I think it [the ordinance] is a good start and I hope it passes,” Holme said.