Old Lyme — The Rogers Lake Authority will hold a special meeting at 7:30 p.m. Tuesday at Town Hall to discuss a proposed “no wake” ordinance, which would entail placing buoys in four areas of Rogers Lake to control boat and personal watercraft speed.

The Rogers Lake Authority (RLA) has postponed the meeting twice since March 25.

Mark Hastings, member of the authority since June 2021, and treasurer of the Rogers Lake West Shore Association, said there is concern for safety in the narrow areas of the lake, and the placement of "Slow No Wake" buoys would slow down boat traffic in those areas.

Minutes from the authority's March 9 meeting indicate those who use the lake and residents expressed concerns that the buoys would do more harm than good.

According to the authority's Dec. 15, 2021, minutes, the initial permit application for the buoys was submitted by Dennis Overfield, co-chairman of the RLA, to the Department of Energy and Environmental Protection for approval.

The agenda for Tuesday's meeting indicates the authority is set to finalize the draft ordinance to submit to DEEP, and that the public will have an opportunity to comment. 

Yolanda Cooley, program specialist for DEEP’s boating division, said a permit must be enforced by an ordinance that is voted on by the town. She stated that while the DEEP can make recommendations on a proposed permit, ultimately DEEP relies on entities such as the Rogers Lake Authority to know the specific needs or patterns of activity that Rogers Lake experiences from day to day, such as water skiing, jet skiing, or rowing.

Dave Evers, a second generation lake resident and president of Rogers Lake West Shores Association for around 18 years, said he spends most days on the lake if the weather allows. He said one of his favorite activities, taking his older children and guests water skiing, would be more dangerous with the new ordinance, as it would create situations where boats may bottleneck at the no wake zones and skiers would be placed between boats in the water.

Evers maintains that he is unaware of any significant incidents that would have encouraged applying for "Slow No Wake" permits on Rogers Lake. He has started a petition against the buoys that has more than 100 signatures. He said he has tried to contact Overfield to have a conversation regarding the permit without success. Overfield is also a board member with Evers on the Rogers Lake West Shores Association.

In response to the public opposition to the No Wake ordinance, the authority issued an update on the Old Lyme town website on April 5 to “clear up confusion” regarding the buoys. The update indicates the change wouldn't take place until 2024 and would be voted on by town residents.

But Evers commented, “What was said at that meeting [March 9] is completely different from what the statement says.”