Ossipee selectmen on Monday announced that there will be no trespassing on Loon Island, which the town purchased at the end of October. The news of the purchase and the decision to reserve the island for wildlife was met with enthusiasm from representatives of a local lake association.

The previous owners of the private island had proposed building a large dock, which had sparked concerns among other lake enthusiasts.

According to the Ossipee Lake Alliance, in May, the state Department of Environmental Services approved a plan for an 82.5-foot wharf with five 34-foot piers, to be accessed via a 6-foot walkway on Loon Island. At the time, the island was owned by Deborah Randall of Ossipee. The warranty deed for the property was executed on October 23.

Randall and her husband, Kevin, were represented at the meeting by Chris Boldt of Donahue, Tucker & Ciandella of Meredith. The Randalls are from Woburn, Massachusetts, according to the Ossipee Lake Alliance.

Attendees at several meetings expressed strong opposition to the Randalls’ proposal for the island, which is about nine-tenths of an acre in size.

The purchase was made possible by the George Eisner Trust, which had donated $2 million to the town for conservation land purchases. The island is home to loons, eagles, and other wildlife.

Flash forward to Monday. Town Administrator Matt Sawyer presented the selectmen with a draft ordinance to post the island as a "No Trespassing" area, with the intent of protecting wildlife and keeping the island clean. Selectman Jonathan Smith said that since the purchase was announced, several people had expressed support for the idea of protecting the island.

"Having access to that island really serves no public purpose other than to make it a mess," Smith said. "It's not an easy place for the town to clean up. We don’t have a boat."

Selectman Brian Keyes noted that the Randalls had wanted the island to be protected. The selectmen voted 3-0 to prohibit human access to the island. The other selectman is Sue Simpson.

The vote took place in an upstairs meeting room, where the selectmen typically hold half of their meetings before moving to the gym downstairs to resume the session.

"We proactively implemented a no-trespassing policy for Loon Island, which we acquired for conservation purposes," Smith told an audience of about 10 people in the gym. "The whole point of conservation is to preserve the area, and this policy will help keep people off and prevent trash from accumulating."

Smith added that the Eisner funds could not be used to purchase recreational land, such as a beach.

He also mentioned that the town had recently purchased another conservation property at 220 Newman Drew Road, which provides public access to the Bearcamp River and a sandy beach area.

Broad-Leavitt Bay Association President Kyle Copeland and Secretary Gloria Villari both praised the selectmen’s decision.

"I think everyone on Ossipee Lake wants to thank you," Villari said, suggesting that signs could be added to explain that the island is a loon and eagle nesting site.

Keyes and Smith agreed, but Smith noted that there is specific legal language that must be posted to officially designate the island as "No Trespassing."

"I really appreciate all of you getting together and making a good decision," said Copeland, adding that the association members had responded positively to the purchase.

Copeland told the Sun that the island is rocky and doesn't make a good swimming area and Villari said it has erosion issues. They both hope that the town will have a beach on the lake some day. 

Keyes credited Sawyer for his efforts during the negotiations.

"Fortunately, the seller’s bottom line was essentially our top number," Keyes said. "So when that happens, everyone wins, and we’re really pleased."

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