I am writing on behalf of the Groton Trails Committee to ask you to support a bill Senator Susan Tucker of Andover has filed entitled “An Act Relative to Public Access for Recreational Trails” (Senate Bill 559, http://www.mass.gov/legis/bills/senate/185/st00/st00559.htm).  This bill is intended to expand Massachusetts’ Landowner Liability Statute M.G.L. Ch. 21 §17c (http://www.mass.gov/legis/laws/mgl/21-17c.htm) to explicitly cover private companies, corporations, gas and electric transmission utilities, etc.  At its meeting on December 17th, 2007, the Groton Trails Committee voted unanimously to encourage support of Senator Tucker’s bill.

 

Below is the e-mail/letter I sent to Sen. Panagiotakos back in December (For your convenience, if you’d like to use the letter as a template to develop your own, I’ve updated the letter below with the latest status of the bill that Sen. Panagiotakos provided to me in his reply).  While they are not representatives of our district, I also sent the same information to Sen. Pam Resor and Sen. Robert Antonioni.  They were both very receptive and supportive and this is, obviously, a regional interest, not just a town or district issue.  I would encourage you to lobby them as well.

 

It would be very helpful if the Friends of Willard Brook could join in to lobby for passage of the bill.  Thanks for anything you can do to help in this regard.

 

If you need any more information, just let me know.

 

Thanks,

 

Paul Funch

Vice Chair, Groton Trails Committee

 

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Senator Steven Panagiotakos

State House
Boston, MA 02133

 

Dear Senator Panagiotakos,

 

I am writing on behalf of the Groton Trails Committee to ask you to support a bill Senator Susan Tucker of Andover has filed entitled “An Act Relative to Public Access for Recreational Trails” (Senate Bill 559, http://www.mass.gov/legis/bills/senate/185/st00/st00559.htm).  This bill is intended to expand Massachusetts’ Landowner Liability Statute M.G.L. Ch. 21 §17c (http://www.mass.gov/legis/laws/mgl/21-17c.htm) to explicitly cover private companies, corporations, gas and electric transmission utilities, etc.  At its meeting on December 17th, the Groton Trails Committee voted unanimously to encourage support of Senator Tucker’s bill.

 

This landowner liability statute had its coverage broadened a decade ago to encourage more landowners to make their lands accessible to public use, and this has been successful, including in Groton.  However, a number of groups seeking to secure trails and other access across lands owned by utilities and other private companies have had trouble negotiating with them because their lawyers interpret the current landowner liability statute as not applying to them.  This bill would simply allow those companies that support public use of their land for trails to do so without fear of significant economic liability.

 

Senate Bill 559 was heard before the Joint Committee on the Environment, Natural Resources and Agriculture on Tuesday, September 20th.  On December 26, 2007, the bill was referred to the Senate Committee on Ways and Means. 

 

The Groton Trails Committee would appreciate any actions you might be able to take to keep this bill moving toward passage.  Thank you very much.

 

Sincerely,

 

Paul Funch

 

Vice Chair

Groton Trails Committee