Subj: Metal Detectors Going to Be Banned In Sharon,
Date: 1/10/01 10:14:45 PM Eastern Standard Time
From: Ste2080
To: WWhikerHi Vlad and Carol,
This was in todays paper:
Prospectors Aren't Welcome In Sharon
Selectmen want to control the use of metal detectors on the greenSharon- Selectmen edged closer Tuesday to proposing controls on excavation or the use of metal detectors on town property. The principal target: those who might want to dig up and make off with valuable bits and pieces of history from the mile long, 260-year-old Sharon Green.
William Trowbridge, a trustee of the Sharon Historical Society, sat with the three selectman as they discussed implications and possible clauses of an ordinance yet to be drafted. Trowbridge has sought some sort of action for several months now, having seen people, possibly out-of-towners, using metal detectors while apparently "prospecting" on the Green.
"A permit should be gotten from Town Hall if someone seeks to excavate or use a metal detector on town property," Trowbridge told First Selectman Robert Moeller and Selectmen Tom Bartram and John Mathews. "To take antiquities away without proper excavation is not the right thing to do," he added.
In fact, Trowbridge added, he hoped that no permits would be issued to such casual excavators.
Selectmen have consulted Town Attorney Judith Dixon on issues that might be involved in an ordinance. They ended their discussion Tuesday with plans to give Dixon some notes in the hope she will provide them with a draft to consider for presentation to a town meeting.
One of the possible clauses selectman discussed included a right of first refusal for the town on anything dug up on town property, which includes that part of the Green not owned by the state. State Route 41 runs the length of the Green.
Other requirements for permittees might include that they certify that their intent is historical or archaeological and not private gain, and that they represent a recognized organization such as a university, library, school or historical society.
As the discussion wore on, Bartram joked that "if we adopt this, we'd better have the lifeguards tell the kids not to dig to deep in the sand" at the town beach next summer.
Reported By: David Parker
Waterbury Republican-American News Paper
Wednesday, January 10, 2001
****** I was disappointed when I read this article in today's news paper. Every day we lose more and more areas where we are able to enjoy our hobby. It is sad that these people do not under understand the metal detecting hobby and continue to restrict our hobby. I am 20 years old and have enjoyed metal detecting since I was 12 years old. Last year I found a class ring and tracked down the owner in December. I contacted the Waterbury Republican-American News Paper, which covers all of Western Connecticut, and they were glad to do a story about the return of the ring. I hoped that the story would further promote our metal detecting hobby by explaining to every one what we do.They printed the article on December 27, 2000 at the top of the front page.
This article here is about considering banning metal detecting on public property in Sharon CT, which is in my county, Litchfield County. Sharon is a small town with many wealthy citizens including some actors, all who know noting about our metal detecting hobby.
I hope that if we send letters to the editor of the news paper and to the Sharon Selectmen we can inform them about our hobby and influence their decision. Please help with this effort.
One by one towns will continue to ban metal detecting, eventually including your hometown, until there is no place left for future generations of metal detectorists to enjoy the hobby. Once a town bans metal detecting it is impossible to reverse that decision. So we must act quickly now to prevent all towns including Sharon, CT from banning our hobby so that in the future other generations of detectorists will be able to enjoy the hobby as much as we do today.Please help by spreading the word and by sending letters to:
The Waterbury Republican-American
Letters to the Editor
389 Meadow St.
Waterbury, CT 06722
Letters may also be faxed to 203-596-9277
Or E-mail: letters@cyberbury.net
They must be signed and include a phone number for confirmation or they will not be printed.
And send letters to the:Sharon Selectmen
Robert Moeller (1st selectman)
Tom Bartram
John Mathews
Town Hall
Sharon, CT 06069
(I could not find an address for the town hall but that should be sufficient)Thank You
Stephen Bartkus