DRUG-FREE ZONE ORDINANCE TO GO BEFORE VOTERS

WELLS -- A proposed ordinance to designate certain drug-free safe zones in
the town will be left to the voters to decide.

Selectmen on March 7 voted 3-1, with Richard Clark opposing, to send the
question to the voters on the Town Meeting ballot April 28.

When resident Christopher Chase asked Clark at the meeting why he opposed
the law, he replied that he had not had a chance to read it.

"It's the first time I saw it," Clark said, calling the ordinance a
"serious step."

"As for whether Mr. Chase likes that, I don't care," he added.

Police Chief Richard Connelly said this week that his department
recommended the ordinance and the specific zones.

"The safe zones kick in higher penalties," he said, explaining that the
penalty for using or selling in a safe zone would be one class of crime
higher than usual. "This makes the violation a class higher and makes it a
more serious crime. We feel this is a good law."

The safe zones, once established, are treated similarly to schools for
purposes of sentencing; drug dealing within 1,000 feet of the zones
subjects the dealer to an enhanced penalty.

According to the proposed ordinance, the Legislature has authorized cities
and towns to designate certain areas frequented by minors as drug-free safe
zones.

The town designates the zones with the intent and understanding that anyone
convicted of certain drug offenses would face more severe penalties under
state law if the offense took place within 1,000 feet of real property
designated as a safe zone under the ordinance.

The Wells Police have

recommended the following

safe zones:

n Wells Recreation Area

on Route 9A

n Wells Activity Center

on Route 109,

n Wells Harbor Park

on Harbor Road,

n Mile Road Playground

on Mile Road,

n Tilcon Little League Fields

on Route 9,

n Drakes Island Beach

Association Playground, and

n Moody Beach Association

Park on Furbish Road.

Each area designated as a safe zone is an athletic field, park, playground,
or recreational facility consistent with the state's definition of a safe
zone, according to the proposed ordinance.

In addition, each safe zone as such would be conspicuously marked with
wording chosen by the Commissioner of Public Safety.

The signs would contain such wording as, "Drug-Free Safe Zone. Increased
penalties for drug crimes committee within this zone."

Wells Police would be responsible for making sure that appropriate signs
are placed and maintained in the zones.

Town Meeting approval would enact the ordinance as of the date of the vote.