Selectmen Consider Helicopter Bylaw

The Rehoboth Board of Selectmen has given their approval for a new bylaw regulating where helicopters can operate following a recent incident in a residential area.

“It’s just a very dangerous situation,” Patricia Vadnais, a member of the Agricultural Commission, told the board on Monday.

Vadnais noted the commission voted to draft a bylaw to put before voters at the May town meeting.

A helicopter landed near a horse farm where a riding class was taking place.

“These horses are sitting in their paddocks going nuts and then (the helicopter) maliciously flew over the riding arena when people were inside the riding arena at night,” Vadnais said, adding in the future, anyone who wanted to operate a helicopter on their property would have to seek the permission of the agricultural commission.

Selectman Rob Johnson said the town’s legal counsel was researching what type of bylaw can be proposed.

“There was a cease and desist given to the landowner,” Johnson noted. “So this won’t happen again until we get through this bylaw process.”

“We want (the bylaw) clearly written where it still protects the farmer who needs to spray his fields and crops but yet protect the riders,” Vadnais added.