WOODSTOCK — The Board of Selectmen heard from the chairwoman of the Planning Board on Tuesday evening regarding possible amendments to the town’s dog control ordinance.

Town Manager Vern Maxfield said at the Jan. 6 board meeting that the town received a request to amend the dog control ordinance to require dog kennels, rescue shelters or similar facilities applying for a license or permit to notify abutting landowners.

Planning Board Chairwoman Jen Chase  said she drafted an amendment in the dog control ordinance that would require the animal control officer to notify the town when a resident received a license to start a kennel.

“Right now, the state issues the licenses and permits for the kennel, and the animal control officer, Ozzy Hart, does an inspection before the license is issued,” Chase told the board. “The town is never in the loop, so we’re never aware when a kennel or rescue shelter is being built.”

Chase said the owner of the kennel being built on Perkins Valley Road applied for a cement slab permit, but the Planning Board was not aware what it was for.

“We were blindsided by this whole thing,” Chase said. “We agreed that if there was a clause in the dog control ordinance that allowed our animal control officer to be the conduit between the kennel owner and the town, we’d be able to stay in the loop.”

Chase said the town could inform abutters about any kennels or rescue shelters being built next to them, as long as the animal control officer informed the town.

“What if the animal control officer drops the ball?” Selectman Stephen Bies asked. “Shouldn’t the onus be on the owner of the kennel to let the town know?”

“Isn’t the animal control officer more likely to let the town know than the owner of the kennel?” Chase replied. “We’re hoping that by including this clause in the ordinance, it will become the duty of the animal control officer from here on out.”

In other business, selectmen briefly discussed the proposed Fire Department budget of $60,000.

Maxfield said in addition to the $60,000 operating budget is an additional $30,000 earmarked for an enhanced mutual aid program, and another $30,000 set aside for the firetruck reserve fund.

The $30,000 proposed for the firetruck reserve is $10,000 more than the previous year, Maxfield said.

Selectman Ron Deegan said he agreed with the $10,000 increase. “It makes sense to take incremental steps in building up that account, rather than taking one big jump.”

Fire Chief Kyle Hopps said he felt comfortable with the proposed budget.

mdaigle@sunjournal.com

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