WOODSTOCK — Voters at Monday’s town meeting will decide whether to require dog kennels, rescue shelters or similar facilities applying for a license or a permit to notify abutters.

It’s one of 39 articles on the warrant, which will be voted on starting at 7 p.m. Monday, March 23, in the Woodstock Elementary School multipurpose room.

The amendment to the Dog Control Ordinance would insist that anyone establishing a facility to keep more than three dogs at a time for protection or rescue to notify abutters within 1,000 feet of the facility. The notification must be made at least two weeks before their intent to apply to the town or state for a permit.

During a January selectmen’s meeting, Town Manager Vern Maxfield said the town received a request to add the requirement to the ordinance.

Planning Board Chairwoman Jen Chase said her board agreed that if there were a clause that allowed the animal control officer to be the conduit between the kennel owner and the town, the board would 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.

Also on Monday, voters will be asked to approve $625,000 for roads maintenance, a $70,000 increase over this year. Spending for winter roads went from from $125,000 to $175,000 this year; equipment maintenance and supplies from $55,000 to $75,000.

Other articles call for downsizing the Planning Board from seven regular members and two associate members to five regular members and two associate members.

In elections, three-year terms for one selectman, one SAD 44 director and one  Whitman Memorial Library trustee are to be filled.

mdaigle@sunmediagroup.net

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