March 31 deadline for late dog registrations in Wilton

WILTON — The town is cracking down on unlicensed dogs, and for any dogs remaining unlicensed after March 31, their owners will receive a summons from the animal control officer.

Town Clerk Diane Dunham said she sent out letters to the owners of unregistered dogs in the town, and Town Manager Rhonda Irish said they’ve had people coming in almost every day. The deadline to register dogs was Jan. 31.

According to Dunham, about 50 dogs remain unlicensed, and, as the letter stated, the owners have until March 31 to register their dogs with the town, and pay the $25 late fee. After that date, Animal Control Officer Hollis Tyler will issue summons.

In other business, Frank Donald of the Recreation Department attended the selectpersons meeting Tuesday night to give an update on the work being done at local playgrounds, as well the planning of the Recreation Department’s new office building.

The selectpersons are still deciding on how they will be paying for the new building and playground improvements, whether they want to borrow money against their Recreation Trust Fund, which currently has a balance of $360,000, or use money from the trust fund outright.

If the selectpersons decide to borrow the money, the town will vote on it during a special town meeting in either April or May.

One school board member and two selectperson seats are up for election at the annual meeting on June 18. Selectperson Ruth Cushman is resigning her seat, effective June 18, and has one year remaining of her three-year term, which the person elected in her place will finish.

Jeffrey Adams will not be running for re-election for his three-year selectperson term, and Angela Leclerc will not be running again for her three-year term on the school board.

Nomination papers are available and need to be returned to the Town Office by April 13.

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