2022-06-21 Town Forest Committee Minutes

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Town of Reading Meeting Minutes Board - Committee - Commission - Council: � • orq� RECf!IVED TOWN CLERKr REAMING, MA. r° CAk r'''mmopP 2022 JUL 13 AM 8: 40 Town Forest Committee Date: 2022-06-21 Time: 7 PM Building: Location: Address: Purpose: Town Forest Management Session: Attendees: Members - Present: Tim Kirwan, Jeff Lamson, Kurt Habel, Susan Bowe, Nancy Dockter, Bill Sullivan Members - Not Present: Tom Gardiner Others Present: Mark Dockser, Select Board; Lt. Christopher Jones, RPD; Jane Kinsela & Chris Cole, DPW; Martha Moore & Chuck Tirone, Conservation; Kathy Kelly, Trail Com.; Sophie and Rick Esty, Ruff Life Pet Service and about 12 clients Minutes Respectfully Submitted By: Bill Sullivan Topics of Discussion: Meeting was held by video conference due to the COVID pandemic. Lt. Jones reported about a recent dog bite and 10 dog complaints in the Town Forest. He discussed the opinion of the Town's Animal Control Officer that no one should have more than 2 dogs off leash in the Town Forest. The ACO's written opinion: "In my opinion Reading should take the same stance as other communities who limit the number of dogs off leash by professional dog walkers to between 2 or 3 per person. Some communities also sell permitsrmedallions for the professional dog walkers which helps to identify them in the event of an issue.... In a group setting 2 people walking off leash with 10 dogs can never control them in the event of an issue the pack mentality of the dogs" will prevent the walkers from being capable of control and there is liable to be some sort of tragedy these are not professionally trained dogs just your average dog with minimal training if a fight were to break out there would be no control. The best thing the town could implement again in my opinion is no more than 2 dogs off leash per person and dogs should be placed back on leashes when other peopla/dogs are approaching." Discussed the process to amend the Town Bylaw to limit the number of off -leash dogs per handler. (The TFC voted at the 5/17/22 meeting to recommend changing the Bylaw to limit the number of off -leash dogs in the TF to three per handler.) The process is for the TFC to present this change request to the Bylaw Committee. The warrant would then be presented to the Select Board, then to Town Meeting for approval. Chuck Tirone said he would like to include Town Conservation land in the proposed Bylaw change to limit the number of off -leash dogs per handler. Ruff Life Pet Services said their dogs are always under voice control. Other commercial dog walkers from greater Boston come to Reading TF because there are no limits on the number of dogs that can be off -leash. They said that poor dog behavior is not limited to large groups of dogs. A great dane and lab mix has repeatedly bit other dogs. Their clients expressed support for the service that Ruff Life provides. Ruff Life will return to a Page 1 1