HomeMy WebLinkAbout2023-09-19 Town Forest Committee MinutesTopics of Discussion:
Meeting was held in-person and by video conference
• Reviewed Town Counsel comments on the proposed Bylaw change to sections regarding
voice control and to the control of off leash dogs. The TFC made the following changes:
o Replaced "aggressively barking" with "repeatedly barking".
o Deleted "aggressively" before "approaching any person".
o Replaced "his or her" with "their.
o Members voted unanimously to approve the above changes. (See attached.)
o The revised Bylaw change text will be referred to the Bylaw Committee for their
review.
o Anticipate submission to the Spring 2024 Town Meeting for a vote.
• Discussed bidding and work schedule for the invasive plant management contract.
Conservation Commission approved the plan for invasive plant control. The remaining
ARPA funds (approx. $50,000) on schedule to be used by Fall 2021
• Reviewed schedule of events for Town Forest Appreciation Day 9/23
• Discussed Friends of the Reading Town Forest Facebook page. J. Lamson will follow up
with Jayne Wellman on guidelines
• Meeting minutes for the August TFC meeting were approved unanimously.
• Next meeting was scheduled for 10/17/23
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Town of Reading
Meeting Minutes
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Board - Committee - Commission - Council:
2023 OCT 10
PM 2135
Town Forest Committee
Date: 2023-09-19 Time: 7 PM
Building: Reading Town Hall Location:
Berger Room
Address: 16 Lowell Street
Purpose: Town Forest Management Session:
Attendees: Members - Present:
Tim Kirwan, Kurt Habel, Jeff Lamson, Bill
Sullivan, Bill Hughes, Nancy
Docktor, Tom Gardiner
Members - Not Present:
none
Others Present:
Remote: Jane Kinsela, DPW; Chuck Tirone and Martha Moore, Conservation
Minutes Respectfully Submitted By: Nancy Docktor
Topics of Discussion:
Meeting was held in-person and by video conference
• Reviewed Town Counsel comments on the proposed Bylaw change to sections regarding
voice control and to the control of off leash dogs. The TFC made the following changes:
o Replaced "aggressively barking" with "repeatedly barking".
o Deleted "aggressively" before "approaching any person".
o Replaced "his or her" with "their.
o Members voted unanimously to approve the above changes. (See attached.)
o The revised Bylaw change text will be referred to the Bylaw Committee for their
review.
o Anticipate submission to the Spring 2024 Town Meeting for a vote.
• Discussed bidding and work schedule for the invasive plant management contract.
Conservation Commission approved the plan for invasive plant control. The remaining
ARPA funds (approx. $50,000) on schedule to be used by Fall 2021
• Reviewed schedule of events for Town Forest Appreciation Day 9/23
• Discussed Friends of the Reading Town Forest Facebook page. J. Lamson will follow up
with Jayne Wellman on guidelines
• Meeting minutes for the August TFC meeting were approved unanimously.
• Next meeting was scheduled for 10/17/23
Page I 1
Town of Reading ,
Meeting Minutes x
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Proposed Changes to the Reading General Bylaws
As Approved by the Town Forest Committee on 9119/2023
Article : Expand and clarify the definition of Effective Voice Control of an animal
To see if the Town will vote to amend Section 8.8.1.3 Effective Voice Control as follows:
Effective Voice Control
An animal shall be deemed to be "under effective voice control' if it is (i) within the handler's sight, (ii)
refrains from aggressive behavior, (iii) comes immediately when called by its handler, and (iv) the
handier is carrying a leash. Aggressive behavior is any behavior that would cause a reasonable person to
believe the dog poses an unjustified imminent threat of physical injury to a person or another do& including
but not limited to jumping on, repeatedly barking at, or approaching any person without their consent
Article : Control of off -leash dogs in the Town Forest
To see if the Town will vote to amend Section 8.8.3.2 of the General Bylaws by (1) inserting a new Section
8.8.3.2.3, as follows:
Town Forest
The maximum number of off -leash dogs shall not exceed two per handler in the Town Forest. Any dog
that does not remain under effective voice control, as defined in Section 8.8.1.3, must be placed on a
leash or removed from the Town Forest immediately. Dog waste must be removed in accordance with
Section 8.8.3.3. Dogs must be leashed when entering or exiting the Town Forest. Visitors who do not
abide by these rules may be required to leave the Town Forest, in addition to any enforcement action
provided for under G. L. c.40, §21 D and Section 1.8 of these Bylaws.
and (2) Renumbering the remaining section accordingly; or take any other action with respect thereto
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