NEW SALEM — Residents approved all nine warrant articles — including an updated dog bylaw — as amended at Special Town Meeting on the town common Saturday.
After a relatively brief discussion, voters approved an increase of $20,000 to the Ralph C. Mahar Regional School District appropriation, contingent on an increase in the Orange appropriation. The $20,000 increase resulted in an approval of a roughly $3.1 million town budget.
Occupying much of the conversation Saturday was Article 9, which sought voter approval to amend the dog bylaw. Among the major changes to the bylaw were the hours of quiet time at night, and requiring a kennel license before getting an application for a dog license, according to Animal Control Officer Gail Spring.
In the bylaw, it states that noise is excessive if uninterrupted barking, yelping, whining or howling continues for more than 15 minutes. Previously, the bylaw defined excessive noise as a few hours at night over the course of a few days.
“Fifteen minutes is the general consensus of all towns around us,” Spring said.
Residents debated a number of different amendments, most of which did not carry after a vote. Of those that did pass was an amendment to a section of the bylaw that would have required dogs be leashed at public gatherings “and in municipal buildings.”
Despite concern raised for requirements of dogs in town buildings if the language was taken out, the motion passed. There was also a conversation regarding whether that change would have an effect on service dogs in municipal buildings. However, that issue was clarified by a resident who noted state laws for service animals would not be affected by a local bylaw.
Another amendment that passed added language that gives discretion to the animal control officer to serve a warning, issue an order of restraint or issue a citation. Other amendments were made for clarification purposes.
A number of the possible amendments discussed, however, did not carry.
Selectboard member Jean Derderian noted in response to multiple amendments that the text of much of the proposed bylaw came straight from state law, as well as bylaws in nearby towns.
Spring said the bylaw is ultimately meant to be a tool for the animal control officer.
“No matter who the ACO is, the bylaws need to be updated,” she said. “They’re from 1984. They don’t meet the state standards.”
Mary Byrne can be reached at mbyrne@recorder.com or 413-930-4429. Twitter: @MaryEByrne