Next tax bill will include 'dog bylaw reminder'
By Karen Mann

Residents will be reminded of Westminster's bylaw pertaining to dogs when they receive their next tax bill.

Selectmen decided, during their Aug. 28 meeting, this reminder would be the best way to move forward after a dog-bite incident that occurred earlier this month.

A bullmastiff dog bite a 74-year-old Leominster woman on Old Oak Avenue on Aug. 2. This specific incident was already dealt with - selectmen previously voted to have the dog put to sleep.

However, they wanted to know what to do to prevent future problems.

The current bylaw states a dog must either be on a leash or under voice control.

Board Chairman Lorraine Emerson suggested making the bylaw stronger and she questioned the effectiveness of having a dog under voice control.

Selectman Thomas O'Toole disagreed. He said he leaves his own dog free in the yard because the dog responds to voice command and does not leave his property. O'Toole said he would never put a leash on his dog while he roams around his yard.

Animal Control Officer Eula Bradley also did not think changing the rules was the answer.

"I think that the bylaw that is in effect is beautiful," Bradley said. "People who don't follow it are irresponsible dog owners."

She said that no matter how strict the bylaw is or how high selectmen raise the fine for violating it, these people would continue to disregard the rules. She said that money is not the issue and that education is what they should focus on.

According to Bradley, the fine for having a loose dog is $25 the first time. The fine continues to double for repeat offenders. If Bradley cannot find the owner, the dog is brought to the dog pound in Hubbardston, where the owner has to pay $25 to have the dog released.

Police Lt. Michael McDonald, who was also present at the meeting, suggested making Bradley's position a fulltime one. He said it is hard now, because she works on an as-needed basis. He believes if her presence was known around town and people would follow the rules.

"If you aren't going to enforce it, the law isn't going to work," McDonald said.

He said his officers deal with loose animals if they can, but they are not trained to handle dogs.

Selectmen took no action towards McDonald's suggestion of having a full-time animal control officer. Instead, the next step will be sending out the copy of the bylaw.

In other business:

 Selectmen and the Department of Public Works reached an agreement about wages. The wage increase will be 2.5 percent in the first year, 2.75 percent in the second, and 3 percent the third year. According to Town Coordinator Karen Murphy, there were no other significant changes to the contract.

 Selectmen gave their support to a new hire in the department, John McIntyre, as a maintenance mechanic.

 A motion was passed to accept a proposal from the local division of Habitat for Humanity to build a house on 72 Davis Road. The proposal calls for either a single or double family affordable home.

Town officials will give the land to Habitat for Humanity but will retain the deed to the land. Habitat will have three years to build the house, which will then be sold at an affordable rate, which is considered 80 percent of the median household income in the area.

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Karen Mann is a 2006 graduate of Emerson College, in Boston, where she studied journalism. She resides in Townsend with her parents.