Chesterville to vote on barking dogs
Copyright © 2003 Blethen Maine Newspapers Inc.
TOWN MEETING COVERAGE
CHESTERVILLE — Voters at the annual town meeting Monday will decide on a new barking dog ordinance, elect two new selectmen and vote on reassessing town properties.
TOWN MEETING COVERAGE
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The barking dog ordinance was requested by a resident and several others have since expressed support for the idea. It is not the first time the town has seen the ordinance debated, said Selectman David Archer.
"It was brought up a number of years of ago and was voted down by a landslide," Archer said.
The ordinance calls for a penalty of $25 to $100 be assessed to the owner of any dog that is deemed a nuisance. The parameters that the ordinance defines as a nuisance are any dog "whose barking or howling is sustained for one hour or intermittently for three hours, (and) can be heard at or beyond the boundary of the property line."
Elections to replace two selectmen will be held from 1 to 6 p.m. on Monday at the Chesterville Town Office. Selectman Rosemary Poulson is not running for re-election and Selectman David Gray has resigned. The town meeting will follow the elections beginning at 7 p.m., also at the town office.
The town is looking at a budget this year that is $11,052 higher than in 2002. The increase can be attributed to additional expenditures in both the fire department's and the winter roads budgets. One reason for the increase in the fire department's budget is because members of the department are training to become EMS first responders, which requires additional training. Voters will also consider authorizing $20,500 for the reassessment of town properties.
Road resurfacing projects on the warrant include Norcross Hill Road, Egypt Pond Road and Stinchfield Hill Road. The Norcross Hill Road project will involve completing work begun last year.
One additional item that voters will decide on is the purchase of a stainless steel hopper sander at a cost of $8,373 for the town's dump/plow truck.