Despite the fact that it had not been recommended by the Board of Selectmen, Article 9 passed by an overwhelming majority last week at Special Town Meeting. Identifying himself and two fellow Selectmen who had voted against the measure as “dog lovers,” presenter Ron Ricci said that he had discovered there is no penalty for ignoring the state dog licensing fines and recommended that the town tell the state to “pound sand.”
But, with no discussion, the town meeting, which no doubt contained a number of dog lovers as well, chose to comply with a recent change in state law that raises the penalty for late licensing and failure to license from $15 to $50. Previously, owners who failed to license a dog when it reached six months of age or within 30 days of residency were subject to a $15 penalty, while established owners who were five days beyond deadline for renewal paid a $15 penalty and $15 for every 30 days after that in which the dog remained with an outdated license. Now, both late penalties will be a flat $50.
‘Pretty much a wash’
Asked about revenue implications of the bylaw change, Town Clerk Janet Vellante said it is pretty much “a wash.” She said she ran calculations with both the old and the new fee structure, and both come out to about $3,500 in annual revenue. Vellante said that the changes in bylaws made at town meeting need to be approved by the attorney general, and she is in the process of sending a report, which must to be made within 30 days of the meeting. The attorney general’s office has 90 days to respond. Vellante says that, assuming state approval, she will send out a notice to dog owners in January to remind them of the April 1 deadline.
