Four measures on unleashed dogs

Here are some of the issues that Arlington residents want to see Town Meeting address this spring: unleashing dogs (for and against), keeping hens, supporting the return of National Guard troops to the Bay state, implementing pay-as-you-throw thrash collection, and reorganizing the town and school government.

The full warrant is to be ready about March 12, and it is expected to have as many as 75 articles, Marie Krepelka, the selectmen's administrator, said Jan. 29. "You won't get out early," she said with a smile.

The brief summary of articles here reflects those town residents presented by the Jan. 23 deadline accompanied by the signatures of 10 registered voters. Many of other articles -- dealing with zoning or budgets -- remain to be included. The selectmen may add articles up to shortly before the warrant is published, in March.

What follows is the annual expression of democracy, reflecting what local citizens want, in 14 warrant articles, in contrast with what town and school officials want, in articles yet to come. In each case, the aim of the article is briefly noted followed by the name of the chief sponsor, as reflect in papers filed with the selectmen's office.

Unleashed dog top the list, with four articles:

    -- Amend Section 8 of the town's animal control bylaw to say that unleashed dogs shall not be allowed at Robbins Farm Park (Charles Bryant).

    -- Amend Section 8 of the animal control bylaw to allow dogs off-leash under certain conditions (Susan R. Doctrow).

    -- Amend Section 8 of the animal control bylaw, saying "unleashed dogs shall not be allowed on any unfenced area of land within 50 yards of a playground or within 10 yards of a residential property line ..." (Mustafa Varoglu).

    -- Amend the bylaw on fees to increase and impose a fine for the violation of dog-licensing bylaws. The proposal would raise licenses from $10 to $20 for spayed, neutered dogs; and from $15 to $30 for unspayed, unneutered dogs. It would impose a $50 fee if a violation is 45 days old and $50 more after 90 days in violation. The plan would have the Finance Committee use the money to fund existing or increased animal control (David O'Rourke).

A further article or articles are expected from town officials following a series of meetings in 2008-09 on so-called "Green Dog" efforts.

Another animal-related effort would amend the town bylaw and zoning bylaw governing the keeping of hens or poultry (Pam Callaway).

One article has much broader aims and would potentially affect all of us -- animals and people.

John Bilafer, the former longtime town treasurer, seeks recommendations to reorganize town and school government. The plan would appoint a Town Government Reorganization Committee in 2009 to make recommendations for the 2010 Town Meeting to implement in 2011 "advisable reorganizations, consolidations and/or abolition of town/school department boards, commissions ... consistent with promoting the fiscal well-being of the town ...."

An article affecting all in town who have their trash removed (and would not affect animals) would implement pay-as-you-throw (PAYT) trash collection by making bylaw changes and filing home-rule petitions, as required (Gordon Jamieson).

Likely to raise debate because it addresses national issues, an article seeks a resolution supporting the return of the National Guard to Massachusetts from Iraq and Afghanistan (Richard Smith). The articles references a bill filed by Rep. Sean Garballey, Democrat of Arlington/Medford, to withhold deployment of Guard where an "authorization for military force has ... expired ...."

Barbara Goodman, a former longtime School Committee member, wants to see whether the town will vote to authorize the selectmen to file a home-rule petition to permit her to "purchase creditable service toward retirement for her time spent as a member of the Arlington School Committee as if she had received compensation."

Christopher P. Loreti, a member of the Redevelopment Board but filing the article as a resident, seeks to direct the selectmen to comply with Article 10 of the Zoning Board of Appeals bylaw, which calls for appointing a registered architect or a professional engineer to the Zoning Board.

Paolo Marinelli is asking the selectmen to seek a home-rule petition to eliminate upper age requirement for police officers and firefighters.
 
Andrew Fischer seeks support of state bill introduced Jan. 14, 2009, to have task force study municipally sponsored auto insurance.

Jay Weinberger is seeking the appropriation and financing of safety improvements and remediations of drainage issues at the Lower Mead Road/Pine Street interchange.

EDITOR'S NOTE: Your comments are welcome. You may add them at the Comments link below this story. For your views to remain published, you must sign your full name. This story was first published on Feb. 1.