2010-02-23 CONCOM-min - Laserfiche WebLink

Browse Search

MINUTES – LEXINGTON CONSERVATION COMMMISSION February 23, 2010 Commissioners present: Joyce Miller, Stew Kennedy, Charles Wyman, Phil Hamilton, Dick Wolk, Duke Bitsko, David Langseth Others present: Karen Mullins, Conservation Administrator; Louise Vinci, Conservation Clerk Joyce Miller opened the meeting at 7:30 pm in Cary Hall, Cary Auditorium Building. 7:30 pm Informal Discussion: Dogs on Conservation Land, Joyce Miller opened the discussion by identifying for the audience that this was a discussion of the conservation commission regarding issues related to dogs on conservation land, not a formal hearing and that the commission would not be opening the discussion to comments from the audience at this time. Ms. Miller than went over various State and Bylaw regulations concerning the responsibilities of the conservation commission, the rights, responsibilities of people with dogs on and off conservation land and an overview of how the commission has addressed dog related issues in the past. Ms. Miller continued by outlining the issues which included: Parking The distribution and selling of materials on conservation land The failure of dog owners to properly dispose of dog waste The degrading of the pond at Willard’s Woods Damage to habitat The intimidation dogs off leash can pose Ms. Miller next went over a list of possible solutions discussed by the commission at the January 26, 2010 meeting which included: Install small parking lot off of Brent Road Add more signage Maintain North Street parking lot for all season use Reduce parking through reduced dog walking Refer parking issue to Selectmen Increase enforcement Require dogs to be leashed for 1 year, with review after 1 year Limit # of dogs to 2/person Restore impacted areas (brook, pond, etc.) Encourage Town to install real dog parks elsewhere Limit dogs by zone or by time (either off leash dogs or dogs in general) Institute a permit system (look into Crane Beach) Provide more dog waste disposal bins and bags Limit dogs to trails only Ban dogs for 1 year, with review after 1 year Page 1 of 4