2011-01-11 CONCOM-min - Laserfiche WebLink

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MINUTES – LEXINGTON CONSERVATION COMMMISSION January 11, 2011 Commissioners Present: Joyce Miller-Chair, Philip Hamilton-Vice-chair, Charles Wyman, Duke Bitsko, Stewart Kennedy, David Langseth (arrived at 7:45 pm) Commissioners Absent: Dick Wolk Staff present: Karen Mullins, Conservation Administrator Chair Joyce Miller opened the meeting at 7:30 pm in Room G-15, Town Office Building. 7:30 pm Executive Session The Commission voted by roll call vote to go into Executive Session for the purpose of discussing land acquisition. 7:45 pm The Commission resumed the meeting in open session. Presentation: Boulder Colorado’s Dog Voice and Sight Tag Program Philip Hamilton summarized Boulder Colorado’s program for the Commission: a good well-defined system with protocols and an educational component regarding control of dogs. Commission watched presentation on the Boulder Colorado website. Comments from the Commission followed: Overall, the Commission found the program had good concepts that could be beneficial to adopt even without a permit system. Charlie Wyman likes the permitting system for two reasons: 1. Provides education and has owners take responsibility; 2. Keeps track of owners who are not using a leash and allows for education. David Langseth expressed that he recently has had experience with managing three dogs, and although he was able to control, he found it challenging. He definitely agrees with the not more than three dog per person rule and identified a potential to revisit this regulation and reduce the limit to two like Boulder, Colorado’s regulation. Commission discussed the March 1, 2011 sunset clause deadline for the on-leash on weekend regulation and some options for them to consider when revisiting, which included renew the regulation on a permanent basis or adopt a dog voice control permit system similar to Boulder, Colorado’s system. Other ideas the Commission mentioned for consideration included switching a weekend on-leash day with a weekday off leash day or adding morning off-leash hours on weekends and adopting a regulation regarding on leash in parking areas and entrance ways until a defined demarcated location within the conservation area to address dog excrement issues at trail heads and orchard area and uncontrolled dogs venturing into abutting properties. Commission discussed next steps to meet the March 1, 2011 sunset clause deadline. The th Commission agreed to hold a special public meeting on February 15 to revisit the Willard’s Woods regulations with a vote to adopt regulations at their February 22, 2011 regular scheduled th meeting. In preparation of the February 15 public meeting, the Commission requested staff to forward a compilation of reports received since the on-leash weekend regulation took effect. th The Commission also requested staff to post the public hearing for the February 15 meeting. In addition, Duke Bitsko and Philip Hamilton will meet to discuss and finalize recommendation to Page 1 of 3