Animals on the loose target of new town rule

Saturday, December 16, 2006

Bainbridge Council is reviewing a new town ordinance prohibiting animals from running at large through the town.

Bainbridge Town Marshal Rodney Fenwick and Town Attorney Laurie Hardwick presented the council with copies of Ordinance 2006-5: Animals Running at Large during Tuesday's meeting. Fenwick and Hardwick have been working on this ordinance for the past two months.

The new ordinance prohibits people from allowing any livestock and domestic animals from running at large in the town or having an animal, other than domesticated animals, larger than the registered dog breeds on a lot.

The ordinance states, "The notice of violation shall impose upon the owner a penalty of fifty dollars ($50) for the first violation. The fine for any subsequent violation occurring within the same calendar year shall be one hundred dollars ($100), which is to be paid to the Clerk-Treasurer of the Town within 30 days in full satisfaction of the assessed penalty."

Hardwick told the council that she had added more to the vicious animals section of the ordinance. "I think its probably more appropriate," Hardwick said of the new addition opposed to what the ordinance originally had.

According to the ordinance, a vicious animal "is defined as an animal that constitutes a physical threat to human beings or other animals."

Residents are not allowed to keep any vicious animals within the town unless the animal is either muzzled or secured by a chain to the property. The ordinance states that any unmuzzled animal found running at large may be destroyed by the police department if the animal is believed to be vicious.

The ordinance also states that if any dog has bitten or attacked a person or another animal, it will be considered vicious and will be impounded for 10 days or more depending on a ruling from the Putnam County Board of Health. "In lieu of impounding the dog at the animal shelter, the owner, at his/her expense, may provide for such dog to be delivered to a commercial kennel operated by a license veterinarian for such period."

Council President Mike Smith asked Hardwick if the council needed to accept the ordinance as a first reading or did it need to go ahead and approve the ordinance. Hardwick informed the council the ordinance needed to be accepted as a first reading.

The council approved the first reading of Ordinance 2006-5. The ordinance will be read for a second time and approved at the next meeting.

In other business, the council:

* Learned that phase two of the gas system for the new subdivision will be installed in 2007.

* Asked Fenwick to provide more estimates to fix the dent in the reserve car. Fenwick provided the council with one estimate, but Smith asked him to bring a couple more quotes.

* Learned that the county is working on hiring an instructor to teach a National Incident Management System course. Fenwick informed the council that all but one of his deputies has completed the training courses online.

* Learned that Kenny Brewer's wrecking service vehicles and a couple junk cars are taking up three to four parking spots on Main Street. "What can we do about it?" Smith asked. Hardwick suggested a couple of different ordinances, but Fenwick said he would talk to Brewer about the situation.

* Learned from Town Clerk/Treasurer Jason Hartman that he, Fenwick, Hardwick and Utility Supt. Jim Nelson met two weeks ago to go over the employee handbook. Hartman said they made some changes and he had to add a few things, but nothing major.

* Approved Denny Lentes for his second term on the utility board.

The next regularly scheduled meeting is set for Wednesday, Jan 10 at 7 p.m. in the community center. This meeting is open to the public.

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