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Board of Selectmen Meeting Minutes

Any and all corrections to the following minutes will be made at the 07/01/04 Board of Selectmen's meeting and are considered unapproved until then. Corrections will be noted in the minutes of that meeting.

MINUTES - SPECIAL MEETING - BOARD OF SELECTMEN
JUNE 28th, 2004
NEWFANE TOWN OFFICE

PRESENT:
Selectmen: Piet van Loon, Carleton Chaffee, Priscilla Cotton, and Chris Williams.
Absent: Gary Katz
Also Present: David Clarkson, Constable Kevin Behan, and Doris Knechtel as Administrative Assistant.

1. CALL TO ORDER
The Special Meeting was called to order by Chairman Piet van Loon at 6:00 p.m.

2. CONSIDERATION OF DOG SITUATION - BROWN's
Chairman P. van Loon reviewed the dog biting incident that occurred this past week involving a dog owned by Pat Brown on Browns Road in Newfane. The child that was bit was treated at Grace Cottage Hospital. It was learned that both dogs, Jobee and Josie, were out of their fenced in area. The owner of the dogs did call the parent of the child and they did call the Town Office. The dog that bit the child is currently under quarantine for 10 days, as required by law, and is serving his quarantine on the dog owner's property. The 10 days will be up on July 3rd. The dog, Jobee, does have a current rabies shot. The Brattleboro Veterinary Clinic is aware of the situation. It has been suggested that the one or both dogs be put up for adoption through Boxer Rescue.
Both the Windham County Sheriff's Department and the Constable were made aware of the recent incident.
Last summer the Board dealt with an incident involving the Brown's boxer dogs that have attacked people and other dogs. As a result of meetings in July and August it was ordered that the Brown's dogs, Josie and Jobee, be muzzled to prevent biting whenever outside of the owner's house and shall at a minimum be controlled by a leash when not on the owner's property. If found unmuzzled and/or running at large, the dogs shall be seized and euthanized by the Town Constable or the Animal Control Officer (WCSD).
The results of the hearing held last year and the previous letters sent to Patricia Brown regarding behavior of Jobee and Josie were read and reviewed by the Board. The current Dog Ordinance and the pertinent VT statutes were also discussed and reviewed.
Constable K. Behan spoke of the unpredictable behavior tendencies of dogs that bite their prey, especially if the prey runs from them.
Board members expressed their concerns about the dog being under quarantine on the owner's property. The residents are still at risk of having another incident occur as the dogs do not seem to be under full control of the owners.

Motion was made by P. Cotton and seconded by C. Chaffee to require that Jobee be removed to a veterinary clinic immediately to serve the balance of the quarantine period and that Jobee be euthanized at the completion of the quarantine period, with all expenses to be borne by the owners and that Josie be placed for adoption such that there is no chance the dog could return to Newfane in the future, such adoption is to be completed by August 1st, 2004. If said adoption has not been completed by August 1st, 2004, Josie shall also be euthanized with all expenses for adoption and euthanisia to be borne by the dog's owner. Unanimous.
Pat Brown was notified of this evening= meeting on Friday, June 25th.
One of the Selectboard members will contact the father of the child about submitting a written complaint rather than just giving an oral complaint.
A letter is to be written to the Brown's on Tuesday, June 29th and sent Certified Mail as well as being hand delivered by the Sheriff's Department. Sheriff Prue was contacted by phone during the meeting and appraised of the situation. If the letter is delivered by the town to the WCSD in the morning, she will make sure that it is taken care of. She will also arrange for transport of Jobee to the veterinary clinic of the Brown's choice. The Brattleboro Veterinary Clinic that is familiar with the case will also be notified.

3. TO TRANSACT ANY OTHER BUSINESS THAT MAY LEGALLY COME BEFORE THE MEETING
A. Williamsville Covered Bridge (CB#19) - K. Bostrom has spoken with Renaud Bros regarding a temporary fix to the deck of the bridge. Their estimate is for $15,000 to $20,000. A representative from Neil Daniels Construction will be meeting with K. Bostrom at 2:00 p.m. to come up with an estimate for the temporary repair. The matter will be discussed at the regular meeting of 07/01/04. There are not state funds for the use of a temporary bridge until such time as the covered bridge is scheduled to be rehabilitated. (2007)
B. Board members were reminded that the meeting of July 1st, will begin at 6:00 p.m. for an Executive Session for an employee review.
C. The interviews for a new employee on the highway crew, to replace the retiring Paul Jones, have been completed. References will need to be checked.

4. ADJOURNMENT
Motion was made by C. Chaffee and seconded by P. Cotton to adjourn the Special Meeting of the Board at 7:15 p.m. Unanimous.

Doris A. Knechtel
Administrative Assistant
Newfane Board of Selectmen

Posted: Town Clerk's Office, Newfane Store, Williamsville General Store, and South Newfane General Store & Deli.
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