Dog Park Study Committee
Town of Fairhaven
Resolution Regarding Dog Park Study Committee
Whereas: Community Dog Parks provide great public benefit allowing for socialization among neighbors, friends and their pets;
Whereas: Community Dog Parks are perceived to be a municipal asset and serve as an incentive for individuals and families to stay and locate in communities;
Whereas: There is possibility of grant funds to pay for the construction of a dog park;
Whereas: Many residents have expressed an interest in assisting the Town in developing and maintaining a dog park;
Whereas: The Town previously had a Dog Park Committee that began the process of reviewing possible locations for a dog park;
Now therefore be it resolved:
That Dog Park Committee will be reinstated, that it will consist of five full members and two associate members, who can only vote for the purpose of making a quorum, appointed by the Board of Selectmen to serve one year terms eligible for annual reappointment, and will be an ad-hoc, advisory committee that, after its work is completed, will be discharged from its duties. In addition to the five members, one member of the Board of Selectmen and one member of the Board of Public Works will serve as ex-officio members of the committee. The committee will comply with State of Massachusetts Public Meeting laws and Public Record laws.
The Committees work will be include, but not be limited to:
- Reviewing the work of the prior Dog Park Committee
- Developing a list of possible sites for the dog park and prioritizing the sites based on specific criteria such as location, utilities, parking, impact on neighbors, environmental issues, etc. and make a recommendation to the Board of Selectmen as to the most suitable location.
- Develop a strategy to involve the public and stakeholders such as the Board of Public Works,Planning Board, Conservation Commission,
- Building Commissioner and others that may be determined, in the review and selection process.
- Based on the location selected for the Dog Park, design the park in a way maximizes community benefit while minimizing negative impact.
- Research possible grant and other financing sources to pay for the construction of the dog park.
- Draft a plan that would provide continued maintenance and repairs to the facility through the use of volunteers.
- Write rules and regulations governing the use of the Dog Park and how they will be enforced.
- Submit an annual report, or more often if necessary, to the Board of Selectmen regarding progress made in building a Dog Park.
Approved by the Fairhaven Board of Selectmen on June 4, 2018