AUBURN - After months of debate and a handful of changes, Auburn has a new dog ordinance.
The city council voted Thursday during the weekly meeting to adopt a new policy to regulate how residents can keep and care for their dogs.
The amended ordinance has a number of key differences from the original proposal, which drew concerned responses from local dog owners and national dog organizations.
It does not include specific regulations for pit bulls or doberman pinschers and officials removed a section that would have made it illegal to leave a dog outdoors without supervision, even in a fenced location.
“We were very worried about people who are responsible owners being caught in too many restrictions,” said Councilor Gilda Brower, who voted for the ordinance.
However, the new provisions still have some teeth.
The ordinance makes it mandatory that all dogs in public are restrained by a leash no longer than six feet.
Owners using a retractable leash must keep it locked at that length.
Vicious dogs that have seriously injured a person engaged in lawful activity or bitten or killed an animal or person without provocation cannot be kept in the city.
The ordinance also carries tighter regulations on barking dogs. Howling or barking that is audible beyond an owner's property line and lasts more than five minutes between 10 p.m. and 8 a.m. or more than 15 minutes between 8 a.m. and 10 p.m. would be a violation.
Owners who are cited must pay $25, $50 and $100 for the first, second and third-plus citations, according to the ordinance.
City Manager Mark Palesh said he was not surprised that officials ended up making so many changes because the original proposal was “very aggressive” in going after problematic owners.
“I think this is a very good ordinance that will take care of most concerns of the citizens,” Palesh said.
Councilor William Graney said he agreed with the changes that were made, but there was some language - specifically with the barking restrictions - he did not believe could be enforced.
“I hate putting another layer of law where we already have provisions in place,” said Graney, who voted against the ordinance.
Councilor Thomas McNabb also voted against the statute.
In other news:
* The council voted unanimously to approve an amendment to a law that regulates where sex offenders can reside or even stand within the city. The amended law prohibits all level-three offenders from living or loitering within 500 feet of any daycare facility, school or park. It used to only regulate level-three offenders whose crimes were against minors.
Auburn Police Chief Gary Giannotta said before the vote that an officer on the police force brought the law to his attention after hearing concerns from citizens. Though the law is not retroactive, Giannotta said it will help the city manage offenders in the future.
There are currently 13 level-three sex offenders in the city, according to the Auburn Police Department.
Councilor Matt Smith said during the meeting that the change is a welcomed one.
“It seems like every time I read the newspaper, there is a new sex offense,” Smith said.
* The council voted 4-1 approving appointments to the Human Rights Commission. Gwen Jones and Fred Richardson were all reappointed to three-year terms. Joe Leogrande will fill the unexpired term of Libertus Vander Werfe, which ends in February 2010.
Smith was the only council member to vote against the resolution. Smith said he voted against the appointments not because any of the individuals lack competency, but because he opposed the formation of the commission.
* The city will enter into a contract with Marcy Excavation Services to have shredded tire chips be used as a substitution for Type A select fill in the city landfill. Marcy will credit the city with $70,000 for the substitution, which was approved by council.
Staff writer Christopher Caskey can be reached at 253-5311 ext. 282 or christopher.caskey@lee.net.
The amended ordinance has a number of key differences from the original proposal, which drew concerned responses from local dog owners and national dog organizations.
It does not include specific regulations for pit bulls or doberman pinschers and officials removed a section that would have made it illegal to leave a dog outdoors without supervision, even in a fenced location.
“We were very worried about people who are responsible owners being caught in too many restrictions,” said Councilor Gilda Brower, who voted for the ordinance.
However, the new provisions still have some teeth.
The ordinance makes it mandatory that all dogs in public are restrained by a leash no longer than six feet.
Owners using a retractable leash must keep it locked at that length.
Vicious dogs that have seriously injured a person engaged in lawful activity or bitten or killed an animal or person without provocation cannot be kept in the city.
The ordinance also carries tighter regulations on barking dogs. Howling or barking that is audible beyond an owner's property line and lasts more than five minutes between 10 p.m. and 8 a.m. or more than 15 minutes between 8 a.m. and 10 p.m. would be a violation.
Owners who are cited must pay $25, $50 and $100 for the first, second and third-plus citations, according to the ordinance.
City Manager Mark Palesh said he was not surprised that officials ended up making so many changes because the original proposal was “very aggressive” in going after problematic owners.
“I think this is a very good ordinance that will take care of most concerns of the citizens,” Palesh said.
Councilor William Graney said he agreed with the changes that were made, but there was some language - specifically with the barking restrictions - he did not believe could be enforced.
“I hate putting another layer of law where we already have provisions in place,” said Graney, who voted against the ordinance.
Councilor Thomas McNabb also voted against the statute.
In other news:
* The council voted unanimously to approve an amendment to a law that regulates where sex offenders can reside or even stand within the city. The amended law prohibits all level-three offenders from living or loitering within 500 feet of any daycare facility, school or park. It used to only regulate level-three offenders whose crimes were against minors.
Auburn Police Chief Gary Giannotta said before the vote that an officer on the police force brought the law to his attention after hearing concerns from citizens. Though the law is not retroactive, Giannotta said it will help the city manage offenders in the future.
There are currently 13 level-three sex offenders in the city, according to the Auburn Police Department.
Councilor Matt Smith said during the meeting that the change is a welcomed one.
“It seems like every time I read the newspaper, there is a new sex offense,” Smith said.
* The council voted 4-1 approving appointments to the Human Rights Commission. Gwen Jones and Fred Richardson were all reappointed to three-year terms. Joe Leogrande will fill the unexpired term of Libertus Vander Werfe, which ends in February 2010.
Smith was the only council member to vote against the resolution. Smith said he voted against the appointments not because any of the individuals lack competency, but because he opposed the formation of the commission.
* The city will enter into a contract with Marcy Excavation Services to have shredded tire chips be used as a substitution for Type A select fill in the city landfill. Marcy will credit the city with $70,000 for the substitution, which was approved by council.
Staff writer Christopher Caskey can be reached at 253-5311 ext. 282 or christopher.caskey@lee.net.
