Notes from Meeting with Town Officials, Dec. 9, 2008

Posted on December 15, 2008 · Filed under: Meeting Notes and Agendas 

Meeting between Maynard town officials and members of the board of MayDOG
December 9, 2008, 3:30pm

Attendees:
Gerry Collins, Health Officer
Cathy O’Dea, Assistant Town Administrator
John Curran, Town Administrator
Lisa Lines, President, MayDOG
Bonnie Winokar, Director, MayDOG
Joannie Gray, Treasurer, MayDOG

Notes:
The purpose of the meeting was to orient the office of the town administrator regarding MayDOG’s proposal to create a dog park in Maynard. The goal was to answer all of the officials’ questions in preparation for bringing the proposal to a meeting of the full Board of Selectmen.

MayDOG presented a brief overview of the group’s organizational structure, mission, and ideas for a dog park. The administrator and assistant administrator asked a number of questions regarding location, financing, and operations. The administrator emphasized that the park will need to be self-sufficient in terms of generating enough revenue to cover the extra mowing and trash removal. The administrator also pointed out that a full proposal will be needed for the Board of Selectmen to review to give them a complete picture of what the group is asking for.

The consensus was that those present would take the following actions:

  1. The health officer will discuss the idea with the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection to ensure that this type of recreational use will be allowed under their regulations.
  2. Members of MayDOG will explore possible alternate sites off of Taylor Road and behind 129 Parker Street.
  3. The MayDOG board will draft a proposal to be reviewed by the Board of Selectmen that will cover the following:
    • Introduction
      • Overview
      • Potential benefits of a dog park to residents and the community
      • Description of MayDOG’s organizational structure
      • Description of MayDOG’s efforts to date, including the petition signed by over 500 citizens so far
    • Location
      • Pros and cons for the landfill site
      • Other possible sites
    • Design
      • Size
      • Fencing
      • Parking
      • Trails
      • Signage
      • Amenities
    • Financing
      • For establishment of the park, the group will discuss possibilities for private and corporate donations, donations in kind, volunteer labor, fund-raising events, sponsorship, and grants.
      • For ongoing maintenance, the group will propose raising the cost of dog licenses for Maynard residents and requiring that users who are residents of other towns purchase a special annual license.
    • Oversight and management
      • Members of MayDOG will be the peer enforcers of park regulations.
      • MayDOG will organize regular clean-up and maintenance activities.
      • MayDOG will conduct fundraising for park amenities.
      • The dog officers will need to make spot checks for people using the park without appropriate licenses.
  4. MayDOG will forward a draft of the proposal to the town administrator’s office for review and comment.

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