Stray dog fines may be hiked (07/25/06)

DUNKIRK - Collaring the problem of loose and stray dogs here may mean taking a bigger bite out of residents' pocketbooks and wallets, city council members said Monday night.

Mayor Sam Hubbard said he has received numerous complaints about dogs running loose. Many times these are the same dogs over and over again, and some of the canines are quite large, Hubbard said.

The best answer to this problem might be raising the fines for such offenses, the mayor said. The last such increase was in 2001.

Council members and residents suggested that possibly fines should be increased for other city ordinance violations such as tall weeds, junk or abandoned cars, and trash and litter problems, as well.

Current fines for such violations are $25 for the first offense, another $25 for the second offense in the same year, and $100 for the third and each subsequent offense in that same year. After a year the fine schedule starts all over again, city attorney William Hinkle said.

"I think the second fine should be stiffer," councilman Jim Doughty said.

Councilman Tom Johnson said he had talked to animal control officer Charles "Butch" Parfitt who said he thought the initial $25 figure itself was not high enough.

"I think we should boost it up to where it's going to hurt people's pocketbooks," Johnson said.

Following further discussion Hubbard said, "It seems we're all in favor of increasing the fines. It's just a question of how much."

Dunkirk resident Pam Bunch suggested doing the same for fines about junk car violations, and then enforcing the ordinances better.

Another resident pointed out that the fine for having tall weeds cut by the city was $25, and one of her neighbors told her it costs him at least $20 just to get the grass mowed with the current price of gasoline.

Hubbard said that currently the city is having to cut weeds on about 25 private lots in the city. Clerk-treasurer Jane Kesler added that the likelihood of being reimbursed for that work seems to be pretty slim.

The mayor proposed that the ordinance violation fines for loose dogs, tall weeds and junk or abandoned cars should be increased to $50 for the first offense, $75 for the second offense and $125 for the third and subsequent offenses.

This proposal was approved unanimously by council members in principle with Hinkle being directed to draft an ordinance to that effect for consideration at the next council session at 7 p.m. Aug. 14 in city hall.

In other business at Monday night's meeting, council members:

•Discussed plans for the city's 2007 budget. Clerk-treasurer Jane Kesler said she is already working on preparations for the budget. Mayor Hubbard suggested she figure in a 2.5 percent pay increase for city employees with council members taking a vote on that proposal later.

Johnson said there would have to be some adjustments made in the pay figures for summer pool employees next year, as state law now requires a water slide pool attendant position.

•Approved the installation of three catch basins to alleviate storm water drainage problems to the east of the West Jay Community Center in Dunkirk City Park. Johnson said the cost for materials, estimated at $2,200, would be split evenly between the city and community center.

•Considered the idea of adding a charge of about $8 a month to city water bills for trash collection. Currently, the trash collection expense is paid entirely from property tax revenues. This would just represent a change in how the money is collected, Hubbard said, adding that he and Hinkle would research the matter further. City librarian Ailesia Franklin questioned how this would affect the city library as it does not pay property taxes but it does receive a water bill.

•Approved second and final reading of an ordinance establishing a handicapped parking space on East Commerce Street in front of Christie's Family Restaurant.

•Heard several suggestions for items to be included in the 2007 city budget.

Dunkirk Beautification Committee representative MariLynn Blankenbaker asked for a $1,500 contribution toward the 2007 series of summer concerts in Webster-Depot Park.

Bunch requested a donation toward next year's July 4th festivities in Dunkirk City Park.

Franklin asked that money be included in the budget for the Glass Museum, noting that library funds were tight and one of the museum's large air-conditioning units needed about $3,500 worth of repairs.

•Agreed to investigate requests to vacate two sections of an unimproved east-west alley in the vicinity of St. Mary Catholic Church, 346 S. Broad St. Currently the area is covered with grass with the adjacent property owners keeping it mowed.[[In-content Ad]]