Meeting goes to the dogs
WARWICK Mans best friend took center stage at Warwick Town Hall on Feb. 2 with Russ Kowal participating at his first regular meeting as the towns newest councilman.
The evenings agenda began with two public hearings, including one to amend chapter 77 of the town code, which deals with dogs. Back in September two residents from the Onderdonk Road section of town registered a complaint about a dog they claimed was roaming the neighborhood and asked the board to increase the $25 fine for having a dog off leash.
Suszyn Barron, president of the Warwick Valley Humane Society, helped Supervisor Michael Sweeton to amend the violations, fees and penalties for dog offenses.
Before a ticket is written weve given people ample time, said Barron who was present at the public hearing.
She said that animal control officers work first to resolve complaints and issue appearance tickets to dog owners only as a last resort.
Under the amendment, fines and penalties for dog owners will start at $50 and cost as much as $150, not including impoundment fees that could cost as much as an additional $100 plus $15 per day for boarding.
The fines reflect the workload at the humane society, an organization which relies primarily upon charitable contributions.
No public comment was made and the hearing remains open for written comment for ten days. The supervisor will close the public hearing at the regular meeting on Feb. 16 at 1 p.m. in the Warwick Town Hall, 132 Kings Highway.
Dial-A-Bus fees The second public hearing dealt with a proposal to double the fares for the towns Dial-A-Bus program.
Town officials acknowledge that program is both a lifeline for those without other means of transportation to get to shops, doctors appointment and other events within Warwick.
They also called the fares paid by the public the biggest bargain around. But like everyone who has had the occasion to fill up a vehicles gas tank for the last year and more ago, higher fuel costs drains the Dial-A-Bus program.
When the program began, ridership was about 4,000 trips per year.
Today, ridership stands at 3,000 trips per month.
Senior citizens would see a one-way trip rise from 50 cents to a dollar.
All other riders would see the cost of a one-way fare go from one to two dollars.
Sweeton left the hearing open for written comment for ten days and will close the hearing at the regular meeting on Thursday, Feb. 16, at 1 p.m. in the Warwick Town Hall, 132 Kings Highway.
Fund raiser The Warwick Valley Humane Society is holding a wedding for Sabrina and Jeter at Fetch Bar & Grill on Sunday, Feb. 12 at 3 p.m. The homeless canine couple have been together 14 years.
Tickets cost $20 each. I urge you to go to this wedding and support the humane society, said councilman Floyd DeAngelo.
Among the celebrants will be supervisor Sweeton, who said he already bought his ticket.