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Council holds first reading on animal-control penalties and shelter fee schedule
Summary
At first reading, the council advanced Ordinance 26-01 to update animal-control fines and create a fee schedule for shelter services, discussing the town's three‑year contract with Foster for sheltering and how fines and shelter fees are allocated and collected.
The Scituate Town Council conducted the first reading of Ordinance 26‑01, which would amend sections of the Code of Ordinances to revise animal‑control violation penalties and add a new fee schedule to cover administrative and shelter costs.
Councilors and the police chief discussed the town’s existing three‑year contract with the town of Foster for animal‑shelter services and noted that Foster handles many calls and receives fines under its contract terms. The animal control director described high call volumes and that Foster currently pays its share under the contract.
Council members asked about the ordinance’s sliding‑scale fines (first, second and third offenses) and whether Foster or Scituate would collect and remit fines. The police chief and animal‑control director explained the distinction between fines (municipal penalties governed by each town) and shelter/boarding/adoption fees (charges for using the shelter that the adopting or impounding party pays).
“If you’re using the shelter or adopting an animal from the shelter, you’re setting the fees in general because it’s your shelter,” a council speaker summarized, noting that other fines are particular to each town. The council discussed monitoring collection procedures to ensure towns recoup costs and flagged that the contract renewal had emphasized responsibility for trial or dismissal outcomes and fee recovery by Foster per the renewed agreement.
The ordinance passed its first reading by voice vote and will return for a second reading before any adoption.
