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Selectmen, recreation commission weigh wording, liability and presentation plan for proposed Milford dog park
Summary
Selectmen and recreation representatives debated petition language, insurance, permitting and presentation logistics for a proposed dog park on town-owned sports fields; board suggested renaming the warrant line and asked for a presenter at the deliberative session.
Milford — At the Jan. 26 selectmen meeting, board members and recreation representatives discussed a petitioned warrant article that would allow use of a portion of the town sports field as a dog park.
Board members said the petition’s current wording appears to ask whether the town will permit use of a portion of the sports field for a dog park, and several suggested rephrasing the title and text — for example, to "Milford Public Dog Park" — so voters understand the scope. Members agreed the wording could be altered at the deliberative session to preserve intent while removing ambiguity.
Recreation representatives and staff addressed liability, permitting and maintenance. A presenter for the recreation commission said, “We’ve never said that we are gonna run the dog park ever,” and described the commission’s role as fundraising and facilitating rather than operating the facility. A staff member noted the town’s insurer (PrimeX) had indicated coverage likely applies if the town submits the park rules and signage; another staff speaker said fencing and some work (e.g., installing posts and fence) could begin before any alteration-of-terrain (AOT) permit is finalized, but that building a parking lot would require the AOT to be resolved.
Board members discussed who would maintain and police the park. The recreation committee suggested volunteer work parties and donations could help with upkeep; town public works would likely handle routine mowing and trash pickup. The board heard there is expected to be no direct tax impact from placing the dog park on the field, though some modest signage and materials costs were discussed.
Procedural notes: the board asked that the recreation commission provide a presenter at the deliberative session (Saturday) and urged staff to share the questions raised tonight with that presenter so the discussion can be recorded and available for voters ahead of the voting session.
What remains unresolved: the exact language of the warrant article as it will appear on the ballot and the final site details (parking layout, exact fence footprint), which the board said could be refined at deliberative session or in follow-up with the recreation commission and permitting authorities.
(Reporting based only on the Jan. 26 meeting transcript.)
