Nashua aldermen approve clerk's warrant process for unlicensed dogs, 11-0

The Nashua Board of Aldermen on June 10 approved a motion to accept a list of unlicensed dogs prepared by the city clerk and to commit a warrant to the chief of police authorizing a civil forfeiture fine, a measure that passed by roll call, 11-0.

Daniel Healy, the city clerk, explained the city's process for notifying owners whose dog licenses were not renewed: five email notices when an email is on file, two robocalls if a phone number exists, and a postcard for the remaining addresses. He said dog licenses were due April 30 with May as a grace period, a $1-per-month late fee starts June 1, and "after June 20, the $25 civil forfeiture fine can be applied with approval of the governing body." He also said Nashua does not generally exercise the statutory option to seize animals for nonpayment.

The motion was made by Alderman Dowd and called for the clerk's communication to be accepted, placed on file, and for the warrant to be committed to the police chief to pursue civil forfeiture. During discussion, Alderman Johnson asked whether enforcement would involve removing animals from premises. Healy replied that, while the state RSA provides the option to seize dogs, "that has not been done, in Nashua as far as I know. We don't use that option. We do the option of the $25 fine. I am not going to suggest that we start doing that." He described the timeline and administrative steps that would precede any fine.

The clerk conducted a roll call on the motion; the clerk recorded 11 yeas and 0 nays, and the presiding officer announced the motion carried. No additional enforcement actions or changes to practice were adopted at the meeting; the motion referred the warrant to the police chief to apply the civil forfeiture process described.

The special meeting adjourned at 7:11 p.m.; the board proceeded to the scheduled budget hearing.