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Middlebury trustees review service-animal policy; town CFO advises current code suffices
Summary
After discussing two library incidents involving dogs, the trustees were told Town CFO Seth Bernstein reviewed the library's Code of Conduct and determined existing language and the two permitted entry questions about service animals are sufficient for now.
The Library Board revisited two incidents in which dogs were brought into the library and discussed whether changes to the Code of Conduct were needed. Director Jo-Ann LoRusso told trustees she had consulted Seth Bernstein, the Town's chief financial officer, who reviewed the files and advised that the existing policy language is adequate at present.
LoRusso recounted that staff are permitted to ask two specific questions when a person attempts to enter with an animal: "Is the animal required due to a disability?" and "What work or task is the animal trained to perform?" Bernstein determined those questions and the Code of Conduct's provision that only service animals are permitted provide sufficient guidance unless further incidents occur. Chairman Rita H. Smith noted that the board could consider adding language in the future addressing service animals that display poor or unacceptable conduct.
No policy change was adopted at the May 12 meeting; trustees agreed to monitor for additional incidents before taking regulatory action.
