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Keene board debates leash-law draft, penalties and off-leash areas
Summary
The Town Board discussed a draft leash law that includes maximum fines and a 15-day jail provision; some members sought to remove the jail penalty while counsel warned that removing penalties could leave the town without enforceable consequences. The board debated naming off-leash areas vs. designating them by resolution.
At its Feb. 11 meeting the Town Board of Keene discussed a draft local leash law that would carry forward maximum fines and a possible 15-day jail provision, prompting debate over enforcement and whether off-leash areas should be named in the law.
Robert Biesemeyer asked to remove section 13, saying he did not want the jail time. Town Counsel Bryan Liam Kennelly responded: "the problem with removing that is you do not have any consequences if the person does not comply with what was asked of them." Chair Teresa Cheetham-Palen noted the draft carries over provisions from the current law and urged awareness that residents are currently subject to those rules.
Board members also discussed whether to specify off-leash locations in the ordinance or to allow the Board to create off-leash areas by resolution. Christopher Daly and Ann Hough supported designating places such as the Beta trails, Town Trails and Jackrabbit as potential off-leash sites, while other members emphasized keeping hamlet areas on leash.
The Board did not adopt the leash law on Feb. 11; Kennelly will continue drafting language and the item will return for further consideration at a future meeting.
