MANCHESTER — Town Meeting voted overwhelming to allow dogs on Singing Beach between Oct. 1 and April 30.
The status quo will continue, after residents rejected a year-round dog ban at Town Meeting last night at Manchester Memorial School. Dogs are currently allowed on the beach between Oct. 1 and April 30.
The sponsor of the dog ban, Patricia Morley, proposed that the dog ban go to voters in the form of a referendum question at this year's town election on May 20. That was also rejected.
A compromise amendment, proposed by Selectmen Chairwoman Susan Thorne, that would have increased the current dog ban by two months, was voted down narrowly, 286-276.
A second amendment would have increased the amount of the time that dogs could be on the beach by two weeks. That amendment was rejected, 375-168.
In other action, Town Meeting approved a motion by selectmen to pay $49,000 to the North Shore Regional Vocational School District.
At a special Town Meeting beginning 15 minutes before the annual meeting, voters approved $14,000 in repairs to the Singing Beach bathhouse, approved petitioning the state Legislature to allow the town to hire police officers older than 32, and would authorize funds to pay a deficit in the account that pays police officers for private details.
As of press time last night, residents had yet to approve the proposed $11.6 million fiscal 2009 town budget and $11 million in spending for the Manchester Essex Regional School District.
Debate over citizen petition articles to block the construction of tennis courts in front of Memorial Elementary School had also not occurred. Eleven articles were placed on the warrant by citizen petition to either block or propose alternative sites for tennis courts planned for the grassy area in front of the elementary school.
Other action that still remained before Town Meeting was voting on $700,000 in spending for infrastructure and equipment improvements, including $23,000 for a new vehicle for the Fire Department. Selectmen had recommended buying the new car while the Finance Committee recommended using a retired police car. Other capital items included a new fueling station for town vehicles, a new police cruiser and new water meter reading technology.
Town Meeting has also yet to act on spending $120,000 of Community Preservation Act funds on projects including the preservation of town records, restoration of trails at Chebacco Woods and work on the Tuck's Point Rotunda.
For later coverage of the meeting, look to gloucestertimes.com.
Patrick Anderson can be reached at panderson@gloucestertimes.com
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