BfilSTOL V F. R M o., :S T
f
September 9, 2020
Travis Manning 91 Vincent Drive Bristol, VT 05443
* * CERTIFIED MAIL * *
Subject: Dog Ordinance Violations Selectboard Public Hearing Notice
Dear Mr. Manning:
Town of Bristol Town Administrator
1 South Street P.O. Box 249
Bristol, VT 05443 (802) 453-2410 ext. 1
[email protected] www.bristolvt.org
In June 2019, the Selectboard held meetings in response to the written complaint received alleging numerous accounts that your dogs were running at large and exhibiting threatening or threatening behavior. There was also no record of any dogs registered to you or at your address. The Selectboard at that time ordered that your dogs be registered immediately at the Town Clerk's Office and no later than the week of June 17, 2019. Section 125-3 of the Bristol Dog Ordinance specifically states: "A person who is the owner of a dog more than six months old shall annually on or before April 1 cause the dog to be licensed as required by 20 V.S.A. § 3581 -3582. The failure of a dog owner to comply with that statute, shall constitute a violation of this ordinance and violation of 20 V.S.A. § 3550 (a), authorizing a municipality to impose a civil penalty of up to $500 per violation." This would apply to each dog.
The Selectboard also ordered that your dogs be confined to your premises (when not otherwise under your control elsewhere), whether by leads, fencing, or some other effective means.
The dogs were not registered last year and as of this date remain unregistered-in violation of state statute and the Selectboard's order.
Two new and different ,.vritten complaints have been received about your dogs rnn.11ing at large, going through trash, aggressive behavior, and destruction of property, including the killing of chickens on Lower Notch Road. A separate complaint was received that the dogs exhibit signs of neglect.
On August 30, 2020, Police Chief Bruce Nason visited you and issued citations for failure to license the dogs and for the dogs running at large and provided the opportunity to pay the waiver fee. He also provided you with copies oflast year's correspondences and the Bristol Dog Ordinance. To date, the dogs remain unregistered and the citations have not been paid. The complaint regarding neglect remains under investigation. An appointment can be made to register the dogs and pay the citations by calling the Town Office at 453-2410 ext. 5.
Travis Manning September 9, 2020 Page 2 of2
In accordance with Section 125-9 of the Ordinance, however, the Selectboard will conduct a hearing on Monday, September 14, 2020, at approximately 7:30pm. Due to the pandemic, the meeting will be held via Zoom. You are encouraged to be present or provide information in advance to represent you.
To join the Zoom meeting: Meeting ID: 851 6511 9934 Passcode: 573489 Join meeting by phone: 1 (646) 558-8656
Please contact me at 453-2410 ext. 1 or [email protected] if you have any questions.
Si-~ _
-1~~ Valerie Capels Town Administrator
C: Cale Pelland, Dog Warden Sharon Lucia, Town Clerk Bruce Nason, Police Chief Complaintants Selectboard
BRISTOL \' F. R M O"f. ~ T
June 13, 2019
Travis Manning 91 Vincent Drive Bristol, VT 05443
** CERTIFIED MAIL**
Subject: Selectboard Public Hearing Order
Dear Mr. Manning:
Town of Bristol Town Administrator
1 South Street P.O. Box 249
Bristol, VT 05443 (802) 453-2410 ext. 22
[email protected] www.bristolvt.org
The Selectboard conducted a hearing at their meeting on June 10, 2019 in response to the written complaint received alleging numerous accounts that your dogs were running at large and exhibiting threatening or threatening behavior. There is also no record of any dogs registered to you or at your address. No one was present to represent you and we received no response to the June 4, 2019 letter sent by certified mail.
The Selectboard ordered that your dogs be registered immediately at the Town Clerk's Office and no later than the week of June 17, 2019. Section 125-3 of the Bristol Dog Ordinance specifically states: "A person who is the owner of a dog more than six months old shall annually on or before April 1 cause the dog to be licensed as required by 20 V.S.A. § 3581-3582. The failure of a dog owner to comply with that statute, shall constitute a violation of this ordinance and violation of 20 V.S.A. § 3550 (a), authorizing a municipality to impose a civil penalty ofup to $500 per violation." This would apply to each dog.
The Selectboard also ordered that your dogs be confined to your premises (when not otherwise under your control elsewhere), whether by leads, fencing, or some other effective means. Failure to do so may result in the dogs being impounded. This matter will be revisited at the June 24, 2019 Selectboard meeting to determine if any additional action is required.
Please contact me at 453-2410 or townadmin(c1),bristolvt.org if you have any questions.
s~~
'
Ii l ,A .. 11.,,.4/ l/4{_
Va rie Capels Town Administrator
C: Cale Pelland, Dog Warden Jen Myers, Town Clerk Sharon Lucia, Assistant Clerk Bruce Nason, Police Chief Selectboard
June 4, 2019 ** CERTIFIED MAIL **
Travis Manning
91 Vincent Drive
Bristol, VT 05443
Subject: Complaints of Dog Ordinance violations
Dear Mr. Manning:
We received a complaint from a neighbor detailing numerous accounts in April, May, and June
of this year in which your dogs were reported to be running at large onto their property and
exhibiting aggressive or threatening behavior. Section 125-5 of the Bristol Dog Ordinance (copy
enclosed) specifies that dogs running at large is a violation of the Ordinance. Section 125-2 of
the Ordinance defines a viscous dog as one that “… causes reasonable fear of bodily injury by
attacking or threatening to attack any domestic animal or any person …” Running at large and
the behavior of a viscous dog are defined as nuisances, which are prohibited in Section 125-4 of
the Ordinance. Both of these allegations are a serious concern. You are strongly advised to
take immediate measures to secure your dogs.
In addition, no dogs are currently registered under your name or at that address, which is in
violation of Section 125-3 of the Ordinance. Failure to register the dogs will result in
enforcement in accordance with Section 125-15 of the Ordinance.
Section 125-9 of the Ordinance requires that the Selectboard conduct a hearing within seven days
of the complaint being filed. The public hearing has been scheduled for Monday, June 10,
2019. 7:00pm, at Holley Hall, 1 South Street. You are encouraged to be present or provide
information in advance to represent you.
Please contact me at 453-2410 or [email protected] if you have any questions.
Sincerely,
Valerie Capels
Town Administrator
Town of Bristol
Town Administrator
1 South Street
P.O. Box 249
Bristol, VT 05443
(802) 453-2410 ext. 22
www.bristolvt.org
Travis Manning
June 4, 2019
Page 2 of 2
Enc.
C: Cale Pelland, Dog Warden
Jen Myers, Town Clerk
Sharon Lucia, Assistant Clerk
Bruce Nason, Police Chief
Selectboard
Top Related