Committee for Animal Control Mtg called to order 10:04 am 11/15/25
Comm members present: Sue, Chris, Jennie & Kim
Also Edee Edwards & Kyle, ACO and Andrea virtually
Discussion of SB meeting
Feedback from community is that the proposed ordinance has dense wording
Discussion of adding a fifth committee member, recruiting from the town
Potential for community discussion prior to writing a new draft ordinance
Importance of understanding the history of the previous dog ordinance in Halifax; what worked, what didn’t, why did it fail?
Ordinance going forward to address potentially vicious dog only though there is some feeling that an ordinance should also address running at large
Discussion of calling/utilizing ACO vs. Windham County Sheriff
VT State Law addresses vicious dogs, not potentially vicious dogs and can only address a dog biting a human, not a dog biting a domestic pet
ACO vs. humane investigators who can investigate cases of potential abuse/neglect
ACO training is inconsistent
ACO liability coverage
ACO 1 vs. ACO 2
Using the VLCT model – Sue to distill down to potentially vicious dogs
Fines not to exceed $800 in order to stay in the lower courts
Comm concerns about cost seem to be with enforcement of any ordinance
Comm members also seem to be concerned about neighbors using the ordinance against each other
Edee to post committee vacancy
Kyle started new FB page – Halifax, VT animal control about lost animal – NOT for complaints
Deep dive into relevant VT state law concerning vicious dogs, Chris to compile existing state law with regard to any relevant dog laws
Edee showed surrounding town ordinance data
Sept 14 mtg minutes has survey results
Next mtg Tuesday, 11/25 at 6 pm
ACO involvement in the committee vs. attending meetings
