Derby aldermen voted Thursday to ban dogs and other animals from the Greenway along the Naugatuck River.
The vote was 8 – 1, with Arthur Gerckens the only dissenting member. He said being able to walk a dog on the Greenway is a “quality of life issue” for residents.
The ordinance passed Thursday directs Derby police to cite with a $75 ticket — “or any other fine as allowed by law” — anyone who takes “domestic or exotic animals” onto the Greenway.
It excludes service animals for disabled people.
The aldermen voted after a half-hour public hearing on the proposed ban drew comments from a dozen people.
Seven of those who spoke took clear positions one way or the other on the ban: four were for it and three were against.
After the hearing several aldermen noted they couldn’t believe how much time they’ve spent since the Greenway opened six years ago talking about whether or not to ban dogs from the site.
“We’ve got so many problems and things we need to address in this city, and for hours and hours we’ve talked about dog poop,” said Ron Sill, the board’s president.
“We waste too much time … on dog poop,” said Beverly Moran. “Nobody has called me to say do not ban these dogs, and I bet I know 90 percent of the people in town.”
Jay Benanto said he’s heard from plenty of residents.
“Overwhelmingly people have come up to me and asked me to ban the dogs,” he said.
Aldermen Ken Hughes said poop was “only a small part of the problem.” He said he’s gotten complaints from people about dogs not being leashed, dogs with leashes that are too long, and other concerns.
“The concentration has been on the feces on the Greenway but i think it goes much deeper than that,” he said.
Mayor Anthony Staffieri said the ordinance passed Thursday would be easier for police to enforce than laws punishing people who don’t pick up dog droppings.
“It’ll be easier to spot somebody walking a dog rather than trying to catch them in the act” of letting a dog poop without picking it up, he said.
The mayor also said he’s having fruitful discussions with Ansonia Mayor James Della Volpe regarding an intercity dog park. Right now O’Sullivan’s Island — a meadow where the Naugatuck and Housatonic rivers meet in Derby — is the leading possible location.
That idea is currently being reviewed by a subcommittee of the Board of Aldermen.
Alderman Carmen DiCenso said having a public spot for residents to take their dogs is all the more important with the ban.
“If we go ahead and we pass this resolution, I’m going to make sure this committee works diligently on getting the park open,” he said.
