They gave ‘em bags. They gave ‘em trash cans. They threatened ‘em with fines. They spread the word through the press.
Yet people are still letting their dogs crap all over the Greenway!
The issue that never seems to go away arose again at Thursday night’s Aldermen meeting, where public works foreman Mike Piscionieri spoke on behalf of city public works director Ron Culmo.
Piscioneiri said DPW employees have been going to the Greenway and the Derby Green itself to collect mounds of dog poop.
He indicated it’s a waste of city resources, especially since the DPW is still busy cleaning up snow from this hellish winter.
“People just don’t care,” Piscionieri told the Valley Indy after the meeting.
Ken Hughes, president of the Board of Aldermen, said it’s time, once again, to consider banning dogs from the Greenway.
“I know the board doesn’t like this issue, but it’s going to come to the point where we have to ban dogs. How many times are we going to re-address this same issue? We’re not making this up. It’s an obvious issue,” Hughes said.
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Hughes suggested the Aldermen monitor the issue for a month. If it doesn’t improve, he’ll suggest a ban at the March Aldermen meeting.
The Derby Greenway — a walkway that stretches from the Commodore Hull Bridge to BJ’s on Division Street — is a popular exercise spot. However, every so often the poop gets out of hand. The Aldermen previously instituted a six month ban on dogs. It was lifted once the situation improved.
Unleashed dogs and dogs jumping on pedestrians have also generated complaints.
“I went and checked it out — it’s disgusting,” Mayor Anthony Staffieri said.
Things have been OK on the Greenway since the Valley Indy launched in June 2009 — but something’s gone wrong lately, Derby politicos said.
“If people are going to come out to complain about a possible ban, I suggest those same people spend some time cleaning up the feces on the walkway. Not only do we hear the issue from DPW, I hear it weekly from residents,” Hughes said.
