Fed up with feces, the Board of Aldermen voted 5 – 2 Thursday to ban dogs on the Derby Green on Elizabeth Street — at least for now.
Dog poop on the Derby Green — and the Derby Greenway — is a common problem. However, the ban is only on the Derby Green on Elizabeth Street, not the Derby Greenway, also known as the river walk.
Mayor Anthony Staffieri said the vote came about because of a “terrible update” from the Department of Public Works on what’s been happening at the Green.
“There’s poop all over the place and people are not making any attempt to clean up after their dogs. The Aldermen are fed up about it,” Staffieri said.
Thursday’s vote was put forth by Alderman James Benanto, Jr.
Aldermanic President Ken Hughes put a “friendly amendment” on the motion, to make it a temporary ban.
In other words, it could last six months, or longer, Hughes said. It is “pending further notice,” he said.
A six month ban occurred on the Greenway along the Housy and Naugy rivers once, but there has never been a ban on the Elizabeth Street green, Hughes said.
Not everyone was in favor of it though. Alderman Barbara DeGennaro said after the meeting elected officials rushed to judgment.
“There was not enough time to discuss it,” DeGennaro said after the meeting at City Hall.
Joe Bomba also voted against the temporary ban.
