Swampscott board delays dog vote

The Daily ItemSWAMPSCOTT – A proposal for a dog park presented by an ad hoc group of residents was not acted on by the Board of Selectmen at its meeting Tuesday evening.Farragut Road resident Marc Eichler, who spoke for the group that calls itself Swampscott Park for Off-leash Time (S.P.O.T.) said there appears to be a lot of support for a dog park in town and the group is looking at an area in Phillips Park near where Kids Cove used to be located.According to the proposal, the former Kids Cove is a suitable area for an off-leash park because it is centrally located and offers ample parking. Eichler said the area would require minimal preparation and the pre-existing fencing on one side would reduce costs associated with building the dog park, which is expected to cost approximately $26,000.In his proposal, Eichler pointed out dogs are social animals and he provided letters from veterinarians and animal trainers indicating canines need time off the leash to socialize with other dogs.Eichler added dog parks help build a sense of community and several area communities already have designated areas for dogs including Salem and Nahant.Town Administrator Andrew Maylor said because the area is currently recreational space the Board of Selectmen has the authority to approve a dog park because it would continue to be used as open space.Despite the comprehensive proposal Selectmen Adam Forman, Jill Sullivan and Eric Walker all expressed concerns that area residents have not had an adequate opportunity to express their opinions regarding the proposal.Selectmen Anthony Scibelli and Robert Mazow said they believed the issue had been publicized enough to allow any concerned residents to express their opinions.Ultimately the Board of Selectmen agreed to post the proposal on the town Web site and to put the issue on the agenda for the next Board of Selectmen meeting, which is scheduled on Oct. 7.