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Foxboro Dog Park foes take case to zoning board tonight
Top Headlines Donald Baker of Milton Lane and others are appealing Building Commissioner William Casbarra's decision not to take zoning enforcement action concerning the use of Cocasset River Park as a dog park. In a related matter, selectmen Tuesday put on hold a decision whether to pay attorney Sam Perkins for work on the dog park case that the town manager says he did not ask Perkins to do. In an Oct. 8 letter, Perkins detailed his reasons for asking the town to pay his firm $3,735 for work he did in the case after the town's insurance company notified the town that it would no longer cover the case, which is schedule for trial Nov. 12. Sandra Herrmann, secretary to Town Manager Andrew Gala, conveyed his position that the board should not pay, but that it may want to revisit its earlier decision to reject a private group's offer to pay Perkins - if that offer still stands. Selectmen met in closed session Tuesday night with the conservation commission to discuss the suit, in which the two boards are defendants.
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unbiasedobserver wrote on Oct 21, 2008 3:23 PM:
dogparkpatron wrote on Oct 21, 2008 10:51 AM:
cassidy29 wrote on Oct 20, 2008 9:39 PM:
unbiasedobserver wrote on Oct 20, 2008 3:30 PM:
the truth hurts wrote on Oct 20, 2008 2:40 PM:
cassidy29 wrote on Oct 20, 2008 9:54 AM:
unbiasedobserver wrote on Oct 20, 2008 9:39 AM:
cassidy29 wrote on Oct 20, 2008 9:35 AM:
kingston73 wrote on Oct 20, 2008 7:19 AM:
footballman wrote on Oct 19, 2008 9:33 PM:
kingston73 wrote on Oct 19, 2008 8:58 PM:
footballman wrote on Oct 19, 2008 7:36 PM:
KyraSkye wrote on Oct 19, 2008 2:06 PM:
You really are a JERK!
You are mean and spiteful and I am sure you hate yourself.
I hope that someday you grow up, and move out of mommy's house.
I never said I had to be liked by anyone- actually I prefer not to be- that keeps idiots away from me, and at the same time away from my dog. I don't force anyone to come near my dog, and we go to dog friendly places at the times I do take her out. Do you keep your children away from people or do you force them on people? I for one prefer not to be around children- I think they are great- in their place- but I do not want to be around them, or have friends bring them over. Yet I'll bet you and your friends tote them around with you everywhere you go.
Be responsible- get a babysitter- I get a dog sitter for my dog if I go out.
Keep your kids away from other adults!!! "
footballman wrote on Oct 19, 2008 12:22 PM:
footballman wrote on Oct 19, 2008 12:19 PM:
kingston73 wrote on Oct 18, 2008 6:21 PM:
cassidy29 wrote on Oct 18, 2008 6:13 PM:
KyraSkye wrote on Oct 18, 2008 9:09 AM:
They seem to be smarter than some people, and eat less- instead of gaining weight they turn it into energy.
I'm sorry you think my dog is a nuisance, but seeing as how she is working towards becoming a therapy dog- and who knows- maybe visiting some of your relatives in nursing homes, she is a valued member of society.
Person s who do not see the value and rewards of having a dog in the home- no in the back yard- have been known to live shorter lives- dogs relieve stress, and can even serve in the military, police, and some have even given their lives for their human counterparts- bet you don't like those dogs either- leave them in the yard- if they bark send them to the shelter...
Really sad- people don't know a good thing when they see it,and once it is gone, and something even more rambunctious is in it's place, they may wish they had something more controlled back.
I for one will be taking long daily walks in and around the park once Baker and his boys buy their way, along with friends dogs, and even my neighbors dogs. Maybe I will learn some new songs... "
KyraSkye wrote on Oct 18, 2008 9:02 AM:
When you write, you are representing all of the people on Milton Lane.
A dog 'pen' is about 15' long and about 4'ft wide, a dog run is about 10' long and about 3' wide- If 2 acres is a dog pen- with as you call it- then I don't think that many dogs would fit- although you may keep your dog outside in one- we don't.
To Dave:
I have not heard what happened at the zoning hearing. It was brought to be because the abutters were not getting their way in court- the nuisance that they claimed was happening- was not. So they decided push the issue with the zoning board. They wanted to know how the land was zoned, to see if the dog park was open in a zone that was not set for it.
As for control of dogs- When in an enclosed area, the owner does have full control over their dog(s)- She will listen to me. It is when there is no fencing around, and wide open space that Huskies will run, and not listen. They were raised and purified not to listen to a stupid commands- this would save countless numbers of lives and also help to save many more when they are actually working. "
dave wrote on Oct 18, 2008 6:34 AM:
dogparkpatron wrote on Oct 18, 2008 6:00 AM:
meldog3000 wrote on Oct 17, 2008 11:09 PM:
KyraSkye wrote on Oct 17, 2008 10:50 PM:
Fact: The only home that can be seen from the dog park year round is the Conlon's home. They knew that it was a dog park when they bought the home. At least they should have- as it was open and operating as one for at least 3 months prior to them closing on that house. The dogs that I hear barking in the morning at the park come from homes off of Milton Lane, or streets adjacent to it.
Everyone is acting on emotion here- myself included, and that gets us no where in our debates- I did not insult you meldog3000, and I don't know where you get off insulting me. But come what may- Karma sucks.
As for the noise at the park- sure the dogs bark occasionally, but I have heard more abutters dogs barking more often then I have dog park dogs. I think you all have some very frustrated and unexercised dogs. Why don't you bring you dog to the dog park and see how much fun they have there? "
dogparkpatron wrote on Oct 17, 2008 8:57 PM:
meldog3000 wrote on Oct 17, 2008 8:41 PM:
footballman wrote on Oct 17, 2008 8:07 PM:
footballman wrote on Oct 17, 2008 7:59 PM:
dogparkpatron wrote on Oct 17, 2008 5:39 PM:
Do you ever wonder, or perhaps you already know, what Baker plans on eventually developing on that property? "
mba wrote on Oct 17, 2008 5:29 PM:
mba wrote on Oct 17, 2008 5:23 PM:
KyraSkye wrote on Oct 17, 2008 5:15 PM:
KyraSkye wrote on Oct 17, 2008 5:12 PM:
But it is not just Baker, it is the Conlon's and their children, and the other few abutters and their children that are costing the town so much money...
Does it matter if I am a resident or not? Is it public land? Can't anyone use it? As long as they follow the rules? As for anonymous- What town do you live in?
I don't really care- but why are you trying to call anyone out? Is this not a public forum? Am I not allowed to care about issues in other towns? Or do I have to stick with the town I live in? Can't I care about the Sharon Dog Park- If I don't live there?
I don't care for Baker- he is a pompous donkey who thinks he can BUY anyone and anything he wants. He has not- and I doubt ever will- earned my respect. He has no respect, nor do the Conlons for the others in their community. They are spending the town money as if it is of account to them. Yet they still press on, and instead of working everything out with the founders and the town, they have chosen to sue- the American Pansy's way of life. "
footballman wrote on Oct 17, 2008 5:06 PM:
footballman wrote on Oct 17, 2008 5:03 PM:
kyraskye wrote on Oct 17, 2008 3:51 PM:
" Aren't there better, more important things to spend the town's money on than the dog park? "
Well the town's money was not being spent until the abutters decided that they wanted to throw their money around.
The park was funded 100% by donations. The park is self sustaining- no one billionth of a penny was spent by the town for that park until a few abutters decided they wanted that land for their own, or Baker decided that he would like to develop the land- So when they filed the lawsuit- instead of going through mediation- they began costing the town and taxpayers money....
The BOS has allowed this to continue by allowing and agreeing with the abutters- instead of allowing this to go to court months ago!!!!! This would have been done and over with- now your tax dollars that could be funding schools, roads etc. has been forced to be spent by a few NIMBY's-
So now tell me that the dog park is forcing the town to spend the tax payers dollars- and that the town fully, 100% pays for the dog park with tax dollars.... Bet you can't find any receipts that the town payed for anything at the park.... When anyone can do that they I will say that the town/BOS has provided support for the park. "
kyraskye wrote on Oct 17, 2008 3:43 PM:
Did no one tell them that it was a dog park? The park was already open on the day they closed on the property... Did their relator not tell them? Do they not have eyes? Did they not do their homework?
Why did Baker not keep the Conlon's home for his own?
This land is not an extention of their back yard, it is not theirs to do with as they please-
I am with DogParkPatron- Milton lane is a public road- I think I and my dog would like to explore that land- see the roads and homes- I m sure they are beautiful- but I think I want to see for myself the homes of the people who think they are above the laws and others in their community. "
dogparklover wrote on Oct 17, 2008 3:38 PM:
I assure you - if they close the dog park and this area is used for another form of passive recreation - the residents on Milton Lane will start crying about that too. They want that land empty and at their disposal.
They need to be stopped and they need to be stopped NOW! "
dogparkpatron wrote on Oct 17, 2008 12:40 PM:
mba wrote on Oct 17, 2008 12:26 PM:
mba wrote on Oct 17, 2008 12:21 PM:
unbiasedobserver wrote on Oct 17, 2008 11:34 AM:
the truth hurts wrote on Oct 17, 2008 10:47 AM:
mmarcia wrote on Oct 17, 2008 10:24 AM:
brwmstr wrote on Oct 17, 2008 8:21 AM:
dogparkpatron wrote on Oct 17, 2008 5:31 AM:
mba wrote on Oct 16, 2008 9:48 PM:
dogparkpatron wrote on Oct 16, 2008 4:50 PM:
He is no better than those stooges on the stage! "
the truth hurts wrote on Oct 16, 2008 4:28 PM:
KyraSkye wrote on Oct 16, 2008 1:43 PM:
Are we really going to bow down, and get walked all over because 3 people are not happy that they can not extend their property to include protected land?
Did we really elect weak people to the BOS? I too would like to see someone do an extensive look into the politics in this town- and have mentioned it to a politics teacher at a university. They mentioned that that was on the agenda for this semester- who knows maybe a thesis student will do the research and blow some things out of the water.
So again DPP I apologize for disagreeing with you- I see now that he is being bought too. "
robbiej wrote on Oct 16, 2008 9:41 AM:
The Conservation Land is NOT BAKER'S PRIVATE BACKYARD, no matter how much money he wishes to throw at Valenzola or threaten this town.
A few questions:
Are ALL the Plaintiffs/Complainants equally footing Valenzola's bills, or mainly Baker?
What/where is Baker's next target? I mean, really, who believes he'll stop at this issue?
Why in the world won't any town officials tell them the simple truth, that Baker does NOT own or run this town?
What does Baker 'have' on the BOS that they are so in his pocket???? What promises has he made to them on the sly?
Somebody ought to contact The Boston Globe and have them do one of their investigative pieces on this... maybe even the TV news... "
brwmstr wrote on Oct 16, 2008 9:39 AM:
The BOS, in their infinate wisodom, has decided to not pay Mr.Perkins and instead go with the new town counsel for the towns defence, throwing away $7500 dollars and countless monies spent by the insurance carrier. The new town counsel will have to spend thousands of dollars "getting up to speed" on the issue. How was this a sound finacial decision? The BOS will somehow blame the ConCom and the dog park founders for this waste of money but it was their decision to change attornies!! Mr. Perkins is on record as stating the trial would cost between $10,000 and $15,000 to complete and he would accept donated funds as payment. Now we have a situation where this is going to cost the town tens of thousands
of dollars and it is all because of the BOS switching attornies, but somehow this will be the conservation committees fault. ithink the BOS should bite the bullet and back to Mr. Perkins "with hat in hand" and beg him to finish the case, thus saving the town $20,000 to $30,000. "
unbiasedobserver wrote on Oct 16, 2008 9:04 AM:
the truth hurts wrote on Oct 16, 2008 8:49 AM:
the truth hurts wrote on Oct 16, 2008 8:36 AM:
The plaintiffs have been trying to portray themselves as the victim in all this. Claiming the town "forced them" into this lawsuit. If they cared anything about the town they never would have dropped the nuisence portion of their lawsuit which intern ended the insurance carriers coverage of the towns legal expenses. This manuever was made for one purpose, to siphon money out of the town that could be spent in other more important ways. Why would 17 residents that "care" about the town do that? "
KyraSkye wrote on Oct 16, 2008 8:17 AM:
No doubt he probably is a tool of the 3 stooges, but he is also doing the job he is payed for in this case.
On the other hand- Baker and his cronies are continuing to spend the taxpayers money. I do not know why more residents of Foxboro do not see this!!!!
Why is it now okay to take the donated money from this 'special interest' group?the board refused to let them help- but now it's okay?
I don't object to it- but I think some people are being wishy washy and are having their strings pulled. Of course Perkins should get paid- but I think the injits should be footing this bill.
This never had to go this far. Money could have been saved- if they had listened to the boards before the homes were built- SHAME ON BAKER AND THE RESIDENTS OF MILTON LANE - they are wasting everyones money- money that could have built a berm 6 months ago!!! "
dogparkpatron wrote on Oct 16, 2008 7:47 AM:
This one man and his 'minions' are responsible for costing this town a lot of time and money, money the town supposedly doesn't have. The new town counsel, selected purely because of his opinion that Andy Gala can shut down the dog park, must be working tons of overtime in order to see that Baker is taken care of. Shame on them. "