Finance Committee backs animal control bylaw, splits on field study
Natick Finance Committee unanimously approves animal control bylaw, splits on field study report. The committee voted 12-0 to recommend favorable action on Article 14, amending Town Bylaw Article 50, Section 16 to align animal control regulations with Massachusetts law, with Chief Hicks of the
Finance Committee · Meeting of April 7, 2026
Natick Finance Committee unanimously approves animal control bylaw, splits on field study report. The committee voted 12-0 to recommend favorable action on Article 14, amending Town Bylaw Article 50, Section 16 to align animal control regulations with Massachusetts law, with Chief Hicks of the Natick Police Department presenting the article as revised by Town Counsel. On Article 17, the committee voted 7-3-2 without recommendation on whether to advise Town Meeting to hear an interim report from the Turf Field Study Group, with member David Coffey expressing reluctance to recommend a "report that does not exist" and Chair Todd Gillenwater contending that Finance should not prevent Town Meeting from hearing from town bodies.
In the full story:
- The complete report — 313 words
Source: the Finance Committee meeting of April 7, 2026, compiled from the official minutes.
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