The Somerville Dog Owners Group (som|dog) encourages residents who own dogs to attend the public hearing for the City's Budget for the 2009 fiscal year (July 2009 - June 2010). The Public Hearing will be held at City Hall in the Aldermanic Chambers at 93 Highland Avenue, Monday evening, June 23, at 6:30.

This is an excellent opportunity for residents to address our concerns about the livability of our City to the Mayor and the Aldermen.

In recent years, there have been only two budget items directly regarding dog ownership in the City:

• the City Clerk's proposed revenue from dog license and dog kennel fees and


• the line item in the Police Department salaries for the Animal Control Officer

In the 2009 Fiscal Year Budget, no fewer than five departments address matters of dog ownership including:

• City Clerk (dog licenses, dog-license database, and dog-kennel licenses)


• Executive Administration (soliciting public feedback on policies regarding off-leash dogs; facilitate problem-solving meetings on dog issues in Lincoln Park)


• Office of Strategic Planning and Community Development (off-leash recreational areas)


• Department of Public Works (maintenance of the off-leash recreational area and parks that allow dogs)


• Police Department (Animal Control)

The Proposed Fiscal Year 2009 Municipal Budget can be downloaded from the City Of Somerville's website.