The Board of Aldermen of the City of Somerville approved a fenced-in area for off-leash recreation in Nunziato Field by unanimous vote (11-0), Tuesday evening, November 22.

At the meeting, the Board heard a report from the joint meeting of the Committee on Legislative Matters and the Committee on Public Utilities and Public Works recommending the approval of the off-leash recreational area. Nine members of the general public attended the meeting to hear the Board's discussion and vote on Committee Report.

No tax-payer dollars are being used to fund the construction of the off-leash recreational area. In response to a quetion from Alderman at Large Dennis Sullivan, Carlene Campbell recalled that earlier this year the Board approved the establishment of Somerville Unleashed, a Revolving Fund to which the City can receive donations for off-leash recreational areas. Campbell works in the Office of Strategic Planning and Community Development as Community Relations Manager and serves as the City's liaison to the Dog Owners Task Force.

Alderman Sullivan took this opportunity to speak about the Paws for Parks Fundraiser at Tir na nÓg on Saturday afternoon, November 19. The Somerville Dog Owners Group co-sponsored the fundraiser to benefit Somerville Unleashed. Sullivan said that the fundraiser was a lot of fun and that he was among several elected representatives who attended the Fundraiser and got to be a judge in the dog contests.

Ward Four Alderman Walter Pero asked Campbell to discuss the timeline for the project. Campbell stated that, after the remaining $4500 is raised to cover the construction costs, the City's fencing contractor can order the special, heavy-guage vinyl-coated chainlink fence. It will take three weeks for the fencing to be available after it is ordered. If the remainder of the funding is raised over the winter, construction can begin after the ground thaws in April or May, 2006.