Dawson council addresses concerns over family pig
DAWSON – Borough Council Monday discovered that the potbelly pig living in the borough is not a pet but a farm animal. Councilwoman Phyllis Newill told council that the pig and its owners have crossed the line.
“The pig needs to go,” said Newill. “I don’t know why the code enforcement officer thought that it was a pet potbelly pig. It is not a pet. It’s a farm animal and it’s stinking up the neighborhood in addition to burring holes in my yard.”
The pig problem surfaced in March when resident Vicki West asked council to have the animal removed from Clifford and Brenda Stoner’s home. West said although the pig was mostly kept in the house during the winter months, she was afraid that now that the weather was getting nicer, the Stoner’s would begin to allow the pig outside to graze in the back yard.
According to Mayor Barbara Wilhelm, code enforcement officer Joseph Adams checked into the matter and said as long as the pig was not becoming a “nuisance” and the Stoners were cleaning up after the animal it could remain because it was classified as a pet because it was a potbelly pig.
Wilhelm said this month that the Stoner’s were cited for not cleaning up after the pig and Newill said she wants the pig removed under the borough’s nuisance ordinance.
Councilwoman Claudia Hiles suggested that council sit down and look at their ordinances so they know what they have and what they don’t have.
Newill asked Wilhelm to have Adams check out the pig situation again and to report back to council.
In a related matter, council agreed that Adams should be at monthly council meetings and made a motion that would give him $20 a month to meet with council.
Councilman Dennis Carter made a motion to have Adams appear at council meetings with a monthly report in hand. He also asked council to raise his monthly salary from $100 a month to $120 a month to make up for the difference in hours.
Council unanimously agreed to the motion and Wilhelm said that Adams has been reporting to her on a monthly basis.
Carter said, “If he (Adams) doesn’t agree to meet with us on a monthly basis and let us know what’s going on in the borough, then we need to find someone who will.”
Councilwoman Donna Martin said that she had several complaints about residents in the borough raising pit bull terriers. She said there is a requirement under borough code concerning “dangerous” dogs, but as long as the owners keep the animals properly penned up and have insurance to take care of potential medical bills they are allowed to keep the animals.
“There are about six dogs listed under the code that are classified as dangerous,” said Martin. “As far as I can see, as long as they have insurance and keep them penned up they are allowed to raise them.”
Martin said when pit bulls are raised in a loving and caring environment they are good pets. She also said if they are mistreated they can become angry and attack children and adults.
In other matters, council:
– Agreed to apply for a streets grant.
– Agreed to have a decorative clock placed on the corner of Laughlin and River Road.
– Agreed to check into the possibility of placing a bench and some kind of an alcove on Galley and Railroad streets so that school children would be out of the weather elements. Council has to get permission from the landowner before the project can move forward.
– Agreed to purchase at least five new decorative lights with a $5,000 grant. Council also agreed to use $1,500 from the grant for instillation of the lights.
– Agreed to call PennDOT about holes on the Dawson Bridge. Newill said if motorists travel over 5 miles per hour they could blow a tire on the bridge.