By Justin Hogan
The Leeds City Council met to discuss a number of issues at a work session on November 5, 2009, 6:45 p.m. at the Leeds Civic Center. Present for the meeting was Mayor Eric Patterson and Councilors Ross Bartee, Susan Carswell, Charlotte Earnest and Johnny Kile.
Perhaps the most controversial discussion related to regulating “vicious dogs.” Patterson presented the Council with a legal opinion from the city’s lawyers regarding the issue and asked them to think it over. According to the report, regulating vicious dogs was more constitutional than banning them outright. Some of the options suggested included requiring the owner of a vicious dog to register with the City and carry liability insurance. Carswell voiced opposition to the idea, saying that dogs can’t be labeled vicious unless they’ve actually attacked someone.
Less controversial was the City’s Master Plan. Richard Amore with the Regional Planning Commission is helping the City to draft their required Master Plan. Amore compiled statistics, geographical information, and other “encyclopedia” information for the first of several reports. The next step would be to involve the public. Amore said at least two town hall style meetings would be required to get the public’s input on what they want Leeds to be in 20 years. According to Amore, that’s what the Master Plan is: a guide to development for the next 20 years.
The Council also discussed a Cemetery Board. According to Patterson, the City couldn’t legally allow the Board to handle the Cemetery Fund finances, which had been one of the goals the Council set out with. They would have to settle for an advisory board. After talking it over, the Council all seemed to agree to a three person board, plus an ex officio member from the Council. That member will likely be Kile, who has had the most involvement in reviving the Board. The members will be appointed to four year terms.
After more than an hour of discussion, the Council adjourned the work session.
