It was standing room only at the Dolores Town Board meeting on Monday night. Most of the residents attending came for a public hearing concerning a proposed leash law for dogs. The council decided to table the leash law until the concerns of residents were who opposed it are researched and addressed.

Seven residents spoke against the amended ordinance, and one spoke in support. Dolores resident Linda Robinson read a letter written by resident Marianne Mate with an attached petition signed by 25 citizens who opposed the law. "We all agree that dogs should not be running at large and that pet owners should be responsible for their pets. We encourage you to leave the law as it is now and give it at least six more months to see if the increase of fines and having an animal control officer on staff are taking care of the problem," the letter explained.

The letter also asked the board to exclude Joe Rowell Park and Riverside Park from the leash law and the use of the existing law at these parks.

The law would amend the current "Running at Large" ordinance, which classifies dogs at large as those not under the direct control of such owner by a leash, cord, chain, voice, or other command, to read, "A dog shall be deemed to be ‘running at large’ when it is off or away from the premises of its owner or is not under the direct control of such owner by a leash, cord or chain of no more than fifteen (15) feet in length. A dog shall be deemed to be running at large even in the presence of its owner if it is not restrained by proper leash as described herein."

The current rate structure would stay in place, however. For dog owners with dogs caught at large and without a town license the first fine is $30, plus tax and court costs. The fines increase for each subsequent citation, but depending on the judge’s discretion dog owners can be fined up to $300 and sentenced to 90 days in jail.

Ron Johnson said he supports the enactment of the leash law because he hasn’t seen any changes since Gary Hansen, the Dolores animal-control officer, was hired in November and fines were increased. "In my area there’s just as many dogs running loose as there ever was," said Johnson. "It doesn’t seem the increased fines have made much of an effect."

Robert Meier had concerns that citizens were being "targeted" arbitrarily by town officials. He and his wife recently pleaded not guilty to a dog-at-large citation. "My concern is whether the leash law can be enforced legally and professionally," said Meier.

Although Hansen was not at the meeting to take questions, residents asked the board to research whether increasing fines and hiring an animal-control officer has adequately addressed the problem.

The town council conducted a survey last October. Of the 116 questionnaires returned, 62 percent of residents said they would like to "see a leash law in Dolores."

In other council business:

• Council member Val Truelson asked the council to consider re-interpreting the business-license law to include home-based businesses in Dolores. Currently, businesses are required to purchase a license only if they collect a sales tax for retail sales within Dolores. It also includes such sundry businesses as caberets, circuses, dance halls, and mobile-home parks. Truelson suggested that even private contractors who live in Dolores and conduct business out of their homes should be required to purchase a business license.

• The council held a public hearing on renewing the liquor license for the Naked Moose Restaurant. Two residents who live on South Second Street complained of loud music at night and problems with parking on the street during the restaurant’s busiest hours.

Council member Tim Webster, who owns the Naked Moose Restaurant, recused himself from the vote but did not excuse himself from the room during the citizens’ comments, and addressed the board as a "private citizen" from the audience podium. He said that the loud music they were referring to was on Sunday evenings in the summer, but they always quit by 10 p.m., and the parking problem occurred during Escalante Days when there is a street dance at the Naked Moose. After the council approved the license, Jim Hatter, the town’s attorney, advised the council that legally a public hearing does not have to be held on liquor-license renewals. Although a motion was not made, the board agreed to not hold public hearings on liquor-license renewals in the future.

• Members of the Dolores Town Library Board addressed the council to ask for a timeline on when the council planned to find a new building for the town staff. The library is not funded by the town although the town rents space to the library for a $1 a year and helps pay some of the utility costs.

"We need space; the town needs space, but nobody has any money," said Carole Arnold, library director.

The town staff and the Dolores Library currently share a building. The town council has discussed with the Forest Service swapping part of the industrial park in exchange for moving into the Forest Service headquarters. Council member Truelson told the library-board members that they could save $500,000 if the deal went through, and council member Taz Vass speculated this could happen within "a year."