RAYMOND — The entire town will get a say in a dispute between two neighbors about noisy roosters.
The Board of Selectmen decided Tuesday to ask voters at a referendum June 12 whether to replace the town’s barking-dog ordinance with a new law that applies to all animals.
The proposal arose from an argument between two residents of Ledge Hill Road.
Julie Sutherland says she has a right to keep her 16 roosters, which she rescued from a farm store in June. Wayne Gelston, who lives across the street, says their noise has ruined his quality of life.
In the fall, he brought the issue to town officials, who drew up an ordinance that would enable the town to fine the owners of noisy animals.
Although the vote Tuesday was split 3-2, with Selectmen Charles Leavitt and Michael Reynolds opposed, all five of the board members said they didn’t want to adopt a new law to resolve a spat between neighbors.
They decided to leave it up to voters.
“I am very much against cranking up a new ordinance for this,” said board member Samuel Gifford. But, he added, “I don’t want to be the one to shoot this down.”
Leavitt said he doesn’t believe that adopting the ordinance will end the rooster dispute, which could be resolved between the neighbors in court.
With the ordinance, he said, the town might find itself in court, having to defend the law. “I just see this … as a mistake,” he said.
Also Tuesday, the board heard presentations from Joanne Alfiero and Rhonda Keene, each of whom submitted proposals to manage Raymond Beach this summer.
A third applicant, Kevin McAllister, was not at the meeting.
The board plans to decide May 8 who the manger will be. This summer will be the second year the town leases the beach on Route 302 to a private manager.
Staff Writer Leslie Bridgers can be contacted at: 791-6364 or at lbridgers@pressherald.com
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