Leaving dog droppings is civil penalty in Carrboro

The next time you don’t pick up after your dog unloads himself in Carrboro you might have a $25 fine coming your way.

After a humorous discussion among the Carrboro Board of Aldermen about whether or not to make it a criminal charge to not pick up a dog’s feces, the board decided to make it only a civil penalty.

“I think that there are some times and places where it is up to us to find out what social norms are appropriate,” Carrboro Mayor Mark Chilton said.

The aldermen discussed the need for them as town leaders to set moral and respectable standards for the citizens of Carrboro to abide by.

Alderman Lydia Lavelle said that she hoped that this civil penalty would be very self-regulated much like the no-littering law.

“Kind of like no littering, hopefully this will be somewhat of a deterrent,” she said.

Her thoughts were mirrored by Alderman Jacquie Gist, who said that she believed the police force had better things to do then try and enforce a law about dog feces.

“I just came out as anti-five-story, I don’t want to come out as pro-dog-poop,” she said, referring to the recently passed development at 300 E. Main St.

“But I don’t want to make a law that isn’t enforceable.”

Alderman Randee Haven-O’Donnell said she would like to revisit this topic at a later date to discuss the issue with people picking up after their cats.

In anticipation of the night’s presidential debate, Chilton said at the start of the meeting that he and the board would like the meeting to be finished before the debate at 9 p.m.

With that in mind the alderman passed all three non-consent items on the agenda with minimal discussion.

Disc golf course update

The board also received an update on the Carrboro Parks Project’s fundraising initiative for a new disc golf course at Hank Anderson Community Park.

The board approved the project in March.

After a brief presentation from Katie Allman, a representative of the Carrboro Parks Project, board members said they were impressed by the efficiency of the fundraising.

So far the Carrboro Parks Project has raised $4,000 of the needed $8,500 for the course, thanks in part to a sizable donation from Zach Ward on behalf of Dirty South Improv Comedy Theater.

“I personally want to recognize DSI for their contribution, which is no laughing matter,” Alderman John Herrera said.

The Carrboro Parks Project is holding a fundraiser to start raising the rest of the needed $4,500 on Nov. 2 from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. at the UNC disc golf course.



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