Charlton Select Board Orders Self-Closing Gates After Dog's Repeated Attacks on Neighbors

CHARLTON — May 27, 2025 — Charlton Select Board orders fence upgrades after dog's second attack on neighbors. The board held a formal dangerous dog hearing Tuesday under Massachusetts General Law Chapter 140 Section 157 for Gia, a dog owned by Maureen McGinty of 185 Berry Corner Road, after the animal escaped through a landscaper-left gate on May 13 and attacked a neighbor's dog, Penny, in a second unprovoked incident since 2023. Animal Control Officer Emily Sears documented four bite or quarantine events since March 2023. The board voted unanimously to require McGinty to install self-closing gate mechanisms and continued the hearing for three months pending compliance, with board member Pete Lancette noting McGinty "may be the first to ever come here and show genuine remorse and concern." In other action, the board approved Garrett LaFrance and Marco Tibbury as full Zoning Board of Appeals members, renewed a five-year regional stormwater coalition agreement at up to $4,000 per year for Charlton, awarded three Department of Public Works road materials bids, and voted conditionally to create a public online dashboard tracking board member attendance — contingent on Town Counsel review. Town Administrator Andrew Gawas reported that Charlton received a $73,915 Community Compact Municipal Fiber Program grant to extend the municipal network to the new fire substation site on Oxford Road, where blasting for ledge removal was set to begin within days.