Sherman R. Frederick
Marinscope
There was one public comment at the last Corte Madera Town Council meeting (Sept. 21) and it involved how the community enforces off leash laws for dogs.
A citizen identified as Brenda called to say code enforcers for off-leash laws were cursing at residents and video taping them for having their dogs off leash.
“Older women are afraid. I do realize there are leash laws, but it’s becoming confrontational … and not very neighborly.”
Town Manager Todd Cusimano stepped in during the public comment period and asked Brenda if she was sure that this was a town code enforcer causing the problem or a resident.
“I just want to be clear on that,” Cusimano said.
Brenda said that it was a resident that was cursing at people and video taping them. But then he calls a code enforcer and they come out and do the surly neighbor’s bidding.
This issue dovetailed into a policy decision later in the meeting in which the Council unanimously discussed a policy that allows the Town’s two code-enforcers to wear body cams when they are on the job.
City Manager Cusimono told the council that this is a “best practice” that not only will “protect all involved” but also help the city with training. He mentioned the earlier conversation with Brenda and said “dogs off leash is a big issue right now.”
City staffer Mike Morarity told the council that “we live in a world where transparency and accountability are everything.” While code-enforcement body cams are not the norm in California, and Corte Madera would be an early adopter of the tactic, Cusimono recommended it.
The Town Council approved it unanimously.
(You can reach the writer at shermfrederick@gmail.com.)
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