Published: 10/23/2017 10:09:53 PM
WARWICK — A ban of the chemical pesticide known as Roundup was passed by a lively crowd of 75, along with five other measures at Warwick’s Special Town Meeting on Monday night.
The ban was the final measure of the night, passed with 30 yes votes and 19 no votes.
Several people in town government were pleased with the ban, which does not allow people to use glyphosate to kill weeds on any land within the town.
The people of Warwick made me very proud tonight,” Selectboard chairman Lawrence “Doc” Pruyne said. “They passed the warrant article banning glyphosate without discussion, and that was quite a surprise, but it shows that they understand the dangers of glyphosate and moved to cleanse our town of this much too common poison.”
Other measures approved were:
A ban on feeding Canada Geese at Moore’s Pond
Establishment of an environmental cleanup fund of $10,000 for tax lien properties
Raising $1,000 for disposal of trash dumping
Acquisition of real estate near Wendell Town Forest with the use of state funds
$47,000 for a final amount for the previously approved Fire Department brush and rescue truck.
The goose article was proposed in response to “allegations” that at least one resident had been feeding the geese, which had increased the population of geese around the lake.
“It has been alleged that a person feeds them and that’s why we have all the geese,” selectboard member Dawn Magi said, and added that this is a step toward reducing the goose population.
Though one member of the public had questions about how the order would be enforced, Town Coordinator David Young said that the bylaw banning feeding them is meant to be symbolic and send a message to those doing it.
“We hope to never collect a fine,” Young said. “This will be a demonstration that the community disapproves of this practice. Our desire is to send a message: Don’t feed the geese.”