Conservation board tables Bowers Spring leash call

Conservation · Meeting of April 7, 2026

Bolton's Conservation Commission tabled a decision on requiring dog leashes at Bowers Spring Conservation Area for roughly three months after more than two hours of public comment. Conservation Agent Rebecca Bucciaglia presented two options: an explicit leash rule, or a DCR-style policy update paired with a yearlong monitoring period. Vice Chair James Geraghty reported observing 92 dogs and only five people without dogs across eleven visits, calling the site "a de facto dog park." Commissioners Su Mittra, Paal Brandvold and Chair Brian Berube said they leaned toward a leash requirement; Scott Geer favored more data.

Dozens of residents, including abutters who described dogs entering their yards, split sharply on the issue. The commission instead chose a three-month trial of public education and self-policing, with weekly violation logs posted at the Bowers kiosk and online, before revisiting the rules. The board separately approved, 5-0, an Order of Conditions for 92 Randall Road and authorized a Notice of Intent for a Taggart Conservation Land trail connection.

In the full story:

• The Full Story
• [00:31:14] — Rebecca Bucciaglia, Conservation Agent
• [00:50:26] — Vice Chair James Geraghty
• [02:27:51] — Chair Brian Berube
• Why It Matters
• Key Motions & Votes
• Source
• Bolton's community access TV: Conservation Commission meeting, April 7, 2026
• The complete report: 860 words

Source: the Conservation meeting of April 7, 2026, reported from the official video recording and transcript.

Checked against the record: before publication this article was automatically compared with the meeting transcript. It was corrected where it differed.