The owner of three American bulldogs that attacked his daughter-in-law and grandson on Saturday, June 13 made the decision last week to euthanize the dogs. The attack that injured Yuliya Bilzerian and her 18-month-old son was on the agenda for a public hearing before Tisbury selectmen Tuesday.
Owner Kenneth Bilzerian surrendered the animals to Tisbury Animal Control Officer Laurie Clements, who arranged to have them euthanized.
“I think he finally just came to his decision,” Ms. Clements told The Times Tuesday. “It wasn’t really up to anybody else, and he finally came to terms with it and made the decision. He called me up yesterday morning and asked me to come get them and take the dogs to be euthanized.”
The attack occurred on the property where Ms. Bilzerian lived off State Road in Tisbury. Ms. Bilzerian, 28, who is pregnant, was airlifted to Boston as a precautionary measure to receive treatment for a puncture wound to the head and neck. Her young son was treated in the Martha’s Vineyard Hospital emergency room for a significant bite wound to his leg.
At the start of the public hearing Tuesday, Town Administrator John Grande announced the dogs had been euthanized. The animal-complaint hearing was opened and closed within one minute. The board voted to take no action.
Just moments after the hearing was closed, neighbors filed in and expressed concerns that a fourth dog remains on the property.
“I sent all the selectmen a letter, and I am horrified at the treatment that I’ve had, and I wanted to be heard,” Jackie Willey of Vineyard Haven said. “I’m not happy that Laurie Clements left the dogs on the property. My dog was killed by these same dogs four years ago.”
Chairman Tristan Israel told the abutters that they should speak to Mr. Grande about their concerns.
“That issue is not on the agenda this evening,” he said. “I’m not belittling your concerns, but I’m saying that the issue before us tonight was a complaint regarding the three dogs involved in that incident. For these other issues, please come in and talk to us, and we will talk to you about them.”
Party guidelines
In other business Tuesday, Martha’s Vineyard Museum (MVM) Executive Director David Nathans appeared before the selectmen with an update on the rental terms for holding events on the Marine Hospital property overlooking Lagoon Pond.
The MVM purchased the property in 2011 as a new site for the museum, with an opening planned for 2018. Mr. Nathans said a number of people have expressed an interest in using the property for events such as a jazz music festival and weddings.
When Mr. Nathans originally went before selectmen on June 16 to propose holding events on the property, there were concerns about the number of events that might be held, music and volume during those events, and how late the events would run. There was concern that events on the property could be disruptive to neighbors. Selectmen advised Mr. Nathans to look at event guidelines for the spring building and Martha’s Vineyard Preservation Trust properties, both of which successfully hold events throughout the summer.
Tuesday, Mr. Nathans proposed holding a maximum of 12 events on the property from May through October. A maximum of eight events will be held in the next two months. MVM will limit itself to holding just one event per weekend. For music, Mr. Nathans proposed an “unplugged only” rule, meaning no music will be amplified over speakers. The museum will work with a limited number of bands that will adhere to volume guidelines. He suggested limiting all events to a 10 pm curfew.
Although Mr. Israel preferred a 9 pm curfew for the events, the selectmen approved the guidelines as proposed on a trial basis. Those guidelines will apply for 2015 and 2016.
Traffic control
Mr. Israel said he had received a complaint regarding traffic control measures at the intersection of Main Street and State Road in Vineyard Haven. He said the concern was that with three heavy lanes of traffic, it’s very difficult to see a pedestrian crossing. There was discussion over pedestrian safety as well as the potential for vehicle accidents at the intersection. Mr. Israel suggested one of the Tisbury Police summer officers patrol that end of Main Street more often. Tisbury Police Chief Daniel Hanavan, who attended the meeting, agreed and said that he had already addressed the issue with his new employees.
The removal of the tree on Beach Road that was requested by the Martha’s Vineyard Shipyard was also discussed by the board. Under the “shade tree bylaw,” certain trees that are within or bordering the public right-of-way are protected. Mr. Grande said that Glenn Mauk, the DPW director whose resignation is effective July 25, made a finding that the tree was not under that particular provision of the law, and so the removal did not require a posting or hearing before the selectmen. The tree was removed to make room for a utility pole. The selectmen expressed their concern that the tree was removed with no input from the town.
In a phone call on Wednesday, Mr. Grande said it’s something he needs to bring to the planning board’s attention.
“The question is, Do the planning board and others want to work on providing additional protection to trees that are within proximity to the right-of-way?” he said.
