From the "Greatest Hits" collection, my draft Pet Restriction By-Law, which our Condominium Association rejected — but narrowly — in October:
"23.1 Oversized Pets.
Notwithstanding the language of By-Law 23 ("Pets"), no Unit Owner shall keep any individual pet whose weight exceeds forty pounds. Pets found to violate the weight limit shall have their diets reduced by two thirds until the animal is deemed to be in compliance with this provision. Any single unit owner may call for a weigh-in of another unit owner's kept pet. The weigh-in shall occur at a time of mutual convenience to the parties, and on a scale inspected and approved by the Cambridge Department of Weights and Measures.
(b) An animal found to weigh in excess of thirty-five pounds (hereinafter "probation weight") shall be determined to be on probation, so requiring regular weekly weigh-ins as per the conditions heretofore specified, until the aforedescribed animal has achieved three consecutive weigh-ins below probation weight.
(c) Unit owners found to be in willful and persistent violation of this provision may be (1) subjected to the intervention and seizure of the offending animal by the Cambridge Department of Animal Control without prior notice, (2) assessed a fine no greater than $200 and no greater than $3500, payable to the Cambridge Riverside Condominium Trust ("Trust"), and/or (3) held jointly and severally liable for damage caused by the animal to real and personal properties owned in common by the Trust or individually by the unit owners. Damages specified under subsection (3) shall include, as appropriate, compensation for emotional distress."
I was particularly proud of the "Department of Weights and Measures" bit. Landowners simply do not take advantage of the many and various services offered by municipal agencies. I intend to stress this point heavily as part of my campaign's "Community Feel" theme. So Senator Lieberman thinks I lack what it takes to govern? He'll eat his words when he sees the condo-owner turnout in New Hampshire.
