Last modified: Wednesday, July 9, 2008 8:57 AM EDT Foxboro hopes to sniff out new dog park site BY FRANK MORTIMER SUN CHRONICLE STAFF FOXBORO - Joining a conservation commission effort to heal a dog park dispute that has divided the town for more than a year, selectmen voted unanimously Tuesday night to support a commission proposal allowing the town to search out a new location for the park over the next two weeks. As part of the agreement separately endorsed by both boards, if a new site for the dog park can be found during that short window, the Aug. 6 trial filed by plaintiffs in Boston Land Court seeking to close the park will be postponed. Town Manager Andrew Gala and Town Planner Marc Resnick have already begun to look for a site on town-owned property. "I think the commission took a difficult, principled position last night," Town Counsel Richard Gelerman told selectmen during Tuesday's meeting in the auditorium at Foxboro High School. About 100 people attended the meeting. Gelerman said it's unfortunate for citizens to be suing their town, or town boards to be suing each other. "There is no harm in giving the town the opportunity in two-weeks time to put an end to what's been a very sad chapter in Foxboro," Gelerman said. Founded and run by private citizens with conservation commission approval, Foxboro Dog Park opened in 2006 at Cocasset River Park. Gelerman said the commission's unanimous vote Monday night to allow the search for a new location does not undermine the commission's view that it has authority over how the land is used. Selectman Paul Mortenson expressed the contrary view that selectmen and the town manager have the authority to close down the park. Mortenson said if a new location can't be found in two weeks, selectmen should vote to close the park. Selectman Chairman Mark Sullivan urged Mortenson and other speakers to try to keep to the night's positive note. Apparently frustrated in that effort - with park supporters and opponents insisting on airing the pros and cons of the existing dog park - Sullivan made a motion to have Selectman Paul Feeney replace him as chairman. The motion received no second, and Sullivan remains chairman. Edward Valanzola, attorney for the plaintiffs in the lawuit, said the sign-in sheets at the dog park indicate that 70 percent to 80 percent of the users are from out of town.