Biting, excessively barking, and otherwise errant canines may soon have to answer to... Selectmen.

The Dog By-law Study Committee will next week ask Town Meeting to move responsibility for holding “dangerousness hearings” for dogs from the police chief to the Board of Selectmen.

According to Animal Control Officer Cheryl Gorvett-Dill, the change would resolve a number of issues.

“Basically, it expedites the hearing process," she explained. There are quite a lot of hearings I’d like to have regarding barking dogs and aggressive dogs. “

In addition, Gorvett-Dill pointed out that many of the people who are compelled to appear for a dog hearing have already had run-ins with the police department.

“Say we’ve arrested this person and now we’re having a hearing for their dog. Then they could say there’s a conflict of interest,” she said. “I’d like to put it back in the Selectmen’s hands… I think it would be a little less biased.”

Besides, she said, “There’s a lot going on in this town, and dog hearings are not at the top of the list” for police attention.

Until 1994, dog matters were in the Selectmen’s hands. In legal terms, what Town Meeting will be asked to do is to repeal the 1994 law that shifted responsibility to police.

The Dog Bylaw Committee, established by Town Meeting last spring, after Gorvett-Dill’s controversial request for some bylaw changes was approved by Town Meeting. Gorvett-Dill had initially expected to be presenting Town Meeting with a number of additional dog law recommendations this fall.

However, just as the Dog Bylaw Committee was ready to wrap up its recommendations, Governor Deval Patrick signed “An Act Further Regulating Animal Control”: 32 pages of new regulations.

The result is that the bylaw committee will also be asking Town Meeting for a deadline extension to allow an assessment of whether the proposed town bylaw changes are compatible with new state law.

“I was really hoping to get those bylaws presented this fall,” said Gorvett-Dill.  “We’re going to have to reconfigure our bylaws to be in compliance with the new laws.”

The state law changes the definition of what makes a dog dangerous, and dogs can now be covered by restraining orders in cases of abuse.  In addition, animal control officers will have to be trained in animal CPR and other safety measures.