Orange County NC Website
APPROVEDN 2/16/2010 <br /> MINUTES <br /> ORANGE COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS <br /> WORK SESSION <br /> January 28, 2010 <br /> 7:00 p.m. <br /> The Orange County Board of Commissioners met for a work session on Tuesday, <br /> January 28, 2010 at 7:00 p.m. at the Southern Human Services Center in Chapel Hill, N.C. <br /> COUNTY COMMISSIONERS PRESENT: Chair Valerie P. Foushee, and Commissioners Alice <br /> Gordon, Pam Hemminger, Barry Jacobs, Mike Nelson, Bernadette Pelissier, and Steve Yuhasz <br /> COUNTY COMMISSIONERS ABSENT: <br /> COUNTY ATTORNEYS PRESENT: John Roberts <br /> COUNTY STAFF PRESENT: County Manager Frank Clifton and Clerk to the Board Donna S. <br /> Baker (All other staff members will be identified appropriately below) <br /> 1. Strategic Plan for Managing Pet Overpopulation <br /> Assistant County Manager Gwen Harvey said that this represents several years of work <br /> by Animal Services and the Animal Services Advisory Board. <br /> The purpose of this discussion is to provide an overview of the proactive response that <br /> we have for the pet overpopulation. The opportunity tonight is to hear the progress of this <br /> strategic plan. <br /> Animal Services Director Bob Marotto said that they are here to share the product of <br /> their work and he recognized the members of the ASAB —Jean Austin, current Animal <br /> Services Advisory Board (ASAB) Chair; Dr. Susan Elmore; Dr. Anderson, Dr. Daniel Textoris, <br /> and Sarah Fallon (staff member). He gave a general overview of the proposed plan. He <br /> stressed that this program is humane but fiscally responsible in that it can control and contain <br /> the costs of animal services over the next few years. He said that he is being very careful <br /> about not over-committing the staff and they will be working in concert with other organizations <br /> with similar outcomes. <br /> Commissioner Gordon arrived at 7:08 PM. <br /> Bob Marotto said that the targeted spay and neuter program brings people in <br /> communities together to become part of the solution to the problem of pet overpopulation He <br /> pointed out the goals of the plan, which were on page 7 of the plan. <br /> - Lower annual animal intake measured as a per capita rate at Orange County's Animal <br /> Services Center <br /> - Control the costs of managing the County's pet population by lowering annual animal in <br /> take measured on a per capita basis. <br /> - Generate funding for strong, proactive community spay/neuter via an effective licensing <br /> program based upon differential. <br /> - Increase the annual rate of targeted sterilization of dogs and cats to 5 per thousand <br /> county residents (or approximately 600 per year based on the County's current <br /> population) over a period of 5 years. <br /> - Lower the euthanasia rate at the County's Animal Services Center to 35 percent or less <br /> in five years. <br />