ORD-2003-111 Budget Amendment #2

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VOTE: UNANIMOUS I. Budget Amendment #2 The Board considered approving budget ordinance amendments for fiscal year 2003 -04. Commissioner Jacobs pointed out that item number 2, Human Services and non - departmental, is an application of monies that this Board set aside at the end of last fiscal year for this fiscal year understanding that there would be shortfalls in funding for Human Services. He also pointed out the third item, that the Sheriff's department will now have the capability to catch speeders. He would like the Sheriff to spend more time on Old NC 86, which is a dangerous road when people travel at a speed of 60 -70 miles an hour. A motion was made by Commissioner Halkiotis, seconded by Commissioner Carey to approve the budget ordinance amendments for Library Services, Human Services Non - Departmental, Sheriff's Department, Emergency Management, Department of Social Services, Orange Public Transportation, and Purchasing /Central Services. VOTE: UNANIMOUS L Contract Extension with the APS for Operation of the Orange County Animal Shelter The Board considered authorizing continuation of the current contract with the Animal Protection Society (APS) for operation of the Orange County Animal Shelter until such time as the Board of County Commissioners elects otherwise, acknowledging that this action shall extend the subject contract through, at minimum, October 31, 2003; and authorizing the County Manager to provide written notice to APS of the renewal of the contract with APS as provided in the contract addendum until further action by the Board. Commissioner Carey said that he pulled this to make a suggestion to the Board. He thanked the Board for videotaping the report presentation because he could not attend it. He said that there were some good recommendations made by HSUS, and one was for a task force. He suggested that the Board consider extending the contract to December 31, 2003 instead of October 31, 2003. This comes with the caveat that we expect APS to focus on addressing some of the issues raised in the report as well as before the report. Public Comment: Beverly Rockhill, Professor of Cancer Epidemiology at UNC, said that should the current APS lose its contract with Orange County, there will be volunteers to work with the new organization. She believes that there will be far more volunteers than currently are at APS. She is no longer a volunteer at APS by her own choice. She will not be volunteering at the facility again until it is under new management. She said that the shelter is in disarray and disorganization and that there is apathy and occasional hostility existing among those empowered at APS. She has volunteered for animal organizations for the last 14 years and she is a lifetime member of APS. She asked the Board to keep in mind a statement in the HSUS report regarding the removing of voting rights last November. She quoted from the report as follows: "Several members of the APS Board and staff reported to the HSUS that there had never been active participation by the membership and that the annual meeting was historically attended by the board, staff members, and very few others." She said that voting rights were removed from