Orange County NC Website
Browse       Search
that are directly related to the health and proper care of the animals at the present shelter. For <br />example, in the exit interview with HSUS, they indicated some ventilation issues, and this has <br />been corrected. <br />Public Comment: <br />Elliot Cramer said that, instead of answering his lawsuit, APS has charged them with <br />slander far statements made to the Board and local newspapers in good faith. He said that APS <br />was paying for Laura Walters to sue them. He said that the contract renewal was a public <br />matter. He made reference to a letter from John Link to Health Director Rosemary Summers an <br />February 3`d saying that, "We need to go ahead and provide the BOCC with an interim plan for <br />continuing our contract on a month-by-month basis after June 30t". You might be ready to take <br />over the shelter." He said that nothing was done about this until shortly before the May 22nd <br />Board of Health meeting. He made reference to his Exhibit 8, which was a proposed contract. <br />He noted that no one, except him, has ever been trespassed from the shelter in 25 years, and <br />his was based on Laura Walters' lies in an attempt to intimidate him. He urged the County <br />Commissioners to go back to John Link's original recommendation with the three-month <br />extension that he and Dr. Summers recommended. He said that many statements from HSUS <br />clearly state that HSUS does not investigate allegations in the past and Dr. Summers has made <br />clear that she will not do this. <br />Judith Reitman submitted a written statement. She said that the contract has serious <br />flaws and the flaws are largely a product of collaboration of the Board of Health and APS. She <br />said that in the contract, there is no clear line of authority to enforce measures to address <br />problems at the shelter. The contract is governed by "mutual agreement" between the APS and <br />the BOCC. She thinks the Board of County Commissioners should have the final word in <br />enforcing changes at the APS. Also, the contract has no provision for reining in APS's use of <br />trespass order and police action. She does not think the APS should have this kind of authority <br />to resort to police action. She thinks the Board of County Commissioners should appoint a <br />citizen advisory board as a liaison. She said that it seems that very little has been done to help <br />animals at the shelter. <br />James Cramer said that there are alternatives to the APS running the shelter and <br />there are people that want to run the shelter that is not related to the APS. Chair Brown urged <br />Mr. Cramer to speak to the contract only and referred him to the Manager. <br />Bonnie Norwood distributed a handout. She believes that the Board of County <br />Commissioners should not extend the current contract. She said that even amonth-by-month <br />situation would be more tolerable because of the actions of the current APS. <br />Jana Glotzer asked the Board not to extend the contract due to health maintenance <br />problems. She showed a picture of a cat that she fostered that was not being taken care of or <br />fed. She said that they must be accountable to someone. <br />Chair Brown asked if there were any deletions from the original contract and Rorie <br />Summers said na. She pointed out the changes as follows: Page four specifies the six-month <br />period of time that the contract would be extended. Page five indicates that any interim <br />measures would be mutually determined. Also, an page three, there is a date change. <br />Geof Gledhill said that the contract could be terminated with 90 days notice. <br />Commissioner Carey asked if there had been other recommendations from HSUS in <br />reference to the conditions at the shelter that would be covered by the additions to the contract. <br />Rorie Summers said that the recommendations at the HSUS exit interview were received and <br />implemented (locking medication cabinet, reviewing euthanasia procedures with staff, exhaust <br />fans repair, installing software, etc.). <br />Commissioner Halkiotis verified that the email that Elliot Cramer made reference to <br />from John Link was actually an email from John Link on February 3rd. He asked John Link what <br />