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3~d Model: Open Recruitment with Concurrent County Hiring of Director and Staff . Timeline: About 6 Months Other items to address would be capital equipment/supplies, program services, veterinary services, and wildlife care. In closing, since August 28t" the Board of County Commissioners has received one communication from APS. This was provided in a letter and in a formal presentation to the Board an September 16t" during the public comment portion of the regular meeting. The letter addresses their ongoing need for funding. The staff is actively pursuing review of this and they will bring a recommendation to the Board of County Commissioners on October 21St Public Comment: Elfriede Illiano said that she recently joined the APS Board. She has lived in Chapel Hill since 1969. She challenged the claim that APS has lost the community's trust. She said that people are tired of the never-ending accusations against APS. She asked why an evaluation by HSUS was not done under the other director. She asked why the negative comments and finger painting only started after Schopler's departure as the APS veterinarian. She asked why his friends only voiced criticism after he was gone. She said that it is passible that this campaign has never been about animal welfare. She said that the animals at APS are treated with respect and concern by a caring staff. Her family has donated land to the APS shelter for the purpose of animal protection. They have been repeatedly contacted by members of the opposition not to give the land to APS since, "they are finished as an organization anyway." They have been encouraged to give it to Piedmont Wildlife instead. She said that they refuse to do this because they have not lost faith in the APS. Jean Connerat said that she has been nominated three times far the APS Board and has not been elected yet. She made reference to the volunteers at the shelter that work without any compensation. She knows that the organization has made mistakes but all organizations do. She asked the Board not to throw away this great human resource. People that work on the line bring to this process something that cannot be reduced to dollars and cents. Elliot Cramer distributed a handout. He said that the HSUS report is a cause for alarm. He said that Kate Pullen struggled to find good things to say about APS. He gave a history of APS. He said that APS has served its purpose admirably except for the last 20 months. APS now says it needs $138,Q00 in additional funding to continue operation of the shelter. If the County rejects this, APS pledges to continue its operation and financial support until January 1 ~. He said that APS offered its cooperation in an orderly transition to operation by the County or another agency. He said that this is an offer the County cannot refuse. He suggested a budget consistent with what the Board asked for. It includes a County takeover at the same level of service and the cost to the County is little different from what continued APS operation will cost. He said that a quick transition is necessary and possible in the next three months. He included a statement made to the APS Board. Pat Beyle distributed a handout. She is President of the APS Board of Directors. She made a statement on behalf of the APS Board. She said that this controversy has created an enormous headache for them and the County. She said that APS has enjoyed a good relationship with Orange County since 1979. They would very much like to continue this partnership with the