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Margie Huggins said that she is an the board of the HS~C. She said that she wanted to <br />speak as a citizen who went before the APS Board. She made reference to the <br />comments by Jahn Link that the APS is willing to work with the County and cooperate <br />with the County Manager. She said that APS has not cooperated with the citizens of <br />Orange County. She thanked the BCC for allowing her to come before them and be <br />treated fairly. She got involved in this issue because a law professor asked her about <br />an appeals process that was going on there and that it was outrageous. She said that <br />the things she saw at the APS Board meetings were disgraceful. She said that she did <br />not want to be on the APS Board but she decided to run because she was asked to. <br />She said that she could not do it because they would not give the records to the public. <br />She feels like the vote tonight is clear and that there is only one choice -anybody but <br />the APS. <br />Judith Reitman said that any management that has to be told to be accountable is not <br />good. It has been a long time since the County has had a say in the shelter and there <br />has been a lot of damage because of it. She said that families that have put their faith <br />in the integrity of APS have paid a high price -monetarily and in the death of loved <br />pets. She made reference to a comment from Chair Brown in today's Chapel Hill <br />Herald that, "It's a matter of having very responsible, good management for the animals <br />and good care for the animals." She supports this intent. She added that the County <br />must also protect its animals from management that still refuses to acknowledge the <br />damage it has done. She said that the County must protect its animals from APS. She <br />urged the County Commissioners to choose for the welfare of the community and our <br />animals and not for expediency. <br />Commissioner Jacobs asked if the contract with APS for this fiscal year was $4Q0,000+ <br />and if the contract ends at the end of January. Pam Jones said that it is $428,818 plus <br />the $4,229 from October through the end of January. She said that the next step would <br />be to negotiate a contract with APS in which all of the conditions that the Manager <br />mentioned are incorporated. It would then come back to the Board of County <br />Commissioners and the exact amount of money would be identified. <br />Commissioner Jacobs asked about the veterinary casts and if they were extra. Jahn <br />Link said that they structured this proposal to whether the Board wanted to have <br />veterinary services apart from this or whether the Board wanted the applicant to provide <br />veterinary services. This is why it was separated. The veterinary services are included <br />in the APS-alternate costs. The $11,Q~0 is an estimate given by APS. <br />Commissioner Jacobs asked about the County Management group and if he meant to <br />preclude other people or if the Board of County Commissioners could add anyone that it <br />chooses. John Link said that the Board of County Commissioners could add others and <br />these would be welcomed. <br />Commissioner Halkiotis said that he is dismayed and frustrated. He said that he was <br />angry this morning after reading the paper about this issue. He said that he has never <br />