Minutes 10-16-2018 - Laserfiche WebLink

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30 Commissioner Rich asked if Johnston and Harnett counties would get a percent of Jordan Lake. Howard Fleming said he is not sure that these two counties have an allocation. Commissioner Rich clarified that when the allocations are reviewed, that these two counties will not be part of the process. Howard Fleming said he cannot answer that question. John Roberts said several entities are members to this partnership because they provide water, or have water operations, within the triangle region. He said this is a regional agreement. He said he does not believe that Harnett and Johnston counties draw from Jordan Lake. Commissioner Rich said it just change the scope of the original Jordan Lake agreement. Commissioner Marcoplos asked if there is any mechanism for the members of this organization to set higher standards for water conservation across all the membership. Bonnie Hammersley suggested deferring this item to the next meeting. h. Unified Animal Control Ordinance Amendments The Board considered approval of amendments to the Unified Animal Control Ordinance and adoption of the Resolution of Amendment Amending Chapter 4 of the Orange County Code of Ordinances, in order to primarily clarify issues identified by the Orange County Animal Services’ Advisory Board and County Attorney’s Office, and authorizing the Chair to sign. Commissioner Rich said she had some residents call her about this, and especially about the 18 month waiting period to get a dog out of jail, versus losing an appeal, hiring an attorney and going to Superior Court to get a dog out of jail in 6 months. She said this seems and unbalanced solution. John Roberts said only a couple of other counties offer this reprieve from the local determination, and there were staff reasons for this to be 18 months rather than 12 months. He said for the confinement portion of it, there is not always an inspection by 12 months later, and there needs to be adequate time to observe whether a dog will reoffend or not. Commissioner Rich asked if there is a reason that an inspection would not occur within 12 months; and are too many inspections being done. Bob Marotto, Animal Services Director, said it is not the quantity of the inspections, but the rather the schedule of the inspections. He said there is an initial inspection, followed by an inspection every year thereafter, in accordance with the ordinance. He said the thought was that it would be beneficial to know that for that year, there was complete compliance with the requirements for keeping the animal as a dangerous animal under the ordinance. He said there would need to be some confidence in the compliance before taking the step that has previously been unavailable in Orange County, and most other jurisdictions in the state, by offering the reprieve. Commissioner Rich said someone with money can get their dog out within 6 months, by hiring an attorney and going to superior court; but those of means, or with a lack of understanding of the system, has to wait 18 months. She said it is unbalanced. Bob Marotto said the Superior Court option is the second step in the appeal process that exists under the ordinance. He said the first step in the appeal process, is the appeal that is made to the Animal Services Hearing Panel Pool, which is available to anyone with no fees, and can involve an attorney is so desired. He said the second step is to go Superior Court, and does not happen very often. Commissioner Rich said 18 months is too long, and this is not a fair solution. She said she would not vote for this. Bob Marotto said the intent of this is to offer people an opportunity to go beyond the restrictions imposed on dangerous animals, which is something that does not currently exist, in any form or fashion, in Orange County. He said that is a huge step forward, and he said the