Agenda - 12-09-2003-8a - Laserfiche WebLink

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14 I membership and that the annual meeting was historically attended by the board, staff 2 members, and very few others." She said that voting rights were removed from 3 members at the point in APS history where members were poised to use them. She 4 wants this County to have the best animal shelter possible. She said that she is 5 ashamed to live in a community where certain members of the APS leadership engage 6 in slight of hand and deceit with their trusting, well-intentioned, and donating members. 7 She noted that the last APS Board meeting lasted 14 minutes, with a quick retreat into 8 executive session to avoid pertinent questions from the appearing public. She said that 9 the current leadership was slowly ruining this organization and betraying the members, 10 Chair Brown asked for a copy of her statement, I1 12 Elliot Cramer said that HSUS did a good job for the County. He said that the 1.3 many problems HSUS noted at the shelter have nothing to do with money and have little 14 to do with the physical facility,. He made reference to the letter he wrote to Kate Pullen 15 from HSUS about the principal faults of the current management, He said that he has 16 not had time to produce a detailed budget as requested by Dr, Klein (Board of Health), 17 but he shall do so within seven days and in consultation with knowledgeable animal care 18 professionals in the area. He said that the budget provided in the interim report grossly 19 inflates the cost to the County. He said that the Piedmont Animal Welfare Society 20 pledges to solicit volunteers and contributions, believing that a well run County shelter 21 will easily obtain public support, He hopes that APS can continue as an organization, 22 supplementing the services of the County run shelter with a low cost spay/neuter 23 program, animal fostering, and the dog park and dog training operation. He wishes the 24 people could be out of the shelter tomorrow. 25 Bonnie Norwood said that she appreciates the HSUS report. She believes that 26 the report and the public outcry shows that there are a lot of problems. She is opposed 27 to the extension of the contract. 28 29 Commissioner .lacobs asked Jahn Link about not extending the contract and who 30 would operate the shelter..lohn Link said that it would take 4-5 months far the County to 31 assume operation of the animal shelter. This is based on the experience of the 32 assumption of solid waste operations from Chapel Hill to the County and the emergency 33 response for transportation from the rescue squads. He said that the budget is based on 34 full operation of the animal shelter and is an the high end. He said that the $700,000 35 could be reduced, but there is no guarantee.. He said that it will take as many staff if not 36 mare staff to operate the shelter than are there now. 37 Commissioner Halkiotis said that he thinks that when we took over solid waste 38 operation, there was a lot of lead time before they gat into it, The Board has not even 39 discussed where the shelter will fit in with County government. He thinks that the 40 biggest mistake would be to take this and make it bureaucratic. He thinks a month to 41 month renewal is fine. 42 Commissioner Carey said that he understands what his colleagues have said but 43 he just wanted to save time for them and recognize that it will take months to make a 44 decision about this.. 45 Chair Brown clarified that this will be month to month and will not come back to 46 the Board unless they want it to, 47 The Board will have time to ask questions on September i6~h at the staff analysis 48 of the HSUS report, the public hearing on September 18'h, and work sessions on 49 October 21 s` or November 5'h.. 50 A motion was made by Commissioner Carey, seconded by Commissioner 51 Gordon to authorize continuation of the current contract with the Animal Protection