HomeMy WebLinkAboutASAB minutes 0820141
Orange County Animal Services
1601 Eubanks Road, Chapel Hill, NC 27516
919-942-PETS (7387)
ANIMAL SERVICES ADVISORY BOARD (ASAB)
6:30 to 8:30 p.m.
Wednesday, August 20, 2014
Meeting Summary
MEMBERS PRESENT: DeWana Anderson, Susan Elmore, Caroline Green, Beth Grooms, Judy Miller,
Aviva Scully, Arthur Sprinczeles, Michael Stewart, Michelle Walker (Chair)
MEMBERS ABSENT: Virginia Fitt, Warren Porter (Vice-Chair)
STAFF PRESENT: Bob Marotto (Animal Services Director)
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Agenda: Motion to approve agenda passed and agenda unanimously approved
Summary of June 18, 2014 meeting: Reviewed and unanimously approved with addition of Aviva
Scully to “Members Present” and striking sentence under “Old Business”
General Public Comments on items not on the agenda: None
Introduction of Bonnie Hamersley, our new County Manager: Ms. Hammersley attended the meeting
and introduced herself to each member of the ASAB
ASAB Affairs
(A) Recommendation for vacant animal advocate position
• The ASAB unanimously approved recommendation of Maureane Hoffman, MD, PhD due to her
involvement in organizations promoting animal welfare and her contribution to the Free
Roaming Cat Task Force as a member of the public
(B) Potentially Dangerous Dog Appeal Hearing
• The subcommittee conducted one hearing this month and upheld the designation where a dog
killed a neighbor’s cat on the neighbor’s property
Old Business
(A) Unified Animal Ordinance Update
• Bob Marotto summarized his communications with staff attorney and County Manager
regarding plan to proceed with approval and adoption of the unified ordinance:
o There was a suggestion that the ordinance proceed through revision and approval
without additional review by the ASAB. Members of the ASAB were receptive to this
plan and expressed a desire for the ordinance to move as directly as possible toward
adoption and implementation.
o Another suggestion involved a potential compromise on the makeup of the body
hearing Animal Services related appeals, specifically a board/committee made up of
both selected ASAB members and members of the public who are not ASAB members.
The ASAB had concerns about how the appeal body would function in practice, but was
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receptive to one suggestion of having the appeal body meet regularly rather than within
a certain time period after an appeal is raised.
• Michelle Walker shared a request from member Virginia Fitt for an agenda item addressing the
nuisance provision of the proposed unified ordinance. The ASAB expressed the consensus that
it would not take up any policy considerations (aside from those raised by the BOCC) in the
context of the unified ordinance, preferring to allow the unified ordinance to proceed toward
adoption and implementation and address any future policy issues on a stand-alone basis.
(B) Resolution supporting Kids4Kindness School Program
• Member Michael Stewart shared that Kids4Kindness plans to continue its program at
Hillsborough Elementary for the first semester of the school year, and therefore will not be
pursuing expansion to all County schools until later in the year.
New Business
(A) Mid-Year Service Stats for Sheltering and Field Services presented by Drew Brinkley
• Of note for field services: significant numbers of rabies cases and coyote inquires
• Of note for sheltering: so far this year, no euthanasia of any animals due to space/time
limitations
(B) Animal Services Updates—Bob Marotto
Free-Roaming Cat Task Force Preliminary Report
(A) Public comment from Deanna Rowan directing attention to written materials from the Humane
Society of the U.S. regarding trap, neuter, release programs
(B) ASAB expressed support for contents of Preliminary Report and offers to provide comments on
layout, etc.
(C) Bob Marotto will share Preliminary Report with staff for comment and will work with staff to
develop a formal report for approval by the ASAB and presentation to the BOCC
Ongoing and Upcoming Events
(A) August is Back to School Adoption Special
(B) World Rabies Day, September 28, 2014
• Rabies, 3-5 pm, September 25, Farmer’s Market House, Hillsborough
• Rabies & Microchip Clinic, 9 am - noon, September 27, Animal Services Center
(C) 10th Annual Dog Swim September 13, Hargraves Community Center
Meeting adjourned at: 8:45 PM
Name of Minute Taker: Michelle Walker