HomeMy WebLinkAboutASAB minutes 061913From: Animal Services Advisory Board (ASAB)
SUBJECT: Monthly Meeting Minutes
DATE: June 19, 2013
LOCATION: Orange County Animal Services, 1601 Eubanks Rd., Chapel Hill, NC
MEMBERS PRESENT: Michelle Walker (Vice Chair), Kris Bergstrand (Secretary), Judy
Miller, Michael Stewart, Suzanne Roy, Kate Doom Patel, Warren Porter, Jen Merritt,
Donna Bravo
MEMBERS ABSENT: Susan Elmore, Aviva Scully
STAFF PRESENT: Bob Marotto (Animal Services Director), Sarah Fallin (Program
Coordinator)
Beginning Time of Meeting: 6:30 pm
Agenda: Unanimously approved.
Summary and Approval of May 15, 2013 Meeting: Unanimously approved.
General Public Comments for Items Not on Agenda: None
ASAB Affairs
a. Membership
i. Updates:
Terms of Jen Merritt and Judy Miller have been renewed.
Dewana Anderson has been appointed to fill Kris Bergstrand
position
Marshall Morris was appointed by the BOCC for the at-large seat
being vacated by Donna Bravo.
ii. Secretary for the Remainder of 2013 will be Suzanne Roy, taking over
for Kris Bergstrand, whose term has expired. (Unless someone else on
the board steps forward and would like to fill this position).
iii. Outreach and diversity effort – being conducted through the county
clerk’s office. One position open – Animal Advocate slot
iv. Bob Marotto and the entire board commended Kris Bergstrand and
Donna Bravo for their service on the Board.
b. Potentially Dangerous Dog Appeals Hearing
Mike Stewart provided summary of the one hearing that took place during
this time period, stating that the potentially dangerous dog designation was
overturned based on questions about whether the dog was on or off the
owner’s real property and whether or not the dog approached the victim in
a vicious and terrorizing manner in an apparent attitude of attack.
Monthly Meeting Attendance Record: Confirmed.
Animal Services Report
a. Orange County Giving Fund has been established for community donations to
county programs. There are sub-designations for Animal Services:
• Community Spay Neuter Fund
• Advertising Campaigns for Adoptable Pets
• Cat Sheltering Enhancement
• Dog Exercise Area Fund
• Medical Care for Adoptable Pets
• Sculptures, Benches and Landscape Amenities
ASAB members encouraged to share information about the Community
Giving Fund on Facebook and with friends, family and co-workers.
b. Select Department Developments:
• Cat Sheltering – Phase I is completed - cat condos in adoption area are
converted. Phase 2 – conversion of cages in holding area – research being
started and evaluated. . Staff currently researching pros and cons of
retrofitting cags vs. new purchase to meet new standards.
• Cat Adoption Month – extended to July 13.
• Staffing: Recruiting for 2 Animal Control Officers; Veterinary Health
Care Manager position filled by Josh Fischer
• Unified Animal Control Ordinance – Presented to Board. Met with
significant public comment, including issues related to large livestock,
rural vs. urban differences, vicious animals. Commissioner McKee
indicated concerns and Chairman Jacobs noted that if the vote for an
ordinance change is not unanimous, then it requires two readings. As a
result the vote was postponed to September for the first reading. BOCC
has asked for more detail about specific proposed changes and the
rationale behind them.
NEW BUSINESS
a. Income Eligibility Requirements for Targeted Spay/Neuter Program—Bob
Marotto reported that because fewer spay/neuters were performed last year as
compared to the previous year, the staff was considering a change to the
income requirements for the $20 Fix, so that the standards for income
eligibility mirrored state standards. However, ultimately the staff decided
against raising the income eligibility standards for several reasons, including
maintaining good relations with area veterinarians. Instead, staff will conduct
more outreach activities to reach targeted low-income residents.
Sarah Fallin reported on outreach underway:
- $20 Fix flyers are being sent via USPS Every Door Delivery to targeted
zip codes (3500+ flyers already sent to Cedar Grove and 6200 sent to
Hillsborough)
- $20 Fix door hangers will be distributed to same targeted areas so that
households will be hit twice with information about low cost S/N option.
Bob concluded by noting that targeted spay/neuter of free-roaming cats must
be a priority for OCAS and the ASAB – this is a huge area of concern that we
must address.
b. Volunteer and Other Programs
Sarah Fallin reported on activities:
• Volunteers - OCAS had 1,679 volunteers this Fiscal Year (FY) who
put in 9,795.75 hours, or 890.5 hours per month. This is the equivalent
of 4.7 Full Time Employees
• Outreach – attended 14 public events and held 6 adoption specials this
FY. The dog swim coming up in September is a big, highly attended
event.
• Rabies Clinic – June clinic vaccinated 183 animals. Microchip clinics
just getting started.
• Disaster management – June was kickoff for hurricane season.
Experts predicting 13-20 named storms this year.
ONGOING AND UPCOMING EVENTS:
• Cat care Class by Ellen Vogel from Falconbridge Animal Hospital, June 25, 2013
• Rabies Informational Meeting for Livestock and Equine Owners, June 27, 2013
• Microchip Clinic, July 18, 2013
Meeting Adjourned at about 8:30 p.m.
Minutes prepared by: Suzanne Roy