HomeMy WebLinkAboutUnapproved 03 18 2015 ASAB meeting summary1
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, March 18, 2015
Meeting Summary
MEMBERS PRESENT: Maureane Hoffman, Caroline Green, Beth Grooms, Arthur Sprinczeles, Michelle
Walker (Chair), Warren Porter (Vice-Chair), Susan Elmore, Aviva Scully, Molly Mullins, Dewana Anderson,
Judy Miller, Michael Stewart
MEMBERS ABSENT:
STAFF PRESENT: Bob Marotto (Animal Services Director), Drew Brinkley, Sarah Fallin
_____________________________________________________________________________________
Agenda: Motion to approve agenda passed and agenda unanimously approved
Summary of January 21, 2015 meeting: Reviewed and unanimously approved
General Public Comments on items not on the agenda: None
ASAB Affairs
(A) Recommendation for vacant animal advocate position
• Molly Mullin has been appointed and is present at the meeting.
(B) Potentially Dangerous Dog Appeal Hearings (2)
• Two dogs owned by the same person were unleashed and approached a runner in a threatening
manner. The committee upheld the potentially dangerous declaration, according to the law.
(C) Review of Attendance Requirements
• The BOCC would like quarterly attendance reports for all boards. Members who know they will
miss meetings a priori are urged to inform Michelle and Warren in advance so that their absence
is excused.
(D) Outside Agency review
• There is one outside agency proposal for review. Maureane and Arthur have been appointed to
review it.
(E) Animal Services Update
• Bob gave the Animal Services Update, a summary of which is available on a separate handout.
Old Business
(A) Ordinance Amendments for Stray Animal Recovery
• This was postponed pursuant to the guidance of the County Manager.
(B) Unified Animal Ordinance Update
• Bob outlined the path forward. This will be discussed at Carrboro and Chapel Hill town
council meetings in April. Finalized versions of the ordinance have been shared with
partners in the towns of Chapel Hill and Carrboro.
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(C) Free-Roaming Cats in Orange County
• The report has been finalized.
New Business
(A) Proposed Fees for Fiscal Year 2015-2016 Budget
• Drew Brinkley summarized proposed changes for additional flexibility in determining
fees:
i. Potential for elimination of adoption fee for cats in excess of one
ii. Introduction of innovative adoption fee models, such as sliding scale payments,
or a “name your own price” payment (while monitoring adoption revenue).
iii. Four newly-proposed fees, in situations that arise through no fault of the owner,
as well as no breach of the Ordinance nor Animal Control violation; in this case,
the proposed fee for boarding the animal is $0.
iv. Drew reports that, for people who qualify for low-cost spay/neuter, some
people aren’t taking advantage of the discount because they’re worried about
getting entered into the system for animal taxes. For these people, we propose
to eliminate the tax so that they will be more inclined to sterilize their pets.
• A motion to endorse these policies was unanimously approved.
(B) Community Spay/Neuter Annual Report
• Sarah Fallin gave an update on the community spay/neuter report. We are
disappointed that the number of animals sterilized through this funding has declined
over the last few years. Ms. Fallin has worked with AnimalKind to come up with new
ways to advertise the program. She also reports that some people who qualify are
nervous that they would have to pay a large amount of money in taxes if they use this
service. Ms. Fallin detailed ways to ease the burden of low-income pet-owning families
through vouchers for pet healthcare. She reports that, as staff, they recommend
reviewing the qualification level, potentially up to 300% of the federal poverty level.
The Board agrees that staff and the ASAB should revisit this issue.
Ongoing and Upcoming Events
(A) Beat the Heat Spay/Neuter Campaign, January – March
(B) Low-cost Rabies Vaccination Clinic
(C) SNAP-NC Surgery clinics
Meeting adjourned at: 8:07 PM
Name of Minute Taker: Caroline Green