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HomeMy WebLinkAboutASAB POLICIES AND PROCEDURES 1 ANIMAL SERVICES ADVISORY BOARD POLICIES AND PROCEDURES SECTION I: SCOPE A. Purpose 1. To establish a policy and procedure whereby the Orange County Board of Commissioners (“BOCC”) will establish the specific policies and procedures governing the Animal Services Advisory Board. 2. The Orange County Board of Commissioners BOCC may appoint an advisory board whose duty is to work with Animal Services staff and serve County Commissioners in an advisory capacity regarding animal services in Orange County. B. Authority 1. North Carolina General Statute 153A-76 grants boards of county commissioners the authority to establish advisory boards. 2. The Orange County Advisory Board Policy serves as the underlying policy document to which the Animal Services Advisory Board ASAB, in addition to this policy and procedure document, is subject. The Orange County Advisory Board Policy is attached hereto as “Exhibit A”. 3. In the event that there is a conflict between the Orange County Advisory Board Policy and this Policies and Procedures document this Policies and Procedures document shall control. C. Charge The charge of the ASAB Animal Services Advisory Board is as follows: 1. To advise the Board of County Commissioners BOCC on matters of concern regarding animal issues and animals services in Or ange County. 2. To work with the Animal Services Director (or designee) on various policy concerns and issues regarding Orange County animal services. 3. To carry out duty to hear Potentially Dangerous Dog Declaration appeals as proscribed by N.C. Gen. Stat. §67-4.1(c). 3. To recommend members of the ASAB to the BOCC for appointment to the Animal Service Hearing Panel Pool. SECTION II: GOALS AND OBJECTIVES A. Goals 1. The Animal Services Advisory Board ASAB shall work with the Animal Services Director and designated staff collaboratively to ensure best- in-class quality animal services within Orange County. 2. The Animal Services Advisory Board shall work collaboratively with the Animal Services Director and staff. 2 2. The ASAB shall represent the communities and constituenci es from which its members are appointed in working with the Animal Services Director and staff. B. Objectives 1. Advise the Board of County Commissioners BOCC on animal services as such, and shall make recommendations for changes in County Ordinances and/or state statutes when deemed appropriate. 2. Advise the Board of County Commissioners BOCC on the health, safety and quality of life as it relates to animals in Orange County. 3. Conduct fair and impartial hearings of appeals of potentially dangerous dog declaration and any other appeals as may be required by the Animal Services Department. SECTION III: MEMBERSHIP A. Authority 1. North Carolina General Statute 153A-76 grants boards of county commissioners the authority to establish advisory boards and to appoint members to and remove members from those advisory boards. In acting on this authority, the Orange County Board of Commissioners BOCC has hereby establisheds certain general conditions to which applicants and members of advisory boards, including the shouldASAB shall conform. B. Composition 1. The Animal Services Advisory Board ASAB is composed of twelve (12) voting members. 2. Members shall represent: a. The Towns of Carrboro (1), Chapel Hill (1) and Hillsborough (1); b. Three (3) at-large representatives, two (2) of which reside in the unincorporated areas of the county; and c. Two (2) veterinarians, one of which shall be the veterinarian serving on the Orange County Board of Health; and d. Three (3) county residents whose experience demonstrates a commitment to animal welfare, education around animal issues, legislative and/or advocacy, and/or animal welfare (e.g., rescue work and organizations, service and support for Orange County residents with animals, efforts to work with free roaming or feral cats, volunteering at animal shelters) and; e. One (1) professional animal handler, trainer or technician with a recognized credential or certification, and/or. e.f. One (1) owner or manager of a for profit business located in Orange County focused on companion or recreational animal welfare (e.g., pet supply stores, kennels, grooming salons, dog- walking business, rehabilitator, etc.) 3 SECTION IV. MEETINGS A. Staffing 1. Orange County staff Animal Services staff may serve a support function to the ASAB in preparation for and during its regular and exceptional meetings, under the direction of the Animal Services Director.advisory boards upon the approval of the Orange County Manager. 2. Regular meetings shall occur the third Wednesday of January and recurring every other month at 6:30 p.m. at the An imal Services Building, 1601 Eubanks Rd, Chapel Hill, NC 27516. SECTION V. OTHER BOARDS AND COMMITTEES 1. Potentially Dangerous Dog Appeal Committee Animal Services Hearing Panel Pool a. Three (3) members of the Animal Services Advisory Board ASAB, shall serve terms of two years as members of the Animal Services Hearing Panel Pool selected by the Board Chair and approved by the board as a whole, shall form a Potentially Dangerous Dog Appeal Committee to satisfy Orange County’s obligation under Chapter 67 of the North Carolina General Statute. b. At least one (1) member shall be a veterinarian and one (1) shall be a member whose position is based upon residency. c. The responsibility of this committee is to determine whether or not a potentially dangerous dog declaration is warranted based upon the definition(s) set out by the North Carolina General Statute. d. The Potentially Dangerous Dog Appeal Committee shall be convened as needed by the Animal Services Director. e. In the event that a member is unable to attend with in the timeline mandated by the North Carolina General Statute, the Animal Services Director may designate another voting member of the Animal Services Advisory Board to fill his or her place. a. The ASAB chair, following consultation with the full ASAB, shal l send the names of his or her three nominations for the Animal Services Hearing Panel Pool to the BOCC for its consideration and approval. b. Members of the ASAB serving on the Animal Services Hearing Panel Pool shall chair all hearing panels, but no more th an one ASAB member may serve at one time on any hearing panel. 2. Other Appeal Committees 4 a. Committees Ad-hoc committees for other administrative appeals (e.g., adoption denials, assessment of fine, sequestration of animals) may be formed as needed. b. These committees shall have no fewer than three members and the members shall be appointed by the Chair of the Animal Services Advisory Board ASAB. c. A chair for such an appeal committee shall be designated by the Chair of the Animal Services Advisory Board. d. The appeal committee chair shall be responsible for coordinating with the Animal Services Director to ensure that any such appeal is conducted in a timely and a judicious manner. SECTION VI. ORIENTATION A. Attendance 1. Within three months of his or her appointment to the ASAB, each member shall attend an orientation presented by the Animal Services Advisory Chair ASAB Chair (or another officer) and the Animal Services Director (or designated staff) to familiarize the advisory board members with the operation of County government, the department organization and policies, and the operating procedures of the advisory board ASAB. SECTION VII. BY-LAWS A. By-Laws 1. Any bylaws previously adopted by the Animal Services Advisory Board ASAB are void and no further bylaws shall be adopted. Procedure shall be governed solely by this policy document and the General Advisory Board Policy Document. 2. Should the Animal Services Advisory Board ASAB determine modifications to policies and procedures are advisable necessary the Animal Services Advisory Board ASAB may petition the Board of County Commissioners BOCC for such modifications.