HomeMy WebLinkAboutUnapproved March 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 15, 2017
Meeting Summary
MEMBERS PRESENT: Molly Mullin (Vice-Chair), Warren Porter, Edmund Tiryakian, Judy Miller, Beth Grooms, Aviva
Scully, Susan Elmore, Michelle Walker, DeWana Anderson, Victoria Hudson
MEMBERS ABSENT: Maureane Hoffman (Chair), Michael Stewart
STAFF PRESENT: Bob Marotto (Animal Services Director) and Andi Morgan (Asst Animal Services Director)
_____________________________________________________________________________________
Call to order: 6:33pm
Review and adoption of the Agenda: Michelle Walker made a motion to approve the agenda; seconded by Beth
Grooms. The motion carried without dissent.
Summary of February 15, 2017 meeting: Edmund Tiryakian made a motion to approve the Summary with
suggested edits regarding discussions under Fee Schedule; seconded by Beth Grooms. The motion carried without
dissent.
General Public Comments on items not on the agenda: None.
Animal Services Advisory Board:
(A) Appointments and reappointments:
a. Aviva Scully submitted her resignation effective immediately. This is a Town of Chapel Hill
municipal position.
b. In addition to her vacancy, there are also a number of vacancies June 30th for the ASAB:
Maureane Hoffman (first term expiring), Molly Mullin (first term expiring), Susan Elmore
(second term expiring- eligible the time remaining on Board of Health term to expiration
pending BOCC approval), and Michael Stewart (second term expiring- not eligible; at-large
non-municipal position). There was a discussion about the best way to recruit applicants, to
screen and choose nominees, and to document the process of the selection for the BOCC. Bob
Marotto will contact previous applicant, Hillary Cooper, regarding her eligibility and interest.
Michelle Walker made a motion for the Chair and Vice-Chair to review the eligible applicants
for the at-large non-municipal position and invite them to the April meeting. Beth Grooms
seconded. The motion carried without dissent.
c. Edmund Tiryakian’s appointment to the Hearing Panel Pool expires this month. He was filling
a vacancy of the remainder of a 2-yr position. Michelle Walker made a motion to accept Bob
Marotto’s recommendation to appointment Edmund Tiryakian to serve the next term; Judy
Miller seconded. The motion carried without dissent.
(B) Boards and Commissions (BOCC March 28, 2017): Maureane Hoffman will be representing the ASAB at
the March 28th BOCC meeting. All were invited to attend.
(C) Update on ASAB Policies and Procedures: The revisions which have been approved by the ASAB have been
sent to the Orange County attorney’s office for submittal to the BOCC.
Old Business:
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(A) Public Art Project: Bob Marotto and Molly Mullin met with the Orange County Arts Commission and the
sculptor, Mark Elliot, to discuss the site plan and the timetable to install before the Open House. The Arts
Commission would like to schedule an unveiling on the Thursday before the Open House.
(B) Update of the Pets of the Homeless Task Force: Judy Miller made a report of the recent meeting. Nineteen
community partners met with Bob Marroto, Judy Miller, and Corey Root. Participants explored what people
think about homelessness and limited shelter-housing with pets, particularly for people with no finances.
The groups focused on advocacy and saw opportunities to train potentially, recent, or otherwise homeless
on how to look for housing where pets are allowed. The group wishes to be sensitive to the interests of
property owners also. They set goals to assess the number of homeless that may have pets; to develop
sensitive questioning when a homeless person surrenders a pet; to further define the problem; to better
recognize the disability rights in NC (i.e. service animals). Other discussion included social problems such as
finding shelter with a pet should not be an obstacle for someone escaping domestic violence. It is important
to note that wherever the homeless and the pets are sheltered together, there will need to be experience
and social exposure between people and the animals in the shelter, vice versa. The deliverables include
mapping resources that are available for the public and advocates. Next meeting is March 31st.
(C) Update of free roaming cat discussions: Bob Marotto reported that they continue to meet with the IAR.
Time is needed really to invest in the discussions to move forward with handling free roaming cat issues.
New Business:
(A) Animal Services Updates:
a. Bob Marotto visited the pet crematorium associated with Piedmont Veterinary Clinic. There may be
a possibility to partner with the crematorium as a better way to handle the disposal of deceased
animals.
b. Staffing: Andi Morgan reported that the seasonal Animal Care Tech and Lead Veterinary Tech
positions have been filled. A new ACO was hired and has started. There is a second Animal Care
Tech vacancy for which they are in the 2nd-interview process. The application period for the
Communications Specialist has closed, and Andi Morgan is screening applicants. The Veterinary Care
Intern position will be posted soon. The Animal Care Supervisor has resigned effective March 24.
That position also will be posted.
c. Hearing Panel Pool: A training video was created to orient new members of the Hearing Panel Pool.
All current members that have not been oriented will be required to view the video training.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6qH8qAR7CrY
d. Carrboro: Carrboro elected to maintain their Animal Control Board for appeals. Training materials,
tools, and guidance were offered to Carrboro Police Chief and Town Attorney for training their AC
Board on appeals. In an effort to not discourage backyard farming, Carrboro’s animal ordinance was
revised to allow foul and bunnies without the minimum square footage limit, up to a maximum of
twenty individual animals.
e. Events: There is an adoption special through March 18th for St. Patrick’s Day. A rabies clinic will be
held for the public on March 16th at Hillsborough Farmers Market. Spay and neuter promotions
which supported Spay Day U.S.A. was successful with 32 animals.
f. Budget: By the end of March, Orange County Animal Services administration should know if the
suggested fee changes and budget requests will make into the County Manager’s budget 2017-2018.
During functional unit meetings with other county departments, OCAS is required to prioritize and
to justify any new expenses for the Manager’s recommendations. This includes the up-front costs of
starting the project to microchip each adopted animal, even with the nominal increase in the
adoption fee (already in the ASAB approved 2017-2018 fee schedule changes). Bob Marotto
estimates a loss of $18500 in the first year of the microchip program. The Friends of Orange County
have pledged of a $2000 to offset the costs of the initial microchips.
Information Items (made available):
(A) Monthly Sheltering Statistical Reports, February 2017
(B) Monthly Field Service Statistical Report, February 2017
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Adjournment and next meeting:
Michelle Walker made a motion to adjourn at 8:13; Beth Grooms seconded. Motion carried without dissent.
The next meeting is April 19, 2017 at 6:30 pm, Orange County Animal Services Center.
Minutes taken:
Victoria Hudson