HomeMy WebLinkAboutASAB Meeting Summary 02172021 Orange County Animal Services
1601 Eubanks Road, Chapel Hill, NC 27516
919-942-PETS (7387)
ANIMAL SERVICES ADVISORY BOARD (ASAB)
6:30 to 8:00 p.m.
Wednesday, February 17, 2021
Virtual Meeting Summary
MEMBERS PRESENT: Bryan Stuart (Vice Chair), Casey Ferrell (Secretary), Lee Pickett, Edmund
Tiryakian, Sunita Driehuys, Dawn Roberts, Meggie Romick, Lori Gershon, Allan Polak, Susan
Spinks, Sue Millager, Lucia Welborne
ABSENT: Amanda Schwoerke, Lori Gershon, Dawn Roberts
STAFF PRESENT: Bob Marotto (Animal Services Director), Rachel Plast (Administrative Assistant)
Call to order: 6:32 p.m.
Virtual meeting voting guidelines: Bryan Stuart, ASAB Vice-Chair
Review and adoption of the agenda:
• Bryan Stuart requests the addition of comments regarding Bob Marotto's retirement to
the agenda as an item under ASAB updates
Vote (Motion/2nd)
Amanda Schwoerke
Bryan Stuart Y (Moved)
Sue Millager Y
Lee Pickett Y (2nd)
Ed Tiryakian Y
Lucia Welborne Y
Sunita Driehuys Y
Casey Ferrell Y
Meggie Romick Y
Allan Polak Y
Susan Spinks Y
Lori Gershon
Dawn Roberts
Review and approval of November 2019 meeting summary
Vote (Motion/2n,)
Amanda Schwoerke
Bryan Stuart Y (Moved)
Sue Millager Y (2nd)
Lee Pickett Y
Ed Tiryakian Y
Lucia Welborne Y
Sunita Driehuys Y
Casey Ferrell Y
Meggie Romick Y
Allan Polak Y
Susan Spinks Y
Lori Gershon
Dawn Roberts
Review of public participation guidelines: Bryan Stuart, ASAB Vice-Chair
General public comments on items not on agenda:
• N/A
Monthly Meeting Attendance Record (confirm completion): confirmed
2020 Community Spay & Neuter Program Annual Report: Cooper Hatch, Program Coordinator,
Animal Services
• BOCC unanimously adopted a resolution acknowledging February 24t" as Spay and
Neuter Day
• Received a $15k grant from the Margo T. Petrie Foundation to cover costs of surgery for
low-income households
• Multi-year grant from Petco Foundation and partnership with Independent Animal
Rescue helped continued success of Working Barn Cat Program
o Sterilized 266 working cats in 2020, a large increase over previous years due to
grant and IAR partnership
• Effects of COVID-19 on the Spay & Neuter Program:
o All surgeries toped in April 2020 to preserve PPE
o Changed policy to allow for adoption of unsterilized animals with a voucher for
surgery post-adoption
• Both total intakes and euthanizations continued declining
Animal Services Advisory Board updates: Bob Marotto, Director of Animal Services
• Legislative Agenda Item Update
o Chairperson Schwoerke submitted to the BOCC the ASAB's proposed legislative
agenda, focused on instituting a provision in state law allowing for the review
and removal of a Dangerous Dog Designation pending certain criteria are met
• 2020-2021 ASAB Annual Report & Work Plan update
o BOCC is scheduling boards and commission to appear as is customary
■ Work session to be April 22"d, in which ASAB officers will offer a briefing
on ASAB report and plans
• Comments for outgoing Director Bob Marotto
o Proclamation celebrating Bob Marotto's contribution to Orange County Animal
Services, the community, its citizens, and its animals, was read by Ed Tiryakian
o Token of ASAB's appreciation for Bob Marotto's offered (gift card to Fearrington
House)
o Bonnie Hammersly, Orange County Manager, will attend March meeting of the
ASAB to advise on the effort to fill the newly opened Director position and any
implications for the operations of the board
o Bob offered remarks on his experiences serving the community and his hopes for
the future of OCAS
Old Business:
• Ordinance amendments for Keeping and Displaying Wild Etc. Animals: Anne Tosco,
Orange County Staff Attorney
o Bryan Stuart provided brief history of the work of the "dangerous animal" task
force in 2019/2020
o Division 5: Keeping of Wild Animals Dangerous to Persons and Property
■ Moved section on hybrid felines from definitions to exceptions to clarify
that they are wild and dangerous but F5 hybrids are permitted under
certain circumstances
■ Recommending removal of two exemptions (accredited nonprofits and
animals used for captive breeding programs) to facilitate proposed
amendments through to approval because they represent legal
complications with regard to land use and planning processes
■ Included modification clause to detail mechanism for the BOCC to add or
remove species
o Division 4: Display of Wild and Exotic Animals
■ A few minor edits, including moving to exemptions a stipulation about
displaying for educational purposes
o Motion to reinstate/reconstitute task force for a comprehensive review of
county's recommendations, with Bryan serving again as chair
Vote (Motion/2"d)
Amanda Schwoerke
Bryan Stuart Y (Moved)
Sue Millager Y
Lee Pickett Y
Ed Tiryakian Y (2nd)
Lucia Welborne Y
Sunita Driehuys Y
Casey Ferrell Y
Meggie Romick Y
Allan Polak Y
Susan Spinks Y
Lori Gershon
Dawn Roberts
• Shelter Requirements for Livestock Guardian Dog
o Will move to March agenda
Informational Items
• 2020 2021 ASAB Annual Report & Work Plan (submitted document)
• January 2021 Monthly Statistics for Sheltering Operations
• January 2021 Monthly Statistics for Field Services
Informal Discussion
• N/A
Adjournment: Meeting adjourned at 7:58 p.m.