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Home My WebLink AboutASAB Meeting Summary 04.16.25 Meeting Minutes Approved ANIMAL SERVICES ADVISORY BOARD (ASAB) 6:30 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. Wednesday, April 16, 2025 Community Room at OCAS 1601 Eubanks Rd, Chapel Hill,NC 27516 MEMBERS PRESENT: Allan Polak(Chair), Debby Hill (Vice Chair), Dr. Sunita Driehuys (Secretary), Annie Goldberg, Judy Miller, Cathy Munnier, Dr. Lee Pickett, Roni Peterson, Dawn Roberts. Members ABSENT: Michael Delafield, Michael Dempsey, Kim Rider STAFF PRESENT: Elizabeth Overcash (Director), Krista Watkins (Administration) PUBLIC PRESENT: Mary Lucas, Rhonda Patterson (both ASAB applicants) Call to order: 6:32 PM Review and adoption of the meeting agenda: Vote (Motion/2nd) Mike Delafield Absent Michael Dempsey Absent Sunita Driehuys Aye Annie Goldberg. Aye Debby Hill Aye Judy Miller Aye Cathy Munnier Aye Roni Peterson Aye Lee Pickett 2nd Allan Polak Motion Kimberly Rider Absent Dawn Roberts Late Page 1 of 7 Review and approval of March 2025 ASAB meeting summary: Vote (MOtion/2nd) Mike Delafield Absent Michael Dempsey Absent Sunita Driehuys Aye Annie Goldberg Aye Debby Hill 2nd Judy Miller Aye Cathy Munnier Aye Roni Peterson Aye Lee Pickett Aye Allan Polak Motion Kimberly Rider Absent Dawn Roberts Late Public Participation Guidelines: Limit of 3 minutes at today's meeting. Can submit more information by email for inclusion as an agenda item for discussion at a future meeting General Public Comments (not on agenda): None Monthly Meeting Attendance Record: Confirmed through approval of meeting minutes New Business: 1. 2025 Initiatives and Goals for ASAB Discussion—these ideas were presented by ASAB members as potential projects. a. Dog Training Initiative: Cathy Munnier(professional dog trainer) is meeting with Director Elizabeth Overcash to discuss training of adoptable dogs to enhance Page 2 of 7 successful adoptions. A program to provide training for staff at OCAS, bring in resources and provide more support for adopters are the topics being discussed and will be presented to ASAB at a future meeting. b. Veterinary Support for Unhoused Residents: Dr. Lee Pickett would like to connect with our unhoused residents and provide basic veterinary services for them— consider SOHRAD and DEGA as organizations to coordinate for this endeavor. DEGA is set up to take care of pets of residents in NC who qualify for Medicaid, but they don't have a relationship with SOHRAD (Orange County Street Outreach, Harm Reduction and Deflection). Would ASAB be willing to assist to facilitate a relationship between SOHRAD and DEGA to provide services to unhoused residents?And align with OC Board of Health to provide veterinary services at clinics/fairs open to the public? https://www.oran-e�ync.gov/2576/Street-Outreach-Harm-Reduction-and-Defle https://www.degamobilevetcare.org/ c. OCAS Public Veterinary Licensing: OCAS was just licensed as a veterinary facility to provide services to low-income residents. Current system is to provide vouchers to partner veterinary practices to provide low-cost services, but OCAS is now legally able to do this in-house. In what ways can ASAB help with this? d. Legislation Support: Consider legislation for the state of NC to make it easier for shelters to provide veterinary care to owned animals. This is a big task—Debby Hill willing to volunteer. And Mary Lucas is interested in participating once she's appointed to ASAB. e. Public Education/Talking Point Campaign: Judy Miller would like ASAB members to help educate the public more about the services and purposes of OCAS to dispel negative myths about animal shelters, euthanasia, pit bulls, rabies, etc. Perhaps create a list of talking points that can be posted on social media and disseminated by members. And post an educational and promotional video of shelter operations on the OCAS website and social media sites. Committee volunteers =Judy Miller, Cathy Munnier. Motion to create a Talking Point committee: Vote (Motion/2nd) Mike Delafield Absent Michael Dempsey Absent Sunita Driehuys Aye Page 3of7 Annie Goldberg Aye Debby Hill Aye Judy Miller Aye Cathy Munnier Aye Roni Peterson Aye Lee Pickett 2nd Allan Polak Motion Kimberly Rider Absent Dawn Roberts Aye Judy Miller will chair this committee and present findings at June ASAB meeting f. Employee Appreciation Initiative: Consider ASAB recognizing OCAS staff or volunteering in a useful way. Director Overcash states that getting more public recognition for staff would be appreciated. Maybe pay for a food truck or ice cream once per year? Or gift cards? Or Employee of the Month?Volunteers for Employee Appreciation Committee: Cathy Munnier, Dawn Roberts, Judy Miller, Allan Polak. Goal is to present a plan to ASAB at May meeting. Vote to form Employee Appreciation Committee: Mike Delafield Absent Michael Dempsey Absent Sunita Driehuys Aye Annie Goldberg Aye Debby Hill Motion Judy Miller Aye Cathy Munnier Aye Roni Peterson Aye Lee Pickett 2nd Page 4 of 7 Allan Polak Aye Kimberly Rider Absent Dawn Roberts Aye g. Youth Delegate: Debby Hill brought up that we need to follow up on Youth Delegate proposal with county to make sure that initiative is moving forward. h. Second Play Yard: OCAS could use a 2nd play yard, with potentially a different surface than concrete. It will need to be able to be sanitized—possible options include artificial turf, rubber mulch or gravel. We might be able to apply for a grant to fund this—perhaps through the NCVMA. How can ASAB help with this? i. Volunteer Program Board: Is there need or desire to create a board to oversee the robust volunteer program at OCAS? The current employee responsible for volunteers is leaving and a job opening will be posted,but it's a lot of people and programs for one person to manage. 2. Discussion of ASAB Orientation for new members: There is a recorded video for each member to review. The audio quality of the video is poor and it's a video of an in-person presentation—would be better as a true PowerPoint and needs to also have good narration and the legal requirements from the county for boards should be included. It was noted that the ASAB FAQs on the OCAS website need to be updated. Allan Polak and Lee Pickett volunteered to be on a committee, but we will revisit this topic at the next meeting. Animal Services Advisory Board: 1. Currently have 1 vacancy on ASAB—Town of Hillsborough position. 2. Current terms expiring for: Sunita Driehuys (end of term), Roni Peterson(renewal) and Allan Polak(renewal). There will be an open position for a veterinarian on the board and a new Secretary will need to be appointed. 3. Review of Mary Lucas' application for the Town of Hillsborough position. She works with a lot of rescue dogs, particularly hospice/seniors. Professionally she works in human hospice and is involved with helping elder owners find placements for pets they can no longer care for. Motion to recommend Mary Lucas to BOCC: Vote (Motion/2nd) Mike Delafield Absent Page 5 of 7 Michael Dempsey Absent Sunita Driehuys Aye Annie Goldberg Aye Debby Hill Motion Judy Miller Aye Cathy Munnier Aye Roni Peterson Aye Lee Pickett 2nd Allan Polak Aye Kimberly Rider Absent Dawn Roberts Aye Old Business: None Information Items: Presented by Elizabeth Overcash, Director of OCAS 1. Live release numbers are good, and animals are being adopted at a decent rate 2. OCAS now opens at 10 a.m. to increase adoptions 3. Currently working on resources for community members in need and for adopters—vet care, training 4. She is making connections with other OC departments to be more effective in helping the community 5. OCAS has now been licensed as a veterinary facility, so will be able to offer low cost spay/neuter and veterinary services to community members 6. Staff vacancies— 1 vet tech position currently Informal Discussion: None Adjournment: Meeting adjourned at 7:49 pm. Vote (Motion/2nd) Mike Delafield Absent Page 6 of 7 Michael Dempsey Absent Sunita Driehuys Motion Annie Goldberg Aye Debby Hill Aye Judy Miller Aye Cathy Munmer 2nd Rom Peterson Aye Lee Pickett Aye Allan Polak Aye Kimberly Rider Absent Dawn Roberts Aye Page 7 of 7